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Helical

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FY2013 Annual Report · Helical
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Helical Bar plc
Report & Accounts 2013

helical bar plc 2013
helical bar plc 2013

contents

directors’ report - annual review
01  what we do
02  helical at a glance
05  chairman’s statement
06  chief executive’s statement
08  strategy and performance
12  events of the year
14 
16 
18  principal investment properties
24  development programme 
35  financial review
42  corporate responsibility

investment portfolio overview
investment portfolio statistics

directors’ report - governance
45  governance 
46   corporate governance review
49 
50 
51 
53 
54  directors’ remuneration report 
63 
64 

report of the audit committee
report of the directors

 letter from the chairman of the nominations committee
report of the nominations committee
 the board of directors and senior management
 letter from the chairman of the remuneration committee

report of independent auditor

financial statements
66  financial statements
67 
68  consolidated income statement
68  consolidated statement of comprehensive income
69  consolidated and company balance sheets
70  consolidated and company cash flow statements
71  consolidated and company statements of changes in equity
72  notes to the financial statements
99 

ten year review

investor information
101  investor information appendix I - property portfolio
104  investor information appendix II - risk register
106  shareholder information
107  glossary of terms
108  financial calendar
108  advisors 

financial highlights 

Diluted EPRA earnings per share1 

Final proposed dividend per share

2.4p

2012: 3.4p

3.70p

2012: 3.40p

Diluted EPRA net asset value per share1

IFRS net assets

264p

2012: 250p

£253.8m

2012: £253.7m

Portfolio valuation2

Portfolio return3

£626.4m

2012: £572.7m

8.6%

2012: 5.6%

1 Calculated in accordance with the best practice recommendations of EPRA. 
2 Includes the Group’s share of properties held in joint ventures and the surplus on directors’ valuation of trading and development stock. 
3 Unleveraged return of property portfolio according to IPD.

Front cover: CGI of refurbished 207 Old Street, London EC1.

what we do

helical bar plc 2013

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Helical Bar: a property investment and development company
Helical aims to deliver market leading returns by acquiring high 
yielding investment properties, applying a rigorous approach to 
asset management and deploying limited equity through a variety 
of different structures into development situations which have the 
potential to be highly profitable.
Our spread of activities gives us flexibility to deploy capital rapidly 
across our business and focus on whatever opportunities offer the 
best returns at different points of the property cycle.
We aim to make excellent returns for our shareholders (which 
include the management team who own 15% of the company) 
through a wide variety of high margin activities.
Our core areas include central London offices and high yielding 
retail investments, central London developments and refurbishment 
projects pre-let regional foodstore developments and retirement 
villages.

Barts Square, London EC1

Brickfields, White City, London W12

Clyde Shopping Centre, Clydebank

01

 
 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

helical at a glance

Overall  
portfolio split

Investment 
portfolio

  Investment  

  Trading and development  

71%

29%

  London offices  

  In town retail  

  South East Offices  

36%

53%

4%

  Out of town retail  

  Industrial  

  Other  

3%

3%

1%

London  
investment

Retail  
investment

Key projects
Battersea, London SW8
Broadway House, London W6
Shepherds Building, London W14
Old St, London, EC1
Barts Square, London EC1

Key projects
The Morgan Quarter, Cardiff
Clyde Shopping Centre, Clydebank
Corby Town Centre, Corby
Idlewells Shopping Centre, Sutton-in-Ashfield
The Guineas, Newmarket

Central London  
development

Key projects
200 Aldersgate St, London EC1
Mitre Square, London EC3

3.12 acre

Freehold interest at Old St

2.0m sq ft

Of retail investment space

273,000 sq ft

Office consent at Mitre Square

02

helical at a glance

helical bar plc 2013

Trading and development portfolio (Helical’s share)

Project type

Office

Retail

Industrial

Mixed use

Change of use

Retirement villages

Poland

Total

Book value
£m

Fair value
£m

Surplus
£m

% of development
portfolio (fair value)

15.6

22.3

1.4

5.0

4.6

55.3

65.4

169.6

27.3

23.6

1.4

22.4

6.8

72.6

65.4

219.5

11.7

1.3

–

17.4

2.2

17.3

–

49.9

12.44

10.75

0.64

10.19

3.11

33.07

29.80

100.00

Note: the table above includes the Group’s share of development properties held in joint ventures.

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West London  
development

Retail  
development

Key projects
Brickfields, London W12
King St, Hammersmith, London W6

Key projects
Parkgate, Shirley, West Midlands
Leisure Plaza, Milton Keynes 
Europa Centralna, Poland

Retirement  
villages

Key projects
Bramshott Place, Liphook
Durrants Village, Faygate
Maudslay Park, Great Alne
Millbrook Village, Exeter

c1.5m sq ft

Size of mixed use scheme at White City

March 2013

Europa Centralna open for trade

618 units

In our retirement village programme

03

 
 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

200 Aldersgate Street,  
London, EC1

04

chairman’s statement

Your Company has had a very good year against  
a backdrop of challenging, albeit improving, 
economic conditions. The total unleveraged return 
of its property portfolio, as measured by IPD, was 
8.6%, the Company’s best return since 31 March 
2007, compared to the IPD Universe of March 
valued funds of 3.9%. 

helical bar plc 2013

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Total property return increased by 31% to £35.9m (2012: 
£27.5m) and included growing net rents of £24.5m (up 7.0% 
from £22.9m in 2012) and development profits of £7.0m 
(2012: £0.7m). Diluted EPRA net asset value per share 
increased 5.6% to 264p (2012: 250p). Total Shareholder 
Return for the year to 31 March 2013 was 28.4%, compared 
to returns for the Listed Real Estate Sector of 21.8% and for 
the UK Equity Market as a whole of 16.8%. These results 
allow the Board to continue its progressive dividend policy 
and to recommend to shareholders a final dividend of 3.70p, 
taking the total for the year to 5.55p, an increase of 7.8%.

The year has seen many successes in the Company’s 
investment portfolio and development programme. Asset 
management initiatives have driven the net income of the 
Group forward and, at 31 March 2013, passing net rents were 
£28.7m (2012: £25.9m). Our share of the surplus on revaluation 
of investment properties, including those held in joint ventures, 
was £6.8m (2012: £4.2m) and the investment portfolio is now 
valued at £407.0m (2012: £394.1m). On the development 
side we have delivered against many of the milestones set 
at the beginning of the financial year, most notably at 200 
Aldersgate Street, London EC1, where we have as of today 
let 90% of the 348,000 sq ft refurbished office building (with 
a further 6% under offer), at our 1.5m sq ft development at 
Brickfields, White City where we have received planning 
consent and contracts have been exchanged for a sale of the 
site, and at our 450,000 sq ft redevelopment of Barts Square, 
London EC1, where we have received a resolution to grant 
planning consent. 

Despite frequent commentary that banks are not lending 
enough to the private sector, there is clearly an appetite 
amongst banks to lend to well managed, profitable and 
stable public companies in the real estate sector. We continue 
to enjoy excellent relationships with our banking partners 
with c. £290m of new or renewed facilities agreed since the 
beginning of 2012, extending our debt maturity to 3.3 years. 
With interest rates continuing at historic lows, we have 
been able to ensure that we are adequately protected against 
future interest rate rises, thereby securing growing income 
surpluses, strong cash flows and good interest cover. 

During the year we consulted with shareholders on  
a proposed new annual bonus scheme, designed to codify  
the existing discretionary scheme, rewarding participants 
based on the results of the business and seeking greater 
alignment of executive remuneration with shareholders’ 
interests. The resulting bonus scheme, incorporating the 
feedback received from shareholders holding more than 50% 
of our share register, was approved by over 95% of 
shareholders who voted at the 2012 AGM. I am delighted 
this year’s results have allowed participants in the scheme 
to receive bonuses in the form of cash payments and 
deferred shares. 

Consultation with shareholders was also undertaken with 
regard to changes to the Board during the year. Richard 
Gillingwater, Senior Independent Director, and Richard 
Grant, Audit Committee Chairman, joined as independent 
non-executive directors and I welcome both of them to the 
Board. I congratulate my former deputy, Tim Murphy, who 
replaced me as Finance Director when I became Chairman, 
having served as Finance Director for the last 25 years. Our 
former Chairman, Giles Weaver, served with distinction 
during his time on the Board and I would like to thank him 
as well as Antony Beevor and Wilf Weeks, who have also 
retired, for their invaluable contributions to the Board and 
its Committees.

After a challenging five years, I believe we are on the cusp  
of returning to delivering outperformance. Looking forward, 
we will benefit from a rebalanced portfolio with a strong and 
growing income stream which we intend to increase 
significantly in the next year. In addition, our development 
portfolio is expected to deliver substantial profits and cash 
returns over the same period and in the following years.  
We look forward to these two elements of our business 
combining to generate strong returns and value on behalf  
of all our shareholders.

Nigel McNair Scott,  
Chairman

23 May 2013

05

 
 
 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

chief executive’s statement

It is worth restating the Company’s strategy to re-emphasise 
our focus and differentiate ourselves from our peer group. We 
are a property investment and development company whose 
objective is to maximise shareholder returns by driving income, 
repositioning assets to deliver capital growth and generating 
substantial development gains employing limited amounts of 
our own equity. This simple strategy is once again starting to 
bear fruit and deliver industry outperformance. 

Helical’s strategy 
  Our investment portfolio includes high yielding multi-let 
retail located throughout the UK and offices in central 
London. Through intensive property management we 
have been able to grow income and enhance capital 
values. An analysis of the properties we hold demonstrates 
how we have managed to circumvent the well documented 
pitfalls in the UK’s retail sector to maintain positive rental 
returns. We can now look forward to capital growth for 
good quality secondary stock as those investors seeking 
better yields now move up the risk curve. The balance  
of our investment portfolio has increased its weighting 
towards central London office investments where we have 
concentrated our efforts over the last two years and where 
our main focus now lies. 

  Having created stable positive income returns the 
Company is now able to progress with a number of new 
developments and refurbishments where by carrying  
out land assembly, planning and in some cases securing 
pre-letting or pre-funding, we can create significant returns 
with little capital or balance-sheet exposure. It should be 
noted that projects at 200 Aldersgate EC1, in partnership 
with the Deutsche Pfandbriefbank, and the Brickfields, 
White City W12 development, acting as development 
partner with Aviva Investors, have involved limited use 
of your Company’s capital. We shall remain focussed  
on central London schemes for the length of the current 
market cycle. 

  In previous reports I have referred to Helical Retail’s success 
in securing a number of foodstore-led developments 
throughout the Midlands and the South East. Acting with 
our long standing partners at Oswin Developments, we 
have now optioned or have exclusivity over eight projects 
with further deals in the pipeline. Despite recent reports of 
retrenchment by the major foodstore companies, our 
outstanding relationships and reputation have enabled  
us to obtain sites in those areas still under-serviced and  
in demand from foodstore retailers. The projects will be 
pre-sold to investment partners. 

  It would be wrong not to acknowledge our position as 
one of the UK’s leading developers of retirement villages. 
These take the form of 150+ units set around a clubhouse 
in parkland settings for sale to those over 55 years of age. 
With the benefit of advantageous bank facilities, we have 
embarked on three new projects comprising of 467 units 
on sites near Horsham in Sussex, Stratford-upon-Avon in 
Warwickshire and Exeter in Devon. Success at Liphook 
(151 units), despite the challenges of the last five years, 
gives us the encouragement to continue with this specialist 
sector in partnership with Urban Renaissance Villages. 

  We remain grateful to our supportive bankers who have 
proved ever-willing to respond positively and quickly to 
requests we put to them. This enables us to be quick to 
take advantage of opportunities that arise. You will note 
that we have successfully increased our banking facilities 
during the year, extending their maturity dates. This 
process will continue and we will look to further extend 
and diversify our sources of funding.

Our market
Our path through the next three years becomes clearer  
by the day. We will maintain our high yielding investment 
portfolio and look to reinvest cash receipts from sales of our 
trading and development stock into accretive acquisitions 
with a strong emphasis on central London. I regard our 
successful investment in foodstore development and the 
retirement village business as valuable profit generators 
that sit beside our main focus on the opportunities we see 
in central London. 

Overseas equity continues to be a vital element in today’s 
property market. It is not and never has been our role to 
compete to invest in prime stock, but rather to use our 
expertise to create prime investments for sale into a strong 
market. We are confident that given the skills and experience 
we provide and the financial partners with whom we are 
involved, the next few years will see enhanced profits.

06

•
•
•
•
•
chief executive’s statement

Silverthorne Road, Battersea 
London SW8  

helical bar plc 2013

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We believe that our market is now moving out of recession, 
albeit slowly. Much of the potential overhaul of bad bank 
debt is being taken out by globally financed debt acquisitions 
and vast sums of ‘equity’ continue to seek to invest in the 
UK, safe in the knowledge that we enjoy the ‘rule of law’ 
and a steady state economy.

Helical’s progress 
We were delighted to announce last week the letting  
of 80,909 sq ft to FTI Consulting at 200 Aldersgate which 
triggers our entitlement to a profit share. In similar vein  
we have announced the sale of the Brickfields, White City 
project where we have acted as development partner on 
behalf of Aviva. Once this sale contract has been completed, 
we will be entitled to a profit share, the details of which we 
will be able to disclose at that time. We anticipate both the 
above transactions will create substantial profits to be 
recognised in the accounts for the year to 31 March 2014.

At Mitre Square, EC3, we have commenced demolition 
and, following granting of planning consent at Barts Square, 
EC1, we are preparing for development in January 2015. 
We are also hopeful of submitting a planning application  
in July for the Hammersmith Town Hall project in partnership 
with Grainger, and anticipate consent for our major 
refurbishment at 207-211 Old Street at “Silicon Roundabout” 
prior to the end of the year. 

As has already been announced we have completed our 
major Polish retail development at Gliwice where we maintain 
a 50% interest with a pre-agreed take-out in approximately 
18 months’ time by our partner, clients of Standard Life. 

Summary 
Happily the ‘Helical Model’ is alive and well. My thanks to 
the Helical team, our investment partners, our bankers, the 
many property agents and corporate advisors with whom 
we have the pleasure of dealing with day to day. Last but 
by no means least, our thanks to you, our shareholders, for 
your support.

Michael Slade,  
Chief Executive

23 May 2013

07

 
 
 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

strategy and performance

Investment strategy
The investment portfolio, which is mainly let and income 
producing, has two main purposes:

•    To provide a steady income stream to cover overheads, interest and 

dividends;

•    To produce above average capital growth over the cycle to contribute 

to growth in the Group’s net asset value.

We seek to achieve these aims through careful, disciplined selection of 
properties, generally comprising multi-let offices in London, shopping 
centres, industrial estates and mixed-use portfolios. Our key aim, when 
undertaking this selection process, is to seek to ensure that there is 
sustainable demand from potential occupiers for all of our assets.

We frequently refurbish and/or extend our properties. We also work 
closely with tenants with the aim of maintaining maximum occupancy 
in our portfolio properties. Our relationships with these tenants can lead 
to opportunities to increase value through re-gearing leases or moving 
tenants within a building as their respective businesses expand or 
contract. 

Additionally, we may purchase entirely vacant buildings (such as the 
Morgan Quarter, Cardiff or Shepherds Building, London W14) with a 
view to carrying out a major refurbishment and, where we are confident 
that the occupational market is strong enough to allow the majority of 
the building to be let quickly.

Our portfolio by equity invested

Development strategy
We employ a wide variety of approaches to our 
development activities. The Group aims to limit the 
amount of equity that it deploys into development 
situations through a variety of different structures which 
are explained below. These aim to maximise the Group’s 
share of profits in a development by leveraging the 
capital employed by the Group and with a view to 
managing the risks inherent in the development process. 

•    Participation in profit share situations where no equity investment is 

required, where we will seek to minimise our ongoing fee to maximise 
our profit share so that our interests are completely aligned with our 
partners. In this way, for minimal equity commitments, we can benefit 
from a significant profit share if we contribute to a project’s success 
by using our skills and experience through the entire development 
process. This participation method was used in connection with our 
investments in the Fulham Wharf and 200 Aldersgate developments. 

•    Reduce up-front equity required by entering into conditional contracts 
or options. We have used this approach in the context of our Mitre 
Square development (where Helical has entered into conditional 
contracts) and our foodstore led supermarket development 
programme (where land is optioned or put under contract conditional 
on achieving planning permission and pre-let to a supermarket 
operator) thereby mitigating the risks of the developments.

•    Co-investment alongside a larger partner where we have a minority 
equity stake, where we will typically receive a “waterfall” payment 
subject to certain conditions being met. Such waterfall payments tend 
to be structured in a manner where we receive a greater profit share 
than our percentage investment depending upon the success of the 
project. This investment method is used in our investments in the Barts 
Square, Old Street and White City developments.

•    Traditional forward funding, where the cost of the development overrun 
is one to be borne by the developer for a commensurate profit participation. 
In such a case, we have no equity in the property but underwrite a 
maximum build cost and bear the risk of costs being in excess of an 
agreed maximum construction price.

51%

of Helical’s equity is 
deployed in London  
and the South East

  Scotland 6%

  Wales 7%

  South East 16%

London 35%

  Midlands 21%

  South West 3%

  North 1%

  Poland 11%

08

 
 
strategy and performance

helical bar plc 2013

Our risk strategy
Risk is an integral part of any Group’s business activities 
and Helical’s ability to identify, assess, monitor and 
manage each risk to which it is exposed is fundamental 
to its financial stability, current and future financial 
performance and reputation. As well as seeing changes 
in our internal and external environment as potential 
risks, we also see them as being opportunities which can 
drive performance.

Risk management starts at Board level where the Directors set the overall 
risk appetite of the Group and the individual risk policies. These risk policies 
are the framework used by Helical’s management to run the business. 
Part of management’s role is to act within these policies and to report to 
the Board on how these policies are being operated.

The Group’s risk appetite and specific risk policies are continually assessed 
by the Board to ensure that they are appropriate and consistent with the 
Group’s overall strategy and the external market conditions. The effectiveness 
of the Group’s risk management strategy is reviewed annually by the Directors.

The risks faced by the Group do not change significantly from year to year 
but their importance and the Group’s response to them vary in accordance 
with the changes in the internal and external environment. The Board 
considers not only the current situation but also potential future scenarios 
and how these might impact our business when setting the Group’s policies.

Helical sees its principal uncertainties as falling within the following 
categories:

development
risk

market
risk

Helical

financial
risk

strategic
risk

people
risk

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Market risks are risks specific to the economy as a whole and to the 
property sector. These include the UK economy falling into recession 
again and falling property prices.

Strategic risk includes the risk that Helical’s business strategy or capital 
structure results in the Group underperforming the rest of the property 
sector, or being unable to take advantage of opportunities that may arise. 
Helical’s strategy is regularly discussed by the Board to ensure that it is 
appropriate.

Helical is subject to a number of financial risks due to the way it is 
funded. These include the risk that interest rates rise, the risk that Helical 
does not have ability to access cash as it is required and the risk that the 
Group’s lenders no longer wish to offer loans to it. These risks are carefully 
managed by arranging debt repayment dates to spread the maturity 
profile of bank loans over several years, seeking medium to long term 
debt, limiting the impact of potential interest rate rises through the use of 
interest rate swaps and caps, ensuring the availability of resources 
through the preparation of detailed medium and long term cash forecasts, 
retaining a significant level of cash or undrawn committed bank facilities and 
ensuring strong relationships are maintained with all the major real estate 
lenders.

Helical’s continued success is reliant on our management and staff and 
successful relationships with our joint venture partners. People risks include 
the inability of Helical to find the right personnel to carry out our strategy. 
The retention and incentivisation of our staff is of great importance to Helical 
and executive remuneration packages are designed to attract, motivate 
and retain directors of the calibre necessary to maintain the Group’s position 
as a market leader and to reward them for enhancing shareholder value 
and returns. We insist that our employees and joint venture partners act 
with both ethical and health & safety considerations at the forefront of 
their decision making processes.

The Group derives a significant part of its results from development activity. 
Development profits are more likely to be subject to fluctuation due to external 
factors as they are more opportunistic in nature. Development risks 
include: changes in planning legislation, difficulty in managing current 
developments and a scarcity in future development opportunities. Helical has 
an experienced development team with an excellent track record and a 
well established network of joint venture partners, contractors and 
professional advisors. Helical has no set formula for managing its 
developments and delivers development projects through a variety of 
means including using our own capital, bringing in joint venture partners 
and forward funding development projects. 

The Board has ultimate responsibility for risk within the business. However 
the small size of our team and our flat management structure allows the 
Executive Directors to have close contact with all aspects of the business 
and allows us to ensure that the identification and management of risks 
and opportunities is part of the mindset of all decision makers at Helical.

A more detailed analysis of these risks and what steps the Group takes 
to mitigate these risks can be found in appendix II on page 104.

09

 
 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

strategy and performance

Performance 
A property company’s share price should reflect growth  
in net assets per share. Our Group’s main objective is to 
maximise growth in assets from increases in investment 
portfolio values and from retained earnings from other 
property related activities.

Key performance indicators and benchmarks
We incentivise management to outperform the Group’s competitors by 
setting the right levels for performance indicators against which rewards 
are measured. We also design our remuneration packages to align 
management’s interests with shareholders’ aspirations. Key to this is the 
monitoring and reporting against identifiable performance targets and 
benchmarks. For a number of years we have reported on these, the most 
important of which are:

Investment Property Databank
The Investment Property Databank (“IPD”) produces a number of 
independent benchmarks of property returns which are regarded as  
the main industry indices. 

IPD has compared the ungeared performance of Helical’s total property 
portfolio against that of portfolios within IPD for the last 20 years. The 
Group’s annual performance target is to exceed the top quartile of the 
IPD database. Helical’s ungeared performance for the year to 31 March 
2013 was 8.6% (2012: 5.6%) compared to the IPD median benchmark of 
3.9% (2012: 6.4%) and upper quartile benchmark of 4.7% (2012: 7.0%).

The three years to 31 March 2013 was a period during which the Group 
continued to transform its property holdings and this has had an impact 
on performance in that period. However, over five, ten and twenty years 
the Group’s property portfolio continued to outperform the IPD benchmark.

Net asset value
Net asset value per share represents the share of net assets attributable 
to each ordinary share. Whilst the basic and diluted net asset per share 
calculations provide a guide to performance, the property industry prefers 
to use an adjusted diluted net asset per share. The adjustments 
necessary to arrive at this figure are shown in note 32 to these accounts. 

Management is incentivised to exceed 15% p.a. growth in net asset value 
per share. The diluted net asset value per share, excluding trading stock 
surplus, at 31 March 2013 was 217p (2012: 217p).

Including the surplus on valuation of trading and development stock, the 
diluted EPRA net asset value per share at 31 March 2013 was 264p 
(2012: 250p). Diluted EPRA triple net asset value per share was 259p 
(2012: 246p).

Other key performance indicators include:
•    a surplus of net rental income over finance costs, overheads  

and dividends;

•    staff retention and average length of service; and

•   inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index.

Europa Centralna, Gliwice 
720,000 sq ft of  
out-of-town retail space 

10

strategy and performance

Helical Bar portfolio unleveraged returns to 31 March 2013
5 yrs
%pa

3 yrs
%pa

1 yr
%pa

Helical

IPD

Helical’s Percentile Rank

8.6

3.9

5

5.6

7.2

61

3.7

1.5

12

helical bar plc 2013

10 yrs
%pa

10.8

6.1

1

20 yrs
%pa

14.4

8.9

1

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Source: Investment Property Databank.  
Helical’s trading & development portfolio (29% of gross assets as measured by IPD) is shown in IPD at the lower of book cost or fair value and uplifts are only included on the sale of an asset.

Total Gross Shareholder Return

Helical Bar plc

UK Equity Market

Listed Real Estate Sector Index

Direct Property - monthly data

1

2

3

4

1 year
pa
%

28.4%

16.8%

21.8%

2.5%

3 years
pa
%

-9.5%

8.8%

9.8%

6.6%

Performance measured over

5 years
pa
%

-7.1%

6.7%

-4.0%

1.0%

10 years
pa
%

9.1%

10.7%

7.2%

5.7%

15 years
pa
%

20 years
pa
%

25 years 
pa
%

9.2%

4.6%

3.2%

7.3%

14.7%

10.0%

8.1%

7.0%

8.5%

9.4%

5.1%

8.1%

1  Growth over 1 year, 3 years etc to 31/03/13

2  Growth in FTSE All-Share Return Index over 1 year, 3 years etc to 31/03/13

3   Growth in FTSE 350 Real Estate Super Sector Return Index over 1 year, 3 years, 5 years and 10 years to 31/03/13. For data prior to 30 September 1999 FTSE All Share Real Estate 

Sector Index has been used.

4  Growth in Total Return of IPD UK Monthly Index (All Property) over 1 year, 3 years etc to 31/03/13

Europa Centralna, Gliwice 

720,000 sq ft of  

out-of-town retail space 

11

 
 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

events of the year

White City, London 
W12 

In March 2013, and in joint venture with Aviva, we received 
a resolution to grant planning permission for a residential 
led mixed use scheme comprising c.1.25 million sq ft of 
residential, 210,000 sq ft of commercial, and 60,000 sq ft 
of retail, leisure and community uses. Since the year end 
contracts have been exchanged to sell the site.

1.5m sq ft mixed use

Barts Square, London 
EC1 

In November 2012 we received a resolution to grant planning 
permission to build 225,000 sq ft of offi ce space, 215 high 
quality residential apartments across a number of buildings 
and retail at ground fl oor level.

 3.2 acre mixed use development

Europa 
Centralna, 
Gliwice 

The 720,000 sq ft out-of-town retail scheme 
opened in March 2013. The scheme is 
currently 80% let with tenants including Tesco, 
Castorama, Media Saturn and Sports Direct.

720,000 sq ft shopping centre 
and retail park

Old Street, London EC1 

In November 2012 Helical, in a joint venture with Crosstree 
Real Estate Partners, acquired 284,000 sq ft of offi ce and 
retail space at the Old Street roundabout, London EC1.

3.12 acre freehold interest

12

events of the year

helical bar plc 2013

200 Aldersgate Street, 
London EC1 

By 31 March 2013, Helical had let 208,261 sq ft 
with a further 103,323 sq ft let since then and 21,430 sq ft 
under offer.

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Fulham Wharf, 
London SW6 

In June 2012, housebuilder Barratts bought the site from 
Sainsburys enabling Helical to recognise its profi t share with 
cash receivable when Sainsburys receives its consideration.

100,000 sq ft store and 463 
residential units

Parkgate, Shirley, 
West Midlands 

At Parkgate, Shirley, in joint venture with Coltham Developments, 
construction continues of an 80,000 sq ft Asda foodstore, 
and 78,000 sq ft of retail and leisure accommodation, 50% of 
which is in solicitors’ hands.

Construction started in April 2012

Sales 

Since March 2012 we have sold £23m of investment 
properties at 200 Great Dover Street, London SE1; Langlands 
Place Industrial Estate, East Kilbride; Stanwell Road, Ashford 
and Merlin Business Business Park, Manchester.

We have sold £29m of development properties including the 
retirement village site at Ely Road, Milton and the back part of 
the site at Millbrook Village, Exeter; and the land at Tiviot Way, 
Stockport.

13

 
 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

investment portfolio overview

Our £407m investment portfolio provides 
income to cover all operational and finance 
costs and dividends. We have a strong 
focus on asset management, maximising 
net operating income and working 
closely with our tenants. 
It is our aim to grow our investment 
portfolio from 71% now to 75% of our 
assets further increasing our net 
cash flow.
Our income stream is diverse and secure 
with no tenant accounting for more than 
5.5% of the rent roll. Our average weighted 
unexpired lease term is 6.4 years. 
The income stream has grown steadily 
since 2010 and is highly reversionary. 
The passing rent from our investment 
portfolio is £28.7m and the estimated 
rental value of our portfolio £32.4m 
(Helical share). This reversionary 
income will be captured 
through letting vacant  
units and rent reviews. 
Through judicious buying  
of under-rented buildings  
in growth areas, securing  
lettings and undertaking  
refurbishments, we aim  
to generate substantial  
capital growth in our  
property values. 

TIO
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14

Retail

Clyde Shopping Centre
Clydebank

The Guineas
Shopping 
Centre 
Newmarket

Idlewells Shopping Centre 
Sutton-in-Ashfield

Corby Town Centre 
Corby

The Morgan 
Quarter 
Cardiff

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Old Street

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Offices

SYDENHAM HILL

 
investment portfolio overview

helical bar plc 2013

Asset management 
During the year contracted income increased by £0.38m.

There was significant activity within the investment portfolio with a lease 
event on nearly 300 leases.

We lost £0.75m of rent at lease end or break (2.5% rent roll) and a further 
£0.73m through tenant administrations (2.5% rent roll). Our biggest 
exposures to administrations were Clintons, Peacocks and JJB Sport. We 
did not have any units let to HMV, Jessops or Comet and only one each 
of Blockbuster and Dreams. 

We concluded £1.48m of new lettings (5.3% rent roll) and benefitted from 
uplifts at rent reviews of £0.38m. 

The Guineas

Shopping 

Centre 

Newmarket

Rent lost at break/expiry

Rent lost to administrations

Rent reviews

Lease renewals and new lettings

Total change

-£0.75m

-£0.73m

+£0.38m

+£1.48m

+£0.38m

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Acquisitions
It has been a relatively quiet year for acquisitions with much focus on 
delivering value from the existing portfolio.

We did however acquire 207-211 Old Street in joint venture with Crosstree 
(Helical 33.3% interest) for £60.8m. A planning application for a major 
refurbishment and creation of extra floor area as well as significant public 
realm works will be submitted shortly. Whilst plans are being developed, 
we are benefiting from a 4.2% running yield. 

Future investment acquisitions 
The focus remains on London for future acquisitions albeit competition is 
strong. With continued efforts we are confident that we will be able to 
acquire reasonably priced assets with significant potential to add value 
through repositioning and refurbishment with the potential to increase 
rents. These assets are likely to be multi-let (or have the ability to be so) 
in fringe central London locations such as Hammersmith, Islington, 
Camden, Southwark and Shoreditch. 

We also managed to substantially reduce the number of tenants that were 
holding over (in occupation beyond their lease expiry) from 57 tenants at 
31 March 2012 (3.6% rent roll) to 29 at 31 March 2013 (1.1% of rent roll). 

Overall we have seen good letting demand across the portfolio, reducing 
our vacancy rate from 8.8% (31 March 2012) to 5.7%. We have seen 
strong take up and rental growth in our London office portfolio and in 
particular in our retail holding in Cardiff. Across the portfolio we have seen 
ERV growth of 0.4%, with a marginal fall in the retail portfolio (-1.3%) 
being more than offset by our London offices (5.9%). Note that this 
occupancy and ERV analysis ignores Barts Square and Old Street, both of 
which have redevelopment opportunities. 

Sales
Since 31 March 2012 we have sold £50.8m of property (£83.2m year to 
31 March 2012). Our sales are lower than previous years principally because 
the majority of our non-income producing assets with limited growth 
prospects had already been sold.

Significant sales include £10.6m of units at our retirement village at 
Bramshott Place, Liphook and part of our site at Exeter for £7.6m. We 
also sold our retirement village site at Milton, Cambridgeshire, having 
achieved planning consent for open market housing, for £6.8m. 

We sold the remainder of our industrial development site in Stockport for 
£4.5m bringing our joint venture with Chancerygate to a conclusion. 

We also sold properties in East Kilbride for £4.8m, Ashford for £7.4m, 
Merlin Park, Manchester for £3.6m and Southwark for £6.5m. 

15

 
 
 
 
investment portfolio statistics

helical bar plc 2013

investment portfolio 
statistics

The following refers to Helical’s share of the investment portfolio.

Portfolio yields

Industrial 

London offices

South East offices

Retail

Total

Valuation movements, portfolio weighting and changes to rental values

Industrial 

London offices

South East offices

Retail 

Other

Total 

Note includes sales, purchases and capex.

Capital values, vacancy rates and unexpired lease terms

Industrial 

London offices

South East offices

Retail 

Total portfolio

16

Initial 
yield 
%

Reversionary 
%

Yield on 
letting 
voids 
%

Equivalent 
yield (AiA)
%

9.4

6.1

8.3

7.4

7.2

9.8

8.0

8.5

8.1

8.1

10.3

7.1

8.3

7.8

7.7

9.1

7.5

8.5

7.6

7.7

Valuation
 increase /
 (decrease) 
% 

ERV 
change 
since 
Mar 2012 
%

-9.5

4.9

0.5

-0.3

19.0

1.3

-0.4

5.9

–

-1.3

–

0.4

Weighting 
%

3.0

35.5

4.0

56.0

1.5

100.0

Capital 
value psf
£

Vacancy 
rate by area 
%

Average
 unexpired 
lease term 
(years)

63

230

209

133

163 

12.5

12.3

–

3.0

5.7

2.9

3.6

16.8

7.1

6.4

investment portfolio statistics

helical bar plc 2013

Lease expiries or tenant break options

% of rent roll

Number of leases

Average rate per lease (£)

2013

11.4

104

2014

13.6

107

2015

8.9

66

2016

12.2

66

2017

10.9

68

32,600

37,800

40,000

54,916

47,600

In the year to 31 March 2013 we retained 69% of tenants who had a lease expiry. 86% of tenants who had break options did not exercise their breaks. 
This compares favourably to the industry averages of 41%* and 52%* respectively. 

* Source: IPD / Strutt and Parker Lease Events Review 2012

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We have a strong rental income stream and a diverse tenant base, with no single tenant accounting for more than 5.5% of the rent roll. The top 10 
tenants account for 26.5% of the total rent roll and the tenants come from diverse industries. 

Rank

Tenant

1

2

3

5

4

6

7

8

9

10

Total

Endemol UK Ltd

Barts and The London NHS Trust

TK Maxx

Quotient Bioresearch Ltd

Asda Stores Ltd

Argos 

Fox International Channels

AMEC Group Ltd

Wickes Building Supplies Ltd

Metropolis Group

6%

engineering

12%

biotech

31%

media

Top 10 Tenants 
by Tenant 
Industry

35%

retail

16%

government

Tenant 
industry

Media

Government

Retail

Biotech

Retail

Retail

Media

Engineering

Retail

Media

% 
Rent roll

5.3%

4.1%

4.1%

3.2%

2.2%

1.6%

1.6%

1.5%

1.5%

1.4%

26.5%

17

 
 
 
 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

principal investment properties

retail

Our strategy is to acquire multi-tenanted 
properties where there is significant 
opportunity to increase net operating income 
and capital values. In both our office and retail 
investments we acquire properties with rents 
which are low compared to equivalent 
buildings providing scope for rental growth 
and low total occupational costs. We spend 
a considerable amount of time talking to 
our tenants both prior to acquiring buildings 
and during the course of our ownership to 
ensure that the space they occupy continues 
to be fit for their purpose. We continue to 
enjoy very strong cash on cash returns from 
many of our high yielding retail assets.

Corby Town Centre 
Corby 
This asset, comprising nearly 40 acres, is virtually 
the entirety of the commercial centre of Corby. It 
was acquired in 2011 and, since acquisition, 40 
new leases or lease renewals have been concluded. 
Anchor tenants include Primark, TK Maxx, H&M, 
Argos and Wilkinsons. We enjoy cash on cash 
returns of 15.0% and have increased income 
since its acquisition. 

The first phase of cosmetic refurbishment works 
has completed, substantially improving the look and 
feel of the centre and driving strong letting interest.

Tenant performance remains good with both the 
Dreams and Blockbusters on the Oasis Retail Park 
being included in the package acquired by their 
respective new owners and remaining open 
for trade. 

Significant projects are now planned to convert 
vacant upper parts of the town to residential with 
a planning application having been submitted for 
the first phase of these works.

The Morgan Quarter  
Cardiff 
Acquired empty in 2005 this asset was 
comprehensively refurbished and let to retailers 
including Urban Outfitters, TK Maxx and Molton 
Brown. During the year we let a unit to Jack Wills 
setting new zone A evidence of £175 per sq ft. 
Since the opening of St Davids 2 in 2009, The 
Hayes has become one of Cardiff’s principal 
retailing pitches. We have benefited from a 
number of new lettings and positive rent reviews 
increasing passing rent to £3.3m, continuing the 
progression towards an ERV of £4.2m. The rent 
reviews concluded in the year have shown a 
25% rental growth from 2007 to 2012.

4

5

3

1

2

1  Corby Town Centre, Corby

2  The Morgan Quarter, Cardiff

3  The Guineas, Newmarket

4 Otford Retail Park, Sevenoaks

5  Clyde Shopping Centre, Clydebank

18

principal investment properties 

helical bar plc 2013

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Clyde Shopping Centre,  
Clydebank
This asset, which comprises the majority of the 
town’s retail offer, was acquired in 2010 in joint 
venture with a private investor. The Group has a 
60% economic interest in the centre and 
undertakes all of the asset management 
activities. Since its acquisition, the rental income 
attributable to this asset has increased by nine per 
cent and more than 30 new lettings to tenants 
including The Post Office, Trespass, Watt Brothers 
and Poundworld have been concluded. Anchor 
tenants for the centre include Asda, BHS, 
Primark and Wilkinsons.

Otford Retail Park,  
Sevenoaks 
The final lease renewal on this three unit retail park 
has been concluded with Carpetright meaning 
that all leases now have in excess of nine years 
term certain. This is the only retail park in Sevenoaks 
with an open A1 planning consent.

The Guineas,  
Newmarket 
We have had strong tenant demand at our 
shopping centre in Newmarket and since the 
year end is now fully let for the first time in at 
least 10 years. The assignment of the Peacocks 
unit to Poundland has improved footfall and five 
other new lettings totalling £85,000 of rent have 
been concluded in the year.

19

1  Corby Town Centre, Corby

2  The Morgan Quarter, Cardiff

3  The Guineas, Newmarket

4 Otford Retail Park, Sevenoaks

5  Clyde Shopping Centre, Clydebank

 
 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

principal investment properties

central london  
offices

Shepherds Building, 
Shepherds Bush, W14 

This 151,000 multi-let office building close 
to Westfield Shopping Centre has enjoyed an 
occupancy of at least 96% for the last 6 years. 
There is currently just 2.6% vacant and rental 
growth prospects are strong. Average rent in  
the building is £24.25 psf with recent letting 
evidence in the locality from £27.50 to £30.00. 
ERV for the building stands at £4.2m compared 
to a passing rent of £3.6m.

We are planning to undertake a major 
refurbishment of the common parts of the 
building during the course of the year with  
a view to driving rental values forward. 

20

principal investment properties 

helical bar plc 2013

1

3

4

5

1/2  Shepherds Building 

London W14 

3  Barts Square 
London EC1

2

4/5  Silverthorne Road, Battersea 

London SW8

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21

 
 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

principal investment properties 
principal investment properties

22

207-211  
Old Street, 
London EC1

This 3.12 acre asset was acquired in 
November 2012 for £60.8m in joint 
venture with Crosstree Real Estate 
Partners LLP (Helical interest 33.3%). The 
site is in the heart of “Tech City”, an area 
of London which is a hub for technology, 
media and telecommunications 
companies and is benefitting from 
substantial investment in infrastructure.

Since acquisition plans have been 
developed to substantially increase  
the amount of space on site, refurbish 
existing areas and significantly upgrade 
the public realm. A planning application 
has recently been submitted. 

Whilst working on our refurbishment 
plans we are managing our existing 
tenant relationships on site to ensure  
a rental income surplus. 

principal investment properties 
principal investment properties

helical bar plc 2013

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23

Barts Square, London EC1
www.bartssquare.com

In joint venture with The Baupost Group LLC (Baupost 66.7%, Helical 33.3%) we own the 
freehold interest in land and buildings at Bartholomew Close, Little Britain and Montague Street, 
a 3.2 acre site adjacent to the new Barts Hospital and just south of Smithfield Market. The 
current buildings comprise 420,000 sq ft let to the NHS for circa £3.5m per annum on a number 
of short term leases that expire between 2014 and 2016. In November 2012, a resolution to 
grant planning permission was obtained and planning consent has now been issued following 
signing of the s.106 agreement. The scheme will bring much needed regeneration to this area of 
the City and will seek to retain some of the existing buildings and complement them with a 
sympathetic redevelopment of the site. It will comprise circa 230,000 sq ft of office space in two 
buildings and 215 high quality residential apartments in 17 buildings with retail space at ground 
floor level. Significant public realm improvements are planned, which will be incorporated into the 
wider Smithfield Area Strategy being worked up by the City. We estimate a total development 
value of circa £470m.

 
 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

development programme 

18%

poland

 3%

other  

15%

london offices

Helical’s  
Helical’s  
equity share
equity share

13%

offices

21%

mixed use

30%

retirement villages

In the year to 31 March 2013, profits 
from the Group’s development 
programme of £7.7m (2012: £5.2m) 
were partially offset by provisions of 
£0.7m (2012: £4.5m) made against the 
carrying value of development stock, 
leaving net development profits of 
£7.0m, up from £0.7m in 2012. 

Looking at the individual schemes, 
profits of £6.1m were recognised in 
respect of our share of the result at 
Fulham Wharf, London SW6 and £1.4m 
was generated at our retirement village 
scheme at Bramshott Place, Liphook. 
At 200 Aldersgate, London EC1, we 
were able to recognise £1.0m of an 
additional management fee in addition 
to the development management fees 
of £0.25m. However, the sales of land 
at Stockport, Milton and Exeter and 
units at Hailsham for total sale proceeds 
of £19.6m, created a loss of £0.3m, 
mainly arising from sale expenses.  
In addition, we wrote off the overheads 
of our retail development programme 
in Poland and reduced the carrying 
value of the completed development 
at Wroclaw, pending renewal of leases 
in 2013, with a resulting charge of 
£1.7m from our Polish operations. 

The focus of the Group over the last year has been on attaining the 
milestones set by the Company a year ago. 

Property

200 Aldersgate, London EC1

Milestone

Lettings

Progress during the year

200,595 sq ft of new lettings

Europa Centralna, Gliwice

Completion and lettings

Scheme completed and opened March 2013, 80% let

Fulham Wharf, London SW6

Sale/fee settlement

Sale completed, fee agreed

Barts Square, London EC1

Brickfields, White City W12

Planning consent

Planning consent

Consent granted

Resolution to grant consent obtained March 2013

Mitre Square, London EC3

Demolition

Start demolition in June 2013

Hammersmith Town Hall, W6

Planning consent

Revised scheme to be submitted July 2013

Helical Retail Projects

Conditional purchases

Ongoing

24

 
WOOD STREET

WALTHAMSTOW CENTRAL

WALTHAMSTOW QUEEN'S ROAD

LEYTON MIDLAND ROAD

LEYTON

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development programme 

KILBURN HIGH ROAD

HARLESDEN

KENSAL RISE

QUEENS PARK (LONDON)

WILLESDEN JUNCTION

KENSAL GREEN

ISLINGTON

HIGHBURY & ISLINGTON

CANONBURY

DALSTON KINGSLAND

HACKNEY DOWNS

CALEDONIAN ROAD & BARNSBURY

DALSTON

helical bar plc 2013

ESSEX ROAD

HAGGERSTON

LONDON FIELDS

HOXOOO OXTOON
ONNNNTOO
HOXTON

LONDON EUSTON

OLD STREET

SHOREDITCH

HNHBETHTHBETHN
BETHNAL GREEN

ACTON MAIN LINE

LONDON PADDINGTON

central london

FARRINGDON 

HOLBORN

CITY THAMESLINK

BLACKFRIARS 

CHARING CROSS
CHACCHARRARACCHC

LIVERPOOL STREET

200 Aldersgate

MOORGATE

CCHH
L
CHAPELAPEELLAPH ELEHHAH
WHITECHAPEL

CITY OF LONDON
CANNON STREET

Mitre Square

FENCHURCH STREET

SHADWELL
SHH DW
SHADW

WAPPING
WAWWWWW

ACTON CENTRAL

SHEPHERD'S BUSH

SOUTH ACTON

KENSINGTON OLYMPIA

WATERLOO EAST

WATERLOO

LONDON BRIDGE

LONDON VICTORIA

ELEPHANT & CASTLE
EPH N & CA&& CACA
L HA
ELEPHAN
AAANAN
ANT & 
EEEE
EELEL HHAPHAH
N
ASTLE
ASTLE
& CCA

LAMBETH

WEST BROMPTON

VAUXHALL (LONDON)

CHISWICK

IMPERIAL WHARF

QUEENSTOWN ROAD (BATTERSEA)

BATTERSEA PARK

BARNES BRIDGE

MORTLAKE

BARNES

WANDSWORTH ROAD

CLAPHAM HIGH STREET

PUTNEY

WANDSWORTH TOWN

CLAPHAM JUNCTION

WANDSWORTH COMMON

200 Aldersgate Street, London EC1 
www.200aldersgate.com

BALHAM

EARLSFIELD

STREATHAM

Helical was appointed asset and development 
manager by Deutsche Pfandbriefbank in May 
2010. Our brief was to refurbish and let this 
office building, vacant since 2005 when the 
previous tenant, Clifford Chance, relocated to 
Canary Wharf. We have refreshed and re-clad 
parts of the building, creating a “vertical village” 
for office users comprising a variety of floor-plates 
to suit a range of different occupiers, as well as 
exceptional tenant facilities, including a concierge 
cycle store service, an on-site gym and a café 
and business lounge. Refurbishment works 
were completed and the building re-launched 
in January 2011.The building now comprises 
348,000 sq ft of offices, 16,673 sq ft of retail 
and 39,601 sq ft of basement space. The 
refurbishment works were completed within 
budget in December 2010 and we have been 

seeking tenants for the vacant space since 
that date. By 31 March 2013 we had let 
208,261 sq ft of office space, 9,000 sq ft of 
retail and the whole of the basement space to 
Virgin Active. Since then we have let 103,323 
sq ft of space and have under offer a further 
21,430 sq ft feet of offices and the remaining 
7,673 sq ft of retail. This leaves just 14,714 sq ft 
of office space to let. Rents of £40 to £45 psf 
have been achieved on the larger floors 
(20,000 sq ft to 40,000 sq ft) and £50 to £55 psf 
on the smaller upper floors. Now the building is 
over 80% let our right to receive a development 
management profit share is triggered. We 
anticipate receiving our profit share in 2013. 

25

 
 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

development programme  
development programme 

Mitre Square, London EC3 
www.mitresquareec3.com

Mitre Square is a landmark City office scheme in the heart of the insurance sector in London. 
We have signed agreements to purchase two adjoining sites from the City of London and 
SFL2 Limited (previously Ansbacher) and will complete the purchase of 1 Mitre Square in 
the Summer of 2013. The s.106 agreement, which enabled the planning permission to be 
issued, was signed in 2011. We have commenced the demolition of the existing buildings to 
facilitate the construction of a new building comprising offices of 273,000 sq ft NIA and 
3,000 sq ft of retail/restaurant use. It is anticipated that construction will not commence until 
a substantial pre-let is agreed or a forward funding is obtained and the finished development 
will have a capital value of circa £250m. 

26

WOOD STREET

WALTHAMSTOW CENTRAL

WALTHAMSTOW QUEEN'S ROAD

LEYTON MIDLAND ROAD

LEYTON

ISLINGTON

HIGHBURY & ISLINGTON

CANONBURY

DALSTON KINGSLAND

HACKNEY DOWNS

CALEDONIAN ROAD & BARNSBURY

ESSEX ROAD

HAGGERSTON

LONDON FIELDS

DALSTON

HOXTON

OLD STREET

SHOREDITCH

BETHNAL GREEN

FARRINGDON 

LIVERPOOL STREET

MOORGATE

WHITECHAPEL

HOLBORN

CITY THAMESLINK

BLACKFRIARS 

CITY OF LONDON

CANNON STREET

FENCHURCH STREET

CHARING CROSS

SHADWELL

WAPPING

WATERLOO EAST

WATERLOO

LONDON BRIDGE

HARLESDEN

KILBURN HIGH ROAD

KENSAL RISE

QUEENS PARK (LONDON)

WILLESDEN JUNCTION

KENSAL GREEN

helical bar plc 2013

LONDON EUSTON

development programme 

ACTON MAIN LINE

LOO
LONDON PADDINGTON

White City

ACTON CENTRAL

SHEPHERD'S BUSH

SOUTH ACTON

KENSINGTON OLYMPIA

west london

Hammersmith

WEST BROMPTON

ELEPHANT & CASTLE

LAMBETH

VAUXHALL (LONDON)

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LONDON VICTORIA

BATTERSEA PARK
BATTERTEATTBATTE

CHISWICKW CS CWWI KCK
CHISWICK

BARNES BRIDGE
BAA

MORTLAKE
OMM
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RTT
MORTLAKE

BARNES

IMPERIAL WHARF

Fulham Wharf

QUEENSTOWN ROAD (BATTERSEA)
TOWN RWN RRO
QUEENSTOWN RO
EENSTTOOWN

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WANDSWORTH ROAD

CLAPHAM HIGH STREET

PUTNEY

WANDSWORTH TOWN

CLAPHAM JUNCTION
UNCTIONOONTCTIOOOO

JUJU JU

WANDSWORTH COMMON

EARLSFIELD

BALHAM

STREATHAM

King Street, Hammersmith, 
London W6

We have a development agreement with the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham, in 
partnership with residential specialist Grainger plc, for the regeneration of the west end of King 
Street, Hammersmith. Despite obtaining a resolution to grant planning consent in November 
2011, its referral to the Mayor was withdrawn pending further discussions with the Greater 
London Authority. We have revised our plans, following detailed consultation with interested 
parties, and intend submitting a new planning application in the Summer of 2013. 

27

 
 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

development programme  

Brickfields, 
White City, 
London W12
(www.brickfieldsw12.com)

In joint venture with Aviva, we have 
obtained a resolution to grant planning 
permission for a residential led mixed use 
scheme on a 10 acre site immediately 
adjacent to White City underground 
station. The Eric Parry designed master 
plan comprises c. 1.25 million sq ft of 
residential, 210,000 sq ft of commercial 
and 60,000 sq ft of retail, leisure and 
community uses. In May 2013, 
contracts were exchanged for the sale 
of the site and completion is due in 
August 2013.

28

development programme  

helical bar plc 2013

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Fulham Wharf,  
London SW6

At Sands End, Fulham Wharf, on behalf of landowner Sainsbury’s, 
we secured planning permission for a new 100,000 sq ft food store, 
together with 463 residential units (590,000 sq ft) and 11,000 sq ft 
of restaurant, retail and community use. In June 2012, the site 
was sold to a joint venture between housebuilder, Barratts, and 
London & Quadrant housing association. Construction of the first 
phase, consisting of the food store and 267 residential units has 
commenced. Helical received a fee of £1.5m in 2011 for obtaining 
planning permission for the scheme and has recognised a profit 
share from the sale of the site and will receive the cash as phased 
payments are made to Sainsbury’s. In accordance with the Group’s 
income recognition policies and IFRS, the Group has recognised 
this additional income in these accounts. 

29

 
 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

development programme 

out of london offices

St Vincent Street,  
Glasgow,

The Hub,  
Pacific Quay, Glasgow

Helical, in partnership with local development 
partner, Dawn Developments Ltd, has been 
appointed development manager by Scottish 
Power for the construction of their new headquarters 
at St Vincent Street, Glasgow. The completed 
building will comprise 220,000 sq ft of prime office 
space in the heart of the city’s commercial district. 
As part of the deal, Helical are taking on three 
existing Scottish Power sites which are surplus to 
their requirements. Planning permission has been 
granted and a start on site is expected later this 
year. 

The Hub, Pacific Quay, Glasgow was completed 
in 2009. This 60,000 sq ft building offers flexible 
office space with an onsite cafe and events area. 
Located in the midst of a media hotbed with BBC 
Scotland and STV as neighbours, this scheme 
has been partly let to The Digital Design Studio, 
the commercial arm of Glasgow School of Art, 
Shed Media and other high-tech, media-orientated 
tenants. The tenant demand has been strong 
this year and the building is now 81% let. 

1

1  The Hub 

Pacific Quay, Glasgow

2  St Vincent Street  

Glasgow

2

30

development programme 

retail

helical bar plc 2013

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We continue to work closely with the main 
food retailers with a view to satisfying their 
ongoing new store requirements. Whilst 
there is no doubt the heat has come out of 
the occupier market, their appetite for 
stores in key locations, where a quality 
proposal can be delivered, is likely to 
continue going forward.

Parkgate, Shirley,  
West Midlands

At Parkgate Shirley, where we have a 50% 
interest, we continue to make good progress 
with the construction of an 80,000 sq ft Asda 
foodstore, and 78,000 sq ft of retail and leisure 
accommodation, 50% of which is in solicitors’ 
hands. The scheme is due to open for trade 
April in 2014. The private residential element of 
the scheme is under offer to a major housebuilder 
and the site for 51 Extracare units is being 
purchased by a local Housing Association.

Leisure Plaza,  
Milton Keynes

At Leisure Plaza, Milton Keynes, we have planning 
consent for 113,000 sq ft of retail together with 
the existing 65,000 sq ft ice rink. We are working 
with the various interested parties in this 
development to bring it forward with a view to 
starting construction later this year.

31

1  Leisure Plaza 
Milton keynes

2  Parkgate  

Shirley

 
 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

development programme  

Europa Centralna, Gliwice 
720,000 sq ft of  
out-of-town retail space 

Park Handlowy Mlyn,  
Wroclaw

Wroclaw is a large city in West Poland, some 
100km from the German border and 470km 
south of Warsaw. This 9,600 sq m (103,000 sq ft) 
out of town retail development was completed 
in December 2008 and is fully let to a number of 
domestic and international retailers including T K 
Maxx, Media Expert, Makro, Deichmann, Smyk, 
Komfort and others. 

Europa Centralna,  
Gliwice

This retail park and shopping centre was built in 
50:50 joint venture with clients of Standard Life. 
The scheme is situated to the south of Gliwice 
at the intersection of the A4 and A1 motorways. 
This highly visible scheme has unparalleled 
accessibility and will be a major regional shopping 
destination. It comprises approximately 66,000 
sq m (720,000 sq ft) of retail space, incorporating 
three distinct parts, being a foodstore, DIY and 
household goods and fashion. The scheme is now 
over 80% let to Tesco, Castorama, H & M, Media 
Saturn, Sports Direct, Jula and others. Construction 
completed in February 2013 and the scheme 
opened on 1 March 2013. The sale of 50% in 
2011 includes a provision that we will sell the 
remaining ownership stake two years after the 
date of completion of the development to the 
same clients of Standard Life. 

Evesham

A seven acre site has been secured in the Four 
Pools retail area in Evesham and a planning 
application is being worked up for a foodstore and 
discussions are in hand with potential operators.

Truro

In Truro, we have entered into a Conditional 
Purchase Agreement on the six acre Truro City 
Football Club site and a scheme is being put 
together to satisfy the requirement of a major 
foodstore operator. A planning application is 
likely to be submitted in the Autumn of this year. 
Proposals for a non-food 60,000 sq ft retail park 
on an adjoining site are also in hand.

Nottingham

We were delighted to be selected by 
Nottinghamshire County Council to be their 
development partner on an eight acre site at 
Hucknall, Nottingham where we will be progressing 
a foodstore scheme, which will act as a catalyst 
for major residential and employment developments 
to be promoted by the Council in due course. 
A planning application will be submitted once 
we have secured an operator for the foodstore 
later in the year.

Ross-on-Wye

At Ross-on-Wye we are seeking the change of 
use of a former DIY unit to enable a letting to a 
foodstore operator. The 30,000 sq ft building will 
be retained and converted following 
refurbishment.

Kingswinford

We are working with landowner, Ibstock, to 
develop a 16 acre site in Kingswinford for a 
foodstore and 100 residential units which would 
be built out by a housebuilder following planning 
consent. A planning application is due to be 
submitted later in the year.

Leicester

In Leicester terms have been agreed with corporate 
landowners to progress a foodstore development 
for a 70,000 sq ft store and petrol filling station.

Birmingham

In Birmingham we are reconfiguring the 
foodstore and non-food scheme in Tyseley to 
reflect changing retail operator requirements and 
in Stechford we are working up another 
foodstore site and we hope to be submitting a 
planning application in the Autumn.

32

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helical bar plc 2013

development programme  
development programme 

retirement villages

A retirement village is a private residential 
community in which active over-55s are able 
to live independently in retirement. Residents 
have typically down-sized from a larger family 
home into a cottage or apartment which 
provides no maintenance or security issues.

With access to a central clubhouse containing 
a bar and restaurant facilities, health and 
fitness rooms and surrounded by maintained 
grounds, this retirement option is proving 
increasingly popular.

Bramshott Place, 
Liphook, Hampshire

The original Bramshott Place Village was an 
Elizabethan mansion built in 1580, although now 
only the original Grade II listed Tudor Gatehouse 
remains, which we have fully restored. The land 
and buildings were derelict when Helical acquired 
them in 2001. Changing planning from its previously 
designated employment use to a retirement 
village took several years but was eventually 
achieved in 2006.

The development of 151 cottages and apartments, 
and the new clubhouse, started in late 2007 and 
has proceeded in phases as units are sold. 
Construction of the final phase of 55 units completed 
in late 2012. To date, we have sold 115 units 
(£44.25m of proceeds) with reservations on 
a further 14 units, with just 22 units, mainly 
apartments, left to sell. 

34

Durrants Village, 
Faygate, Horsham, West Sussex

Millbrook Village,
Exeter

Durrants Village, a 30 acre site, had operated as 
a sawmill with outside storage for many years. 
We were granted planning permission, at appeal, 
in May 2009 following a public inquiry where the 
Inspector allowed a development comprising a 
retirement village of 148 units, eight affordable 
housing units, a 50 bed residential care home 
and a central facilities clubhouse building. 
Following changes to the scheme the development 
will be for 171 units. The first phase (43 units) 
started in May 2012 for the construction of a 
retirement village and clubhouse and we have 
exchanged on one sale and have reservations 
on 16 units with up-field reservations on a 
further 13 units in future phases.

Maudslay Park, 
Great Alne, Warwickshire

This is a Green Belt site which has 320,000 sq ft 
of built footprint and benefits from Major 
Development Site planning policy. Measuring 
82 acres this site received outline planning 
permission in April 2011 for a retirement village 
of 132 units plus 47 extra care units. Demolition 
and enabling works have completed with 
construction to follow in autumn 2013. 

This 19 acre site was acquired in 2007 from 
the St Loye’s Foundation, a long established 
rehabilitation college in the city of Exeter. 
Resolution to grant planning permission was 
obtained in October 2009 for a retirement village 
of 206 units, a 50 bed residential care home, 
an affordable extra-care block of 50 units and a 
central facilities clubhouse building. Demolition, 
site clearance and archaeological survey work 
have been completed. In 2011 we received 
planning consent for 63 open market housing 
units on part of the site and sold this part in 
summer 2012. Construction of a retirement 
village and clubhouse in phases on the 
remainder of the site is expected to commence 
in summer 2013.

Ely Road, 
Milton, Cambridge

This 21 acre site was acquired from EDF in 
2006 and was previously used as a training 
centre and depot. Located within the Green 
Belt, planning permission had been obtained for 
a retirement village of 101 units and a central 
facilities clubhouse building. In 2011, we 
received consent for 89 open market housing 
units and sold the whole site in summer 2012. 

financial review

Helical’s business model
Helical aims to deliver market leading returns by acquiring high yielding 
investment properties, applying a rigorous approach to asset management 
and deploying limited equity into development situations which have the 
potential to be highly profitable. We have set a target balance between 
the income producing portfolio and non-income producing development 
stock of 75:25, and have an active asset management programme for 
the investment portfolio with a clear strategy of increasing net operating 
income. Risks associated with our development programme are mitigated 
through limited equity exposure, options, forward funding, conditional 
contracts and joint ventures with major UK and global institutions. Our 
aim is to have a stable platform with all recurring operational and finance 
costs and dividends fully covered by revenue streams from our investment 
portfolio, as supplemented by short term rental income from the development 
programme. Gearing is used on a tactical basis, being raised to accentuate 
property performance when property returns are judged to materially 
outperform the cost of debt. 

Joint ventures
Increasingly, we are entering into joint ventures with partners who provide 
the majority of the equity for an acquisition, in return for accessing Helical’s 
asset management or development expertise, thereby reducing Helical’s 
financial risk but allowing exceptional returns to be made. We are bound 
by accounting convention to account for our share of the net results and 
net assets of joint ventures in limited detail in the income statement and 
balance sheet, as supplemented in the notes to the financial statements. 
In this review we have incorporated the separate components into a more 
detailed “See-through” analysis of our property portfolio and debt profile 
and the associated income streams and financing costs, to assist in 
providing a more comprehensive overview of the Group’s activities.

European Public Real Estate Association (“EPRA”)
The European Public Real Estate Association is a body which aims, through 
its best practice recommendations, to make the financial statements of public 
real estate companies clearer, more transparent and comparable across 
Europe. Earnings reported in the income statement as required under IFRS 
do not provide stakeholders with the most relevant information on the operating 
performance of the underlying property portfolio of real estate companies. 
A key measure of a company’s operational performance and the extent to 
which its dividend payments to shareholders are underpinned by earnings is 
the level of recurring income arising from core operational activities. Unrealised 
changes in valuation, gains or losses on disposals of properties and certain 
other items do not necessarily provide an accurate picture of the company’s 
underlying operational performance and are, therefore, excluded from this 
measure. 

Net asset value is a key performance measure used in the real estate industry. 
However, net asset value as reported in the financial statements under IFRS 
does not provide stakeholders with the most relevant information on the fair 
value of the assets and liabilities within an ongoing real estate investment 
company with a long term investment strategy. The objective of the EPRA 
NAV measure is to highlight the fair value of net assets on an ongoing, 
long-term basis. Assets and liabilities that are not expected to crystallise in 
normal circumstances such as the fair value of financial derivatives and deferred 
taxes on property valuation surpluses are therefore excluded. Similarly 
trading properties and development are adjusted to their fair value under 
EPRA’s measure.

8
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60

50

40

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20

10

0

6
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4
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4,000
2
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500
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2010

2011

2012

2013

Value of property portfolio

Loan to value

Net debt

9

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6

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9

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2010

2011

2012

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20,000

0

Value of property portfolio

2009

2010

0

Loan to value

2012

2011

2013

0

Net debt

Gross bank debt – wholly owned

Total gross bank debt

Gross bank debt – in joint ventures

£m

700

600

500

400

300

200

100

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£000’s

£m

140,000

700

120,000

600

100,000

500

400

80,000

300

60,000

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helical bar plc 2013
0

2013

Total gross bank debt
2010

2009

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2011

Gross bank debt – wholly owned

-8,000

2013

2012

2011

Gross bank debt – in joint ventures

EPRA earnings/(loss)

£’000

10,000
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10
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2

2011

2
4
2

0
8
2

6
8
2

2012

2013

)
9
0
0
,
7
(

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

-8,000

2012
2013
Value of property portfolio

2011

2010
Loan to value

2009

Net debt

EPRA earnings/(loss)

Diluted EPRA earnings per share

p
0
.
9

3
3
7
,
3
1
3

p 
£000 
10

318,000
8
£000’s
6
140,000
310,000
4

2
120,000
302,000
0
100,000
294,000
-2

-4
80,000
286,000
-6

p
9
.
2

8
9
3
,
4
9
2

)
p
4
6
.
6
5
(
3
,
5
9
2

4
6
2
,
4
6

8
1
1
,
9
5

2011
2011

p
4
.
3

9
8
6
,
9
9

8
6
5
,
8
8
2

2012
2010

£000’s

140,000

p
4
.
2
2
5
2
,
0
0
3

120,000

100,000

80,000

2013
2009

60,000

0
0
4
,
7
4

40,000

20,000

60,000
-8
0

2009
2013

2010
2012

40,000

EPRA net assets

2
2
7
,
0
4

2
5
9
,
3
1

7
4
2
,
1
1

Diluted EPRA net asset value per share
20,000
p 

0
2
7

320
0

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

0

300

Gross bank debt – wholly owned

Total gross bank debt

Gross bank debt – in joint ventures

280

p
6
8
2

3
3
7
,
3
1
3

2009

4
4
8
,
2

2013

2009

p

6

8

2

p

0

.

9

2009

260
£’000
£000 
240
10,000
318,000

220
8,000
310,000
200
6,000
302,000

4,000
294,000

£000’s  
2,000
286,000
30,000

0

0

25,000

20,000

-2,000

15,000

-4,000

p 

10,000

-6,000

320

5,000

300

-8,000

0

280

240

p 

220

10

8

200

6

4

2

0

-4

-6

-8

£000’s  

30,000

-2

25,000

20,000

15,000

10,000

5,000

£000 

318,000

310,000

302,000

294,000

286,000

p 

320

300

280

260

240

220

200

£000’s  

30,000

25,000

20,000

15,000

10,000

5,000

p
2
7
2

p
3
5
2

p
0
5
2

p
4
6
2

8
0
7
,
8

2010

2011

2012

2013

2
5
2
0
0
3

,

8

2009

8

6

,

4

2

35

6
5
3

,

5
9
2

7

7

7

,

7

1

)

9

0

0

,

7

(

p

3

5

2

)

p

4

.

6

(

8
8
0
9
0
3
,
4
,
4
9
2

3

6

8

,

4

1

p

9

.

2

3

6

8

,

4

1

0
2
1
8
,
6
3
5
8
8
2

,

6

3

9

,

2

2

p

0

5

2

p

4

.

3

6

3

9

,

2

2

8

6

5

,

8

8

2

p

4

6

2

p

4

.

2

8

8

6

,

4

2

2

5

2

,

0

0

3

p

4

6

2

2013

2012

2011

2010

EPRA net assets

2012

2010

2011

2011

2010

2012

2009

2013

EPRA earnings/(loss)

Net rental income

260

p

2

7

2

2010

2011

2012

2013

2009

2010

2012

2013

2011

7

7

7

,

7

1

0

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Net rental income

3

3

7

,

3

1

3

8

9

3

,

4

9

2

6

5

3

,

5

9

2

0

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

EPRA net assets

p

6

8

2

p

2

7

2

p

3

5

2

p

0

5

2

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

8

8

6

,

4

2

6

3

9

,

2

2

7

7

7

,

7

1

3

6

8

,

4

1

0

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

Net rental income

 
 
 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

financial review

EPRA Earnings
Adjusted EPRA Earnings per share, before performance related awards, increased by 116% to 8.2p per share (2012: 3.8p), reflecting increased 
development profits of £7.0m (2012: £0.7m) and the Group’s share of net rental income of £24.5m (2012: £22.9m). After taking into account 
performance related bonuses and share awards of £6.8m (2012: £0.4m), EPRA Earnings per share reduced to 2.4p (2012: 3.4p). 

EPRA Earnings

Earnings as per note 14

Add: performance related awards

Add: adjustments as per note 14

Adjusted EPRA Earnings

Less: Performance related awards

EPRA Earnings

Adjusted diluted EPRA Earnings per share

Diluted EPRA Earnings per share

31.3.13 
£000

31.3.12 
£000

5,867

6,828

(3,023)

9,672

(6,828)

2,844

8.2p

2.4p

7,575

415

(3,567)

4,423

(415)

4,008

3.8p

3.4p

EPRA net asset value
Diluted EPRA net asset value per share increased by 5.6% to 264.0p per share (2012: 250.0p). This rise was principally due to an increase in the value  
of the property portfolio, including the surplus on valuation of the trading and development stock of £49.9m (2012: £34.5m) including our share of the 
surplus in the joint ventures.

EPRA net asset value

Diluted net asset value

EPRA Adjustments for:

Fair value of trading and development stock, including in joint ventures

Fair value of financial instruments

Deferred tax

Diluted EPRA net asset value

31.3.13 
£000

31.3.13 
p per share

31.3.12 
£000

31.3.12 
p per share

257,242

217

255,312

217

49,865

6,048

578

34,542

3,494

1,050

313,733

264

294,398

250

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See-through net rental income and property overheads
Helical’s share of the gross rental income, head rents payable and property overheads from property assets held in subsidiaries and in joint ventures are 
shown in the table below. 

Gross rental income

Total gross rental income

Rents payable

– subsidiaries

– joint ventures

– subsidiaries

– joint ventures

2009
£000

20,781

197

20,978

(12)

(1)

2010
£000

18,881

1,106

19,987

(12)

(406)

Property overheads

– subsidiaries

(2,394)

(3,732)

Net rental income attributable to profit share partner

– joint ventures

–

(693)

–

(986)

2011
£000

18,590

5,531

24,121

(24)

(1,000)

(3,662)

(941)

(717)

2012
£000

23,058

6,645

29,703

(418)

(848)

2013
£000

25,816

6,193

32,009

(342)

(802)

(3,938)

(5,186)

(737)

(826)

(510)

(710)

See-through net rental income

17,878

14,851

17,777

22,936

24,459

See-through net finance costs
Helical’s share of the interest payable, finance charges, capitalised interest and interest receivable on bank borrowings and cash deposits in 
subsidiaries and in joint ventures are shown in the table below. 

2009
£000

Interest payable on bank loans and overdrafts

– subsidiaries

15,890

Total interest payable on bank loans and overdrafts

Other interest payable and similar charges

– subsidiaries

– joint ventures

Interest capitalised

Total finance costs

Interest receivable and similar income

See-through net finance costs

– joint ventures

– subsidiaries

– joint ventures

16

15,906

268

(6,855)

9,319

(2,082)

(252)

6,985

2010
£000

10,956

492

11,448

1,568

(3,196)

9,820

(1,039)

(2)

8,779

2011
£000

9,690

1,704

11,394

1,481

(4,179)

8,696

(652)

(11)

2012
£000

10,808

2,223

13,031

901

(3,300)

10,632

(583)

(12)

2013
£000

10,445

2,269

12,714

1,658

(2,526)

11,846

(887)

(66)

8,033

10,037

10,893

See-through property portfolio
Helical’s share of the investment, trading and property portfolio in subsidiaries and joint ventures are shown in the table below. 

2009
£000

2010
£000

2011
£000

2012
£000

2013
£000

Investment property

– subsidiaries

241,287

219,901

271,876

326,876

312,026

– joint ventures

–

Total investment property

Trading and development stock

– subsidiaries

– joint ventures

Trading and development stock surplus

– subsidiaries

241,287

210,415

13,761

45,456

Total trading and development stock

See-through property portfolio

– joint ventures

–

269,632

510,919

45,300

265,201

182,576

14,346

32,991

–

229,913

495,114

65,870

337,746

147,542

14,434

32,436

–

194,412

532,158

67,187

94,962

394,063

406,988

99,741

44,324*

33,107

1,435

178,607

572,670

92,874

76,698*

48,837

1,028

219,437

626,425

* Trading and development stock of joint ventures includes the Group’s share of development stock of Helical Sosnica Sp zoo (see note 19).

37

 
 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

financial review

See-through net borrowings
Helical’s share of borrowings and cash deposits in subsidairies and joint ventures are shown in the table below.

2009
£000

In parent and subsidiaries

– gross borrowings less than one year

48,155

– gross borrowings more than one year 249,297

Total

297,452

In joint ventures

– gross borrowings less than one year

4,352

– gross borrowings more than one year

1,292

Total

5,644

2010
£000

72,459

170,229

242,688

1,852

27,900

29,752

2011
£000

37,500

199,917

237,417

3,100

36,936

40,036

2012
£000

59,203

203,992

263,195

1,500

54,342*

55,842

2013
£000

39,295

220,446

259,741

720

72,509*

73,229

In parent and subsidiaries

Cash and cash equivalents

(72,776)

(39,800)

(31,327)

(35,411)

(36,863)

In joint ventures

Cash and cash equivalents

(2,094)

(3,958)

(4,138)

(3,627)

(9,793)

See-through net borrowings

228,226

228,682

242,078

279,999

286,314

* Gross borrowings in joint ventures include the Group’s share of borrowings of Helical Sosnica Sp. zoo. (see note 19).

Income Statement
The main focus of the year was on targeting and working towards the many development milestones that were set in early 2012. Whilst these had little 
effect on the income statement for the year under review, they are expected to have a significant impact on the profitability of the Group in future years. 
Apart from these milestones, we continued to dispose of investment properties which had reached their short to medium term potential as well as 
selling those development sites that were surplus to our development plans. We added to our investment portfolio through a major acquisition with a 
new joint venture partner and continued towards the Group’s stated target balance between the income producing property portfolio and non-income 
producing development stock of 75:25. 

Rental income and property overheads
Gross rental income receivable by the group in respect of wholly owned properties increased by 11.7% to £25.8m (2012: £23.1m), mainly reflecting the 
additions made towards the end of the previous financial year. The Group’s share of gross rents receivable in joint ventures fell 6.0% to £6.2m 
(2012: £6.6m). The see-through gross rents totalled £32.0m, an increase of 7.8% on 2012. After taking account of head rents payable on those 
properties held on long leases, and the costs of managing the assets, void costs and the amortisation of annual letting costs, see-through net rents 
increased by 7.0% to £24.5m (2012: £22.9m). Bad debts from tenant administrations and failures remained low at 2.4% of gross rents (2012: 2.0%).

38

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Development programme
Looking at the development programme, our success at Fulham Wharf, London SW6, enabled the Company to recognise further profits of £6.1m 
arising out of the development management agreement with Sainsbury’s. At 200 Aldersgate Street, London EC1, the success in letting space enables 
us to recognise £1.0m of an additional management fee receivable due when the property is sold, when we expect further substantial profits to be 
recognised based on our post year end performance. In addition, we completed the sale of the remaining units at our industrial development at 
Stockport and sold two of the remaining industrial units at Ropemaker Park, Hailsham, at their book value of £5m. The retirement village development 
programme was financed with sales of our undeveloped retirement village site at Milton, Cambridge, part of the site at Millbrook Village, Exeter and 
continued sales of units at Bramshott Place, Liphook, generating over £24m of net sale proceeds during the year. These sales, together with 
development finance agreed with our banks, provide the funding for the completion of works at Bramshott Place, the commencement of construction 
at Durrants Village, Faygate, as well as financing enabling works at Great Alne and Exeter. Profits of £1.4m were generated from the sales at Bramshott 
Place. 

Offsetting these profits we made a £0.8m provision against the carrying value of our fully let retail development at Wroclaw, Poland and have expensed 
the running costs of our Warsaw office, charging £1.7m in total from our Polish operations. Other provisions against stock totalled £0.7m (2012: 
£4.5m).

Share of results of joint ventures
As mentioned above, Helical has increasingly sought to acquire larger assets in joint venture with funds that provide the majority of the equity required 
to purchase the assets, whilst relying on the Group to provide the asset management or development expertise. These joint ventures include our share 
of the investment properties at Clyde Shopping Centre, Clydebank; Barts Square, London EC1 and 207-211 Old Street, London EC1, and our development 
schemes at Europa Centralna, Gliwice, Poland; Shirley Town Centre, West Midlands; Leisure Plaza, Milton Keynes and King Street, Hammersmith. 
Detailed analysis of the financial position of our share of these joint ventures is provided in note 19 to these accounts and the see-through analysis on 
pages 37 and 38. In the year under review, net rents of £4.9m (2012: £5.1m) were received, offset by net finance costs of £2.2m (2012: £2.2m). A gain 
on revaluation of the investment portfolio of £3.1m (2012: £0.6m), primarily arose in respect of Barts Square. Net of taxes, our joint ventures 
contributed £3.9m (2012: £2.5m). 

Administration costs
Administration costs, before performance related awards, increased by 9%, from £7.4m to £8.1m, mainly arising from an average salary rise of 5% 
for UK employees of the group. 

Performance related share awards and bonus payments increased to £6.8m (2012: £0.4m) for the year. Of this amount, the £1.9m (2012: £0.03m) 
charge for share awards under the Performance Share Plan is expensed through the Income Statement but added back to shareholders funds through 
the Statement of Changes in Equity. The £4.1m accrual for bonus payments comprises £2.7m which will be paid in June 2013, £0.8m which will be 
carried forward to next year in accordance with the terms of the Annual Bonus Scheme 2012 and £0.6m which will be paid in deferred shares to be 
held for a minimum of three years. In addition, National Insurance of £0.6m has been accrued for. 

Administration costs

Share awards plus associated NIC

Directors and senior executives bonuses plus associated NIC

Total

2009 
£000

7,410

342

338

8,090

2010 
£000

7,202

1,478

–

8,680

2011 
£000

7,312

(262)

–

7,050

2012 
£000

7,385

39

376

2013 
£000

8,092

2,122

4,706

7,800

14,920

Finance costs, finance income and derivative financial instruments
Interest payable on bank loans including our share of loans on assets held in joint ventures but before capitalised interest, fell marginally to £12.7m 
(2012: £13.0m). Capitalised interest reduced from £3.3m to £2.5m reflecting the lower level of development stock held during the year. Other interest 
payable increased from £0.9m to £1.7m. As a consequence of these movements, total finance costs increased by £1.2m from £10.6m to £11.8m. 
Finance income earned on cash deposits increased to £0.9m (2012:£0.6m).

Derivative financial instruments have been valued on a mark to market basis and a charge of £2.6m (2012: £0.3m) has been recognised in the 
Income Statement.

Taxation 
The deferred tax asset is principally derived from tax losses which the Group believe will be utilised against profits in the foreseeable future.

Investment portfolio
Sales of over £23m of investment assets, where our asset management initiatives were completed, provided funds, net of loan repayments, for the 
acquisition of our office refurbishment scheme in Old Street, London EC1, in joint venture with Crosstree, and for £5.1m of value enhancing capital 
expenditure on our investment portfolio. The sales of these investment assets generated a loss of £2.4m of which £0.6m represented transaction costs 
and £1.0m was in respect of our industrial estate at East Kilbride, which had suffered a number of tenant losses. The remaining assets were sold at 
c.98% of book value. 

Helical acquired no new wholly owned investment properties during the year. The capital expenditure of £5.1m added to the revaluation surplus of 
£3.7m was more than offset by the book value of properties sold of £23.9m, thereby reducing the value of the wholly owned investment properties 
from £326.9m to £312.0m. In joint venture we purchased 207-211 Old Street, London EC1 and this purchase, together with our share of a valuation 
uplift on the investment properties held in joint venture of £3.1m, took the Group’s share of the total investment portfolio, on a see-through basis, from 
£394.1m to £407.0m. 

39

 
 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

financial review

Borrowings and financial risk
The Group is well positioned to face the future with a sound financial base, having increased its income stream by replacing low growth assets with 
higher yielding retail properties, refinanced maturing debt with longer term bank facilities and reduced its exposure to any future interest rate rises by 
entering into new hedging instruments, taking advantage of current low interest rates. In addition, and with the backing of the major property lending 
banks, the Group has access to a number of new bank facilities which, when added to its cash balances, provides a level of liquidity and resources 
that enable it to deal with the current economic uncertainties and to continue to rebalance its portfolio through the acquisition of new income producing 
investment properties.

Debt profile at 31 March 2013 - excluding the effect of arrangement fees

Total 
Facility 
£000’s

Total 
Utilised 
£000’s

Investment facilities

218,526

202,110

Development and site holding facilities

Short term working capital facilities

66,620

10,972

51,092

9,132

296,118

262,434

Joint venture bank facilities

83,504

73,321

Total see-through debt

379,622

335,755

2014 
£000’s

7,782

23,120

9,132

40,034

720

40,754

2015 
£000’s

2,244

9,306

–

11,550

13,953

25,503

2016 
£000’s

59,101

4,660

–

63,761

58,648

2017 
£000’s

85,683

14,006

–

2018 
£000’s

47,400

–

–

99,689

47,400

–

–

122,409

99,689

47,400

The Group arranges its bank borrowings to suit its investment and development intentions as follows:

Investment facilities
These are typically for four to five years, financing the Group’s investment portfolio and a fully let retail development at Wroclaw in Poland with loan to 
value and income covenants. The value of the Group’s properties secured on these facilities at 31 March 2013 was £319,035,000 (2012: 
£330,251,000) with a corresponding loan to value of 63% (2012: 64%). Of the £7.8m due for repayment in the year to 31 March 2014, £6.2m has 
been refinanced and is now due for repayment in the year to 31 March 2017. The remaining amounts due in the two years to 31 March 2015 represent 
amortisation of loans during that period. The average maturity of the Group’s investment facilities at 31 March 2013 was 3.6 years, extended to 4.1 
years since that date. Since the year end £49.0m of debt, in three facilities maturing in the period to 31 March 2016, have been replaced by a £75m 
revolving credit facility, £49.3 drawn, repayable in the period to 31 March 2018.

Development and site holding facilities
These facilities finance the construction of the retirement villages at Bramshott Place, Liphook and Durrants Village, Horsham and the office 
development at The Hub, Glasgow. They also include site holding facilities at Exeter and Telford and fund the holding of the completed developments 
at Hedge End, Southampton and Ropemaker Park, Hailsham. Of the £23.1m due for repayment in the year to 31 March 2014, £6.0m has been 
refinanced into a five year facility and £10.1m is due for repayment in December 2013 and we shall look to enter into discussions with the relevant bank 
in the near future. We anticipate refinancing the remaining £7.0m in the near future. The average maturity of the Group’s development and site holding 
facilities at 31 March 2013 was 1.9 years.

Short term working capital facilities
These facilities provide working capital for the Group and c. £3.0m has been repaid since the year end. 

Joint venture bank facilities
As noted above we hold a number of investment and development properties in joint venture with third parties and include in the above table our share, 
in proportion to our economic interest, of the debt associated with each asset. Of the amount due to be repaid in the year to 31 March 2015, £11.7m 
is in respect of the investment holding facility for Barts Square, and timed for a potential redevelopment of the site. In the year to 31 March 2016, there 
are three facilities due to be repaid. In April 2015, our investment facility on the Clyde Shopping Centre, Clydebank, is repayable. In December 2015 we 
are due to repay the loan on 207-211 Old Street, London EC1, this repayment being timed to fit into plans for the refurbishment of the properties 
acquired in December 2012. The remaining debt repayable in this year relates to the development of the shopping centre and retail park at Europa 
Centralna, Gliwice. This development has been partly financed with a development facility due to convert into an investment facility, on satisfaction of a 
number of conditions precedent, by December 2013. At the option of the joint venture, the investment facility will be repayable within either three or five 
years. For the purposes of this debt maturity analysis we have assumed that all conditions precedent will be met and a term of three years is agreed 
with the bank. The average maturity of the Group’s share of bank facilities in joint ventures at 31 March 2013 was 2.4 years.

Cash and cash flow
At 31 March 2013,the Group had over £80m (2012: £65m) of cash and agreed, undrawn, committed bank facilities including its share in joint ventures 
as well as £27m (2012: £16m) of uncharged property on which it could borrow funds.

40

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Net borrowings and gearing
Net borrowings held by the Group have reduced during the year from £227.8m to £222.9m. Including the Group’s share of net debt of its joint ventures 
the Group’s share of total net debt has increased from £280.0m to £286.3m. 

Net borrowings and gearing

Net borrowings – Group

Net borrowings – Including joint ventures

Net assets

Gearing – Group 

Gearing – Including joint ventures

2012

2013

£227.8m

£222.9m

£280.0m

£286.3m

£253.7m

£253.8m

90%

110%

88%

113%

Hedging
At 31 March 2013 the Group had £135.6m (2012: £120.3m) of fixed rate debt with an average effective interest rate of 4.34% (2012: 4.80%), and 
£124.1m (2012: £142.9m) of floating rate debt with an average effective interest rate of 3.31% (2012: 3.47%). In addition, the Group had £82m of 
interest rate caps at an average of 4.00% (2012: £125m at 4.70%). In the joint ventures, the Group’s share of fixed rate debt was £27.5m (2012: 
£18.0m) with an average effective interest rate of 5.12% (2012: 5.20%), and £45.8m (2012: £37.8m) of floating rate debt with an effective rate of 
3.76% (2012: £3.54%). In addition, the joint ventures benefitted from £51.5m (2012: £49.0m) of interest rate caps at an average of 5.00% (2012: 
5.00%).

Interest cover
In assessing the results of the Group for each financial year, Helical considers its interest cover as a measure of its performance and its ability to finance 
its annual interest payments from its net operating income, before revaluation gains or losses on the investment portfolio and net realisable provisions 
on the trading and development stock. In the year to 31 March 2013, this interest cover was 2.7 times (2012: 2.8 times).

2009 
£000’s

17,878

(514)

15,040

1,335

33,739

2009 
£000’s

6,985

4.8x

2010 
£000’s

14,851

(10)

8,748

(4,909)

2011 
£000’s

17,777

(367)

(1,729)

4,842

2012 
£000’s

22,936

–

5,166

(376)

18,680

20,523

27,726

2010 
£000’s

8,779

2.1x

2011 
£000’s

8,033

2.6x

2012 
£000’s

10,037

2.8x

2013 
£000’s

24,459

(1)

7,616

(2,388)

29,686

2013 
£000’s

10,893

2.7x

See through net rental income 

Trading profits/(losses)

Development profits before provisions

Gain/(loss) on sale of investment properties

Net operating income

See-through net finance costs 

Interest cover

Tim Murphy 
Finance Director

23 May 2013

41

 
 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

corporate responsibility

Introduction
Helical recognises that our business activities impact on the environment 
and the wider communities in which we operate. As our business involves 
working with joint ventures and outsourcing partners, our direct impacts 
as a business are relatively small. However, we are aware of the influence 
we can exert through the implementation of responsible environmental and 
social practices via our partners, contractors and suppliers.

An endorsement of Helical’s commitment to managing environmental and 
social impact is our continued listing in the FTSE4Good Index. The 
FTSE4Good Index measures the performance of companies that meet 
globally recognised corporate responsibility standards and facilitates 
investment in those companies. Maintaining listed status on this Index 
remains a key priority for Helical, and shows our evolving approach to 
Corporate Responsibility. 

Managing corporate responsibility
Each year we review and update our environmental management system, 
which has been in place since 2003, and the updated environmental 
management system, available on our website, is embedded within the 
operations of Helical. Key elements of the system include:

•    ‘Environment’ and ‘Corporate Responsibility’ policies which set out 
Helical’s high-level commitment across a number of impact areas. 
These are reviewed at Board level annually and are implemented by 
our senior management team. 

•    Annual (and rolling) performance targets to enable us to focus our 

efforts throughout the year on measurable, yet achievable performance 
goals. This year we have continued to report on energy and water 
consumption at our large managed multi-let assets and head office, 
and measured our performance against quantitative targets set in 
2012/3. In addition, we have measured the proportion of waste at our 
managed assets as well as within our developments.

•    Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to help us monitor progress towards 

these targets and to ensure that we are able to report in line with 
investor disclosure requirements, notably FTSE4Good. It should be 
acknowledged that our particular business model with regard to the 
buying and selling of assets means that absolute performance 
measures can be difficult to compare year on year, hence this year we 
also report selected intensity KPIs.

•    A checklist to assist us in applying minimum sustainability requirements 
across our development activities. In collaboration with our consultants, 
we developed a sustainability project management checklist to ensure 
that sustainability issues are incorporated into all decisions throughout 
the development lifecycle. Introduced last year was a Contractor’s Checklist 
that is issued to individual contractors in order to address our 
corporate goals at the construction stage. 

•    Effective use of internal audit and review through quarterly meetings of 
key Helical personnel, their external corporate responsibility advisors 
and principal managing agents to ensure effective delivery of the 
objectives and targets.

The management system we have developed has been designed specifically 
to reflect the flexibility of Helical’s business model. It also reflects the key 
role that our partners play in delivering enhanced sustainability outcomes 
in all our business ventures, be they developments/refurbishments of which 
there have only been small scale refurbishments during 2012/3, or in the 
management of individual multi-let assets such as at Shepherds Building 
or Battersea Studios. 

Review of progress in the year to 31 March 2013
We manage our environmental and social impacts because there are 
business benefits in doing so. These benefits include increased ability to 
secure planning consent, improved marketability of assets to prospective 
tenants, reduced operating costs of assets, mitigating the risk of future 
legislation and regulation, and enhanced corporate reputation.

Below we outline our progress in relation to the each of our Corporate 
Responsibility impact areas. 

Environment
Our high-level corporate commitments to environmental issues are outlined 
in the Group’s Environmental Policy which can be found on our website. 
The Policy details our commitments across a range of impact areas and our 
development and property management activities. In 2012-13, we set 
ourselves 24 targets to guide the Environmental element of our Corporate 
Responsibility programme over the following 12 months. These targets 
address a range of impacts arising from our development and property 
management activities, including resource use and waste production, 
pollution, biodiversity, timber sourcing, tenant engagement, flood risk and 
sustainable design and construction. A full list of these targets can be 
found on our website. The performance against the key targets is 
summarised below.

•    At our Head office at Farm Street, we aimed to maintain our current 
performance given the significant improvement achieved in previous 
years. Usage of water and electricity were consistent with last year’s 
low level of consumption but there was a 40% increase in gas use 
reflecting the need for more heating due to the inclement weather 
over the past year.

•    At our managed multi-let offices, we continue to improve energy and 

water efficiency through the implementation of low and no cost measures. 
The specific target for 2012 was to achieve a 5% improvement against 
the 2010 baseline. A review of the data in the table below shows that 
performance is variable across the portfolio with the properties generally 
showing an overall increase in consumption. This reflects increasing 
occupancy and changes to the portfolio structure. An additional performance 
measure of average utilisation of kWh/ sq m for electricity and gas is 
provided for the portfolio and shows a general trend of a year on year 
increase reflecting again the increased occupancy and activity. An 
equivalent assessment is made of average water consumption which 
shows a consistent usage at between 0.5 and 0.67 m3 per square meter. 

•    At our managed shopping centres, comparative figures where available 
indicate a similar story that the performance is allied to overall occupancy. 
Although, it is pleasing to note that the replacement of all fluorescent 
light bulbs with light emitting diodes (LED) resulted in a 22% reduction 
in energy consumption year on year at Idlewells Shopping Centre. 

•    We continue to offer recycling facilities at all our managed assets. The 
success of our approach has been particularly demonstrated at Farm 
Street, the Shepherds Building, and Corby Town Centre Shopping 
Centre where 100% of waste is diverted from landfill. In addition, 
Ashdown Philips, the managing agents at Corby Town Centre were 
awarded a Gold Star in November 2012 at the National Recycling 
Awards. At other of our managed assets we comfortably exceeded our 
ongoing target of a recycling rate of at least 35%. 

42

corporate responsibility

helical bar plc 2013

•    One ongoing target is to proactively engage with our tenants to encourage 
improvements in efficient use of the buildings. A tenants’ engagement 
poster has been designed for use within each of the principal managed 
assets and is displayed in public areas to help achieve this aim. It is 
regularly reviewed to reflect changing performance data. Following this, 
individual property managers have engaged with tenants to try and see 
if there are ways in which efficiency initiatives can be introduced and to 
particularly encourage increased recycling within the portfolio. An example 
is Idlewells Shopping Centre where retailers were briefed on a new 
waste system by the waste contractor and advised on which skip 
could be used for which waste stream. Leaflets and signage were 
issued to all retailers and staff to guide correct disposal. Ongoing 
training and support has been offered by the waste management 
company and centre management team for retailers who have 
complex waste such as charity shops.

•    The success of a holistic approach to environmental management was 
again demonstrated by Clydebank Shopping Centre which followed its 
Green Apple Gold Award in the retail category for Scotland with a 
Bronze Award for retail in the UK wide Green Apple Awards for the 

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ongoing ‘Big Steps – Smaller Footprints’ initiative. Through a combination 
of regular communication with tenants and staff, promoting good practice 
with regard to recycling and energy use and encouraging eco friendly 
groups to use the centre to promote the message, significant reductions 
were achieved in both electricity consumption and waste disposed to 
landfill. A particularly pertinent initiative this year is the keeping of bees 
at the Centre to highlight to customers the importance of bees and the 
threat to their ongoing wellbeing through Colony Collapse Disorder.

•    There was limited activity throughout 2012-13 with regard to construction 
projects. Key corporate objectives including maximising waste recycling 
and addressing ecological considerations were achieved.

In addition, the Group has maintained our registration with CRC (Carbon 
Reduction Commitment) and has purchased 5,198 carbon allowances 
for the year 2012-13 based on the reported emissions for the portfolio as 
a whole. We have also reported for the first time to the Carbon Disclosure 
Project.

Below we present our utility consumption performance for multi-let buildings under management as well as our head office (where data availability permits). 

Head office and multi-let offices

Electricity
 2010-11
kWh

Electricity
 2011-12
kWh

Electricity
 2012-13
kWh

Gas 
2010-11
 kWh

Gas 
2011-12
 kWh

Gas 
2012-13
 kWh

Water 
2010-11 
m3

Water 
2011-12 
m3

Water 
2012-13
 m3

134,531

125,101

120,242

45,904

35,753

53,633

2,479

538

546

2,250,701

2,541,723

3,323,528

1,255,766

1,600,956

1,744,971

5,017

4,906

7,474

992,777

–

–

525,614

–

–

4,506

–

–

3,397,545

3,380,916

3,403,393

No gas

No gas

No gas

8,494

6,724

8,373

11-15 Farm Street, 
London W1

82 Silverthorne Road, 
London SW8

61 Southwark Street, 
London SE1

Shepherds Building, 
London W14

The Hub

328,436

374,277

610,070

392,587

513,019

740,212

n/a

n/a

n/a

Net lettable area sq m

35,767

29,542

29,542

21,739

15,514

15,514

30,193

23,968

23,968

Average utilisation  
kWh / sq m or m3/sq m

Shopping centres

199

205

252

102

139

164

0.68

0.51

0.68

Electricity 
2011-12
 kWh

Electricity
 2012-13
 kWh

Gas
 2011-12
 kWh

Gas 
2012-13 
kWh

Water 
2011-12 
m3

Water
2012-13
m3

The Guineas Shopping Centre, Newmarket 

56,231

68,695

356,845

387,451

Idlewells Shopping Centre, Sutton in Ashfield

397,985

309,597

70,576

44,266

Corby Town Centre, Corby

The Morgan Quarter, Cardiff

Net lettable area sq m

Average utilisation  
kWh / sq m or m3/sq m

n/a

n/a

1,127,247

352,817

n/a

n/a

24,296

107,713

24,296

18.7

17.26

14.8

934,845

No gas

82,720

16.5

168

1,377

n/a

n/a

176

921

806

123

24,296

107,713

0.06

0.02

Notes:

•   ‘No gas’ refers to assets where gas is not used on site

•   ‘-’ refers to asset that are no longer in ownership

•   n/a refers to data not available at time of reporting e.g. inaccessible water meters

Going forward for 2013-14, the suitability of the targets will be reviewed against the performance for 2012-13 and revised accordingly to remain 
challenging yet achievable.

43

 
 
 
 
During the year to 31 March 2013 Helical donated £13,055 to charities 
including: LandAid Charitable Trust, The Story of Christmas Appeal, 
Oxford Childrens Hospital, The Cure and Action for Tay-Sachs 
Foundation, East Anglian Air Ambulance and Great Ormond Street 
Hospital Children’s Charity.

In addition, on Land Aid day, a Helical team raised £7,500 by dressing up 
as Alice in Wonderland characters and visiting other companies’ offices in 
the locality.

Health & safety
Helical’s Health & Safety policy aims to develop a corporate culture that is 
committed to the prevention of injuries and ill health to our employees or 
others that may be affected by our activities. The Board of Directors and 
senior staff are responsible for implementing this policy and ensure that 
health and safety considerations are always given priority in planning and 
in day-to-day activities. Our Health & Safety Policy was reviewed and 
updated in January 2012 to reflect the latest legislative and regulatory 
developments. There have been no reportable RIDDOR incidents within 
the portfolio during 2012 -13. Our Health & Safety policy can be found 
on our website. 

Suppliers
Fair treatment of suppliers remains a key priority for Helical, particularly in 
challenging market conditions where smaller suppliers in particular may 
rely on our payments for balanced cash flow. The Group’s policy is to 
settle all agreed liabilities within the terms established with suppliers.

helical bar plc 2013

corporate responsibility

Employees
As at 31 March 2013, we employed a team of 24 people in our head 
office, 38% of whom are women. We continue to enforce our equal 
opportunities, harassment and sexual discrimination policies. We also 
continue to monitor compliance with our whistle blowing policy. No 
incidents were reported against these policies in the year under review.

High levels of staff retention remain a key feature of our business. We retain 
a highly skilled and experienced team and the table below shows a breakdown 
of our staff by length of service.

Directors and management

Finance

Administration

Total number 
of staff

Average length of 
service (years)

11

6

7

12

12

5

Our staff retention levels not only reflect competitive remuneration and benefits 
packages but also our commitment to enhancing the professional and 
personal skills of our team. During 2012/3 we provided an average of 
13.15 hours of training per employee, an increase on last year. As in 
previous years, we continue to evaluate training needs in line with business 
objectives.

Communities
Helical takes a strong interest in community issues. Community engagement 
is an on-going concern throughout the development process, from planning 
until development completion and operation. The following examples 
demonstrate how community engagement has benefited the communities 
that we work with over the past year. 

•    We have made a number of in-kind contributions through our Clyde 
Shopping Centre including supporting a project to donate electronic 
equipment through a competition for 20 local schools and sponsorship 
of the local youth football tournament. In the context of working with 
and protecting children Clyde Shopping Centre is the first centre in the 
UK to achieve accreditation to the Safer Retailer Award for all stores 
within the centre which sell age restricted products. The award, which 
assesses the Policies, Training and Procedures revolving around the 
sale of age restricted goods is supported by The Scottish Government, 
Police Scotland, The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and the Trading 
Standards Institute. 

•    Idlewells Shopping Centre has enjoyed a long running relationship with 
a major local educational facility, Sutton Centre Community College, 
and this has recently undergone a transformation to become Sutton 
Community Academy. Individual initiatives have included work with 
Sutton Town Centre Group to organise and host themed events in the 
town, such as a Diamond Jubilee celebration and a Christmas light 
switch-on, as well as work with both mainstream and adult education 
students on enterprising activities focused on the theme of ‘learning 
and earning’. Centre management have supported with mock interviews 
to help give students experience of the work environment, and even set 
one business studies group a challenge of helping to create part of the 
shopping centre’s marketing and events strategy. The most long-standing 
project has been a free of charge agreement for the Community Academy 
to utilise a shop unit within Idlewells to showcase the work of the adult 
education classes including nail art, paintings, fashion accessories 
and clothing.

44

governance

helical bar plc 2013

index

46  corporate governance review
49  letter from the chairman of the nominations committee
50  report of the nominations committee
51  the board of directors and senior management
53  letter from the chairman of the remuneration committee
54  directors’ remuneration report 
63  report of the audit committee
64  report of the directors

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45

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

corporate governance review

 Provision B.1.2 of the Code notes that companies such as Helical, which 
are below the FTSE350, are required to have at least two independent 
non-executive directors. The Board has determined, however, that in 
Helical’s case a total of four independent non-executive directors is 
appropriate to balance the current executive team, to provide the experience 
and advice that the executive team seeks and to ensure the interests 
of shareholders and other stakeholders are adequately protected. The 
independent non-executive directors are Richard Gillingwater (Senior 
Independent Director), Andrew Gulliford, Michael O’Donnell and 
Richard Grant. 

 In the Board’s view, the composition of the Board has an appropriate 
balance of skills, experience, independence and knowledge of the 
Company as required by the Code.

–  Notice of Annual General Meeting

 The code recommends that the Notice of AGM and related papers be 
sent to shareholders at least 20 workings days before the meeting. For 
the 2012 AGM the Notice and related papers were sent out 16 
working days before the AGM. 

Chairman and Chief Executive
The Chairman and the Chief Executive collectively are responsible for the 
leadership of the Company. The Chairman’s primary responsibility is for leading 
the Board and ensuring its effectiveness, whilst the Chief Executive is 
responsible for running the Company’s business. The division of responsibilities 
is clearly established at Helical, is set out in writing and is approved by 
the Board. 

Board responsibilities
The main purpose of the Board of Helical Bar plc is to create and deliver 
the long term success of the Group and returns for its shareholders. The 
Board is collectively responsible for providing the entrepreneurial leadership 
of the Group within a framework of controls and reporting structures which 
assist the Group in pursuing its strategic aims and business objectives. 
The Board sets the Group’s strategic aims, ensures that the necessary 
financial and human resources are in place for the Group to meet its 
objectives and reviews management performance. The Board sets the 
Group’s values and standards and ensures that the Group’s obligations 
to its shareholders and others are understood and met.

All directors take decisions objectively in the interests of the Group. As part 
of their roles as members of the Board, non-executive directors constructively 
challenge and help develop proposals on strategy and the risk appetite of 
the Group. Non-executive directors scrutinise the performance of management 
in meeting agreed goals and objectives and monitor the reporting of 
performance. They satisfy themselves on the integrity of financial information 
and that financial controls and systems of risk management are robust 
and defensible. They are responsible for determining appropriate levels 
of remuneration of executive directors and have a prime role in appointing 
and, where necessary, removing executive directors, and in succession 
planning. In addition to Boardroom discussions, the Chairman contacts 
other non-executive directors by telephone and, if appropriate, will hold 
meetings with the non executive directors without the executive 
directors present.

At Helical we believe that Corporate Governance is of fundamental importance 
in delivering, for shareholders, long-term success through the effective, 
entrepreneurial and prudent management of the Company. The Board of 
Helical is collectively responsible for providing the entrepreneurial leadership 
of the Company within a framework of controls and reporting structures 
which assist in pursuing its strategic aims and business objectives. 

The UK Corporate Governance Code (the “Code”)
The Board is accountable to the Group’s shareholders for good corporate 
governance. 

We believe in applying the highest principles of corporate governance 
and have complied throughout the year with the principles as set out in 
the section of the UK Corporate Governance Code (“Code”) headed “The 
Main Principles of the Code” and, except where stated below, have 
complied with the provisions of the Code. The Group also takes into 
account the corporate governance guidelines of institutional shareholders 
and their representative bodies.

–  Appointment of Chairman

 Following the retirement as Chairman of Giles Weaver at last year’s 
AGM, the Nominations Committee indicated its intention to appoint 
then Finance Director, Nigel McNair Scott, as Chairman of the Company, 
subject to his being re-appointed a director at the AGM. The Code 
requires that a new chairman should satisfy, on appointment, the 
independence criteria set out in provision B.1.1 and Nigel McNair Scott 
did not satisfy this Code provision on appointment. The Committee 
engaged in an extensive consultation process with shareholders and 
representative bodies, explaining its reasons for the appointment and 
received indications that there would be considerable support for his 
re-election at the AGM and his appointment as Chairman at the 
conclusion of the AGM. In proposing this appointment, the Committee 
was conscious of non-compliance with the Code and sought to 
strengthen shareholder protections by the appointment of two new, 
independent, non-executive directors, Richard Gillingwater and Richard 
Grant. Richard Gillingwater, who has an exceptional record of service 
on the Boards of many of the UK’s listed companies, details of which 
are noted in his biography on page 51, became the Senior 
Independent Director. Richard Grant is the Finance Director of 
Cadogan Estates Limited and a former partner of PwC. He was 
appointed the Chairman of the Audit Committee. In his role as Senior 
Independent Director, Richard Gillingwater has taken on the 
responsibility for liaising with shareholders and their representative 
bodies regarding the governance of the Company and is also responsible 
for undertaking the annual directors’ evaluation process. He holds 
meetings of the independent non-executive directors separately from 
the rest of the Board to ensure that any issues may be discussed 
without the presence of a non-independent director. The Committee 
believes this will provide shareholders with sufficient comfort that the 
governance of the Company and the review of its Board procedures 
and processes are not compromised by a perceived lack of 
independence. 

–  Composition of the Board

 The Code requires a Board to have an appropriate balance of skills, 
experience, independence and knowledge of the Company to enable it 
to discharge its duties and responsibilities effectively. Helical operates 
with a strong management team of senior decision-makers backed up 
by finance and other support staff. Given its size the Board does not 
consider it appropriate to operate both a main board and a separate 
executive committee, a structure commonly seen in larger companies. 
However, despite its size, the Group is keen to promote exceptional 
talent to Board level at the earliest opportunity to expose such individuals 
to the broader issues facing the business, encourage their long term 
commitment to the Group and to provide for future succession. It is for 
these reasons that Helical’s Board of six executive directors’ is larger 
than those of other comparable listed real estate companies.

46

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
corporate governance review

helical bar plc 2013

The Board has a schedule of matters specifically reserved to it for decision. 
The Board controls the business but delegates day-to-day responsibility 
to the executive management. However, there are a number of matters 
which are required to be or, in the interests of the Group, should only be, 
decided by the Board of Directors as a whole. A summary of the decisions 
reserved for the Board is set out below:

Attendance at Board and Committee meetings during the year
In addition to ad hoc meetings arranged to discuss particular transactions 
and events and the 2012 AGM, the full Board met on six occasions during 
the year under review. The attendance record of the directors at these 
meetings and at meetings of the Board’s committees is shown in the 
table below.

Schedule of matters reserved for the Board:

•    Strategy and management – responsibility for the overall management 
of the Group; approval of the Group’s long-term objectives and commercial 
strategy; approval of annual administration budgets; oversight of the 
Group’s operations; extension of the Group’s activities into new business 
areas; any decision to cease to operate all or any material part of the 
Group’s business.

•    Structure and capital – changes to the Group’s capital structure; major 
changes to the Group’s corporate structure; changes to the Group’s 
management and control structure; changes to the Group’s listing or 
plc status.

•    Financial reporting and controls – approval of interim and preliminary 

announcements; approval of annual report and accounts, including the 
corporate governance statement and the directors’ remuneration report; 
approval of dividend policy; approval of significant changes in accounting 
policies or practices; approval of treasury policies.

•    Internal controls – ensuring maintenance of a sound system of control 

and risk management.

•    Communication – approval of resolutions and documentations to be 
put to shareholders in general meeting; approval of press releases 
concerning matters decided by the Board.

•   Board membership and other appointments to senior management.

•   Both appointment and removal of the Company Secretary.

•    Corporate governance matters including directors’ performance 

evaluations.

•    Approval of policies including code of conduct incorporating whistle-blowing 
procedures; share dealing code; health and safety policy; environmental 
and corporate social responsibility policy; implementation of procedures 
required by the Bribery Act 2010 and equal opportunity policy.

Members of the Board
The current members of the Board comprise a Chairman, six executive directors 
and four non-executive directors. The Chairman is Nigel McNair Scott. 
The executive directors are Michael Slade (Chief Executive), Tim Murphy 
(Finance Director), Gerald Kaye, Matthew Bonning-Snook, Jack Pitman 
and Duncan Walker. The non-executive directors are Richard Gillingwater 
(Senior Independent Director), Andrew Gulliford, Michael O’Donnell and 
Richard Grant. All the directors will be offering themselves for re-appointment 
at the 2013 AGM. 

Further details, including biographies and shareholdings in the Company, 
can be found on pages 51 and 52.

Full 
Board

Audit 
Commitee

Remuneration
 Committee

Nominations 
Committee

Chairman

Nigel McNair Scott 

6/6

n/a

Executive Directors

Michael Slade

Tim Murphy

Gerald Kaye

Matthew  
Bonning – Snook

Jack Pitman

Duncan Walker

6/6

3/3

6/6

6/6

6/6

6/6

Non-Executive Directors

Richard Gillingwater

Andrew Gulliford

Michael O’Donnell

Richard Grant

Former Directors

Giles Weaver

Antony Beevor

Wilf Weeks

3/3

6/6

6/6

3/3

3/3

3/3

3/3

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

2/2

3/3

3/3

2/2

n/a

1/1

1/1

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

3/3

3/3

n/a

n/a

3/3

3/3

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n/a

n/a

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n/a

n/a

n/a

3/3

3/3

n/a

3/3

3/3

3/3

Annual evaluation of the Board and its Committees
The annual evaluation process involves each director submitting an appraisal 
in respect of the performance of the main Board and, by each non-executive 
director, in respect of each Board Committee of which they are a member. 

During the year the Board undertook a formal evaluation of its own 
performance and that of its Committees and the Senior Independant 
Director reported the results of that evaluation process to the Board. 
Individual evaluations of directors were conducted by the Chief Executive, 
and Chairman.

47

 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

corporate governance review

Directors – information and professional development
The Board is supplied in a timely manner with information in a form and 
of a quality appropriate to enable it to discharge its duties and its directors 
are free to seek any further information they consider necessary. Under 
the direction of the Chairman, the Company Secretary’s responsibilities 
include ensuring good information flows within the Board and its Committees 
and between senior management and non-executive directors, as well as 
facilitating induction and assisting with professional development as required. 
The Company Secretary is responsible for advising the Board through the 
Chairman on all governance matters.

The Board ensures that directors, especially non-executive directors, have 
access to independent professional advice at the Group’s expense where 
they judge it necessary to discharge their responsibilities as directors. 
Training is available for new directors and other directors as necessary. 
All directors have access to the advice and services of the Company 
Secretary, who is responsible to the Board for ensuring that board 
procedures are complied with.

Committees of the Board
The report of the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee and the report 
of the Chairman of the Audit Committee are found on pages 53 and 63 
respectively of this Annual Report. The report of the Nominations 
Committee can be found on page 49. 

Relations with shareholders
The Group values the views of its shareholders and recognises their interest 
in the Group’s strategy and performance, Board membership and quality 
of management. It therefore holds regular meetings with, and presentations 
to, its institutional shareholders to discuss its results and objectives. The 
Group also regularly meets, with the help of its brokers, institutions that 
do not currently hold shares in the Group to inform them of its objectives. 
Michael Slade, as Chief Executive, attends most of these meetings and 
is usually accompanied by one of the other executive directors. 

During the year under review, Andrew Gulliford, as Chairman of the 
Remuneration Committee, engaged with principal shareholders (holding 
more than 3% of the Company’s shares) and shareholder representative 
bodies, to seek their approval for the Annual Bonus Scheme 2012. 

The former Chairman, Giles Weaver, also engaged with principal 
shareholders and shareholder representative bodies during the year, 
regarding the proposed changes to the Board which became effective on 
the date of the 2012 Annual General Meeting. 

The AGM is used to communicate with private investors and they are 
encouraged to participate. The Chairman, Senior Independent Director 
and members of the Audit, Remuneration and Nominations Committees 
are available to answer questions. Separate resolutions are proposed on 
each issue so that they can be given proper consideration and there is a 
resolution to consider the annual report and accounts. The Group counts 
all proxy votes and will indicate the level of proxies lodged on each resolution, 
after it has been dealt with by a show of hands.

The Group communicates with all shareholders through the issue of regular 
press releases and through its website at www.helical.co.uk.

The Group receives regular reports from sector analysts and its investor 
relations advisors on how it is viewed by its shareholders.

Internal control and risk management
The Board is responsible for maintaining a sound system of internal control 
to safeguard shareholders’ investment and the Group’s assets. Such a 
system is designed to manage, but cannot eliminate, the risk of failure to 
achieve business objectives. There are inherent limitations in any control 
system and, accordingly, even the most effective system can provide only 
reasonable, and not absolute, assurance against material misstatement 
or loss.

The key features of the Group’s system of internal control are as follows:

•    clearly defined organisational responsibilities and limits of authority. 

The day-to-day involvement of the executive directors in the running of 
the business ensures that these responsibilities and limits are adhered to;

•    financial controls and review procedures;

•    financial information systems including cash flow, profit and capital 

expenditure forecasts. The Board receives regular and comprehensive 
reports on the day-to-day running of the business;

•    an Audit Committee which meets with the auditors and deals with any 
significant internal control matter. In the year under review the Committee 
met with the Auditors on two occasions.

The Board is responsible for the management of the Group’s risk profile. 

An analysis of the Group’s risk strategy can be found on page 9.

Internal audit
The Board reviewed its position during the year to 31 March 2013 and 
reaffirmed its stance that in view of the relatively small size of the Group 
it does not consider that an Internal Audit function would provide any 
significant additional assistance in maintaining a system of internal controls.

Charitable and political donations
The Company continues to support charitable causes and in the year to 
31 March 2013, made charitable donations of £13,055. Further details 
are provided in the Corporate Responsibility Report on page 42. The 
Company’s policy with regard to political donations is to ensure that 
shareholder approval is sought before making any such payments. No 
shareholder approval has been sought and, accordingly, the Company 
made no political donations in the year to 31 March 2013. 

Going concern
The directors have reviewed the current and projected financial position of 
the Group making reasonable assumptions about future trading performance.

The key areas of sensitivity are:

•   Timing and value of property sales

•   Availability of loan finance and related cash flows

•    Future property valuations and their impact on covenants and 

potential loan repayments

•   Committed future expenditure

•   Future rental income and bad debts

•   Payment timings and the value of trade receivables

The forecast cash flows have been sensitised to eliminate those cash 
inflows which are less certain and to take account of a further deterioration 
of property valuations. From their review the directors believe that the 
Group has adequate resources to continue to be operational as a going 
concern for the foreseeable future.

48

letter from the chairman of 
the nominations committee

helical bar plc 2013

Dear shareholder,

In accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code, the role of the 
Committee, and my primary responsibility as its Chairman, is to ensure 
that the Company is headed by an effective Board which is collectively 
responsible for the long-term success of the Company. This is best 
achieved through the provision of entrepreneurial leadership and a 
talented executive team, supported by committees with an appropriate 
balance of skills, experience, independence and knowledge of the 
company to be able to constructively challenge and assist the executive 
team in achieving its objectives. Alongside me, the Committee comprises 
Andrew Gulliford, Michael O’Donnell, Richard Gillingwater and Richard 
Grant. 

During the year, the main focus of the Committee was succession planning, 
both for the executive team and the non-executive directors. In early 2012, 
the Committee identified a need for additional independent non-executive 
directors in view of the intention of the Group’s then Chairman and two 
other non-executive directors to step down from the Board at the 2012 
AGM. Accordingly, the Group appointed search firm Norman Broadbent 
to assist in this process. After considering a number of candidates, the 
Committee recommended the appointments of Richard Gillingwater and 
Richard Grant, both of whom were appointed to the Board on 24 July 
2012, immediately following the 2012 AGM. At the same time the Committee 
also recommended to the Board the promotion of Tim Murphy to Finance 
Director and, following an extensive consultation process with shareholders 
and representative bodies, my appointment as Chairman after stepping 
down as Finance Director at the 2012 AGM.

Annual General Meeting 
At the Annual General Meeting to be held on 24 July 2013, the following 
resolutions relating to the appointment of directors are being proposed: 

•   The re-election of Nigel McNair Scott as non-executive Chairman;

•    The re-election, as executive directors, of Michael Slade, Tim Murphy, 
Gerald Kaye, Matthew Bonning-Snook, Jack Pitman and Duncan 
Walker; and,

•    The re-election, as independent non-executive directors, of Andrew 
Gulliford, Michael O’Donnell, Richard Gillingwater and Richard Grant.

I trust that shareholders will support the Committee and vote in favour 
of these resolutions. 

Nigel McNair Scott 
Chairman of the Nominations Committee

23 May 2013

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49

 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

report of the nominations committee

Shareholder consultation
On appointment as the new Chairman of the Company, Nigel McNair 
Scott was not regarded as independent by shareholders and their 
representative bodies. In the light of this, the previous Chairman, Giles 
Weaver, conducted an extensive consultation exercise with the 
Company’s largest investors and representative bodies, to explain the 
rationale behind this appointment. Whilst concern was expressed by 
some shareholders that such an appointment was not in accordance 
with the UK Corporate Governance Code, the Committee confirmed their 
view that Nigel McNair Scott was the most appropriate candidate for the 
role. This role specifically requires him to ensure that the long term 
succession issue of who replaces Michael Slade as Chief Executive is 
handled in the best interests of shareholders. In discharging this task, he 
will be assisted by four independent non-executive directors. At the 2012 
AGM, 91% of votes cast were in favour of the re-election of Nigel McNair 
Scott. The Committee believes that this successful result reflects the 
constructive consultation exercise undertaken with shareholders. 

Directors’ re-election
The Board believes that the requirements of Code Provision B.7.I of the 
UK Corporate Governance Code should be fulfilled. This provision 
requires all directors of FTSE350 companies be subject to annual 
re-election by shareholders. Whilst the Company is no longer in the 
FTSE350 the Board has chosen to comply with this provision as it 
accepts that shareholders should annually have the right to vote on each 
director’s re-election to the board. The Nominations Committee confirms 
to shareholders that, following the annual formal performance evaluation, 
these directors continue to be effective and demonstrate commitment to 
their roles. Biographical details of the directors are given on page 51.

The nominations committee 
The Nominations Committee is chaired by Nigel McNair Scott (from 24 
July 2012). The other members of the Committee are Andrew Gulliford, 
Michael O’Donnell, Richard Gillingwater (from 24 July 2012) and Richard 
Grant (from 24 July 2012). Giles Weaver (former chairman), Antony 
Beevor and Wilf Weeks stepped down from the Committee on 24 July 
2012. 

None of the Committee members has any personal or financial interest in 
the matters to be decided (other than as shareholders), potential conflicts 
of interest arising from cross-directorships nor any day-to-day 
involvement in running the business. 

Board appointments
Appointments to the Board and its Committees are made on merit and 
against objective criteria. Care is taken to ensure that appointees have 
enough time available to devote to the job. The Nominations Committee 
controls the process for Board appointments and makes 
recommendations to the Board.

The terms of reference of the Nominations Committee are available by 
request and are included on the Group’s website at www.helical.co.uk.

Advisors to the Committee
During the year under review the Committee appointed search 
consultants Norman Broadbent to assist in identifying candidates for 
appointment to the Board as non-executive directors. 

The work of the Nominations Committee in the year
The Committee met 3 times during the period and a record of attendance 
at these meetings is shown on page 47. Including the matters referred to 
in the Letter from the Chairman of the Nominations Committee on page 49, 
the Committee considered the following matters during the year:

•   The results of the annual directors’ evaluation process;

•   The retirement of Giles Weaver, Antony Beevor and Wilf Weeks;

•   The appointment of Nigel McNair Scott as non-executive Chairman;

•   The appointment of Tim Murphy as Finance Director on 24 July 2012;

•    The appointment of search consultants Norman Broadbent and the 

subsequent appointment of Richard Gillingwater and Richard Grant as 
independent non-executive directors on 24 July 2012;

•   The re-election of directors at the 2012 Annual General Meeting. 

50

the board of directors and 
senior management

helical bar plc 2013

Chairman 
Nigel McNair Scott, MA FCA FCT, joined the Board as a non-executive 
director in 1985 and was subsequently appointed Finance Director in 
1987. He was appointed Chairman of the Company after the 2012 AGM. 
He is Chairman of Reaction Engines Limited, a former Chairman of 
Avocet Mining plc and a former director of Johnson Matthey plc and 
Govett Strategic Investment Trust. 

Non-executive directors
Andrew Gulliford, BSc (Est.Man), FRICS, was appointed to the Board as 
a non-executive director in 2006. He is Chairman of the Remuneration 
Committee and a member of the Audit and Nominations Committees. A 
former Deputy Senior Partner of Cushman & Wakefield Healey & Baker, 
he is a non-executive director of McKay Securities PLC, F&C UK Real 
Estate Investments Limited and various other companies. 

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Michael O’Donnell was appointed to the board in June 2011. He is a 
former Managing Director of LGV Capital (formerly Legal & General 
Ventures), a private equity firm where he was responsible for a number of 
successful investments in fast growing businesses, often with a 
significant property element. In 2009 he established Ebbtide Partners, a 
consultant to, and investor in, private companies. He was appointed 
Chairman of Cygnet Healthcare in May 2013. He is a member of the 
Nominations, Audit and Remuneration Committees. 

Richard Gillingwater, CBE, is the non-executive Chairman of Henderson 
Group plc, non-executive Chairman of CDC Group plc, Senior 
Independent Director of Hiscox Ltd and SSE plc and non-executive 
director of Wm Morrison Supermarkets Plc. He was, until recently, Dean 
of Cass Business School. Prior to this he spent 10 years at Kleinwort 
Benson, before moving to BZW, and, in due course, becoming joint 
Head of Corporate Finance and then latterly Chairman of European 
Investment Banking at Credit Suisse First Boston. He was Chief 
Executive and later Chairman of the Shareholder Executive and has also 
been a non-executive director of P&O, Debenhams, Tomkins, Qinetiq 
Group and Kidde plc. Richard is the Senior Independent Director of 
Helical and is a member of the Nominations, Audit and Remuneration 
Committees. 

Richard Grant, BA (Oxon), ACA is the Finance Director at Cadogan 
Estates Limited and former corporate finance partner at PwC, whom he 
joined in 1975. He is a member of the Investment Advisory Committee of 
Rockspring Hanover Property Unit Trust. Richard is the Chairman of the 
Audit Committee and a member of the Nominations and Remuneration 
Committees.

Executive directors
Chief Executive
Michael Slade, BSc (Est Man) FRICS FSVA, joined the Board as an 
executive director in 1984 and was appointed Chief Executive in 1986. 
He is President of Land Aid, the property industry charity, Co-Chairman  
of the Business and Entrepreneurs Forum, a Fellow of the College of 
Estate Management, Fellow of Wellington College, a Trustee of Purley 
Park and Sherborne School Foundation and Vice Admiral of the Marie 
Rose Trust. 

Finance Director and Company Secretary 
Tim Murphy, BA (Hons) FCA, joined the Group as Company Secretary in 
1994 and became Deputy Finance Director in 2011. He was appointed 
Finance Director of the Company after the 2012 AGM. Prior to joining 
Helical, he worked for accountants Grant Thornton and KPMG. 

Director
Gerald Kaye, BSc (Est Man) FRICS, was appointed to the Board as an 
executive director in 1994 and is responsible for the Group’s development 
activities. He has been responsible for completing over four million sq ft 
of offices, retail, leisure and industrial developments. Gerald is the Past 
President of the British Council for Offices and a trustee of The Prince’s 
Regeneration Trust. He is a former director of London & Edinburgh Trust 
Plc and former Chief Executive of SPP. LET. EUROPE NV. 

Director
Matthew Bonning-Snook, BSc (Urb Est Surveying) MRICS, was 
appointed to the Board as an executive director in 2007. Prior to joining 
Helical in 1995 he worked for Richard Ellis (now CBRE), and oversees 
many of Helical’s office and mixed use developments. 

Director
Jack Pitman, MA (Cantab) MRICS, was appointed to the Board as an 
executive director in 2007. Before joining the Group in 2001 he was a 
director of Chester Properties Ltd. He is responsible for the Group’s 
retirement village portfolio and its investment activities. 

Director
Duncan Walker, MA (Hons) (Oxon), PG Dip Surveying, joined the Group in 
2007 and oversees a portfolio of investments and developments. In 
particular, he is responsible for the acquisition of Helical’s shopping 
centres. Prior to joining Helical, Duncan led Edinburgh House Estate’s 
investment team. 

51

 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

the board of directors and senior management

Directors and their interests
The current directors and their interests, all of which were beneficial, in the ordinary shares of the Company are listed below. There have been no 
changes in the directors’ interests in the period from 31 March 2013 to 22 May 2013.

Age

Date of 
appointment

Title

Committees

Shares held 
at 31.3.13 

Shares held 
at 31.3.12 

Chairman

Nigel McNair Scott

Executive Directors

Michael Slade

Tim Murphy

Gerald Kaye

Matthew Bonning-Snook

Jack Pitman

Duncan Walker

Non-Executive Directors

Andrew Gulliford

Michael O’Donnell

Richard Gillingwater

Richard Grant

67

66

53

55

45

44

34

66

46

56

59

November 1985

Chairman 

N(C) 

2,722,556

2,710,132

August 1985

Chief Executive

July 2012

Finance Director

September 1994

Executive Director

June 2007

June 2007

June 2011

Executive Director

Executive Director

Executive Director

March 2006

Non-executive director

N, A, R(C)

June 2011

Non-executive director

N, A, R

July 2012

July 2012

Non-executive director

S, N, A, R

Non-executive director

N, A (C), R

13,032,358

13,427,494

128,140

1,535,452

285,113

440,327

15,931

14,328

62,000

–

15,000

n/a

1,530,589

280,260

445,053

11,480

14,328

46,000

n/a

n/a

S – Senior independent Director, N – Nominations Committee, N(C) – Chairman of the Nominations Committee, A – Audit Committee, A(C) – Chairman of the Audit Committee,  
R – Remuneration Committee, R(C) – Chairman of the Remuneration Committee

Senior management
John Inwood, BSc (Hons) MRICS, joined the Group from Cushman and Wakefield in 1995 and is the Head of Asset Management. Aged 47. 

Tom Anderson, BSc (Hons) MRICS, joined the Group in 2009 from Allsops where he worked in the National Investment Team. Aged 34.

Oliver Rippier, BA (Hons) MSc Real Estate MRICS, formerly employed by Jones Lang LaSalle and Lloyds Banking Group, joined as a property analyst 
and development executive in 2010. Aged 31.

Alastair Oastler, BSc (Hons) FCA AMCT, joined the Group as Financial Controller in 2007 having previously worked for Invensys plc and Compagnie 
Financiere Richemont SA. Aged 36.

52

letter from the chairman of the 
remuneration committee

helical bar plc 2013

Dear Shareholder,

I am pleased to present the Remuneration Committee’s Report on 
directors’ remuneration for the year to 31 March 2013. This report has 
been approved by the Board of Helical Bar plc. 

I am Chairman of the Committee which also comprises Michael 
O’Donnell and, following their appointment immediately after the 2012 
AGM, Richard Gillingwater and Richard Grant. Each member of the 
Committee is an independent non-executive director. 

The main duty of the Committee is to determine and agree with the 
Board, the framework or broad policy for the remuneration of the 
Chairman and the executive directors and, subject to proposals being 
submitted by the Chief Executive, recommend and monitor the level and 
structure of remuneration for such other members of the executive 
management as report directly to the Chief Executive. The remuneration 
of non-executive directors shall be a matter for the Chairman and 
executive members of the Board. 

During the last year, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills 
(“BIS”) issued consultation papers on revised directors’ remuneration 
reporting regulations. Full compliance with these new regulations will not 
apply until the 2014 Report and Accounts but we have sought, in this 
report, to include some of the regulations early to further improve the 
level and transparency of disclosure and better illustrate the link between 
performance and remuneration. In particular, the report has been divided 
into the following two sections:

•    Remuneration Policy Report, which sets out the Group’s policy on the 

remuneration of executive and non-executive directors; and,

•    Implementation Report, which discloses how the remuneration policy 

has been implemented in the year ended 31 March 2013. 

A single advisory vote on both parts of the report will be tabled at the 
forthcoming 2013 AGM. 

Remuneration issues dealt with during the year
In the year under review, the Committee undertook consultations with 
shareholders and shareholder representative bodies on changes to the 
remuneration of executive directors, in particular with respect to the 
introduction of a new Helical Bar Annual Bonus Scheme 2012. At the 
2012 AGM, 95 per cent of votes cast were in favour of the adoption of 
this new bonus scheme. The Directors’ Remuneration Report also 
received 95 percent of votes cast in favour. The Committee believes that 
these successful results reflect the constructive consultation exercise 
undertaken with shareholders. 

In addition, the Committee considered a number of other matters during 
the financial year under review and the following decisions were taken:

•    basic salaries were reviewed in July 2012 and inflationary increases of 
3 per cent were awarded with effect from 1 July 2012 to Gerald Kaye, 
Matthew Bonning-Snook and Jack Pitman. Michael Slade waived his 
entitlement to an inflationary increase;

•    On appointment to the Board as Finance Director, Tim Murphy’s salary 

was set at £250,000pa;

•    On appointment as Chairman of the Company, Nigel McNair Scott’s 

fee was set at £150,000pa;

•    The Helical Bar 2002 Approved Share Incentive Plan was renewed for a 
further 10 years. At the 2012 AGM, 100 per cent of votes cast were in 
favour of the renewal of this HMRC approved all employee share scheme;

•    The Committee reviewed the awards made in accordance with the terms of 

the Performance Share Plan (“PSP”) in 2009 and considered the 
performance of the Company during the three year performance period to 
31 March 2012. Despite a return to profitability, the performance conditions 
required for vesting of the shares were not met and no shares vested; 

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•    The Committee resolved in May 2012 to make a further award of 

shares under the terms of the PSP; and,

•    The Committee resolved that the provision of long-term incentives 

through the PSP, which was approved by shareholders in 2004, should 
continue in its present form until expiry in 2014.

The implementation of these decisions is detailed in this report, together 
with additional information on the fixed and variable remuneration paid 
and payable to the directors of the Group. 

Performance and reward during 2013
As noted in the business review on pages 1 to 44, the Group has delivered 
an increase in EPRA net assets per share of 5.6% and a total portfolio 
return, as reported by IPD, of 8.6%. Pre-tax profits of the Group, before 
performance related awards, increased by 51% to £11.8m (2012: £7.8m).

Subsequent to the year end and in accordance with the rules of the 
Helical Bar Annual Bonus Scheme 2012 and the Executive Bonus Plan 
2011, cash bonuses have been approved for inclusion in the financial 
statements for the year to 31 March 2013. Details of the bonuses 
payable are disclosed in the Implementation Report below.

Remuneration policy for 2014
The Remuneration Committee of Helical Bar plc is committed to ensuring 
that its remuneration policy remains aligned to the interest of shareholders, 
incentivising management to increase total returns and growing net asset 
value per share whilst ensuring that an appropriate balance is maintained 
between the targets set for management and the risk profile of the Group. 

The Committee believes that it has struck the right balance between fixed 
annual remuneration and an incentive structure with challenging targets 
which seeks to reward outperformance with a mixture of cash-based 
annual bonus payments and longer term share awards. 

Reviewing the current remuneration the Committee has determined that the 
basic salaries of the executive directors should again be increased by 3%, 
reflecting current inflation levels, which is below the 5% awarded to all other 
employees of the Group. The Committee has also determined that the basic 
salary levels of the two recently appointed directors, Duncan Walker and Tim 
Murphy, be increased by 10% (including the annual inflationary increase) to 
move them towards market norms as their respective contributions increase. 
These increases will be effective from 1 July 2013. 

The two annual bonus schemes were approved by shareholders in 2011 
and 2012 and will not be reviewed during the forthcoming year. However, 
the long-term share incentive plan, the Helical Bar Performance Share 
Plan, was introduced in 2004 and will need to be reviewed during the 
year with a view to assessing its continuing suitability within the framework 
of the Group’s remuneration structure. The Committee will seek to 
consult with major shareholders and representative bodies on this matter 
before proposing any replacement of this long-term incentive plan. 

Annual General Meeting 
At the Annual General Meeting to be held on 24 July 2013 the following 
resolution relating to remuneration is being proposed:

•    The approval of the Directors’ Remuneration Report for the year ended 

31 March 2013. 

I trust that shareholders will support the Committee and vote in favour of 
this resolution. 

Andrew Gulliford 
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee

23 May 2013

53

 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

directors’ remuneration report 

Remuneration policy report
This section of the Remuneration Report sets out the remuneration policy 
of the Group with effect from 1 April 2013. There have been no changes 
to this policy since 1 April 2012 and the Committee believes that the 
policy continues to support the Group’s strategy and is aligned with 
shareholders interests. 

Remuneration policy
Helical’s approach to the remuneration of its executive directors is to 
provide a basic remuneration package below the median level of its peers 
within the listed real estate sector combined with an incentive based 
bonus and share scheme structure aligned with the interests of its 
shareholders. Remuneration within the real estate sector is monitored 
and reviewed regularly to ensure that the Group’s positioning of its 
remuneration remains in line with these objectives. In addition to this 

external view, the Committee also monitors the remuneration levels of 
senior management below Board level and the remuneration of other 
employees to ensure that these are taken into account in determining the 
remuneration of executive directors and considers environmental, social, 
governance and risk issues.

The Board recognises that directors’ remuneration is of legitimate 
concern to shareholders and is committed to following current best 
practice. This report has been prepared in accordance with the 
Companies Act 2006 and Schedule 8 of the Large and Medium Sized 
Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, the 
Listing and Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Services 
Authority, and the principles and provisions of the UK Corporate 
Governance Code as they relate to directors’ remuneration. In addition, a 
number of disclosures which will be required under the draft BIS reporting 
regime from next year have been adopted early. It has been approved by 

Executive director policy table for 2014
The table below summarises the 2013-14 executive remuneration policy with any changes from the prior year highlighted:

Element 

Salary

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

–   Reflects the value of the individual and their 

role and responsibilities

–   Reflects delivery against key personal 

objectives and development

–   Provides an appropriate level of basic fixed 
income avoiding excessive risk arising from 
over reliance on variable income

Annual bonus: CEO and Finance Director

–   Provides focus on delivering net asset value 

growth above sector benchmark 

–   Rewards and helps retain key executives and 

is aligned to the Group’s risk profile 

–   Maximum bonus only payable for achieving 

demanding targets

Annual bonus: other directors

–   Provides focus on delivering returns from the 

Group’s property portfolio 

–   Aligned with shareholders through a profit 

sharing model, with appropriate hurdles and 
shareholder protections

–   Rewards and helps retain key executives and 

is aligned to the Group’s risk profile 

–   Maximum bonus only payable for achieving 

demanding targets

–   Normally reviewed annually, effective 1 July 
–   Paid in cash on a monthly basis; not pensionable
–   Takes periodic account against companies 

with similar characteristics and sector 
comparators

–   Targeted between lower quartile and median
–   Reviewed in context of the salary increases 

across the Group

–   Payable in cash with deferred share element
–   Non-pensionable

–   Payable in cash with deferred share element
–   Non-pensionable
–   Claw-back provisions apply 

Performance Share Plan (“PSP”)

–   Aligned to main strategic objective of delivering 

–   Share plan approved by shareholders in July 

long-term value creation

2004

–   Aligns executive directors’ interests with those 

–   Discretionary annual grant of conditional share 

of shareholders

awards

–   Rewards and helps retain key executives and 

is aligned to the Group’s risk profile

Other benefits

–   Provide insured benefits to support the 

individual and their family during periods of ill 
health, accidents or death 

–   Cars or car allowances to facilitate effective travel

–   Benefits provided through third party providers
–   Insured benefits includes: private medical 

cover, permanent health insurance and cars or 
car allowances

Share ownership guidelines

–   To provide alignment of interests between 

executive directors and shareholders

Non-executive director fees

54

–   Reflects time commitments and responsibilities 
of each role and fees paid by similarly sized 
companies

–   Chairman’s remuneration is set by the Committee 

which meets without him. The remaining 
non-executive directors’ fees are set by a 
committee comprising the executive directors

–   Executive directors are required to build and 
maintain a shareholding equivalent to two 
years’ basic salary through the retention of the 
post-tax shares received on the vesting of awards
–   Participants in the PSP are required to retain 
shares acquired under the terms of the PSP 
for at least two years after vesting

–   Cash fee paid monthly
–   Fees are reviewed on an annual basis
–   Fixed three year contracts with three month 

notice periods

directors’ remuneration report 

helical bar plc 2013

the Board and will be submitted to shareholders for approval at the 
Group’s Annual General Meeting to be held on 24 July 2013. Grant 
Thornton UK LLP has audited the disclosures of directors’ remuneration 
and share awards on pages 58 to 62. 

•   targets for any performance related remuneration schemes; and,

•    service agreements incorporating termination payments and 

compensation commitments.

In determining such policy, the Committee shall take into account all 
factors which it deems necessary. The objective of the remuneration 
policy shall be to ensure that executive directors and senior management 
are provided with appropriate incentives to encourage enhanced 
performance and are, in a fair and responsible manner, rewarded for their 
individual contributions to the success of the Group. Within the terms of 
the agreed policy, the Committee shall determine, for the executive 
directors:

•    the total individual remuneration packages of each executive director 
including, where appropriate, basic salaries, bonuses, share awards, 
and other benefits;

In determining such packages and arrangements the Committee gives 
due regard to the recommendations of the UK Corporate Governance 
Code and the UK Listing Authority’s Listing Rules.

The terms of reference of the Remuneration Committee are available on 
request and are included on the Group’s website at www.helical.co.uk.

Advisors to the Committee
The Committee consults the Chief Executive and Finance Director about 
its proposals and has access to professional advice from independent 
remuneration consultants, New Bridge Street, to help it determine 
appropriate remuneration arrangements. Terms of reference for New 
Bridge Street, which provided no other services to the Company, are 
available from the Company Secretary on request.

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Maximum

Performance targets

Changes in the year

–   N/A

–   Salary increases for executive directors will not 
normally exceed the average increase awarded 
to other employees

–   Increases may be above this level if there is an 
increase in the scale, scope or responsibility of the 
role or to allow the basic salary of newly appointed 
executives to move towards market norms as 
their experience and contribution increases

–   Inflationary increases of 3% were awarded 

with effect from 1 July 2012. A similar increase 
of 3% is to be implemented from 1 July 2013

–   Increases in basic salary of 10% have been 

awarded to Duncan Walker and Tim Murphy to 
move their salaries towards market norms

–   £2m in total, £1.5m per individual

–   300% of salary p.a. plus 300% p.a. in year 5 

and year 10

Sliding scale targets based on:
–   The amount by which the increase in the Group’s 
net asset value exceeds an industry benchmark

–   Subject to achieving minimum relative perfor-

mance levels

–   Details of actual targets are set out on page 59

Sliding scale targets based on:
–   Profits/losses of the business plus growth in 

values of the investment, trading and 
development portfolio after charging for the 
Group’s finance, administration costs and the 
use of the Group’s equity

–   None proposed

–   None proposed

–   300% of salary p.a. for all executive directors

–   N/A

–   N/A

–   Performance measured over three years
–   Absolute growth in the Group’s net asset value 

per share

–   Gross total property return relative to other 

property funds as determined by IPD

–   Plan to be reviewed in 2013/14 prior to its 

termination date in July 2014. Any 
replacement plan to be approved by 
shareholders at the 2014 AGM

–   Details of actual targets are set out on page 60

–   N/A

–   None proposed

–   Aim to hold a shareholding equal to 200% 

–   None proposed

of basic salary

–   Chairmans fee is £150,000 p.a.
–   Non-executive base fee is £40,000 p.a.
–   Fee for Senior Independent Director or for 

chairing Audit or Remuneration Committee is 
£10,000 p.a.

–   N/A

–   None proposed

55

 
 
 
 
 
Service contracts 
The service contract of Michael Slade operates from 1 April 2007, those 
of Gerald Kaye, Matthew Bonning-Snook and Jack Pitman from 1 March 
2010, that of Duncan Walker from 24 June 2011 and of Tim Murphy from 
24 July 2012. No service contract provides for more than a one year notice 
period. On termination of employment each director is entitled to a payment 
in lieu of notice of basic salary and other contractual entitlements i.e. 
provision of car and health insurance. The Group may make payments in 
lieu of notice as one lump sum or in instalments, at its own discretion. If 
the Group chooses to pay in instalments the director is obliged to seek 
alternative income over the relevant period and to disclose the amount to 
the Group. Instalment payments will be reduced by any alternative 
income.

Non-executive directors 
Non-executive directors are appointed by a Letter of Appointment and 
their remuneration is determined by the Board. The appointment of 
non-executive directors is terminable on three months’ notice. Non-
executive directors do not participate in any of the Group’s bonus or 
share award schemes.

Share ownership guidelines
Senior executives will not normally be permitted to sell shares received 
through the PSP, other than to meet taxation (and national insurance 
contributions) liabilities, for at least two years and until they own shares to 
the value of 200% of basic salary for executive directors and 100% of 
salary for other executives. To date, all shares received by the executive 
directors under the terms of the group’s Performance Share Plan and 
Share Incentive Plan have been retained, net of taxes paid, thereby 
increasing the management’s shareholding in Helical.

Alignment with shareholder interests
The Remuneration Committee has analysed the potential gains that may 
be made by executives (directors and those below Board level) through 
the PSP and other incentive arrangements currently in place. It has 
concluded that the share of the increase in the value of the Group 
(measured as the increase in the net asset value plus cash returned as 
dividends to shareholders) that could accrue to all executives through the 
Group’s long and short-term incentive and bonus plans at the point at 
which the maximum awards vest over the term of the plans might be of 
the order of 20%. At this point, in absolute terms, the Group will have 
increased its triple net asset value by at least 15% per annum with the 
Group’s relative performance placing it in the top quartile of IPD, over 
each three year period. 

helical bar plc 2013

directors’ remuneration report 

Executive directors’ basic annual salary and benefits-in-kind
The basic package of salary and benefits is designed to match the experience 
and responsibilities of each director and is reviewed annually to ensure that it is 
consistent and appropriate to their responsibilities and expectations. The 
Group does not provide any separate pension provision for executive 
directors and expects individuals to provide for their retirement through 
their basic salaries and incentive payments. Basic salary levels were last 
reviewed in July 2012. Executive directors’ current basic annual salaries, 
together with salaries for the prior year, are as follows:

Michael Slade

Tim Murphy

Gerald Kaye

Matthew Bonning-Snook

Jack Pitman

Duncan Walker

1 April 2012
£ 

1 April 2013
£

500,000

n/a

375,000

300,000

300,000

250,000

500,000

250,000

386,250

309,000

309,000

250,000

In 2012, the Committee resolved that the basic salaries of executive 
directors should be reviewed annually and increased to reflect an appropriate 
level of salary inflation. Accordingly, the basic salary levels of Gerald Kaye, 
Matthew Bonning-Snook and Jack Pitman were increased by 3% from 1 
July 2012. Mr Slade waived his entitlement to an inflationary increase, 
thereby retaining his previous salary level. Duncan Walker was not eligible 
for the 2012 inflationary increase given the increase in his basic salary he 
received on 1 April 2012 following his earlier appointment to the Board. 

Reviewing the current remuneration the Committee has determined that 
the basic salaries of the executive directors should again be increased by 
3%, reflecting current inflation levels, which is below the 5% awarded to 
all other employees of the Group. The Committee has also determined that 
the basic salary levels of the two recently appointed directors, Duncan Walker 
and Tim Murphy, be increased by 10% (including the annual inflationary 
increase) to move them towards market norms as their contribution 
increases. These increases will be effective from 1 July 2013. Benefits-in-
kind provided to executive directors comprise the provision of a company 
car or car allowance and health insurance.

Non-executive directors’ fees
In 2012, the Board resolved that with effect from 1 July 2012, the fees 
payable to non-executive directors will comprise a basic £40,000 plus an 
additional £10,000 for the Chairman of the Audit and Remuneration 
Committees and the Senior Independent Director. On his appointment as 
Chairman, Nigel McNair Scott’s annual fee was fixed at £150,000.

Non-executive directors’ current annual fees, together with fees for the 
prior year, are as follows:

Nigel McNair Scott – Chairman

Richard Gillingwater – Senior 
Independent Director

Andrew Gulliford – Chairman of the 
Remuneration Committee

Richard Grant – Chairman of the Audit 
Committee 

1 April 2012
£ 

1 April 2013
£

n/a

n/a

150,000*

50,000*

50,000

50,000

n/a

50,000*

Michael O’Donnell

35,000

40,000

*  From appointment on 24 July 2012

56

directors’ remuneration report 

Statement of directors’ shareholdings

Legally 
owned
31.3.12

Legally 
owned
31.3.13

PSP 
awards
unvested

PSP 
awards
vested

All-employee
restricted

All-employee
Unrestricted

Total
31.3.13

helical bar plc 2013

% of salary
held under
shareholding
guideline 
(200% of
salary)

Executive Directors

Michael Slade

13,399,738

12,999,738

2,017,395

Tim Murphy

Gerald Kaye

95,520

95,520

786,837

1,502,871

1,502,871

1,458,717

Matthew Bonning-Snook

252,929

252,929

1,183,272

Jack Pitman

Duncan Walker

417,297

407,707

1,183,272

–

–

802,386

Non-Executive Directors

Nigel McNair Scott

2,682,376

2,691,375

1,172,395

Andrew Gulliford

14,328

14,328

Richard Gillingwater

Richard Grant

–

–

Michael O’Donnell

46,000

–

15,000

62,000

–

–

–

–

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–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

16,898

16,898

16,897

16,869 

16,898

15,496

15,722

13,032,358

15,722

128,140

15,684

1,535,452

15,315

15,722

285,113

440,327

435

15,931

> 200%

< 200%

> 200%

> 200%

> 200%

< 200%

15,459

15,722 

2,722,556

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

14,328

–

15,000

62,000

–

–

–

–

–

There have been no changes in the interests of any Director between 31 March 2013 and the date of this report.

57

 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

directors’ remuneration report 

Implementation report
Balance of fixed versus variable pay
In line with its policy, the Committee seeks to ensure that the balance of remuneration provides a basic salary below the median, and performance 
related bonuses and share awards that reward outperformance of the Group’s peer group. In the year to 31 March 2013, the balance of fixed versus 
variable pay on an actual basis for the executive directors compared to the maximum payable was as follows:

Basic salaries and benefits in-kind

Annual Bonus Scheme 2012

Executive Bonus Plan 2011

Performance Share Plan shares vested

Actual
£ 

2,509,000

1,754,000

1,297,000

–

Share 
of total 
%

45

32

23

–

Maximum 
£

2,509,000

3,763,000

2,000,000

3,429,000

Share 
of total 
%

22

32

17

29

5,560,000

100

11,701,000

100

Note: Performance Share Plan shares vested reflect the market value of shares that vested (actual) or could have vested (maximum) during the year in accordance with the terms of the Group’s 
Performance Share Plan.

Directors’ remuneration
Remuneration in respect of the directors was as follows:

Fixed

Basic 
salary/
fees
£000

Benefits
£000

Pension
£000

Sub-total
£000

Variable

Annual
 cash
bonus 
£000

Deferred
shares
£000

PSP  
£000

Sub-total
£000

2012-13
Total
£000

2011-12
Total
£000

Executive directors

Michael Slade

Tim Murphy*

Gerald Kaye

Matthew Bonning-Snook

Jack Pitman

Duncan Walker

Former executive director

Nigel McNair Scott

Non-executive directors

Nigel McNair Scott

Andrew Gulliford

Richard Gillingwater*

Richard Grant*

Michael O’Donnell

Former Chairman

Giles Weaver

Former non-executive directors

Antony Beevor

Wilf Weeks

Total

* From appointment on 24 July 2012.

500

171

383

307

307

250

74

103

50

34

34

39

28

16

11

50

14

39

21

21

17

40

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,307

202

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

550

185

422

328

328

267

114

103

50

34

34

39

28

16

11

973

33

440

440

145

145

275

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

16

220

220

72

72

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,509

2,451

600

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

973

49

660

660

217

217

1,523

234

1,082

988

545

484

541

–

398

419

315

256

275

389

304

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

103

50

34

34

39

28

16

11

–

48

–

–

27

86

48

35

3,051

5,560

2,477

Michael Slade was the highest paid director during the year with a total remuneration of £1,523,000 (2012: £541,000).

At the 2012 AGM on 24 July 2012, Giles Weaver (Chairman), Antony Beevor and Wilf Weeks retired as non-executive directors and Nigel McNair Scott 
stepped down as Finance Director and was appointed Chairman. Immediately after the 2012 AGM Tim Murphy was appointed Finance Director and 
Richard Gillingwater and Richard Grant were appointed non-executive directors. 

58

 
directors’ remuneration report 

helical bar plc 2013

Annual cash bonus payments 
Executive Bonus Plan
In 2011, shareholders approved the renewal of the Executive Bonus Plan 
(the “2011 Plan”) for a further five years. Michael Slade, Nigel McNair 
Scott and Tim Murphy were eligible for 2011 Plan bonuses during the 
year. Total 2011 Plan bonuses for the year to 31 March 2013 of 
£1,297,000 (2012: nil) have been accrued in the financial statements for 
the year to 31 March 2013 and are payable in June 2013. During the 
year, Tim Murphy replaced Nigel McNair Scott as a participant in the 
2011 Plan. 

The Committee may, at its discretion, award bonuses in respect of a 
financial year subject to performance conditions, the aim of which is to 
link the size of bonuses paid to the financial growth of the Group over 
that financial year. No bonus will be payable unless the following 
conditions are satisfied:

•    Increase in net asset value; net asset value at the end of the financial 
year exceeds net asset value at the beginning of the financial year;

•    Absolute performance of the portfolio – un-geared total return; the 

percentage increase in the total return on property assets of the Group 
over the financial year (the “Performance Period”) is greater than the 
percentage increase achieved by the portfolio ranked nearest to 
three-quarters up the performance table (taken in ascending order of 
return) (the “Upper Quartile”) of the portfolios of all quarterly valued 
funds measured by the Investment Property Databank at the beginning 
of the relevant Performance Period and compounded monthly during 
the Performance Period (the “IPD Total Return Benchmark”); and,

•    Performance of the net asset value per share; the percentage increase 

in net asset value per share for the Performance Period must be 
greater than the percentage increase achieved by the Upper Quartile of 
the portfolios of all quarterly valued funds measured by the Investment 
Property Databank at the beginning of the relevant Performance Period 
and compounded monthly during the Performance Period (the “IPD 
Capital Growth Benchmark”).

The Committee will recommend the size of the bonus payable by 
reference to the same sliding scale based on the amount by which the 
increase in net asset value per share exceeds the increase in the Upper 
Quartile of the IPD Capital Growth Benchmark, subject to a £2m cap. 
The total amount of the bonuses payable in any one year shall be 
determined by: 

•    Calculating the difference between the percentage increase in net 

asset value per share for the Performance Period and the percentage 
increase in the Upper Quartile of the IPD Capital Growth Benchmark 
over the same period (the “Difference”); and,

•    Calculating the sum of the amounts payable in relation to each 1% of 

the Difference on the following basis:

Amount of difference

Less than 1% 

1% to less than 2% 

% of base net asset
value payable

0.01

0.02

And thereafter for every additional 1%

An increment of 0.01

For example: From 4% to less than 5%

0.05

If the net asset value at the end of a financial year is less than the net 
asset value at the beginning of that year, the bonus payable for any 
subsequent year will be calculated by reference to the highest net asset 
value in the preceding year.

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The total amount payable under the 2011 Plan in any one year is limited 
to £2m (2012: £2m). An individual employee’s participation in the 2011 
Plan is limited so that the bonus which may be paid to him under the 
2011 Plan will not exceed £1.5m per annum. There is a further limit that 
payments under the 2011 Plan in any year may not exceed 20% of the 
Group’s pre-tax profits plus any payments under the 2011 Plan. This limit 
operated in the year restricting the total bonus paid under the 2011 plan 
to £1,297,000. Among other constraints the Committee could restrict the 
bonuses if payment would affect the financial or trading position of the 
Group.

Following feedback received during the investor consultation in respect of 
the codification of the bonus arrangement set out below, the Committee 
agreed that future participants in this scheme who do not have a 
minimum shareholding in the Company of 200% of basic salary should 
receive up to one third of any bonus in deferred shares for three years.

Helical Bar Annual Bonus Scheme 2012
The Helical Bar Annual Bonus Scheme 2012 was approved by 
Shareholders at the 2012 AGM. This scheme provides annual cash 
bonuses based on the performance of the Group’s property portfolio and 
is aligned with shareholders through a profit sharing model, with 
appropriate hurdles and shareholder protections (including deferral and 
clawback). Total 2012 Bonus Scheme Bonuses have been accrued in the 
financial statements for the year to 31 March 2013 and the cash element 
will be payable in June 2013. 

 The main features of the 2012 Bonus Scheme are as follows:

•   The 2012 Bonus Scheme is effective from 1 April 2012;

•    The initial scheme participants are Gerald Kaye, Matthew Bonning-

Snook, Jack Pitman and Duncan Walker. It is not intended that either 
the Chief Executive or Finance Director participate in the Scheme given 
their participation in the 2011 Plan;

•    All current and future property assets will be allocated to one of two 

pools namely an “Investment Pool” and a “Development Pool” (“Profit 
Pools”);

•    Investment assets are included at valuation as at 31 March 2012 with 
subsequent valuation movements increasing or decreasing the size of 
the relevant Profit Pool. Development assets are also included at 
valuation as at 31 March 2012 with subsequent valuation movements 
increasing or decreasing the size of the Profit Pool. Any opening 
surpluses or deficits in the value of the trading and development assets 
as at 31 March 2012 will only be included in the Profit Pools once they 
are realised;

•    Development profits, development management fees, net rents, other 

income and profits/losses on the sale of property assets will be 
allocated to the relevant Profit Pools; and,

•    Profits in the two Profit Pools will be eligible for the award of bonuses 
once they are sufficient to exceed the recovery of all related finance 
costs, a charge for the use of the Company’s equity at a rate 
equivalent to the Company’s weighted average cost of debt plus a 
margin (reviewed regularly to reflect any changes in the cost of debt 
and the risk profile of the Company’s activities), the Group’s total 
administrative costs (excluding performance related remuneration) and 
any unallocated losses from the previous three financial years.

59

 
 
 
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directors’ remuneration report 

Shareholder Protections 
•    Consistent with the existing arrangement, no more than 10% of profits 
will be available to participants for distribution (“Bonus Award Pool”) at 
the end of the relevant financial year. Pool allocations between 
participants will be based on a set formula agreed at the start of the 
financial year;

•    The distribution of the Bonus Award Pools to participants will be 

restricted in any financial year to the lower of 70% of the balance of the 
Bonus Award Pool and 300% of salary (except in years five and ten as 
noted below). Any excess will be deferred and carried forward to the 
subsequent year to form part of the Bonus Award Pool for the 
subsequent year(s);

•    Two thirds of any payment will be made in cash after the relevant 

financial year end and one third will be deferred for three years into 
Helical Bar plc shares;

•    In addition to any annual payments, at the end of the fifth and tenth 

years of operating the scheme, any Bonus Award Pool not paid out will 
be distributed to participants in the form of deferred shares for 3 years, 
subject to an individual limit of 300% of salary each time;

•    No payments will be made where the Company has not generated a 
profit (amounts will be deferred until a profit is generated). In addition, 
the Remuneration Committee will retain discretion to increase the 
deferred share amount (up to 100% of the payment) or not to make a 
payment at all (with any amounts reverting back to the Company rather 
than remaining in the Bonus Award Pool) where it is considered 
appropriate to do so;

•    Net losses will be carried forward in Profit Pools for offset against 

future net profits. Carry forward of losses will be for a minimum of three 
years, subject to extension at the request of the Remuneration 
Committee;

•    The scheme will operate a clawback provision whereby amounts 
deferred, amounts held in Bonus Award Pools or the net of tax 
amounts paid may be recovered in the event of a misstatement of 
results, an error being made in assessing the calculation of Bonus 
Award Pools or in the event of gross misconduct; and,

•    The share of any increase in value of the Company (measured as the 

increase in net asset value plus cash returned as dividends) that could 
accrue to all executives through the Group’s long and short-term 
incentive and bonus plans at maximum vesting/payouts during the 
lifetime of the plans will continue to be no more than 20%.

Other matters
•    Shareholder approval for the Plan was obtained for 10 years from 1 
April 2012, although the Remuneration Committee will review the 
operation of the Plan after 5 years; 

Performance Share plan
The Performance Share Plan (“PSP”), which was approved by 
shareholders in 2004 and is the Company’s primary long-term incentive 
arrangement, rewards participants for net asset value growth and 
performance relative to an industry comparator over a three year period. 
The Plan is designed to encourage long-term performance and 
participants are required to retain shares acquired for at least two years 
after vesting. The main features of the plan are as follows:

•    Awards will normally vest no earlier than the third anniversary of their 
grant to the extent that the applicable performance conditions (see 
below) have been satisfied and the participant is still employed by the 
Group. Once exercisable, awards will remain capable of exercise for a 
period of normally no more than six months.

•    No award may be granted to an individual in any financial year over 

shares worth more than 3 times salary.

•    There are two performance conditions, one based on absolute growth 
in the Group’s net asset value per share and the other based on the 
gross (ungeared) total property return per share relative to other 
property funds as determined by IPD but excluding those funds worth 
less than £50m at the start of the three year period. Performance will 
be measured over the three years following grant.

  o   For the growth in net asset value, the “fully diluted triple net” net 

asset value as at the start of the financial year in which a grant takes 
place will be compared to the value three years later (having added 
back dividends):

Annual compound increase after three years 

% of award vesting

15% p.a. or more

Between 7.5% p.a. and 15% p.a.

7.5% p.a. 

Below 7.5% p.a.

66.7

Pro rata between 
6.7 and 66.7 

6.7

Zero

If UK inflation (RPI) is higher than 3% per annum over the three year 
period then the required compound increases will be raised by the 
excess over the 3% per annum average.

  o  For the Total property return v IPD property funds condition:

Ranking after three years 

Upper quartile or above 

Between median and upper quartile 

% of award vesting

33.3

Pro rata between 
3.3 and 33.3

3.3

Zero

•    Awards may be satisfied through shares purchased in the market or by 
new issue or Treasury Shares. Where new issue or treasury shares are 
used, the ABI’s 5% in 10 year dilution limit will apply;

Median 

Less than median

•    Bad leavers will lose their entitlement to future distributions of Bonus 

Award Pools or unvested deferred shares. Good leavers (e.g. 
retirement with the Company’s agreement, redundancy or any other 
reason at the discretion of the Committee) would cease to accrue 
future amounts into future Bonus Award Pools although would 
continue to receive deferred share awards and any remaining amounts 
held in the Bonus Award Pools for a period of 3 years from cessation; 
and,

•    On a change of control of the Company, any amounts accrued over 

the financial year up to the relevant date, and any amounts held within 
the Bonus Award Pools, and any deferred shares would be distributed.

Provided the net value per share (having added back dividends) increases 
over the three year period.

Share awards will lapse where the gross return falls below the IPD 
median and where the growth in triple net asset value is below 7.5% per 
annum over the three year period.

During the year the performance conditions relating to the sixth award, granted 
on 9 July 2009, were considered. The three year performance period to 
31 March 2012 showed that the net asset value per share, calculated in 
accordance with the terms of the PSP, had reduced by 0.9% p.a.

During this three year period the total return of Helical’s property 
portfolio, as determined by IPD, was 5.5% compared to the median of 
the IPD Benchmark which showed a return of 11.1%. Therefore, no 
shares could vest as the performance of the property portfolio was below 
that of the IPD median benchmark.

60

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helical bar plc 2013

PSP Awards made in the year*
The following awards under the terms of the PSP were made in the year:

Individual

Michael Slade

Date of Grant

Basis of Award

31 May 2012

300% of salary

Nigel McNair Scott

31 May 2012

300% of salary

Gerald Kaye

31 May 2012

300% of salary

Matthew Bonning-Snook

31 May 2012

300% of salary

Jack Pitman

Duncan Walker

Tim Murphy

* structured as conditional awards

31 May 2012

300% of salary

31 May 2012

300% of salary

31 May 2012

300% of salary

Face Value 
£000

Vesting at 
threshold

Vesting at 
Maximum

1,500

705

1,125

900

900

750

630

10%

10%

10%

10%

10%

10%

10%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Performance Period

3 years to 31 March 2015

3 years to 31 March 2015

3 years to 31 March 2015

3 years to 31 March 2015

3 years to 31 March 2015

3 years to 31 March 2015

3 years to 31 March 2015

The total number of awards made to directors under the terms of the PSP which have not yet vested are as follows:

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Director

Michael Slade

Nigel McNair Scott

Tim Murphy

Gerald Kaye

Matthew Bonning-Snook

Jack Pitman

Duncan Walker

Shares awarded
13.7.10 at
276.10p

Shares awarded
5.7.11 at
259.25p

Shares awarded
31.5.12 at
167.50p

543,281

363,998

179,282

353,132

298,804

298,804

152,118

578,592

387,656

231,436

433,944

347,155

347,155

202,507

895,522

420,895

376,119

671,641

537,313

537,313

447,761

Total shares
awarded

Total expected
value £

2,017,395

1,780,000

1,172,549

786,837

928,000

738,000

1,458,717

1,335,000

1,183,272

1,067,000

1,183,272

1,067,000

802,386

821,000

It is currently expected that no shares will vest in respect of the share awards made on 13 July 2010 and that 33% of the shares awarded on 5 July 
2011 and 62% of the shares awarded on 31 May 2012 will vest.

Helical Bar 2002 Approved Share Incentive Plan
On 24 July 2012 shareholders renewed the Helical Bar 2002 Approved Share Incentive Plan (the “Plan”). Under the terms of this Plan employees of the 
Group are given up to £3,000 of free shares in any tax year. Participants in the Plan may purchase additional shares up to a value of £1,500 which are 
matched in a ratio of 2:1 by the Group. Provided participants remain employed by the Group for a minimum of three years they will retain the free and 
matching shares.

Shares allocated to, or purchased on behalf of, the directors under the rules of the Plan were as follows:

Michael Slade 

Nigel McNair Scott 

Tim Murphy

Gerald Kaye 

Matthew Bonning-Snook 

Jack Pitman 

Duncan Walker

31 May 2012
£ 

11 December 2012
£

3,425

3,425

3,425

3,425

3,420

3,425

3,255

1,439

–

1,439

1,439

1,433

1,439

1,196

Shares held by the Trustees of the Plan at 31 March 2013 were 474,624 (2012: 390,624).

61

 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

directors’ remuneration report 

Single figure remuneration table
The table below presents single figure remuneration for the Chief Executive over the past five years, together with past annual bonus payouts and 
relevant PSP and Share Option vestings.

Year ended

31 March 2013

31 March 2012

31 March 2011

31 March 2010

31 March 2009

Name

Michael Slade

Michael Slade

Michael Slade

Michael Slade

Michael Slade

Total 
Remuneration
£'000

Annual Bonus 
£'000
(% of max payout)

1,523

541

538

1,890

4,962

973 (65%)

– (-%)

– (-%)

– (-%)

– (-%)

PSP
£'000 
(% of max
vesting)

– (-%)

– (-%)

– (-%)

Share Options 
£’000
 (% of vesting)

n/a

n/a

n/a

390 (33.33%)

973 (100%)

1,576 (100.0%)

2,896 (100%)

Shareholder voting at the last AGM
At the 2012 AGM the Directors’ Remuneration Report received the following votes from shareholders:

For

Against

Total votes cast (for and against)

Votes withheld

Total votes cast (including withheld votes)

Total number of
votes

% of votes cast

93,007,260

5,181,917

98,189,177

1,120,375

99,309,552

95%

5%

100%

–

–

Share options
The Helical Bar 2010 Approved Share Option Scheme is an Inland Revenue approved scheme. Under the terms of this scheme options up to a 
maximum value of £30,000 per individual may be granted. This scheme was approved by shareholders at the 2010 Annual General Meeting and 
34,713 options were granted during the year to 31 March 2012 to senior employees below Board level. The performance criteria of the Helical Bar 
2010 Approved Share Option Scheme requires the Group to exceed certain targets of total shareholder return. The total shareholder return for a 
holding in the Group’s shares in the five years to 31 March 2013 compared to a holding in a broad equity index is shown above.

Total shareholder return performance graph

Total shareholder return 
Source: Thomson Reuters

125 

100 

75 

50 

)

£

(

e
u
a
V

l

25 
31-Mar-08 

31-Mar-09 

31-Mar-10 

31-Mar-11 

31-Mar-12 

31-Mar-13 

Helical Bar 

FTSE 350 Super-sector Real Estate Index 

This graph looks at the value, by 31 March 2013, of £100 invested in Helical Bar on 31 March 2008 compared with the value 
of £100 invested in the FTSE 350 Super-sector Real Estate Index. The other points plotted are the values at intervening 
financial year-ends. 

Share price
The market price of the ordinary shares at 31 March 2013 was 236.75p (2012: 189.50p). This market price varied between 164p and 249.75p during 
the year.

Andrew Gulliford 
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee

23 May 2013

62

 
 
report of the audit committee

helical bar plc 2013

The audit committee 
The Audit Committee is chaired by Richard Grant, following his appointment 
to the Board on 24 July 2012. The other members of the Committee are 
Andrew Gulliford, Michael O’Donnell and Richard Gillingwater (from his 
appointment to the Board on 24 July 2012). None of the Committee 
members has any personal or financial interest in the matters to be 
decided (other than as shareholders), potential conflicts of interest arising 
from cross-directorships nor any day-to-day involvement in running the 
business. 

The Committee endorses the principles set out in the FRC Guidance on 
Audit Committees. The Board has formal and transparent arrangements 
for considering how it applies the Group’s financial reporting and internal 
control principles and for maintaining an appropriate relationship with its 
auditor. Whilst all directors have a duty to act in the interests of the Group, 
the Committee has a particular role, acting independently from the executive, 
to ensure that the interests of shareholders are properly protected in relation 
to financial reporting and internal control. Appointments to the Committee 
are made by the Board on the recommendation of the Nominations 
Committee in consultation with the Audit Committee Chairman.

Audit independence
A policy of reviewing audit independence has been adopted whereby 
non-audit services undertaken by the auditor are approved prior to work 
being carried out. The audit committee considers the external auditor to 
be independent and has satisfied itself of the effectiveness of the 
external auditor.

The Group’s policy on awarding non-audit work to its auditor is designed 
to ensure that the Group receives the most appropriate advice without 
compromising the independence of the auditor. Whilst no fee caps or limits 
have been set by the Committee, the level of fees would be a factor in 
considering whether the auditor’s independence could be affected by the 
award of non-audit work. In the year to 31 March 2013, no fees were paid 
to the auditor for non-audit work. 

Annual General Meeting 
At the Annual General Meeting to be held on 24 July 2013 the following 
resolutions relating to the auditor are being proposed: 

•     The re-appointment of Grant Thornton UK LLP as Independent 

Auditor; and, 

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The terms of reference of the Audit Committee are available by request 
and are included on the Group’s website at www.helical.co.uk.

•     To authorise the Directors to set the remuneration of the 

Independent Auditor.

The work of the audit committee in the year
The Committee met three times during the year and a record of attendance 
at these meetings is shown on page 47. It is common practice at Helical 
for Audit Committee meetings to be attended by all Board members who 
are available, whether or not they are members of the Committee so that 
their contribution to the matters discussed may be obtained.

I trust that shareholders will support the Committee and vote in favour 
of these resolutions. 

Richard Grant 
Chairman of the Audit Committee

Matters formally reviewed and discussed by the Board during the year 
included:

23 May 2013

•      The Group’s compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code 

including its whistle-blowing policies;

•    The Group’s compliance with the Bribery Act 2010;

•     Review of the group’s policies on equal opportunities and 

health & safety;

•    Review of the group’s environmental management systems;

•    Review of the group’s internal controls;

•    The group’s principal risks;

•    IT risk and business continuity planning;

•    The financial statements of the Group and the Preliminary Announcement 
of the annual results to 31 March 2012 and the Interim Statement on 
the half year results to 30 September 2012; 

•    The re-appointment of the Group’s external auditor; and,

•    The external auditors independence and the provision of non-audit 

services by the external auditor.

The Audit Committee met the external auditor on two occasions to discuss 
matters arising from the annual and interim audits.

63

 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

report of the directors

Principal activities
The principal activity of the Company is that of a holding company and 
the principal activities of the subsidiaries are property investment, trading 
and development.

Substantial Shareholdings
At 15 May 2013, the shareholders listed below had notified the Company 
of a disclosable interest of 3% or more in the nominal value of the 
ordinary share capital of the Group:

Results 
The results for the year are set out in the consolidated income statement 
on page 68 and consolidated statement of comprehensive income on 
page 69. 

Dividends
An interim dividend of 1.85p (2011: 1.75p) was paid on 28 December 2012 
to shareholders on the shareholder register on 30 November 2012. A final 
dividend of 3.70p (2012: 3.40p) per share is recommended for approval 
at the Annual General Meeting on 24 July 2013. The total ordinary 
dividend paid in the year of 5.25p (2011-12: 4.90p) per share amounts to 
£6,134,000 (2011-12: £5,707,000).

Corporate governance review
The Group’s Corporate Governance Policies, compliance with the UK 
Corporate Governance Code and Going Concern statement are set out 
on pages 46 to 48 of the Corporate Governance Review.

Employees and charitable and political donations
The Group’s policies on employment and details of its policies regarding 
charitable and political donations are included in the Corporate Governance 
Review on page 48.

Re-appointment of directors
The directors listed on page 49 constituted the Board for the year, save 
that Tim Murphy, Richard Gillingwater and Richard Grant were appointed 
on 24 July 2012 and that at the 2012 Annual General Meeting, Giles Weaver, 
Antony Beevor and Wilf Weeks stepped down from the Board. All the directors 
currently serving will offer themselves for re-election at the AGM. 

Details of directors’ remuneration and their interests in share awards are 
set out in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 54 to 62. 

Directors’ liability insurance and indemnity
The Company has arranged insurance cover in respect of legal action 
against its directors. To the extent permitted by UK Law, the Company 
also indemnifies the directors against claims made against them as a 
consequence of the execution of their duties as directors of the 
Company. 

Post balance sheet events
There were no reportable events after the balance sheet date of 
31 March 2013. 

Share Capital
At 1 April 2012, 31 March 2013 and 23 May 2013 there were 
118,137,522 ordinary 1p shares in issue. 

Michael Slade

Number of 
ordinary shares
at 15 May 2013

%

13,032,358

11.0

Aberdeen Asset Managers

10,814,890

Baillie Gifford

JP Morgan Asset Management

Blackrock Inc

Artemis Investment Management

Investec Asset Management

Dimensional Fund Advisors

Aviva Investors

9,096,203

5,646,721

5,513,400

4,828,278

4,159,010

4,110,891

4,012,842

Legal & General Investment Management Ltd

3,630,595

9.2

7.7

4.8

4.7

4.1

3.5

3.5

3.4

3.1

Amendment of articles of association
The Company’s articles of association can be amended only by a special 
resolution of the members, requiring a majority of not less than 75% of such 
members voting in person or by proxy.

Takeovers Directive
Where not provided elsewhere in this Report of the Directors, the following 
provides the additional information required for shareholders as a result of 
the implementation of the Takeovers Directive into English law.

The Company’s share capital consists of both ordinary shares and deferred 
shares. Each class of shares rank pari passu between themselves. Details 
of the Company’s share capital can be found in note 27 to the financial 
statements. There are no restrictions on the transfer of the ordinary shares 
in the Company other than certain restrictions which may from time to 
time be imposed by laws and regulations (for example: insider trading 
laws) and pursuant to the Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority 
whereby certain employees of the Group require the approval of the 
Company to deal in the ordinary shares.

On a show of hands at a general meeting of the Company, every holder 
of ordinary shares present in person and entitled to vote shall have one 
vote and on a poll every member present in person or by proxy and entitled 
to vote shall have one vote for every ordinary share held. The Notice of 
the Annual General Meeting specifies deadlines for exercising voting rights 
and appointing a proxy or proxies to vote in relation to resolutions to be 
passed at the meeting. The rules governing the appointment and replacement 
of Directors and changes to the articles of association accord with usual 
English company law provisions.

Subject to the Company’s memorandum of association, the articles of 
association, any statute or subordinate legislation for the time being in 
force concerning companies and affecting the Company, and directions 
given by special resolution, the business of the Group shall be managed 
by the Directors, who may exercise all the powers of the Group.

64

report of the directors

helical bar plc 2013

Annual general meeting
The Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held on 24 July 2013 
at 11.30 a.m. at The Connaught, Carlos Place, Mayfair, London W1K 2AL. 
The notice of meeting and the resolutions to be proposed at that meeting 
are set out in the Notice of Meeting and can be found on the Group’s 
website at www.helical.co.uk.

Auditors
Grant Thornton UK LLP have expressed their willingness to continue in 
office. In accordance with section 489(4) of the Companies Act 2006, 
resolutions to reappoint Grant Thornton UK LLP and to authorise the 
directors to determine their remuneration will be proposed at the Annual 
General Meeting.

By order of the Board

Tim Murphy 
Company Secretary

23 May 2013

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Statement of directors’ responsibilities
The directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the 
financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each 
financial year. Under that law the directors have to prepare financial statements 
in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted 
by the European Union (IFRSs).

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 Company and of the profit or loss of the Group 
for that period.

In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:

•   select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

•   make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

•    state whether applicable IFRSs have been followed, subject to any 

material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;

•    prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is 

inappropriate to presume that the Group will continue in business.

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records 
that are sufficient to show and explain the Group’s transactions and disclose 
with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Group 
and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the 
Companies Act 2006 and article 4 of the IAS Regulations. They are also 
responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Group and hence for taking 
reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other 
irregularities.

The directors confirm that:

•    in so far as the directors are aware there is no relevant audit 
information of which the Group’s auditors are unaware; and,

•    the directors have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to 
make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to 
establish that the auditors are aware of that information.

We, the directors listed below, 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 group and the 
undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole; and,

•    the annual report includes a fair review of the development and 

performance of the business and the position of the group and the 
undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together 
with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face.

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

On behalf of the Board

Michael Slade  
Chief Executive  

23 May 2013

Tim Murphy 
Finance Director

65

 
 
 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013
helical bar plc 2013

financial statements

index

67  report of independent auditor
68  consolidated income statement
68  consolidated statement of comprehensive income
69  consolidated and company balance sheets
70  consolidated and company cash flow statements
71  consolidated and company statements of changes in equity
72  notes to the financial statements
99  ten year review

66

 
 
report of independent auditor

helical bar plc 2013

Independent auditor’s report to the 
members of Helical Bar plc
We have audited the financial statements of Helical Bar plc for the year 
ended 31 March 2013 which comprise the consolidated income statement, 
the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, the consolidated 
and company balance sheets, the consolidated and company cash flow 
statements, the consolidated and parent company statements of changes 
in equity and the related notes. The financial reporting framework that has 
been applied in their preparation is applicable law and International 
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union 
and, as regards the parent company financial statements, as applied in 
accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006.

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.

Respective responsibilities of directors and auditor
As explained more fully in the statement of directors’ responsibilities set 
out on page 65, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the 
financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair 
view. Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the financial 
statements in accordance with applicable law and International Standards 
on Auditing (UK and Ireland). Those standards require us to comply with 
the Auditing Practices Board’s (APB’s) Ethical Standards for Auditors.

Separate opinion in relation to IFRSs as issued by the IASB
As explained in Note 1 to the group financial statements, the group in 
addition to complying with its legal obligation to apply IFRSs as adopted 
by the European Union, has also applied IFRSs as issued by the 
International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

In our opinion the group financial statements comply with IFRSs as issued 
by the IASB.

Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 
2006
In our opinion:

•   the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited has been 

properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006;

•   the information given in the Directors’ Report for the financial year for 
which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the 
financial statements; and

•   the information given in the Corporate Governance Statement set out 
on pages 46 to 48 with respect to internal control and risk management 
systems in relation to financial reporting processes and about share 
capital structures is consistent with the financial statements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following:

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

Scope of the audit of the financial statements
A description of the scope of an audit of financial statements is provided 
on the APB’s website at www.frc.org.uk/apb/scope/private.cfm.

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

Opinion on financial statements
In our opinion:

•   certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not 

made; or

•   the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the 

•   we have not received all the information and explanations we require 

group’s and of the parent company’s affairs as at 31 March 2013 and 
of the group’s profit for the year then ended;

•   the group financial statements have been properly prepared in 
accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union;

•   the parent company financial statements have been properly prepared 
in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union and as 
applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006; 
and

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

for our audit; or

•   a Corporate Governance Statement has not been prepared by the 

company.

•   Under the Listing Rules, we are required to review:

•   the directors’ statement, set out on page 48 in relation to going concern;

•   the part of the Corporate Governance Statement relating to the 

company’s compliance with the nine provisions of the UK Corporate 
Governance Code specified for our review; and

•   certain elements of the report to the shareholders by the Board on 

directors’ remuneration.

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Senior Statutory Auditor 
for and on behalf of Grant Thornton UK LLP 
Statutory Auditor, Chartered Accountants 
London

23 May 2013

(left) Old Street London EC1

67

 
helical bar plc 2013

consolidated income statement

For the year ended 31 March 2013

Revenue

Net rental income 

Development property profit

Trading property loss

Share of results of joint ventures

Other operating (expense)/income

Gross profit before net gain on sale and revaluation of investment properties

Net gain on sale and revaluation of investment properties

Gross profit

Administrative expenses

Operating profit

Finance costs

Finance income

Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments

Foreign exchange gains/(losses)

Profit before tax 

Taxation on profit on ordinary activities

Profit after tax

– attributable to non-controlling interests 

– attributable to equity shareholders 

Profit for the year 

Basic earnings per share 

Diluted earnings per share 

consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income

For the year ended 31 March 2013

Profit for the year 

Other comprehensive income

Year ended
31.3.13
£000

Year ended
31.3.12
£000

Note

2

3

4

5

19

6

7

9

9

34

10

14

14

65,439

19,578

6,956

(1)

3,854

(547)

29,840

1,335

31,175

(14,920)

16,255

(9,577)

887

(2,573)

17

5,009

815

5,824

(43)

5,867

5,824

5.0p

5.0p

52,968

17,876

655

–

2,472

113

21,116

3,288

24,404

(7,800)

16,604

(8,409)

583

(306)

(1,064)

7,408

158

7,566

(9)

7,575

7,566

6.5p

6.5p

Year ended 
31.3.13
£000

Year ended
31.3.12
£000

Note

5,824

7,566

Impairment of available-for-sale investments

21

Exchange difference on retranslation of net investments in foreign operations

Total comprehensive income for the year

– attributable to equity shareholders

– attributable to non-controlling interests

Total comprehensive income for the year

68

(1,304)

(212)

4,308

4,351

(43)

4,308

(3,521)

(39)

4,006

4,015

(9)

4,006

consolidated and company 
balance sheets

As at 31 March 2013

helical bar plc 2013

Group
31.3.13
£000

Group
31.3.12 
£000

Company
31.3.13
£000

Company 
31.3.12
£000

Note

15

17

18

19

34

22

11

20

21

22

23

24

25

25

34

Non-current assets

Investment properties 

Owner occupied property, plant and equipment 

Investment in subsidiaries

Investment in joint ventures 

Derivative financial instruments

Trade and other receivables

Deferred tax asset

Total non–current assets

Current assets

Land, developments and trading properties

Available-for-sale investments 

Trade and other receivables 

Corporation tax receivable

Cash and cash equivalents 

Total assets

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Corporate tax payable

Borrowings

Non-current liabilities

Borrowings

Derivative financial instruments

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity

Called-up share capital 

Share premium account 

Revaluation reserve

Capital redemption reserve 

Other reserves

Retained earnings

Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent

Non-controlling interests

Total equity

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 23 May 2013.

Michael Slade 
Director  

Tim Murphy  
Director

312,026

326,876

1,153

–

49,890

146

6,325

10,381

379,921

92,874

5,997

38,017

–

36,863

173,751

553,672

1,251

–

40,592

629

–

9,050

378,398

99,741

7,003

23,076

1,178

35,411

166,409

544,807

–

980

36,945

15

52

–

577

38,569

–

1,107

31,173

165

340

–

463

33,248

–

–

101

–

326,244

324,673

–

24,035

350,279

388,848

1,250

26,355

352,379

385,627

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(34,929)

(24,807)

(153,580)

(146,865)

(70)

(39,295)

(74,294)

–

(59,203)

(84,010)

–

–

(6,848)

(5,546)

(160,428)

(152,411)

(220,446)

(203,992)

(5,164)

(225,610)

(299,904)

(3,075)

(207,067)

(291,077)

(4,457)

(1,027)

(5,484)

–

(837)

(837)

(165,912)

(153,248)

253,768

253,730

222,936

232,379

1,447

98,678

10,593

7,478

291

135,211

253,698

70

1,447

98,678

2,612

7,478

291

143,111

253,617

113

1,447

98,678

–

7,478

1,987

113,346

222,936

–

1,447

98,678

–

7,478

1,987

122,789

232,379

–

253,768

253,730

222,936

232,379

69

 
 
 
 
helical bar plc 2013

consolidated and company cash flow 
statements

For the year to 31 March 2013

Group
31.3.13
£000

Group
31.3.12
£000 

Company
31.3.13
£000

Company
31.3.12
£000 

Cash flows from operating activities

Profit/(loss) before tax

Depreciation 

Revaluation gain on investment properties 

Loss on sales of investment properties

Net financing costs/(income)

Change in value of derivative financial instruments

Share based payment charge

Share of results of joint ventures

Fair value adjustment for disposal of interest in subsidiary

Foreign exchange movement

Other non-cash items

Cash inflow/(outflow) from operations before changes in working capital

Change in trade and other receivables

Change in land, developments and trading properties

Change in trade and other payables

Cash inflow/(outflow) generated from operations

Finance costs

Finance income

Tax received/(paid)

Cash flows from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Purchase of investment property

Sale of investment property

Cost of acquiring derivative financial instruments

Cost of cancelling interest rate swap

Investment in subsidiaries

Investment in joint ventures

Return of investment in joint ventures

Dividends from joint ventures

Sale of plant and equipment

Purchase of leasehold improvements, plant and equipment

5,009

340

(3,723)

2,388

8,690

2,573

1,864

(3,854)

–

(211)

–

13,076

(21,470)

9,520

10,637

11,763

(13,104)

887

732

7,408

309

(3,664)

376

7,826

306

35

(2,472)

(4,278)

896

7

6,749

12,503

19,691

(19,617)

19,326

(13,119)

623

–

(11,485)

(12,496)

278

6,830

(5,141)

(102,750)

21,910

–

(1)

–

(6,622)

751

–

–

(242)

50,434

(1,276)

(3,102)

–

–

2,098

500

7

(63)

Net cash generated from/(used in) investing activities

10,655

(54,152)

(287)

290

–

–

(1,565)

478

–

–

–

32

–

(1,052)

(1,571)

101

7,715

5,193

(951)

3,217

(1,886)

380

5,573

–

–

–

–

(6,622)

–

–

–

–

(163)

(6,785)

Cash flows from financing activities

Borrowings drawn down

Borrowings repaid

Equity dividends paid

Net cash (used in)/generated from financing activities

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Exchange losses on cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at 1 April 

Cash and cash equivalents at 31 March

70

33,682

206,637

11,298

(37,001)

(149,501)

(6,134)

(9,453)

1,480

(28)

35,411

36,863

(5,708)

51,428

4,106

(22)

31,327

35,411

(6,240)

(6,134)

(1,076)

(2,288)

(32)

26,355

24,035

(2,697)

260

–

–

(2,098)

1,604

–

–

–

(838)

7

(3,762)

51,118

1,024

(28,653)

19,727

(4,624)

6,580

–

1,956

21,683

–

–

(1,276)

(2,489)

–

–

–

–

7

(31)

(3,803)

6,450

(14,499)

(5,708)

(13,757)

4,123

(11)

22,243

26,355

consolidated and company statements 
of changes in equity

For the year to 31 March 2013

helical bar plc 2013

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Group

At 31 March 2011

Total comprehensive income

Revaluation surplus

Realised on disposals

Performance share plan

Dividends paid

At 31 March 2012

Total comprehensive income

Revaluation surplus

Realised on disposals

Performance share plan

Dividends paid

Share
premium
£000

Revaluation
reserve
£000

Capital 
redemption
reserve
£000

Other
reserves
£000

Retained
earnings
£000

Non-
controlling
interests
£000

Share
capital
£000

1,447

–

–

–

–

–

98,678

3,495

7,478

291

143,886

–

–

–

–

–

–

3,664

(4,547)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

4,015

(3,664)

4,547

35

(5,708)

1,447

98,678

2,612

7,478

291

143,111

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

3,723

4,258

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

4,351

(3,723)

(4,258)

1,864

(6,134)

Total
£000

255,397

4,006

–

–

35

(5,708)

253,730

4,308

–

–

1,864

(6,134)

122

(9)

–

–

–

–

113

(43)

–

–

–

–

At 31 March 2013

1,447

98,678

10,593

7,478

291

135,211

70

253,768

For a breakdown of Total comprehensive income see the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income on page 69.

Included within changes in equity are net transactions with owners of £4,270,000 (2012: £5,673,000) made up of: the performance share plan charge 
of £1,864,000 (2012: £35,000), dividends paid of £6,134,000 (2012: £5,708,000). 

The adjustment to retained earnings of £1,864,000 adds back the share–based payments charge (2012: £35,000), in accordance with IFRS 2 Share–
Based Payments.

Company

At 31 March 2011

Total comprehensive expense

Dividends paid

At 31 March 2012

Total comprehensive expense

Dividends paid

At 31 March 2013 

Share
capital
£000

1,447

–

–

Share
premium
£000

98,678

–

–

1,447

98,678

–

–

–

–

1,447

98,678

Revaluation
reserve
£000

Capital
redemption
reserve
£000

Other
reserves
£000

Retained
earnings
£000

Total
£000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

7,478

1,987

137,831

247,421

–

–

–

–

(9,334)

(5,708)

(9,334)

(5,708)

7,478

1,987

122,789

232,379

–

–

–

–

(3,309)

(6,134)

(3,309)

(6,134)

7,478

1,987

113,346

222,936

Total comprehensive expense is made up of the loss after tax of £3,309,000 (2012: £9,334,000). 

Included within changes in equity are net transactions with owners of £6,134,000 (2012: £5,708,000) made up of dividends paid of £6,134,000 (2012: 
£5,708,000).

Notes: 
Share capital – represents the nominal value of issued share capital. 
Share premium – represents the excess of value of shares issued over their nominal value. 
Revaluation reserve – represents the surplus/deficit of fair value of investment properties over their historic cost. 
Capital redemption reserve – represents amounts paid to purchase issued shares for cancellation at their nominal value. 
Retained earnings – represents the accumulated retained earnings of the Group.

71

 
helical bar plc 2013

notes to the financial statements

1. Basis of preparation
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”), including 
International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (“IFRIC”) interpretations as adopted by the European Union and as issued by the 
International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”).

The directors have taken advantage of the exemption offered by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 not to present a separate income statement 
for the parent company.

The financial statements have been prepared in Sterling (rounded to the nearest thousand) under the historical cost convention as modified by the 
revaluation of investment properties, available-for-sale investments and derivative financial instruments. The measurement bases and principal 
accounting policies of the Group are set out in note 35. These accounting policies are consistent with those applied in the year to 31 March 2012, as 
amended to reflect any new Standards, Amendments to Standards and interpretations which are mandatory for the year ended 31 March 2013.

Status of Adoption of Significant New or Amended IFRS Standards or Interpretations 

IAS 12, Income Taxes - Deferred Tax: Recovery of underlying assets; 
IFRIC 18 Transfer of Assets from Customers;

There has been no material impact as a result of adopting the above.

The following standards, interpretations and amendments have been issued but are not yet effective. They will be adopted at the point they are effective:

IAS 1 (amended): Presentation of items of other comprehensive income (effective 1 July 2012); 
IAS 19 (revised): Employee benefits (effective 1 January 2013);  
IAS 27 (revised): Separate financial statements (effective 1 January 2013); 
IAS 28 (revised): Associates and joint ventures (effective 1 January 2013); 
IFRS 7 (amended): Disclosures – transfer of financial assets (effective 1 January 2013); 
IFRS 9: Financial Instruments: Classification and measurement; 
Mandatory effective date and transition disclosures – amendments to IFRS 9 and IFRS 7 (effective 1 January 2015); 
IFRS 10: Consolidated financial statements (effective 1 January 2013); 
IFRS 11: Joint arrangements (effective 1 January 2013); 
IFRS 12: Disclosures in interests in other entities (effective 1 January 2013); 
IFRS 13: Fair value measurement (effective 1 January 2013); and 

Annual improvements to IFRSs 2011 cycle (effective 1 January 2013).

The directors do not expect that the adoption of these Standards and Interpretations in future periods will have a material impact on the financial 
statements of the Group except for IFRS13, which will impact the disclosure of fair value measurements.

2. Segmental information
IFRS 8 requires the identification of the Group’s operating segments which are defined as being discrete components of the Group’s operations whose 
results are regularly reviewed by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (being the Chief Executive) to allocate resources to those segments and to assess 
their performance. The Group divides its business into the following segments:

•   Investment properties, which are owned or leased by the Group for long-term income and for capital appreciation, and trading properties which are 

owned or leased with the intention to sell; and,

•   Developments, which include sites, developments in the course of construction, completed developments available for sale, pre-sold developments 

and interest in third party developments.

Revenue

Rental income 

Development property income

Trading property sales 

Other revenue

Total revenue 

Investment
and trading
Year ended
31.3.13
£000

Developments
Year ended
31.3.13
£000

Total
Year ended
31.3.13
£000

Investment
and trading
Year ended
31.3.12
£000

Developments
Year ended
31.3.12
£000

Total
Year ended
31.3.12
£000

24,032

–

122

1,003

25,157

1,784

38,498

–

–

25,816

38,498

122

1,003

40,282

65,439

21,391

–

10,131

113

31,635

1,667

19,666

–

–

21,333

23,058

19,666

10,131

113

52,968

All revenue is from external sales and is attributable to continuing operations. There were no inter-segmental sales.

Revenue for the year comprises revenue from construction contracts of £nil (2012: £1,735,000), revenue from the sale of goods of £31,193,000 (2012: 
£25,652,000), revenue from services of £8,430,000 (2012: £2,523,000), and rental income of £25,816,000 (2012: £23,058,000).

All revenues are within the UK other than rental income from development properties in Poland of £1,104,000 (2012: £1,052,000) and £671,000 (2012: 
£2,965,000) of development income derived from the Group’s operations in Poland.

72

notes to the financial statements

helical bar plc 2013

Profit before tax

Net rental income

Development property profit

Trading property loss

Share of results of joint ventures

Gain on sale and revaluation of investment properties

Other operating (expense)/income

Gross profit

Administrative expenses

Finance income

Finance costs

Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments

Foreign exchange gains/(losses)

Profit before tax

Net assets

Investment properties

Land, development and trading properties

Investment in joint ventures

Owner occupied property, plant and equipment

Derivative financial instruments

Deferred tax assets

Available-for-sale investments

Trade and other receivables

Corporation tax receivable

Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets

Liabilities

Net assets

Investment
and trading
Year ended
31.3.13
£000

18,232

–

(1)

4,323

1,335

23,889

Developments
Year ended
31.3.13
£000

Total
Year ended
31.3.13
£000

1,346

6,956

–

(469)

–

19,578

6,956

(1)

3,854

1,335

Investment
and trading
Year ended
31.3.12
£000

Developments
Year ended
31.3.12
£000

Total
Year ended
31.3.12
£000

16,740

1,136

17,876

–

–

2,616

3,288

655

–

(144)

–

7,833

31,722

22,644

1,647

(547)

31,175

(14,920)

887

(9,577)

(2,573)

17

5,009

655

–

2,472

3,288

24,291

113

24,404

(7,800)

583

(8,409)

(306)

(1,064)

7,408

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31.3.13
£000

312,026

2,528

41,687

356,241

31.3.13
£000

31.3.13
£000

31.3.12
£000

31.3.12
£000

31.3.12
£000

–

312,026

326,876

–

326,876

90,346

8,203

98,549

92,874

49,890

2,638

31,919

97,103

8,673

99,741

40,592

454,790

361,433

105,776

467,209

1,153

146

10,381

5,997

44,342

–

36,863

553,672

(299,904)

253,768

1,251

629

9,050

7,003

23,076

1,178

35,411

544,807

(291,077)

253,730

All non-current assets are derived from the Group’s UK operations except for Helical’s share of a held for sale investment held at £4,792,000 which is 
derived from the Group’s Polish operations.

73

 
helical bar plc 2013

notes to the financial statements

3. Net rental income

Gross rental income

Rents payable

Property overheads

Net rental income

Net rental income attributable to profit share partner

Group share of net rental income

 Year ended
31.3.13
£000

 Year ended
31.3.12
£000

25,816

(342)

(5,186)

20,288

(710)

19,578

23,058

(418)

(3,938)

18,702

(826)

17,876

Property overheads include lettings costs, vacancy costs and bad debt provisions.

The amounts above include gross rental income from investment properties of £24,032,000 (2012: £21,391,000) and net rental income of 
£18,232,000 (2012: £16,740,000).

No contingent rental income was received in the year (2012: £nil).

4. Development property profit

Development property income

Cost of sales

Sales expenses

Provision against book values

Development property profit

Year ended
31.3.13
£000

Year ended
31.3.12
£000

38,498

(30,420)

(462)

(660)

6,956

19,666

(13,935)

(565)

(4,511)

655

In accordance with IAS27, development property income for the year to 31 March 2012 includes a £4.3m gain resulting from the sale of 50% of a fully 
owned subsidiary (see note 19), which we considered to be part of the core business of the Group.

5. Trading property loss

Trading property sales

Cost of sales

Sales expenses

Trading property loss

Year ended
31.3.13
£000

Year ended
31.3.12
£000

122

(110)

(13)

(1)

10,131

(10,131)

–

–

6. Net gain on sale and revaluation of investment properties

Net proceeds from the sale of investment properties 

Book value (note 15)

Tenants incentives on sold investment properties

Loss on sale of investment properties

Revaluation surplus on investment properties

Gain on sale and revaluation of investment properties

74

Year ended
31.3.13
£000

Year ended
31.3.12
£000

21,910

(23,865)

(433)

(2,388)

3,723

1,335

50,427

(50,768)

(35)

(376)

3,664

3,288

notes to the financial statements

helical bar plc 2013

7. Administrative expenses

Administrative expenses

Operating profit is stated after the following items that are contained within administrative expenses:

Depreciation

  – owner occupied property, plant and equipment

Share-based payments charge

Auditors’ remuneration:

Audit fees

  – audit of parent company and consolidated financial statements

  – audit of company’s subsidiaries

  – interim audit of consolidated financial statements

  – internal controls review

8. Staff costs

Staff costs during the year:

  – wages and salaries

  – social security costs 

  – other pension costs 

Year ended
31.3.13
£000

Year ended
31.3.12
£000

(14,920)

(7,800)

340

1,864

155

58

41

–

309

35

145

57

40

16

Year ended
31.3.13
£000

Year ended
31.3.12
£000

8,627

1,420

116

10,163

4,615

657

136

5,408

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Details of the remuneration of Directors amounting to £5,560,000 (2012: £2,477,000) are included in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 54 
to 62. The amount of the share-based payments charge relating to share awards made to Directors is £1,715,000 (2012: £29,000).

Included within wages and salaries are directors’ bonuses of £3,051,000 (2012: £220,000) as discussed in the Remuneration Report on page 58.

Other pension costs relate to payments to individual pension plans.

The average number of employees (management and administration) of the Group during the year was 40 (2012: 36) of which 29 are UK staff and 11 
are based in Poland.

Of the staff costs of £10,163,000 (2012: £5,408,000), £9,713,000 is included within administrative expenses (2012: £5,007,000) £331,000 is included 
within development costs (2012: £401,000) and £119,000 is included in Other operating income/expense (2012: £nil).

Within administrative costs is the share based payment charge for the year of £1,864,000 (2012: £35,000) which is not included in the staff costs above.

9. Finance costs and finance income

Interest payable on bank loans and overdrafts 

Other interest payable and similar charges

Interest capitalised 

Finance costs

Interest receivable and similar income 

Finance income

Year ended
31.3.13
£000

Year ended
31.3.12
£000

(10,445)

(10,808)

(1,658)

2,526

(9,577)

887

887

(901)

3,300

(8,409)

583

583

On projects where specific third party loans have been arranged, interest has been capitalised at the rate for the individual loan. The weighted average 
capitalised interest rate of such loans was 2.87% (2012: 3.35%). Where general finance has been used to fund the acquisition and construction of 
properties the rate used was a weighted average of the financing costs for the applicable borrowings of 4.06% (2012: 4.64%).

75

 
helical bar plc 2013

notes to the financial statements

10.  Taxation on profit on ordinary activities

The tax credit is based on the profit for the year and represents:

United Kingdom corporation tax at 24%

  – Group corporation tax

  – adjustment in respect of prior periods

  – overseas tax

Current tax charge

Deferred tax at 23%/24%

  – capital allowances 

  – tax losses

  – other temporary differences

Deferred tax credit

Tax credit on profit on ordinary activities 

Factors affecting the tax credit for the period:  
The tax assessed for the period is lower than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK (24%).  
The differences are explained below:

Profit on ordinary activities before tax

Profit on ordinary activities multiplied by standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 23%/24%

Effect of:

  – expenses not deductible for tax purposes

  – income not subject to UK corporation tax

  – capital allowances not reflected through deferred tax

  – tax movements on share awards

  – additional tax losses recognised/(unavailable)

  – operating profit of joint ventures

  – prior year adjustment

  – revaluation surplus not recognised through deferred tax

  – chargeable gain in excess of loss on investment property

  – overseas tax

  – other temporary differences

Total tax credit for the period

Year ended
31.3.13
£000

Year ended
31.3.12
£000

(435)

–

(84)

(519)

46

163

1,125

1,334

815

–

153

(163)

(10)

348

1,045

(1,225)

168

158

Year ended
31.3.13
£000

Year ended
31.3.12
£000

5,009

(1,152)

(1,308)

311

–

616

7,408

(1,778)

(506)

1,695

475

(23)

1,411

(1,442)

876

–

856

(510)

(84)

(201)

815

580

153

880

(82)

(163)

369

158

Note: all deferred tax balances have been calculated at the rate of corporation tax for the year to 31 March 2013 of 23%. Accordingly, the tax 
reconciliation also uses this rate of corporation tax.

Factors that may affect future tax charges
The tax charge is expected to be less than the full rate in future years, primarily due to the Group continuing to claim allowances in respect of eligible 
expenditure on investment properties.

76

notes to the financial statements

helical bar plc 2013

11.  Deferred tax
Deferred tax provided for in the financial statements is set out below:

Capital allowances

Tax losses

Other temporary differences

Deferred tax asset

Group 
31.3.13
£000

(2,421)

10,734

2,068

10,381

Group
31.3.12
£000

(2,467)

10,572

945

9,050

Company
31.3.13
£000

Company
31.3.12
£000 

(29)

–

606

577

–

–

463

463

Other temporary differences represent deferred tax assets arising from the recognition of the fair value of derivative financial instruments and future tax 
relief available to the Group from capital allowances and when share awards vest.

The Group contains entities with tax losses for which no deferred tax asset is recognised. The total unrecognised losses amount to approximately 
£8.4m. A deferred tax asset has not been recognised because the entities in which the losses have been generated either do not have forecast taxable 
profits or the losses have restrictions whereby their utilisation is considered to be unlikely.

If upon sale of the investment properties the Group retained all the capital allowances, the deferred tax provision in respect of capital allowances of 
£2.4m (2012: £2.5m) would be released and further capital allowances of £9.5m (2012: £7.7m) would be available to reduce future tax liabilities.

12.  Dividends paid and payable

Attributable to equity share capital

Ordinary

  – interim paid of 1.85p (2012: 1.75p) per share

  – prior period final paid of 3.40p (2012: 3.15p) per share 

Total dividends paid and payable in year – 5.25p (2012: 4.90p) per share

Year ended
31.3.13
£000

Year ended
31.3.12
£000

2,161

3,973

6,134

2,044

3,664

5,708

An interim dividend of 1.85p was paid on 28 December 2012 to shareholders on the register on 30 November 2012. The final dividend of 3.70p, if 
approved at the AGM on 24 July 2013, will be paid on 26 July 2013 to shareholders on the register on 5 July 2013. This final dividend, amounting to 
£4,323,000, has not been included as a liability as at 31 March 2013, in accordance with IFRS.

13.  Parent company
The Company has taken advantage of Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and has not included its own income statement in the financial 
statements. The loss for the year of the Company was £3,309,000 (2012: £9,334,000).

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helical bar plc 2013

notes to the financial statements

14.  Earnings per share
The calculation of the basic earnings per share is based on the earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders divided by the weighted average number 
of shares in issue during the year. This is a different basis to the net asset per share calculations which are based on the number of shares at the year 
end. Shares held by the ESOP, which has waived its entitlement to receive dividends, are treated as cancelled for the purposes of this calculation.

The calculation of diluted earnings per share is based on the basic earnings per share, adjusted to allow for the effect of all dilutive options and awards.

The earnings per share are calculated in accordance with IAS 33, Earnings per Share and the best practice recommendations of the European Public 
Real Estate Association (“EPRA”). Reconciliations of the earnings and weighted average number of shares used in the calculations are set out below.

Ordinary shares in issue

Weighting adjustment

Weighted average ordinary shares in issue for calculation of basic earnings per share

Weighted average ordinary shares issued on exercise of share options

Weighted average ordinary shares to be issued under performance share plan

Year ended
31.3.13
000

Year ended
31.3.12
 000

118,138

118,138

(1,292)

(1,292)

116,846

116,846

34

1,349

34

63

Weighted average ordinary shares in issue for calculation of diluted and diluted EPRA earnings per share

118,229

116,943

Earnings used for calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share

Basic earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

Earnings used for calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share

Net gain on sale and revaluation of investment properties

Share of net gain on revaluation of investment properties in the results of joint ventures

Tax on profit on disposal of investment properties

Trading property loss

Fair value movement on derivative financial instruments

Share of fair value movements on derivative financial instruments in the results of joint ventures

Deferred tax

Performance related awards

Earnings used for calculation of adjusted diluted EPRA earnings per share

Performance related awards

Earnings used for calculation of diluted EPRA earnings per share

Adjusted diluted EPRA earnings per share

Diluted EPRA earnings per share

£000

5,867

 £000

7,575

5.0p

6.5p

5.0p

6.5p

£000

5,867

(1,335)

(3,109)

(549)

1

2,573

(32)

(572)

6,828

9,672

(6,828)

2,844

8.2p

2.4p

 £000

7,575

(3,288)

(581)

(90)

–

306

409

(323)

415

4,423

(415)

4,008

3.8p

3.4p

The earnings used for calculation of diluted EPRA earnings per share includes net rental income and development property profits but excludes trading 
property losses.

78

notes to the financial statements

helical bar plc 2013

15.  Investment properties

Group

Fair value at 1 April 

Property acquisitions

Disposals 

Revaluation surplus/(deficit)

Revaluation surplus/(deficit) attributable to profit 
share partner

Freehold
31.3.13
£000 

Leasehold
31.3.13
£000

Total
31.3.13
£000 

Freehold 
31.3.12
£000

Leasehold
31.3.12
£000

292,276

34,600

326,876

4,299

842

5,141

232,326

102,238

(13,069)

(10,796)

(23,865)

(47,158)

4,419

151

(696)

–

3,723

151

5,516

(646)

39,550

512

(3,610)

(1,852)

–

Total 
31.3.12
£000

271,876

102,750

(50,768)

3,664

(646)

Fair value at 31 March

288,076

23,950

312,026

292,276

34,600

326,876

Interest capitalised during the year in respect of the refurbishment of investment properties amounted to £nil (2012: £nil). 

Interest capitalised in respect of the refurbishment of investment properties is included in investment properties to the extent of £5,767,000 (2012: 
£5,767,000).

Investment properties with a total fair value of £312,025,000 (2012: £326,875,000) were held as security against borrowings.

Properties are stated at market value as at 31 March 2013, valued by professionally qualified external valuers except for investment properties valued 
by the Directors. The valuations have been prepared in accordance with the Valuation Standards (6th edition) published by the Royal Institution of 
Chartered Surveyors (“the Standards”). In their valuation reports, the valuers have noted, in accordance with Guidance Note 5 of the Standards, that 
the primary source of evidence for valuations is recent, comparable market transactions on arms length terms. 

fi
n
a
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c
i
a

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

The investment properties have been valued at 31 March 2013 as follows:

Cushman & Wakefield LLP

Directors’ valuation

The historical cost of investment property is £298,878,000 (2012: £321,970,000).

31.3.13
£000

31.3.12
£000

312,025

321,875

1

5,001

312,026

326,876

79

 
helical bar plc 2013

notes to the financial statements

16.  Operating lease arrangements
The Group earns rental income by leasing its investment properties to tenants under non-cancellable operating leases. At the balance sheet date the 
Group had contracted with tenants to receive the following future minimum lease payments:

Not later than one year

Later than one year but not more than five years

More than five years

The Company has no operating lease arrangements.

Group
31.3.13
£000

24,281

64,729

57,966

 Group
31.3.12
£000

24,253

68,716

72,166

146,976

165,135

17.  Owner occupied property, plant and equipment – Group

Cost at 1 April 

Additions at cost

Disposals

Cost at 31 March 

Depreciation at 1 April 

Provision for the year

Eliminated on disposals 

Depreciation at 31 March 

Net book amount at 31 March 

Short
leasehold
improvements
31.3.13
£000 

Plant and
equipment
31.3.13
£000

2,071

–

–

2,071

1,096

187

–

1,283

788

686

242

(103)

825

410

153

(103)

460

365

Short
leasehold 
improvements
31.3.12
£000

Plant and
equipment
31.3.12
£000

2,071

–

–

2,071

897

199

–

1,096

975

727

63

(104)

686

404

110

(104)

410

276

Total
31.3.13
£000

2,757

242

(103)

2,896

1,506

340

(103)

1,743

1,153

Total
31.3.12
£000

2,798

63

(104)

2,757

1,301

309

(104)

1,506

1,251

Plant and equipment include vehicles, fixtures and fittings and other office equipment.

All short leasehold improvements, plant and equipment relate to the Company except for plant and equipment with a net book value of £173,000 as at 
31 March 2013 (2012: £144,000).

18.  Investment in subsidiaries

Group
31.3.13
£000

Group
31.3.12
£000

Company
31.3.13
£000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

31,173

6,772

(1,000)

36,945

Company
31.3.12
£000

30,994

179

–

31,173

At 1 April 

Acquired during year

Share capital repaid by subsidiary

At 31 March

80

 
notes to the financial statements

helical bar plc 2013

The Company’s principal subsidiary undertakings, all of which have been consolidated, are:

Nature of business

Percentage of ordinary share capital held

Name of undertaking 

Baylight Developments Ltd*

Dencora (Docklands) Ltd

Dencora (Fordham) Ltd

Downtown Space Properties LLP

Harbour Developments (Bracknell) Ltd 

HB Sawston No. 3 Ltd

Helical (Ashford) Ltd

Investment 

Investment

Investment

Development

Development 

Investment 

Investment

Helical Bar Developments (South East) Ltd

Development

Helical Bar (Great Dover Street) Ltd

Helical Bar (Hawtin Park No. 3) Ltd 

Helical Bar (Mitre Square) Ltd 

Helical Bar Services Ltd 

Helical Bar (Wales) Ltd* 

Helical Bar (White City) Ltd

Helical (Basildon Retail) LP*

Helical (Battersea) Ltd

Helical (Bramshott Place) Ltd

Helical (Broadway) Ltd

Helical (Cardiff) Ltd

Helical (Corby) Ltd

Helical (Corby Investments) Ltd

Helical (Crownhill) Ltd

Helical (East Kilbride) Ltd

Helical (Exeter) Ltd

Helical (Faygate) Ltd

Helical (Glasgow) Ltd

Helical (Hailsham) Ltd 

Helical (Hedge End) Ltd

Helical (Liphook) Ltd 

Helical (Merlin Park) Ltd 

Helical (Milton) Ltd

Helical Retail Ltd 

Helical Retail (RBS) Ltd* 

Helical (Sevenoaks) Ltd 

Helical (Stockport) Ltd 

Helical (Telford) Ltd

Helical (Winterhill) Ltd

Helical Wroclaw Sp. z.o.o.*

Metropolis Property Ltd

Newmarket LP*

Prescot Street Investments Ltd

Sutton-in-Ashfield LP*

Investment

Investment

Development 

Management Services 

Investment 

Development

Investment

Investment

Development

Investment

Investment

Investment

Investment

Investment (Jersey)

Investment

Development

Development

Investment/Trading

Development

Trading

Development (Jersey) 

Investment

Development

Development

Development

Investment 

Development

Development

Investment

Development (Poland)

Investment

Investment

Investment

Investment

fi
n
a
n
c
i
a

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

100%

100%

100%

70%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

All principal subsidiary undertakings operate in the United Kingdom other than Helical Wroclaw Sp. z.o.o. and, unless otherwise indicated, are 
incorporated and registered in England and Wales. In line with s410(2) of the Companies Act 2006 a full list of all subsidiaries is lodged with the Annual 
Return at Companies House.

*Ordinary capital is held by a subsidiary undertaking.

Investments in subsidiaries have been impaired based on a review of their fair value at the balance sheet date. A review of the fair value of the 
investments is undertaken periodically. The fair value of the investment in subsidiaries is based on the value of the subsidiaries underlying assets.

81

 
helical bar plc 2013

notes to the financial statements

19.  Investment in joint ventures

Investment
& trading
31.3.13
£000

Development
31.3.13
£000

Total
31.3.13
£000

Investment
& trading
31.3.12
£000

Development
31.3.12
£000

Total
31.3.12
£000

Summarised statements of consolidated income

Revenue

Gross rental income

Rents payable

Property overheads

Net rental income

Gain on revaluation of investment properties

Other operating income/(expense)

Administrative expenses

Finance costs

Finance income

Change in fair value movement of derivative 
financial instruments

Profit/(loss) before tax

Tax

Profit/(loss) after tax

Summarised balance sheets

Non-current assets

Investment properties

Owner occupied property, plant and equipment

Current assets

Land, development and trading properties

Held for sale investments

Trade and other receivables

Cash

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Borrowings

Non-current liabilities

Borrowings

Derivative financial instruments

Net assets

5,629

5,629

(802)

(437)

4,390

3,109

58

(623)

(2,189)

5

32

4,782

(505)

4,277

94,962

25

94,987

–

–

1,088

4,713

5,801

564

564

–

(73)

491

–

(816)

(79)

(80)

61

–

(423)

–

(423)

6,193

6,193

(802)

(510)

4,881

3,109

(758)

(702)

6,584

6,306

(848)

(592)

4,866

581

(40)

(127)

(2,269)

(1,974)

66

32

4,359

(505)

3,854

5

(790)

2,601

15

2,616

–

–

–

94,962

67,187

25

28

94,987

67,215

23,797

23,797

4,792

962

5,080

4,792

2,050

9,793

34,631

40,432

–

–

2,510

3,240

5,750

339

339

–

(145)

194

–

(477)

–

(249)

7

381

(144)

–

(144)

–

–

–

15,709

4,792

130

387

6,923

6,645

(848)

(737)

5,060

581

(437)

(127)

(2,223)

12

(409)

2,457

15

2,472

67,187

28

67,215

15,709

4,792

2,640

3,627

21,018

26,768

(11,257)

(24,928)

(36,185)

(3,549)

(720)

–

(720)

–

(8,745)

(1,500)

(12,294)

(1,500)

(11,977)

(24,928)

(36,905)

(3,549)

(10,245)

(13,794)

(46,094)

(1,030)

(47,124)

41,687

(1,500)

(47,594)

(36,436)

(2,100)

(38,536)

–

(1,500)

8,203

(1,030)

(48,624)

49,890

(1,061)

(37,497)

31,919

–

(2,100)

8,673

(1,061)

(39,597)

40,592

The cost of the Company’s investment in joint ventures was £15,000 (2012: £165,000).

The directors’ valuation of the land, trading and development stock shows a surplus of £1,028,000 above book value (2012: £1,435,000).

82

notes to the financial statements

helical bar plc 2013

At 31 March 2013 the Group and the Company had interests in the following joint venture companies:

Abbeygate Helical (Leisure Plaza) Ltd

Abbeygate Helical (Winterhill) Ltd

Abbeygate Helical (C4.1) LLP

Shirley Advance LLP 

King Street Developments (Hammersmith) Ltd

HP Properties Ltd

Barts Two Investment Property Ltd

Helical Sosnica Sp. zoo.

207 Old Street Unit Trust

211 Old Street Unit Trust

Old Street Retail Unit Trust

City Road (Jersey) Ltd

Country of 
incorporation

Class of share
capital held 

Proportion
held Group 

Proportion 
held Company

Nature of
business

United Kingdom 

Ordinary 

United Kingdom

Ordinary 

United Kingdom

United Kingdom

United Kingdom 

British Virgin Islands

Jersey

Poland

Jersey

Jersey

Jersey

Jersey

n/a 

n/a 

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

n/a

n/a

n/a

Ordinary

50% 

50% 

50% 

50% 

50% 

60%

33%

50%

33%

33%

33%

33%

50% Development

50%  Development

50%  Development

–  Development

–  Development

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Investment

Investment

Development

Investment

Investment

Investment

Investment

During the year to 31 March 2013 the Group acquired a 33% stake in 207 Old Street Unit Trust, 211 Old Street Unit Trust, Old Street Retail Unit Trust 
and City Road (Jersey) Ltd all of which own investment properties in the UK. The results of these entities since acquisition have been included above.

During the year to 31 March 2012 the Group sold 50% of its interest in its subsidiary Helical Sosnica Sp. zoo. for nominal consideration. The results of 
this Company for the part of the year before the sale were consolidated in the Group’s results and for the results of this Company for the part of the 
year after the sale and for the financial position at the balance sheet date have been accounted for as an investment held for sale due to a commitment 
to sell the remaining 50% within the next 2 years. The Group lost control of £65m of assets and £65m of liabilities as a result of the sale of its interest in 
Helical Sosnica Sp. zoo. At 31 March 2013 Helical Sosnica Sp zoo held a development property the fair value of which the directors believe to be £105,802,000 
(of which Helical’s share is £52,901,000) and a bank loan of £49,830,000 (of which Helical’s share is £24,915,000) repayable in September 2015.

20.  Land, developments and trading properties

fi
n
a
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c
i
a

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

Group

At 1 April 

Construction costs

Interest capitalised

Disposals 

Foreign exchange movements

Provision

At 31 March

Company

At 1 April 

Construction costs

Disposals

Provision

At 31 March

Development
properties 
31.3.13
£000

97,103

20,164

2,526

Trading
stock
31.3.13
£000

2,638

5

–

Total
31.3.13
£000

99,741

20,169

2,526

Development
properties
31.3.12
£000

137,254

21,653

3,300

Trading
stock 
31.3.12
£000

10,288

2,481

–

Total
31.3.12
£000

147,542

24,134

3,300

(28,919)

(110)

(29,029)

(58,101)

(10,131)

(68,232)

127

(655)

–

(5)

127

(660)

90,346

2,528

92,874

(2,492)

(4,511)

97,103

–

–

2,638

(2,492)

(4,511)

99,741

Development
properties
31.3.13
£000

Development
properties
31.3.12
£000 

101

–

–

(101)

–

1,125

51

(1,020)

(55)

101

The directors’ valuation of trading and development stock shows a surplus of £48,837,000 above book value (2012: £33,107,000). 

Interest capitalised in respect of the development of sites is included in stock to the extent of £7,010,000 (2012: £6,379,000). 

Land, developments and trading properties with carrying values totalling £82,144,000 (2012: £83,493,000) were held as security against borrowings.

83

 
helical bar plc 2013

notes to the financial statements

21.  Available–for–sale investments

At 1 April

Additions

Impairment in the year

Fair value adjustments

At 31 March

Current
31.3.13
£000

7,003

298

(1,304)

–

5,997

Current
31.3.12
£000

10,505

–

(3,521)

19

7,003

Included within current available-for-sale investments is an amount lent to a company promoting a mainly residential mixed–use development and an 
investment of 20% of the equity of this company.

The loan and the equity are classed as an available-for-sale investment and held at fair value. The Group has determined its fair value by considering 
both the loan and the equity element separately. The loan element is valued at the fair value of the expected consideration to be received including 
anticipated future costs of recovering this loan. This amount has been impaired in the year due to a revision in the expected receipt. The equity element 
is given a nil value with the Group valuing the underlying company on a break up basis at £nil as it is believed that this is the most probable outcome. 
This nil valuation is derived because the Group believe that the value of the property and any other of the company’s assets, after the repayment of the 
loan payable to the Group, would be required to repay the outstanding creditors leaving negligible value to the shareholders.

The Group does not consider that it has significant influence over this company despite having 20% of the equity as another party owns a majority 
shareholding and the Group does not have a representative on the Board of the company.

Of the movement in the fair value of the loan and equity and the associated deferred tax movement, the impairment of £1,304,000 (2012: £3,521,000) 
has been recognised in Other Comprehensive Income.

22.  Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables 

Amounts owed by joint venture undertakings 

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings 

Other receivables 

Prepayments and accrued income 

Group
31.3.13 
£000 

15,238

25,568

–

292

3,244

44,342

Group
31.3.12 
£000 

8,025

12,457

Company
31.3.13 
£000 

Company
31.3.12 
£000 

418

20,803

428

6,658

–

304,392

316,935

1,010

1,584

178

453

346

306

23,076

326,244

324,673

Included within Trade receivables of the Group at 31 March 2013 is £6,325,000 due in 2015 and 2016 which is shown as a non-current asset in the 
Balance Sheet.

Receivables

Fully performing

Past due < 3 months

Past due > 3 months

Total receivables being financial assets

Total receivables being non-financial assets

Total receivables

Group 
31.3.13 
£000

Group
31.3.12 
£000

Company
31.3.13 
£000

Company
31.3.12
£000 

42,195

21,419

325,665

324,136

311

458

42,964

1,378

44,342

231

737

–

–

–

–

22,387

325,665

324,136

689

579

537

23,076

326,244

324,673

Past due receivables relate to a number of independent customers for whom there is no recent history of default. Against trade receivables, Helical held 
£1.0m of rental deposits at 31 March 2013 (2012: £0.9m).

84

notes to the financial statements

helical bar plc 2013

Movements in the provision for impairment of trade receivables are as follows:

Gross receivables being financial assets 

Provisions for receivables impairment

Net receivables being financial assets

Group 
31.3.13
£000

Group
31.3.12
£000

Company
31.3.13
£000

Company
31.3.12 
£000 

43,414

22,784

325,665

324,136

(450)

(397)

–

–

42,964

22,387

325,665

324,136

Receivables written off during the year as uncollectable

616

465

–

–

23.  Cash and cash equivalents

Rent deposits and cash held at managing agents

Cash held by solicitors

Cash held in blocked accounts

Cash deposits

24.  Trade and other payables

Trade payables 

Social security costs and other taxation 

Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings

Other payables 

Accruals 

Deferred income

25.  Borrowings

Current borrowings

Bank loans repayable within:

  – one to two years 

  – two to three years 

  – three to four years

  – four to five years

Non-current borrowings

Group
31.3.13

£000   

2,788

–

7,327

26,748

36,863

Group 
31.3.13
£000

7,599

2,988

–

4,073

15,293

4,976

34,929

Group
31.3.13

£000   

39,295

10,811

63,009

99,301

47,325

220,446

Group
31.3.12
£000

2,438

1,115

3,578

28,280

35,411

Group
31.3.12
£000

5,274

1,231

Company
31.3.13
£000

Company 
31.3.12
£000

–

–

–

–

–

–

24,035

24,035

26,355

26,355

fi
n
a
n
c
i
a

l

s
t
a
t
e
m
e
n
t
s

Company
31.3.13
£000

Company
31.3.12

£000   

233

–

270

–

–

152,435

145,120

4,458

8,692

5,152

71

841

–

79

1,396

–

24,807

153,580

146,865

Group
31.3.12
£000

59,203

71,551

656

21,600

110,185

203,992

Company
31.3.13
£000

Company 
31.3.12
£000

6,848

5,546

–

4,457

–

–

4,457

–

–

–

–

–

Bank overdrafts and term loans in creditors falling due within one year and after one year are secured against properties held in the normal course of 
business by subsidiary undertakings to the value of £394,169,000 (2012: £410,368,000). These will be repayable when the underlying properties are 
sold. Bank overdrafts and term loans exclude the Group’s share of borrowings in joint venture companies of £48,314,000 (2012: £40,036,000).

85

 
helical bar plc 2013

notes to the financial statements

26.  Financing and financial instruments
The policies for dealing with liquidity and interest rate risk are noted in the Strategy and Performance Review on pages 8 to 11.

Bank overdraft and loans – maturity

Due after more than one year 

Due within one year 

Group
31.3.13
£000

Group 
31.3.12
£000

220,446

203,992

39,295

59,203

259,741

263,195

The Group has various undrawn committed borrowing facilities. The facilities available at 31 March 2013 in respect of which all conditions precedent 
had been met were as follows:

Expiring in one year or less 

Expiring in more than one year but not more than two years

Expiring in more than two years but not more than three years

Expiring in more than three years but not more than four years

Expiring in more than four years but not more than five years

Interest rates – Group

Fixed rate borrowings:

  – swap rate plus bank margin

  – swap rate plus bank margin

  – swap rate plus bank margin

  – swap rate plus bank margin

  – swap rate plus bank margin

  – swap rate plus bank margin

  – swap rate plus bank margin

  – swap rate plus bank margin

  – swap rate plus bank margin

Weighted average 

Floating rate borrowings

Total borrowings

%

Expiry

3.958

4.500

–

5.645

6.240

3.972

–

4.240

4.117

4.340

3.312

Jan 2015

Jan 2015

–

Oct 2014

Dec 2013

Jan 2016

–

Nov 2017

May 2015

Sep 2015

Oct 2016

31.3.13
£000

50,000

11,873

–

6,690

10,120

9,172

–

26,400

21,375

135,631

124,110

259,741

Group
31.3.13
£000

1,877

1,694

6,074

25,811

–

35,456

%

Expiry

3.950

4.500

6.401

5.645

6.240

3.972

5.300

–

–

4.804

3.467

Jan 2015

Jan 2015

Oct 2012

Oct 2014

Dec 2013

Jan 2016

Apr 2012

–

–

Mar 2014

Oct 2014

Group 
31.3.12
£000

16,441

777

–

–

21,091

38,309

31.3.12
£000

50,000

12,250

28,500

6,690

10,120

9,172

3,570

–

–

120,302

142,893

263,195

Changes in fixed borrowing rates are the result of stepped increases in interest rate swaps rates. Floating rate borrowings bear interest at rates based on LIBOR.

As at 31 March 2013 and 31 March 2012 the Company’s borrowings consist of fixed rate borrowings of £6,690,000 at 5.645% (2012: 5.645%) 
expiring in October 2014 with the remainder being floating rate borrowings.

In addition to the fixed rate borrowings above, the Group has a £75m interest rate swap at 2.000% starting in January 2015 and expiring in January 
2020.

86

notes to the financial statements

helical bar plc 2013

Economic hedging 
In addition to the fixed rates, borrowings are also hedged by the following financial instruments:

Instrument

Current:

  – cap 

  – cap 

  – cap 

  – cap 

  – cap 

  – cap 

  – cap 

Value
£000

40,950

50,000

25,000

50,000

25,000 – 75,000

7,200

10,613 – 11,037

Rate
%

6.000

4.000

4.000

4.000

4.000

4.000

4.000

Start

Expiry

May 2008

 May 2013

Apr 2011

 Apr 2015

Apr 2011

 Apr 2016

Jul 2013

 Jul 2016

Apr 2015

 Jan 2017

Jan 2012

 Oct 2016

Jan 2015

 Jan 2016

Where a range in capped values is shown, these reflect stepped increases over the life of the cap.

Gearing

Total debt 

Cash 

Net debt 

Group
31.3.13
£000

Group
31.3.12
£000

259,741

263,195

(36,863)

(35,411)

222,878

227,784

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Net debt excludes the Group’s share of debt in joint ventures of £48,314,000 (2012: £40,036,000), and cash of £9,793,000 (2012: £3,627,000).

Net assets 

Gearing 

27.  Share capital

Authorised

Group
31.3.13
£000

Group
31.3.12
£000

253,768

253,730

88%

90%

31.3.13 
£000

39,577

39,577

31.3.12
£000

39,577

39,577

The authorised share capital of the Company is £39,576,626.60 divided into ordinary shares of 1p each and deferred shares of 1⁄8p each.

Allotted, called up and fully paid

  – 118,137,522 ordinary shares of 1p each

  – 212,145,300 deferred shares of 1⁄8p each

31.3.13 
£000

31.3.12
£000

1,182

265

1,447

1,182

265

1,447

87

 
helical bar plc 2013

notes to the financial statements

Ordinary shares

At 1 April and 31 March

Deferred shares

At 1 April and 31 March

The Group’s capital management objectives are:

–  to ensure the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern; and, 
–  to provide an adequate return to shareholders.

Shares
in issue
31.3.13
Number

Share
capital
31.3.13
£000

Shares
in issue
31.3.12
Number

Share
capital
31.3.12
£000

118,137,522

1,182

118,137,522

1,182

212,145,300

265

212,145,300

265

The Group sets the amount of capital in proportion to its overall financing structure. It manages the capital structure and makes adjustments to it in the 
light of changes in economic conditions and the risk characteristics of the underlying assets. In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the 
Group may adjust the amount of dividends paid to shareholders, return capital to shareholders, issue new shares, or sell assets to reduce debt. Capital 
is defined as being issued share capital, retained earnings, revaluation reserve and other reserves (2013: £246,220,000; 2012: £246,139,000). The 
Group continually monitors its gearing level to ensure that it is appropriate. Gearing decreased from 90% to 88% in the year due to the Group selling 
some of its non-core properties.

The deferred shares were issued on 23 December 2004 to those shareholders electing to receive a dividend, rather than a capital repayment or further 
shares in the Company, as part of the Return of Cash approved by shareholders on 20 December 2004. The deferred shares carry no voting rights and 
have no right to a dividend or capital payment in the event of a winding up of the Company. 

The Company’s Articles of Association give the Company irrevocable authority to purchase all or any of the deferred shares for a maximum aggregate 
total of 1 penny for all deferred shares in issue on the date of such purchase.

28.  Share options
At 31 March 2012 and 31 March 2013 there were 34,713 unexercised options over new ordinary 1p shares in the Company. No options over 
purchased ordinary 1p shares held by the ESOP had been granted to directors and employees under the Company’s share option schemes  
(31 March 2012: nil). 

The Company uses a stochastic valuation model to value the share options.

Summary of share options

At 1 April

Options granted

Options exercised

Option expired/lapsed

At 31 March

Weighted
average
exercise
Price
31.3.13

Number
31.3.13

34,713

259.25

Weighted
average
exercise
price
31.3.12

–

Number
31.3.12

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

34,713

259.25

–

–

–

–

34,713

259.25

34,713

259.25

The share option awards outstanding at 31 March 2013 had a weighted average remaining contractual life of 1 year 3 months.

The outstanding share options are all exercisable at 259.25p per share.

88

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helical bar plc 2013

29.  Share–based payments
The Group provides share-based payments to employees in the form of performance share plan awards and a share incentive plan. The Company 
uses a stochastic valuation model and the resulting value is amortised through the Income Statement over the vesting period of the share-based 
payments.

Performance share plan awards

Outstanding at beginning of period

Awards lapsed during the period

Awards made during the period

Outstanding at end of period

2013
Weighted
average
award
value

277p

300p

167p

211p

Awards

7,230,850

(2,133,222)

4,212,534

9,310,162

Awards

6,249,364

(1,747,441)

2,728,927

7,230,850

The performance share plan awards outstanding at 31 March 2013 had a weighted average remaining contractual life of 1 year 5 months.

The inputs into the stochastic model of valuation of the PSP awards made in the year to 31 March 2013 were as follows:

Weighted average share price

Weighted average exercise price

Expected volatility

Expected life

Risk free rate

Expected dividends

2013

203.4p

–

n/a

3 years

n/a

3.07%

2012

215.2p

–

n/a

3 years

n/a

1.88%

2012
Weighted
average
award
value

284p

276p

259p

277p

2011

285.1p

–

n/a

3 years

n/a

1.05%

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The Group recognised a charge of £1,864,000 (2012: £35,000) during the year in relation to Share-based payments.

At the balance sheet date there were no exercisable awards.

30.  Own shares held
Following approval at the 1997 Annual General Meeting the Company established the Helical Bar Employees’ Share Ownership Plan Trust (the “Trust”) 
to be used as part of the remuneration arrangements for employees. The purpose of the Trust is to facilitate and encourage the ownership of shares by 
or for the benefit of employees by the acquisition and distribution of shares in the Company.

The Trust purchases shares in the Company to satisfy the Company’s obligations under its Share Option Schemes and Performance Share Plan.

At 31 March 2013 unexercised options over nil (2012: nil) ordinary 1p shares in Helical Bar plc had been granted over shares held by the Trust. 

At 31 March 2013 outstanding awards over 9,310,162 (2012: 7,230,850) ordinary 1p shares in Helical Bar plc had been made under the terms of the 
Performance Share Plan over shares held by the Trust.

At 31 March 2013, the Trust held 1,292,000 shares (2012: 1,292,000).

31.  Contingent liabilities
The Company has entered into cross guarantees in respect of the banking facilities of its subsidiaries. These are not considered to have a material value.

Other than these contingent liabilities there were no contingent liabilities at 31 March 2013 for the Group or the Company (2012: £nil).

89

 
helical bar plc 2013

notes to the financial statements

32.  Net assets per share

31.3.13
£000

Number
of shares
000s 

31.3.13
pence 
per share

31.3.12
£000

Number 
of shares
000s

31.3.12
pence
per share

Net asset value

253,768

118,138

253,730

118,138

Less: own shares held by ESOP

(1,292)

(1,292)

      deferred shares

Basic net asset value

Add: unexercised share options

Add: dilutive effect of the Performance Share Plan

Diluted net asset value

Adjustment for:

(265)

(265)

253,503

116,846

217

253,465

116,846

217

90

3,649

34

1,824

90

1,757

34

901

257,242

118,704

217

255,312

117,781

217

  – fair value of financial instruments

  – deferred tax

6,048

578

3,494

1,050

Adjusted diluted net asset value

263,868

118,704

222

259,856

117,781

221

Adjustment for:

  – fair value of trading and development properties

49,865

34,542

Diluted EPRA net asset value

313,733

118,704

264

294,398

117,781

250

Adjustment for:

  – fair value of financial instruments

  – deferred tax

(6,048)

(578)

(3,494)

(1,050)

Diluted EPRA triple net asset value 

307,107

118,704

259

289,854

117,781

246

The net asset values per share have been calculated in accordance with the best practice recommendations of the European Public Real Estate 
Association (“EPRA”).  

The adjustments to the net asset value comprise the amounts relating to the Group and its share in Joint Ventures.

33.  Related party transactions
At 31 March 2013 and 31 March 2012 the following amounts were due in respect of the Group’s joint ventures.

Abbeygate Helical (Leisure Plaza) Ltd

Abbeygate Helical (C4.1) LLP

King Street Developments (Hammersmith) Ltd

Shirley Advance LLP

The Asset Factor Ltd

HP Properties Ltd (BVI)

Barts Two Investment Property Ltd

Helical Sosnica Sp. zoo

207 Old Street Unit Trust

211 Old Street Unit Trust

Old St Retail Unit Trust

City Road (Jersey) Ltd

All movements in joint venture balances related to loans repaid and loans advanced. 

90

At 31.3.13
£000

At 31.3.12
£000

3,279

–

2,392

4,323

n/a

–

152

10,839

1,757

1,456

684

675

2,316

10

2,150

4,603

8

–

3

3,367

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

 
 
notes to the financial statements

At 31 March 2013 and 31 March 2012 there were the following balances between the Company and its subsidiaries.

Amounts due from subsidiaries

Amounts due to subsidiaries

helical bar plc 2013

31.3.13
£000

304,392

152,435

31.3.12
£000

316,935

145,120

During the years to 31 March 2013 and 31 March 2012 there were the following transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries:

Management charges receivable

Management charges payable

Interest receivable

Interest payable

Year ended
31.3.13
£000

Year ended
31.3.12
£000

3,480

83

1,574

–

4,318

127

3,439

–

Management charges relate to the performance of management services for the Company or its subsidiaries. Interest receivable relates to interest on 
loans made by the Company to its subsidiaries. All of these transactions, and the year-end balance sheet amounts arising from these transactions were 
conducted on an arm’s length basis and on normal commercial terms. Amounts owed by subsidiaries to the company are identified in note 22. 
Amounts owed to subsidiaries by the company are identified in note 24.

The Group considers that the key management personnel are the directors and the detail of their remuneration is disclosed in the directors’ 
remuneration report on pages 54 to 62. Share based payments for directors are disclosed in note 8. 

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34.  Financial instruments
Categories of financial instruments
Financial assets in the Group include derivative financial assets which are designated as ‘Fair value through the Profit or Loss’. Financial assets also 
include trade and other receivables and cash and cash equivalents all of which are included within loans and receivables as well as available-for-sale 
investments.

Financial liabilities classed as ‘Fair value through the Profit or Loss’ include derivatives and those liabilities designated as such. Financial liabilities also 
include secured bank loans and overdrafts, trade and other payables and provisions, all of which are classified as financial liabilities at amortised cost.

Financial assets and liabilities by category
The financial instruments of the Group as classified in the financial statements can be analysed under the following IAS 39 Financial Instruments: 
Recognition and Measurement, categories:

Financial assets

Loans and receivables

Fair value through the Profit or Loss

Available-for-sale financial assets

Total financial assets

These financial assets are included in the balance sheet within the following headings:

Available–for–sale investments

Derivative financial instruments

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Total financial assets

Group
31.3.13
£000

79,827

146

5,997

Group
31.3.12
£000

Company
31.3.13
£000

Company
31.3.12
£000

57,798

349,700

350,491

629

7,003

52

–

340

–

85,970

65,430

349,752

350,831

Group
31.3.13
£000

5,997

146

42,964

36,863

85,970

Group
31.3.12
£000

7,003

629

22,387

35,411

65,430

Company
31.3.13
£000

Company
31.3.12
£000

–

52

–

340

325,665

324,136

24,035

26,355

349,752

350,831

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helical bar plc 2013

notes to the financial statements

Financial assets are stated in accordance with IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Presentation.

For fair value of available-for-sale investments see note 21. The carrying value of the trade and other receivables and cash and cash equivalents is 
deemed not to be materially different from the fair value.

Financial liabilities

Fair value through the Profit or Loss

Other financial liabilities

Total financial liabilities

Group
31.3.13
£000

Group
31.3.12
£000

Company
31.3.13
£000

Company
31.3.12
£000

(13,379)

(3,075)

(1,027)

(837)

(278,491)

(280,864)

(164,886)

(152,411)

(291,870)

(283,939)

(165,913)

(153,248)

These financial liabilities are included in the balance sheet within the following headings:

Trade and other payables

Borrowings – current

Borrowings – non current

Derivative financial instruments

Total financial liabilities

Group
31.3.13
£000

(27,135)

(39,295)

Group
31.3.12
£000

Company
31.3.13
£000

Company
31.3.12
£000

(17,669)

(153,581)

(146,865)

(59,203)

(220,446)

(203,992)

(5,164)

(3,075)

(6,848)

(4,457)

(1,027)

(5,546)

–

(837)

(291,870)

(283,939)

(165,913)

(153,248)

The carrying value of trade and other payables and borrowings is not deemed to be materially different from the fair value. Financial liabilities are stated 
in accordance with IAS 32.

The Group and Company financial instruments that are measured subsequent to initial recognition at fair value are available-for-sale assets, forward 
exchange contracts and interest rate swaps, caps and floors, and those designated on initial recognition. 

Forward foreign exchange contracts are externally measured using quoted forward exchange rates and yield curves derived from quoted interest rates 
matching maturities of the contracts. Interest rate swaps, caps and floors are measured at the present value of future cash flows estimated and 
discounted based on the applicable yield curves derived from quoted interest rates. 

IFRS 7 categorises financial assets and liabilities as being valued in 3 hierarchical levels:

  – Level 1: values are unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities

  – Level 2: values are derived from observing market data

  – Level 3: values cannot be derived from observable market data

The derivative financial instruments above have been valued using a Level 2 methodology and the available-for-sale investments, which are described 
in note 21, are classified as Level 3 fair value measurements, being those not based on observable market data. There were no transfers between 
categories in the current or prior year.

Derivative financial instruments

Derivative financial assets

Interest rate caps 

Derivative financial liabilities

Interest rate swaps

Group 
Year ended
31.3.13
£000

Group
Year ended
31.3.12
£000

Company
Year ended
31.3.13
£000

Company
Year ended
31.3.12
£000

146

146

629

629

52

52

(5,164)

(5,164)

(3,075)

(3,075)

(1,027)

(1,027)

340

340

(837)

(837)

The group’s movement in the fair value of the derivative financial instruments in the year was a loss of £2,573,000 (2012: £306,000); Company: loss of 
£478,000 (2012: £1,604,000).

92

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helical bar plc 2013

Credit risk
Credit risks arise from the possibility that customers may not be able to settle their obligations as agreed. To manage this risk the Group periodically 
assesses the financial reliability of customers, taking into account their financial position, past experience and other factors. 

As at 31 March 2013 Helical has total credit risk exposure excluding cash of £48,961,000 of which £5,997,000 is available-for-sale assets and 
£42,964,000 is loans and receivables. Available-for-sale assets are analysed in note 21.

Of the trade receivables held at 31 March 2013, £0.8m related to rent due from tenants which was received post year-end and £1.2m related to 
completion monies due on the sale of a property which was received on 2 April 2013. 

All other debtors are deemed to be recoverable.

The Group is not reliant on any major customer for its ability to continue as a going concern.

For further information on trade and other receivables, see note 22.

Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is defined as the risk that the Group would not be able to settle or meet its obligations on time or at a reasonable price. 

Liquidity and funding risks, related processes and policies are overseen by management.

The Group manages its liquidity risk on a consolidated basis based on business needs, tax, capital or regulatory considerations, if applicable, and 
through numerous sources of finance in order to maintain flexibility. Management monitors the Group’s net liquidity position through rolling forecasts on 
the basis of expected cash flows. The Group’s cash and cash equivalents are held with major regulated financial institutions and the directors regularly 
monitor the financial institutions that the group uses to ensure its exposure to liquidity risk is minimised.

For further information on debt facilities, see notes 25 and 26.

The maturity profile of the Group’s contracted financial liabilities is as follows:

Payable within 3 months

Payable between 3 months and 1 year

Payable between 1 and 3 years 

Payable after 3 years

Total contracted liabilities

Group
31.3.13
£000

45,839

28,620

95,219

154,222

323,900

Group
31.3.12
£000

19,913

65,135

89,567

140,201

314,816

Company
31.3.13
£000

Company
31.3.12
£000

158,800

147,067

2,543

5,215

–

7,011

789

–

166,558

154,867

Of the Group’s contracted financial liabilities due within 3 months £12m of loans have been refinanced and are payable after more than 3 years.

At 31 March 2013 Helical had £35m of undrawn borrowing facilities, £27m of uncharged property assets and cash balances of £37m. The above 
contracted liabilities assume that no loans are extended beyond their current facility expiry date. The management believe that these facilities, together 
with anticipated sales and the renewal of some of these loan facilities, mean that the Group can meet its contracted liabilities as they fall due.

Market risk
The Group is exposed to market risk, primarily related to interest rates, foreign currency exchange movements, the market value of the investments 
and accrued development profits. The Group actively monitors these exposures.

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Interest rate risk
It is the Group’s policy and practice to minimise interest rate cash flow exposures on long-term financing. The Group does this by using a number of 
derivative financial instruments including interest rate swaps and interest rate caps. The purpose of these derivatives is to manage the interest rate risks 
arising from the Group’s sources of finance. The Group does not use financial instruments for speculative purposes.

Details of financing and financial instruments can be found in note 26.

In the year to 31 March 2013, if interest rates had moved by 0.5%, this would have resulted in the following movement to net profits and equity due to 
movements in interest charges and mark-to-market valuations of derivatives.

0.5% increase – increase in net results and equity

0.5% decrease – decrease in net results and equity

   Group 
   31 March 2013

   Company 
   31 March 2013

Impact on
results
£000

2,724

(2,537)

Equity
impact
£000

2,724

(2,537)

Impact on
results
£000

673

(571)

Equity
impact
£000

673

(571)

Foreign currency exchange risk
Due to its operations in Poland and its investment in a non-UK based property developer, the Group has exposure to exchange movements on foreign 
currencies. Helical’s management monitors its exposure to risks associated with foreign currency exchange risk and reviews any requirements to act to 
minimise these risks.

In the year to 31 March 2013 the Group made foreign exchange gains of £17,000 (2012: losses of £1,064,000) resulting from movements in foreign 
exchange rates during the year affecting its assets and liabilities related to its overseas operations.

The Group’s balance sheet translation exposure is summarised as follows:

Gross currency assets

Gross currency liabilities

Net exposure

            31 March 2013

          31 March 2012

Euro
(£000)

28,135

(8,921)

19,214

Zloty
(£000)

1,361

(1,112)

249

US dollars
(£000)

5,984

–

5,984

Euro
(£000)

18,197

(8,799)

9,398

Zloty
(£000) 

US dollars
(£000)

3,599

(1,729)

1,870

6,990

–

6,990

The Company’s balance sheet translation exposure is almost exclusively due to intra-group loans and is summarised as follows:

Gross currency assets

Gross currency liabilities

Net exposure

           31 March 2013

            31 March 2012

Euro
(£000)

10,853

–

10,853

Zloty
(£000)

4,507

–

4,507

Euro
(£000)

3,311

–

3,311

Zloty
(£000)

6,749

(1,402)

5,347

The Group’s main currency exposure is to the euro. The sensitivity of the net assets and profit of the Group to a 10% change in the value of the foreign 
currencies against sterling is Euro: £1,921,000 (2012: £940,000), Zloty: £25,000 (2012: £187,000), US dollar: £598,000 (2012: £531,000).

The sensitivity of the net assets and profit of the Company to a 10% change in the value of the foreign currencies against sterling is Euro: £1,085,000 
(2012: £331,000), Zloty: £451,000 (2012: £535,000).

94

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helical bar plc 2013

35.  Principal accounting policies 
Basis of consolidation 
The Group financial statements consolidate those of Helical Bar plc (the “Company”) and all of its subsidiary undertakings (together the “Group”) drawn 
up to 31 March 2013. Subsidiary undertakings are those entities over which the Group has the ability to govern the financial and operating policies 
through the exercise of voting rights. Subsidiaries are accounted for under the purchase method and are held in the Company balance sheet at cost 
and reviewed annually for impairment.

Joint Ventures are entities whose economic activities are controlled jointly by the Group and by other ventures independent of the Group and are 
accounted for using the equity method of accounting, whereby the Group’s share of profit after tax in the Joint Venture is recognised in the 
Consolidated Income Statement and the Group’s share of the Joint Venture’s net assets are incorporated in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

The Company’s cost of investment in Joint Ventures less any provision for permanent impairment loss is shown in the Company Balance Sheet.

Associates are those entities over which the Group has significant influence but which are neither subsidiaries nor joint ventures. 

Intra-group balances and any unrealised gains on transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries and between subsidiaries are eliminated. 
Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred.

Going concern
The accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis as explained in the Corporate Governance review on page 48.

Revenue recognition 
Rental income – rental income receivable is recognised in the Income Statement on a straight line basis over the lease term. Any incentive for lessees 
to enter into a lease agreement and any costs associated with entering into the lease are spread over the same period.

Sale of goods – assets, such as trading properties, development sites and completed developments, are regarded as sold upon the transfer of the 
significant risks and rewards of ownership to the purchaser, in accordance with IAS 18 Revenue. This occurs on exchange of unconditional contracts 
for the sale of the site, on satisfaction of any and all conditions on a conditional contract for the sale of the site or on completion of the contract on a 
conditional sale where those conditions are satisfied at completion. Measurements of revenue arising from the sale of such assets are derived from the 
fair value of the consideration received in accordance with IAS 18 Revenue.

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Property advisory/development management services – where the Group provides these services to the third party property site owner the Group 
recognises income over the period these services are provided and in accordance with the specific terms of the contract. If the amount of, and 
payment of, the consideration for these services are contingent upon a future event (such as sale of the property) and the Group recognises revenue 
when it has provided the services, it can reliably estimate the fair value of the consideration and upon occurrence of the relevant event.

Investment income – revenue in respect of investment and other income represents investment income, fees and commissions earned on an accruals 
basis and the fair value of the consideration received/receivable on investments held for the short-term. Dividends are recognised when the 
shareholders’ right to receive payment has been established. Interest income is accrued on a time basis, by reference to the principal outstanding and 
the effective interest rate.

Share-based payments 
The Group provides share-based payments in the form of performance share plan awards and a share incentive plan. These payments are discussed 
in greater detail in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 54 to 62. The fair value of share-based payments related to employees’ service are 
determined indirectly by reference to the fair value of the related instrument at the grant date. All share-based payment arrangements granted after 7 
November 2002 that had not vested prior to 1 January 2005 are recognised in the financial statements. The Group uses the stochastic valuation model 
and the resulting value is amortised through the Consolidated Income Statement (“Income Statement”) over the vesting period of the share-based 
payments.

For the performance share plan and share incentive plan awards, where non-market conditions apply, the expense is allocated, over the vesting period, 
to the Income Statement based on the best available estimate of the number of awards that are expected to vest. Estimates are subsequently revised if 
there is any indication that the number of awards expected to vest differs from previous estimates.

Depreciation 
In accordance with IAS 40 Investment Property, depreciation is not provided for on freehold investment properties or on leasehold investment 
properties. The Group does not own the freehold land and buildings which it occupies. Costs incurred in respect of leasehold improvements to the 
Group’s head office at 11–15 Farm Street, London W1J 5RS are capitalised and held as short-term leasehold improvements. Leasehold improvements, 
plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any recognised impairment loss. Residual values are reassessed annually.

Depreciation is charged so as to write off the cost of assets less residual value, over their estimated useful lives, using the straight line method, on the 
following basis:

Short leasehold improvements  – 10% or length of lease, if shorter 
Plant and equipment  

– 25%

95

 
helical bar plc 2013

notes to the financial statements

Taxation 
The taxation charge represents the sum of tax currently payable and deferred tax. The charge for current taxation is based on the results for the year as 
adjusted for items which are non-assessable or disallowed. It is calculated using rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance 
sheet date. Tax payable upon realisation of revaluation gains recognised in prior periods is recorded as a current tax charge with a release of the 
associated deferred taxation.

Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial 
statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit, and is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method. 
Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is 
probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised. The measurement of deferred tax assets 
and liabilities reflects the tax consequences of the manner in which the Group expects, at the balance sheet date, to recover or settle the carrying 
amount of those assets and liabilities. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the temporary differences arise from the initial recognition of 
goodwill or from the initial recognition (other than in a business combination) of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax 
profit nor the accounting profit.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each balance sheet date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient 
taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the assets to be recovered.

The deferred tax asset relating to share based payment awards reflects the estimated value of tax relief available on the vesting of the awards at the 
balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is determined using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date and are expected to apply when 
the related deferred tax asset is realised or the deferred tax liability is settled. It is recognised in the Income Statement except when it relates to items 
credited or charged directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity.

The Group recognises a deferred tax liability for all taxable temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries, associates and interests 
in joint ventures, except to the extent that both of the following conditions are satisfied:

a)  

the Group is able to control the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference; and,

b)  

it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

Dividends 
Dividend distributions to the Company’s shareholders are recognised as a liability in the financial statements in the period in which dividends are 
approved.

Investment properties 
Investment properties are properties owned or leased by the Group which are held for long-term rental income and for capital appreciation. Investment 
properties are initially recognised at cost, including associated transaction costs, and revalued at the balance sheet date to fair value. These fair values 
are based on market values as determined by professionally qualified external valuers or are determined by the directors of the Group based on their 
knowledge of the property. In accordance with IAS 40, investment properties held under leases are stated gross of the recognised finance lease liability.

Gains or losses arising from changes in the fair value of investment properties are recognised as gains or losses on revaluation in the Income Statement 
of the period in which they arise.

In accordance with IAS 40, as the Group uses the fair value model, no depreciation is provided in respect of investment properties including integral 
plant.

Property that is being constructed or developed for future use as an investment property is treated as investment property in accordance with IAS 40. 

When the Group redevelops an existing investment property for continued future use as investment property, the property remains an investment 
property measured at fair value and is not reclassified. Interest is capitalised before tax relief until the date of practical completion.

Details of the valuation of investment properties can be found in note 15.

Goodwill 
Goodwill, representing the excess of the cost of acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s share of the identifiable net assets acquired, is capitalised 
and reviewed annually for impairment. Goodwill is carried at cost less accumulated impairment losses. Negative goodwill is recognised immediately 
after acquisition in the Income Statement.

Land, developments and trading properties 
Land, developments and trading properties held for sale are inventory and are included in the Balance Sheet at the lower of cost and net realisable 
value. Net realisable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business less estimated costs to completion and estimated costs 
necessary to make the sale.

Gross borrowing costs associated with expenditure on properties under development or undergoing major refurbishment are capitalised. The interest 
capitalised is either based on the interest paid (where a project has a specific loan) or calculated using the Group’s weighted average cost of 
borrowings (where there are no specific borrowings for the project). Interest is capitalised from the date of commencement of the development work 
until date of practical completion. 

96

notes to the financial statements

helical bar plc 2013

Investments 
Available-for-sale investments are revalued to fair value at the balance sheet date. Gains or losses arising from changes in fair value are recognised in 
the Statement of Comprehensive Income except to the extent that losses are attributable to impairment, in which case they are recognised in the 
Income Statement. Upon disposal, accumulated fair value adjustments are included in the Income Statement. 

Held for sale investments 
Investments are defined as held for sale when the Group intends to sell the investment and if sale is highly probable. Such held for sale investments are 
measured at the lower of their carrying amounts immediately prior to their classification as held for sale and their fair value less costs to sell. 

Trade receivables 
Trade receivables do not carry any interest and are stated initially at fair value and subsequently at amortised cost as reduced by appropriate 
allowances for estimated irrecoverable amounts.

Cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents are carried in the Balance Sheet at amortised cost. For the purposes of the cash flow statement, cash and cash equivalents 
comprise cash in hand, deposits with banks, and other short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less.

Trade and other payables 
Trade and other payables are not interest bearing and are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently at amortised cost.

Borrowing and borrowing costs 
Interest bearing bank loans and overdrafts are initially recorded at fair value, net of finance and other costs yet to be amortised.

Borrowing costs directly attributable to the acquisition and construction of new developments and investment properties are added to the costs of 
such properties until the date of completion of the development or investment. After initial recognition borrowings are carried at amortised cost. This 
treatment has been adopted since transition to IFRS.

Derivative financial instruments 
Derivative financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised on the Balance Sheet when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of 
the instrument.

The Group enters into derivative transactions such as interest rate caps and floors, and forward foreign currency contracts in order to manage the risks 
arising from its activities. Derivatives are initially recorded at fair value and are subsequently remeasured to fair value based on market prices, estimated 
future cash flows and forward rates as appropriate. Any change in the fair value of such derivatives is recognised immediately in the Income Statement.

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Further information on the categorisation of financial instruments can be found in note 34.

Leases 
Leases are classified according to the substance of the transaction. A lease that transfers substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the 
lessee is classified as a finance lease. All other leases are classified as operating leases.

In accordance with IAS 40, finance leases of investment property are accounted for as finance leases and recognised as an asset and an obligation to 
pay future minimum lease payments. The investment property asset is included in the balance sheet at fair value, gross of the recognised finance lease 
liability. Lease payments are allocated between the liability and finance charges so as to achieve a constant financing rate.

Foreign currencies 
Transactions in foreign currencies are translated at the exchange rate ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities in foreign 
currencies are translated at the rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Non-monetary items that are measured at historical cost in a foreign 
currency are translated at the exchange rate at the date of the transaction. 

Any exchange differences arising on the settlement of monetary items or on translating monetary items at rates different from those at which they were 
initially recorded are recognised in the Income Statement in the period in which they arise. Exchange differences on non-monetary items are recognised 
in the Statement of Comprehensive Income to the extent that they relate to a gain or loss on that non-monetary item which is included in the Statement 
of Comprehensive Income, otherwise such gains and losses are recognised in the Income Statement. 

The assets and liabilities in the financial statements of foreign subsidiaries are translated at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. 
Income and expenses are translated at the average rate. The exchange differences arising from the retranslation of the opening net investment in 
subsidiaries are recognised in Other Comprehensive Income. On disposal of a foreign operation the cumulative translation differences (including, if 
applicable, gains and losses on related hedges) are transferred to the Income Statement as part of the gain or loss on disposal. 

97

 
helical bar plc 2013

notes to the financial statements

Net asset values per share 
Net asset values per share have been calculated in accordance with the best practice recommendations of the European Public Real Estate 
Association (“EPRA”).

Earnings per share 
Earnings per share have been calculated in accordance with IAS 33 and the best practice recommendations of EPRA.

Employee Share Ownership Plan Trust 
Shares held in the Helical Bar Employee Share Ownership Plan Trust (“ESOP”) are shown as a deduction in arriving at equity funds. Assets, liabilities 
and reserves of the ESOP are included in the statutory headings to which they relate. Purchases and sales of own shares increase or decrease the 
book value of “Own shares held” in the Balance Sheet. At each period end the Group assesses and recognises the value of “Own shares held” with 
reference to the expected cash proceeds and accounts for movement between book value and fair value as a reserves transfer.

Use of estimates and judgements 
To be able to prepare accounts according to the accounting principles, management must make estimates and assumptions that affect the asset and 
liability items and revenue and expense amounts recorded in the financial statements. These estimates are based on historical experience and various 
other assumptions that management and the Board of Directors believe are reasonable under the circumstances. The results of these considerations 
form the basis for making judgements about the carrying value of assets and liabilities that are not readily available from other sources.

Areas requiring the use of estimates and critical judgement that may significantly impact on the Group’s earnings and financial position are:

–   recognition of property management/development management service income includes subjective assumptions such as assessment of contingent 

events and time value of money for future payments (note 2);

–  valuation of investment properties, where external valuers are used to provide third party valuations (note 15);

–   recognition of share–based payments which is dependent upon the estimated number of performance share plan awards that will vest at the end 

of the performance periods (note 29);

–   calculation and assessment of the recoverability of deferred tax assets, where it has been assumed that sufficient taxable profits will be available 

in future periods to allow all of the assets to be recovered (note 11);

–  valuation of the investment in a property developer which is based on a valuation method (note 21); and,

–   directors’ valuation of land, development and trading properties include subjective assumptions including the results of future planning decisions 

and future sales values and timings (note 20).

98

helical bar plc 2013

ten year review

Consolidated income statements

IFRS
31.3.13
£000

IFRS
31.3.12
£000

IFRS
31.3.11
£000

IFRS
31.3.10
£000

IFRS
31.3.09
£000

IFRS
31.3.08
£000

IFRS
31.3.07
£000

IFRS
31.3.06
£000

IFRS
31.3.05
£000

UK GAAP
31.3.04
£000

Revenue

Net rental income

65,439

52,968

119,059

67,354

81,770

65,623

123,176

119,274

101,469

54,566

19,578

17,876

14,187

14,151

17,682

16,400

14,771

16,524

20,440

22,980

Development profit/(loss)

7,616

5,166

(1,729)

8,748

15,040

6,453

13,587

4,594

12,664

Provisions against stock

(660)

(4,511)

(14,913)

(10,041)

(22,744)

(385)

Trading (loss)/profit

(1)

–

(367)

(10)

(514)

Share of results of joint ventures

3,854

2,472

2,886

3,745

–

2,094

6,196

766

–

13,441

437

235

–

5,771

2,699

235

(29)

(98)

(315)

1,846

6,752

26

38

–

1,031

1,636

601

Other (expense)/income

Gross profit/(loss) before gain/
(loss) on investment properties

(547)

113

29,840

21,116

(358)

(294)

16,619

18,062

22,026

37,414

35,231

41,809

26,286

(Loss)/gain on sale of 
investment properties

Revaluation surplus/(deficit) 
on investment properties

Gain on sale of investments

Impairment of available-for-sale 
investments

Administrative expenses excluding 
performance related awards

(2,388)

(376)

4,842

(4,909)

1,335

(236)

7,457

7,818

14,106

2,035

3,723

3,664

2,670

13,104

(68,005)

(32,554)

33,180

35,733

30,098

–

–

–

–

–

(1,817)

–

–

1,892

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(8,092)

(7,385)

(7,312)

(7,202)

(7,410)

(6,894)

(6,174)

(6,104)

(5,848)

(5,799)

Performance related awards

(6,828)

(415)

(262)

(1,478)

(680)

(6,765)

(11,370)

(10,478)

(9,909)

(2,238)

Loss on sale of subsidiary

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(59)

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1,070

–

–

Finance costs

Finance income

Movement in fair value of derivative 
financial instruments

(9,577)

(8,409)

(6,992)

(9,328)

(9,718)

(3,033)

(2,710)

(7,421)

(8,734)

(7,642)

887

(2,573)

583

(306)

652

1,039

2,082

2,579

1,335

1,776

1,157

(13,412)

(1,270)

956

1,295

1,046

1,948

1,225

Foreign exchange gains/(losses)

17

(1,064)

(67)

(1,127)

3,999

1,862

–

–

–

Profit/(loss) before tax

5,009

7,408

(6,280)

7,875

(71,855)

(24,285)

60,088

57,120

64,695

13,653

Tax

815

158

2,391

1,711

18,359

11,971

(8,000)

(9,676)

844

(2,199)

Profit/(loss) after tax

5,824

7,566

(3,889)

9,586

(53,496)

(12,314)

52,088

47,444

65,539

11,454

The financial statements for the year to 31 March 2005 have been restated to reflect the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards.

The above table has not been audited but the information for the years 31 March 2006 to 31 March 2013 is taken from the financial statements of 
those years and the information for the years 31 March 2004 to 31 March 2005 is taken from the financial statements of those years restated to reflect 
the impact of the 5 for 1 share issue on 1 September 2005

99

 
helical bar plc 2013

ten year review

IFRS
31.3.13
£000

IFRS
31.3.12
£000

IFRS
31.3.11
£000

IFRS
31.3.10
£000

IFRS
31.3.09
£000

IFRS
31.3.08
£000

IFRS
31.3.07
£000

IFRS
31.3.06
£000

IFRS
31.3.05
£000

UK GAAP
31.3.04
£000

Investment portfolio

312,026 326,876

271,876

219,901

241,287

306,778

316,025

294,583

271,315 334,932

Land, developments and trading 
properties

Group’s share of investment 
properties held by joint ventures

Group’s share of land, trading and 
development properties held by 
joint ventures

92,874

99,741

147,542

182,576

210,415

182,508

110,815

86,076

95,568

70,254

94,962

67,187

65,870

45,300

–

–

–

–

–

13,830

23,797

15,709

14,434

14,346

13,761

6,885

5,795

4,906

4,672

2,968

Group’s share of total properties

523,659 509,513

499,722

462,123

465,463

496,171

432,635

385,565

371,555 421,984

Net debt

222,878 227,784

206,090

202,958

224,676

205,510

134,018

112,708

124,976 129,799

Group’s share of net debt of joint 
ventures

Group’s share of net rental income of 
joint ventures

38,521

36,409

35,898

25,794

3,550

19,566

11,049

2,202

2,344

8,379

4,881

5,060

3,590

695

212

186

118

130

120

1,418

Shareholders’ funds

253,768 253,730

255,397

242,607

237,066

268,659

282,186

230,097

186,165 234,917

Dividend per ordinary share

5.25p

4.90p

2.00p

7.25p

4.50p

4.50p

4.05p

3.65p

Special dividend per ordinary share

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Diluted EPRA earnings/(loss) per 
ordinary share

2.4p

3.4p

(6.4p)

2.9p

9.0p

11.6p

16.6p

12.2p

3.32p

80.0p

n/a

3.32p

–

n/a

Diluted EPRA net assets per share

264p

250p

253p

272p

286p

352p

374p

309p

238p

182p

The financial statements for the year to 31 March 2005 have been restated to reflect the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards.

The above table has not been audited but the information for the years 31 March 2006 to 31 March 2013 is taken from the financial statements of 
those years and the information for the years 31 March 2004 to 31 March 2005 is taken from the financial statements of those years restated to reflect 
the impact of the 5 for 1 share issue on 1 September 2005

The diluted EPRA earnings per ordinary share were not calculated for the years to 31 March 2004 and 31 March 2005.

100

investor information appendix I 
property portfolio

helical bar plc 2013

investment portfolio

London offices

Address

Description

Area sq ft (NIA)

Average rent

Vacancy rate

Shepherds Building, 
Shepherds Bush, London, W14 

Multi-let office building. Let to media 
companies 

Silverthorne Road, Battersea, 
London, SW8 

Multi-let office building. Let to media 
companies 

NHS Hospital with planning consent for 
225,000 sq ft office, 215 residential 
apartments and 26,000 sq ft retail/leisure 

Office and retail buildings with major 
refurbishment/redevelopment potential 

Recently refurbished office and retail 
building adjacent to Hammersmith 
Broadway 

Barts Square, London, EC1

207-211 Old Street, London, EC1

Broadway House, London, W6

The Powerhouse, Chiswick, 
London, W4

Regional offices 

151,000

£23.95 psf

107,000

£20.90 psf

420,000

£8.85 psf

284,000

35,000

Office: £11.85 psf 

Retail: £25-£75 ITZA

Office: £24.50  
Retail: £125-£145 ITZA

3%

26%

5% 

15% 

30%

0%

Single let music recording/office building 

24,000

£16.50 psf

1,021,000

Address

Description

Area sq ft (NIA)

Average rent

Vacancy rate

Fordham, Newmarket

Single let research and development 
facility

70,000

70,000

£17.70 psf

0%

Industrial  

Address

Dales Manor, Business Park, 
Cambridge 

Winterhill Industrial Estate, 
Milton Keynes

Crownhill Business Centre, 
Milton Keynes

Description

Area sq ft (NIA)

Average rent

Vacancy rate

Industrial and office park 

Town centre industrial estate 

Multi-let industrial estate 

68,000

25,000

108,000

201,000

£8.50 psf

£7.70 psf 

£6.60 psf

3%

0%

20%

Retail                                                 

Address

Description

Area sq ft (NIA)

Average rent

Vacancy rate

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The Morgan Quarter, Cardiff 

Prime retail parade and listed retail 
arcades with residential above 

78-104 Town Square, Basildon 

High street retail parade with offices above 

The Guineas, Newmarket

Town centre shopping centre 

Idlewells Shopping Centre,  
Sutton in Ashfield 

Corby Town Centre, Corby 

Covered town centre shopping centre

Town centre including modern shopping 
centre, original High Street, retail park 
and residential 

Clyde Shopping Centre, Clydebank  Town centre shopping centre and foodstore

Otford Retail Park, Sevenoaks 

Retail park 

294,000

£120-£175 ITZA

54,000 

142,000 

143,000

£75-£100 ITZA

£30-£50 ITZA 

£25-£50 ITZA

700,000

£30-£50 ITZA 

627,000

42,000 

2,002,000

£30-£65 ITZA 

£18.50 psf 

4%

16% 

4% 

2%

2%

3% 

0% 

101

 
 
helical bar plc 2013

investor information appendix I  
property portfolio 

development programme

Offices

Address

Area sq ft (NIA)

Fund/owner

Helical interest

Type of development 

200 Aldersgate Street, London EC1

370,000

Mitre Square, London EC3

The Hub, Pacific Quay, Glasgow

St Vincent Street, Glasgow

Botleigh Grange, Hedge End 
Southampton

Industrial

Address

Ropemaker Park, Hailsham

Retail

Address

273,000

60,000

220,000

Deutsche 
Pfandbriefbank

Helical

Helical

Scottish Power/ 
Iberdrola

Dev. Man

Refurbished and in course of letting

100%

100%

Dev Man

Site for new consented office building

Media focused multi-let office  
(i.e. 78% let)

Creation of new office headquarters 
with local partner

23,000

Helical

100%

New build regional HQ office

946,000

Area sq ft (NIA)

Fund/owner

Helical interest

Type of development 

8,000

8,000

Helical

90%

New build – completed

Area sq ft (NIA)

Helical interest

Type of development 

Parkgate, Shirley, West Midlands

157,000

C4.1 Milton Keynes

Leisure Plaza, Milton Keynes 

Retirement villages

Address

Bramshott Place, Liphook, Hampshire

Durrants Village, Faygate, Horsham

Millbrook Village, Exeter

33,000

305,500

495,500

Units

151

171

164

Maudslay Park, Great Alne, Warwickshire

132

618

50%

50%

50%

Consented food store, retail and 
residential. Construction underway.

Remaining retail and office units, part let

Consent for 133,000 sq ft retail store, 
65,000 sq ft ice rink 

Helical interest

Type of development 

100%

100%

100%

100%

115 units sold, 16 under offer. 
Construction of all phases completed 

First phase under construction

Detailed consent for retirement village. 
Construction due to commence in 
2013.

82 acre site with consent for a 
retirement village. Construction due 
to commence in 2013.

102

investor information appendix I  
property portfolio 

development programme

helical bar plc 2013

Change of use potential

Address

Cawston, Rugby

Arleston, Telford

Developments 

Address

Area

32 acres

19 acres

51 acres

Helical interest

Type of development 

100%

100%

32 acre greenfield site with residential 
potential

19 acre greenfield site with residential 
potential

Area sq ft (NIA)

Helical interest

Type of development 

Brickfields, White City, London W12

1,500,000

Joint venture

King Street, Hammersmith, London W6

340,000

50%

1,840,000

Received resolution to grant planning 
permission for residential led scheme. 
Contracts for the sale of the site 
exchanged 

Revised planning application to be  
submitted in summer 2013 for 
residential, office, retail and leisure 
scheme

Retail – Poland 

Address

Park Handlowy Mlyn, Wroclaw

Europa Centralna, Gliwice 

Area sq ft (NIA)

Fund/owner

Helical interest

Type of development 

103,000

720,000

823,000

Helical

100%

Completed development, fully let

Helical/
 Standard Life

37.50%

Completed development

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helical bar plc 2013

investor information appendix II
risk register

Market risk 

Risk

Property values decline

Mitigation/remarks

Current uncertainties in the world economy mean that future 
performance is difficult to predict 

Helical has been active in disposing of non-performing assets 
and rebalancing its portfolio for the changing market

Reduced tenant demand for space

Group’s strategy is to avoid doing speculative developments

Focus is on buying well let properties in good locations

Action to be taken

Keep diversified portfolio to 
prevent being over-exposed 
to one sector

Continue to avoid speculative 
developments

Continue to ensure that vacant 
space is kept to a minimum

Strategic risk 

Risk

Group’s strategy is inconsistent with market 
conditions e.g.:

-   Asset concentration/lot size impacts on 

liquidity (e.g. if investments become difficult 
to sell does this affect our liquidity)

-   Asset concentration/mix creates excessive 
volatility in property revaluation movements

Inappropriate capital structure (i.e. too highly 
geared) leading to financial underperformance

Financial risk 

Risk

Inability to roll over loans

Foreign exchange risk

Mitigation/remarks

Action to be taken

Continue monitoring 
capital structure

Take gearing level into 
account when making 
business decisions

Action to be taken

Focus on refinancing loans 
due to be repaid before 
31 March 2014

Management constantly monitors the Group’s strategy and 
changes it where market conditions dictate. Management 
team is very experienced and has a strong track record in 
the property market

Due to the small size of the Group and the management team, 
changes to the strategy can be effected quickly.

The group’s gearing was 88% at March 2013

The group’s gearing is constantly monitored to ensure that 
it remains appropriate relative to the economic cycle

Mitigation/remarks

Good relationship with the majority of real estate lending 
institutions

Maturity profile of the Group’s loans at 31 March 2013 is:  
£40m maturing within 1 year  
£11m maturing between 1 to 2 years  
£63m maturing between 2 and 3 years  
£99m maturing between 3 and 4 years  
£48m maturing after 4 years

Since 31 March 2013 of the loans expiring within one year, £8m 
has been repaid, £6m has been refinanced until 2017 and £6m 
until 2018. 

Maturity profile of the Group’s share of joint venture loans 
at 31 March 2013 is:  
£1m maturing within 1 year  
£14m maturing between 1 to 2 years  
£59m maturing between 2 and 3 years

Borrowing is spread between a number of different institutions

Helical’s exposure to foreign exchange risk has been reduced 
due to borrowing on developments in local currencies where 
possible.  As at 31 March 2013 the Group’s net euro assets are 
worth £19.2m, net Polish zloty assets £0.2m and net US dollars 
assets £6.0m.

Increase in cost of borrowing

At 31 March 2013 the Group and its share of joint ventures 
had £163m of fixed rate debt and interest rates caps of 
£133m at an average rate of 4.71%

Ensure that hedging % 
remains at an appropriate level

Hedge effectiveness regularly monitored

104

investor information appendix II
investor information appendix II 
risk register

helical bar plc 2013

Financial risk (continued)

Risk

Mitigation/remarks

Action to be taken

Breaching loan covenants

Insufficient liquidity to take advantage of 
opportunities

Tenant default

Adherence to loan covenants is constantly  
monitored with reference to current compliance  
and forecast compliance.

As at 31 March 13 the Group had £37m  
of cash, £35m of undrawn borrowings and  
£27m of uncharged property.

Continue monitoring loan covenants

Maintain overdraft facilities

Ensure that cash resources do not fall below 
currently forecast levels

Tenant covenant strength is considered when  
making property decisions. Currently no tenant  
represents more than 5.5% of the Group’s  
share of total rent roll.

Maintain dialogue with tenants to reduce risk  
of unexpected non-payment 

Ensure no over reliance on individual tenants

Bad debts were 2% of gross rent in the year  
to 31 March 2013. 

Loss of deposits due to banking counterparty 
failure

All deposits are held at high quality financial  
institutions 

Ensure that all deposits remain at well 
capitalised institutions

No significant deposits held outside the UK

Regular monitoring of financial institutions

People risk 

Risk

Lack of the right personnel to ensure the 
Group’s strategy is adhered to

Mitigation/remarks

Action to be taken

Senior management team are very experienced

Employee turnover is low

Remuneration is set to attract and retain 
high calibre staff

Monitor staff resources to ensure appropriate to 
any changes in the business

Health & safety issues

Health and safety policy updated annually

Monitor compliance with policy

Use of specialist professional advice

Continue to use specialist advice

Bribery and corruption risk

Not involved in high risk activities

No significant issues reported in the year

Anti-bribery policy and procedures in place 
which is distributed to all staff and all 
significant Joint Venture partners

The Board is firmly behind the prohibition 
of giving or receiving of bribes or facilitation 
payments

Continue to identify and monitor projects with  
a greater exposure to bribery and corruption

Avoid doing business in high risk territories

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Development risk 

Risk

Mitigation/remarks

Action to be taken

Inability to add to the current development 
pipeline

Experienced development team with an 
excellent track record

Good reputation in property sector

Changes in legislation leading to delays 
in receiving planning permission

Good relationships with planning consultants 
and local authorities

Lack of demand for new property

Group’s strategy is to avoid doing speculative 
developments

Inability to find suitable contractors/JV partners Well established network of joint venture  

Keep up to date with planning legislation

Continue to use specialist professional advisors

Continue to avoid speculative developments

partners which it has worked with in the past

As Helical nears the construction of key  
projects (e.g. White City, Barts Square,  
Old Street) this risk increase

Appoint well established contractors with a good 
reputation

105

 
 
helical bar plc 2013

shareholder information

The report and financial statements, share price information, company 
presentations, the financial calendar, Corporate Governance, contact 
details and other investor information on the Group are available in the 
‘Investors’ and ‘About us’ areas of our website www.helical.co.uk.

Registrar
All general enquiries concerning holdings of ordinary shares in Helical Bar 
plc should be addressed to:

Capita Registrars 
The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4TU

Telephone: 0871 664 0300* 
Fax: 020 8639 2220 
From outside the UK +44(0) 20 8639 3399

Website: www.capitaregistrars.com 
Email: shareholder.services@capitaregistrars.com 

*calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras. Lines are open between 
9am and 5:30pm, Mon–Fri.

e–communication
UK shareholders may choose to be alerted about updates to the 
Financial Reports, Results, Press Releases and Events Calendar sections 
of the Group’s website by subscribing to the Alert Service in the ‘News’ 
area of our website. Shareholders may also submit their proxy votes 
electronically. To register for this service, shareholders should visit the 
Shareholders area of www.capitaregistrars.com.

Payment of dividends
Shareholders whose dividends are not currently paid to mandated 
accounts may wish to consider having their dividends paid directly into 
their bank or building society account. This has a number of advantages, 
including the crediting of cleared funds into the nominated account on 
the dividend payment date. If shareholders would like their future 
dividends to be paid in this way, they should complete a mandate 
instruction available from the Registrars. Under this arrangement tax 
vouchers are sent to the shareholder’s registered address. 

Dividends for shareholders resident outside the UK
Instead of waiting for a sterling cheque to arrive by mail, you can ask us 
to send your dividends direct to your bank account. For information 
contact the Company’s Registrar.

Dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP)
The Company offers shareholders the option to participate in a DRIP. This 
enables shareholders to reinvest their cash dividends in Helical Bar plc 
shares. 

For further details, contact the Company’s Registrar.

For participants in the plan, key dates can be found in the online financial 
calendar in the ‘Investors’ area at www.helical.co.uk.

ShareGift
Shareholders with a small number of shares, the value of which makes it 
uneconomic to sell them, may wish to consider donating them to a 
charity ShareGift, (registered charity 1052686) which specialises in using 
such holdings for charitable benefit.

Dividends
Dividend payment dates on the Company’s Ordinary 1p shares in 2012 
were as follows:

Dividend

2011/12  
Final

2012/13 
Interim

Record
Date

29 June 
2012 

30 Nov 
2012

Payment
Date 

26 July 
2012

28 Dec 
2012

Dividend payment dates in 2013 will be as follows:

Dividend

2012/13  
Final

2013/14 
Interim

Record
Date

5 July 
2013

Dec 
2013

Payment
Date 

26 July 
2013

Dec 
2013

Amount

3.40p

1.85p 

Amount

3.70p 

Unsolicited investment advice – warning to shareholders
Many companies have become aware that their shareholders have 
received unsolicited phone calls or correspondence concerning 
investment matters. These are typically from overseas-based ‘brokers’ 
who target UK shareholders offering to sell them what often turn out to 
be worthless or high risk shares in US or UK investments. They can be 
very persistent and extremely persuasive. It is not just the novice investor 
that has been duped in this way; many of the victims had been 
successfully investing for several years. Shareholders are advised to be 
very wary of any unsolicited advice, offers to buy shares at a discount or 
offers of free reports into the company.

If you receive any unsolicited investment advice:

•   Make sure you get the correct name of the person and organisation.

•    Check that they are properly authorised by the FCA (Financial  
Conduct Authority) before getting involved. You can check at  
www.fca.org.uk/consumers.

•    Report the matter to the FCA either by calling 0800 111 6768 or by 

completing an online form at: 
www.fca.org.uk/consumers/scams/investment-scams/share-fraud-
and-boiler-room-scams/reporting-form.

If you deal with an unauthorised firm, you would not be eligible to receive 
payment under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Also keep 
in mind that some fraudsters use the name of genuine firms or individuals 
on the FCA Register to suggest that they are legitimate. However, 
authorised firms are unlikely to contact you out of the blue offering to buy 
or sell shares.

Share price information
The latest information on the Helical Bar plc share price is available on 
our website www.helical.co.uk.

Further information about ShareGift is available at www.sharegift.org or 
by writing to: ShareGift, 17 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH 
Telephone: 020 7930 3737.

Registered office
11–15 Farm Street, London, W1J 5RS 
Registered in England and Wales No. 156663.

106

glossary of terms

helical bar plc 2013

Average unexpired lease term

The average unexpired lease term expressed in years.

Capital value (psf)

The open market value of the property divided by the area of the property in square feet.

Diluted EPRA earnings per share

Diluted EPRA net assets per share

 Earnings per share adjusted to exclude losses/gains on sale and revaluation of investment 
properties and their deferred tax adjustments, the tax on loss/profit on disposal of investment 
properties, trading property losses/profits, impairment of available-for-sale investments and fair value 
movements on derivative financial instruments, on a diluted basis. Details of the method of the 
calculation of the diluted EPRA earnings per share are available from EPRA.

 Diluted net asset value per share adjusted to exclude fair value of financial instruments and deferred 
tax on capital allowances and on investment properties revaluation, but including the fair value of 
trading and development properties in accordance with the best practice recommendations of 
EPRA.

Diluted EPRA triple net asset value per 
share

 Diluted EPRA net asset value per share adjusted to include fair value of financial instruments and 
deferred tax on capital allowances and on investment properties revaluation.

Diluted figures

 Reported amounts adjusted to include the effects of potential shares issuable under the employee 
share option schemes.

Earnings per share 

Profit after tax divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue.

EPRA

Equivalent yield

European Public Real Estate Association.

 The constant capitalisation rate which, if applied to all cash flows from an investment property, 
including current rent, reversions to current market rent and such items as voids and expenditures, 
equates to the market value. Assumes rent is received in arrears.

Estimated rental value (ERV)

 The market rental value of lettable space as estimated by the Group’s valuers at each balance sheet 
date.

Initial yield

IPD

 Annualised net rents on investment properties as a percentage of the investment property valuation.

 The Investment Property Databank Limited (IPD) is a company that produces a number of 
independent benchmarks of unleveraged commercial property returns.

Net assets value per share (NAV)

Equity shareholders’ funds divided by the number of ordinary shares at the balance sheet date.

Net gearing

Passing rent

 Total borrowings less short-term deposits and cash as a percentage of equity shareholders’ funds.

The annual gross rental income excluding the net effects of straightlining lease incentives. 

Rack rental value %

The anticipated yield, which the initial yield will rise to once the rent reaches the ERV.

Total shareholder return (TSR)

True equivalent yield

Unleveraged returns

Reversionary

See-through

 The growth in the ordinary share price as quoted on the London Stock Exchange plus dividends per 
share received for the period expressed as a percentage of the share price at the beginning of the 
period.

 The constant capitalisation rate which, if applied to all cash flows from an investment property, 
including current rent, reversions to current market rent and such items as voids and expenditures, 
equates to the market value. Assumes rent is received quarterly in advance.

 Total property gains and losses (both realised and unrealised) plus net rental income expressed as a 
percentage of the total value of the properties.

The income/yield from the full Estimated Rental Value of the property on the Market Value of the 
property grossed up to include purchaser’s costs, capital expenditure and capitalised revenue 
expenditure.

The net rental income, net finance cost, property portfolio and net borrowings of the Group and the 
Group’s share in its Joint Ventures

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helical bar plc 2013

financial calendar

Year ended 31 March 2013

Annual General Meeting to be held 24 July 2013

Final ordinary dividend payable 

26 July 2013

Half year ending 30 September 2013

Year ending 31 March 2014

 Results and interim ordinary dividend announced November 2013 
Interim ordinary dividend payable December 2013

 Results and final dividend announced May 2014 
Final ordinary dividend payable July 2014

Capita Registrars

Aareal Bank AG 
Allied Irish Bank  
Barclays Bank PLC 
Deutsche Hypothekenbank 
HSBC plc 
Nationwide 
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc 

JP Morgan Cazenove Limited 
Oriel Securities Limited

Grant Thornton UK LLP

Lazard Ltd

Anderson Strathern 
Ashurst  
Clifford Chance 
Lawrence Graham 
Linklaters 
Lovells 
Maclay Murray & Spens 
Mayer Brown 
Mishcon de Reya 
Nabarro 
Norton Rose 
Wragge & Co

advisors

Registrars

Bankers

Joint stockbrokers

Auditors

Merchant bankers

Solicitors

108

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Design: SG Design {sg-design.co.uk}

Print: Beacon Press {beaconpress.co.uk}

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Helical Bar plc

Registered Offi ce
11-15 Farm Street
London, W1J 5RS

Tel: 020 7629 0113
Fax: 020 7408 1666

email: info@helical.co.uk

www.helical.co.uk