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Hibernia REIT Plc

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FY2015 Annual Report · Hibernia REIT Plc
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Annual Report 2015
Annual Report 2015

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Marine House
Clanwilliam Place
Dublin 2

Email: 

info@hiberniareit.com

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cover image:

Dublin’s Samuel Beckett Bridge  
by night

Annual Report 2015

97

Shareholders’ information

Hibernia REIT plc website: 
http://www.hiberniareit.com

Investor contacts

Hibernia REIT plc 
Marine House 
Clanwilliam Place 
Dublin 2

For investor queries please send an email to:  info@hiberniareit.com
For media enquiries please send an email to: media@hiberniareit.com

Hardwicke House

Hatch Street
Dublin 2

This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties because they relate to expectations, 
beliefs,  projections,  future  plans  and  strategies,  anticipated  events  or  trends,  and  similar  expressions  concerning  matters  that  are  not 
historical facts.  Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the 
actual results, performance or achievements of  the Company or the industry in which it operates, to be materially different from any future 
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  The forward-looking statements speak 
only as at the date of  this Annual Report.  The Company will not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revision or updates 
to these forward-looking statements to reflect future events, circumstances, unanticipated events, new information or otherwise except as 
required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority. 

Annual Report 2015

1

Contents

Highlights 
Chairman’s statement 
Investment Manager’s report 
Corporate governance report 
Report of the directors 
Directors’ responsibility statement 
Independent auditor’s report to the members of Hibernia REIT plc 
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 
Consolidated statement of financial position 
Consolidated statement of changes in equity 
Consolidated statement of cash flows 
Notes forming part of the annual report 
Company statement of financial position 
Company statement of changes in equity 
Company statement of cash flows 
Notes to the company financial statements 
Supplementary disclosures (unaudited) 
Directors and other information 
Glossary 
Shareholders’ information 
Investor contacts 

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2

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Highlights

HIGHLY ACTIVE

EXCELLENT

but disciplined period of 
investment 

•	 €445m	invested	and	€43m	

committed	in	Dublin	property	in	the	
period,	in	14	transactions

•	 Since	31	March	2015	a	further	€3m	

invested	in	two	transactions

•	 Since	IPO	a	total	of 	€571m	invested	

and	committed	(€568m	net	of 	
disposals	and	capex)	with	88%	
of 	acquisitions1	completed	off-
market	and	39%	being	loan	related	
purchases1

 financial performance

 in year of portfolio assembly 

•	 EPRA	NAV	per	share	111.8	cent	up	

16.0%	over	the	year	and	6.8%	over	H2

•	 19.5%	uplift	in	value	of 	investment	
properties	on	purchase	prices	in	
weighted	average	hold	period	of 	7.5	
months	since	completion

•	 EPRA	profit	of 	€3.9m	(2014:	

€-0.8m).	EPRA	EPS	0.8	cent	(2014:	
-0.2	cent)

•	 Including	revaluation	surplus	and	
gains	on	disposals	PBT	of 	€92.9m	
(2014:	€-0.8m)

•	 Final	dividend	proposed	of 	0.5	cent	
per	share	bringing	total	for	year	to	
0.8	cent	per	share	

HIGH QUALITY 

Dublin property portfolio with 
rental reversion potential 

•	 75%	CBD	offices,	13%	CBD	office	
development	sites,	10%	residential	
and	2%	logistics

•	 CBD	office	portfolio	has	average	

rents	of 	€34.5psf,	well	below	current	
prime	rents	of 	€47.52	psf 	and	an	
average	period	to	rent	review	of 	2.8	
years3

•	 Portfolio	EPRA	Net	Initial	Yield	
4.4%,	4.9%	on	topped	up	basis

1 By purchase price
2  Source: CBRE Market View Dublin Office Q1 2015
3 On contracted rents

Annual Report 2015

3

Danny Kitchen, Chairman,  
Hibernia REIT plc said:

Kevin Nowlan, Chief Executive Officer,  
WK Nowlan REIT Management Limited, said:

“Hibernia’s	first	full	year	has	been	highly	active	with	€488m	
invested	and	committed	in	14	transactions.	At	year	end	the	
Company’s	portfolio	comprised	18	Dublin	properties	and	was	
valued	at	€636m.	The	Investment	Manager’s	commitment	
to	uncovering	opportunities	away	from	public	sales	processes	
and	in	the	property	loan	market,	where	there	has	been	less	
competition,	has	been	a	significant	contributor	to	the	19.5%	
uplift	in	the	value	of 	the	properties	we	have	seen	in	an	average	
holding	period	since	acquisition	of 	7.5	months.	

“With	Dublin	at	the	centre	of 	a	broad-based	recovery	in	
the	Irish	economy	and	property	markets,	and	an	exciting	
portfolio	of 	properties	in	place,	the	Board	is	confident	that	
the	Company	will	deliver	excellent	returns.”

“I	am	pleased	with	our	progress	this	year	in	building	a	
portfolio	of 	Dublin	property	and	excited	by	the	opportunities	
we	have	to	deliver	value	from	it	through	asset	management,	
rent	reviews	and	development	projects.	The	Company	is	
well	funded	to	deliver	its	development	pipeline	and	act	
opportunistically	as	further	acquisition	opportunities	arise.

“With	a	positive	economic	backdrop	and	favourable	dynamics	
in	the	Dublin	property	market,	we	look	forward	to	the	coming	
year.”

DEVELOPMENT 

programme progressing well 
and longer term pipeline 
supplemented

•	 Block	3,	Wyckham	Point	ahead	of 	
schedule	and	on	budget:	first	units	
finished	and	let	in	April	2015	and	full	
completion	expected	by	September	2015

•	 Windmill	Lane	and	Sir	John	

Rogerson’s	Quay:	targeting	end	of 	
2017	and	mid	2018	completion,	
respectively

•	 Cumberland	House	and	Harcourt	
Square	added	to	pipeline	in	H2

STRONG 

financial position

•	 €139m	of 	cash	at	31	March	2015	(of 	
the	net	€286m	raised	in	November	
2014)	and	€100m	revolving	credit	
facility	which	is	undrawn

•	 Additional	incremental	investment	
capacity	of 	c.€300m	if 	leveraging	
current	equity	base	to	35%	LTV4

•	 Dorville	non-core:	€18.0m	of 	assets	
held	for	disposal	and	€12.4m	sold	
(excluding	acquisition	costs).	Balance	
of 	assets	expected	to	be	sold	by	
December	2015	

Guild House &  
Commerzbank House

Guild Street, IFSC, Dublin 1

PROPOSED 

internalisation of  
Investment Manager

•	 All	16	team	members	of 	the	Investment	

Manager	to	transfer	to	Group

•	 No	material	additional	cost	to	

shareholders:	upfront	consideration	
of 	c.€16m	is	the	present	value	of 	
management	fee	for	remaining	
3.5	year	term	of 	Investment	
Management	Agreement,	less	
costs	that	Group	will	assume,	and	
book	value	of 	the	net	assets	of 	the	
Investment	Manager	at	31	March	
2015	(excluding	performance	fees	
due)

•	 Kevin	Nowlan	and	Tom	Edwards-Moss	

to	join	Board	as	executive	directors

•	 Company	will	seek	approval	from	

independent	shareholders	

4  Hibernia’s investment policy limits leverage to 40% LTV at time of incurrence. Under the Irish REIT Regime the Company is restricted to keep the LTV below 50%.

	
4

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Chairman’s statement

Hibernia’s first full year has been a period of intense activity in a 
recovering Irish property market: the Group invested €445m and 
committed €43m across 14 transactions. 

Since 31 March 2015, a further €3m has been invested and committed 
in 2 transactions. This takes the total funds deployed since the Group’s 
inception to €571m (€568m net of disposals and capex), creating 
a portfolio of property, all of which is in Dublin, which was worth 
€636m1 as at 31 March 2015.

Having	invested	the	net	proceeds	of 	the	IPO,	in	August	2014	
the	Company	agreed	a	€100m	three	year	revolving	credit	facility	
with	Bank	of 	Ireland.	This	was	followed	by	a	second	equity	issue	
which	successfully	completed	in	November	2014,	raising	net	
proceeds	of 	€286m.	As	at	31	March	2015,	€147m	of 	this	had	
been	deployed	and	Hibernia	REIT	plc	(“the	Company”)	had	
net	cash	of 	€139m	and	undrawn	credit	facilities	totalling	€100m.	

increase	of 	16.6%	in	IFRS	NAV	and	16.0%	in	EPRA	NAV	over	
March	2014.	This	increase	was	principally	due	to	an	uplift	in	the	
value	of 	the	Company’s	property	portfolio	since	acquisition	of 	
19.5%	excluding	acquisition	costs	(15.6%	including	acquisition	
costs).	The	weighted	average	hold	period	(by	purchase	price)	of 	
the	acquisitions	the	Company	has	made	since	completion	to	31	
March	2015	(for	its	investment	properties)	is	7.5	months.

The	Board	is	pleased	with	the	performance	of 	the	Company	
to	date	and	believes	the	portfolio	that	has	been	assembled	will,	
with	active	management,	deliver	long	term	sustainable	value	
for	shareholders.	The	discipline	the	Investment	Manager	has	
shown	in	a	period	of 	highly	active	investment	markets	has	been	
commendable,	as	has	its	commitment	to	uncovering	opportunities	
away	from	public	sales	processes	and	in	the	property	loan	market,	
where	there	has	been	less	competition.	

As	at	31	March	2015,	the	Group’s	IFRS	NAV	was	112.4	cent	
(estimated	111.6	cent	after	issue	of 	performance	shares)	while	
the	EPRA	NAV	was	111.8	cent	per	share.	This	represented	an	

Corporate governance and proposed 
internalisation

The	Company	is	managed	by	WK	Nowlan	REIT	Management	
Limited	(the	“Investment	Manager”)	under	the	terms	of 	a	five	
year	Investment	Management	Agreement	(the	“IMA”)	signed	
in	November	2013.	At	the	IPO,	the	Board	and	the	Investment	
Manager	expressed	the	intention	that	at	the	expiry	of 	the	five	
year	initial	term	of 	the	IMA,	subject	to	the	EPRA	NAV	of 	the	
Company	being	not	less	than	€650m,	the	Company	would	seek	
to	internalise	the	management	team	of 	the	Investment	Manager	
for	nil	consideration.

Financial results and position

31 March 2015

31 March 2014

Movement

IFRS	NAV	-	cent	per	share
EPRA	NAV	-	cent	per	share
Net	cash	and	cash	equivalents
Group	LTV
Profit/(loss)	for	the	period
Basic	EPS
Diluted	EPS
Final	dividend	/	DPS
Full	year	dividend	/	DPS

1 Net of the value of the Windmill option of €5m

+	16.6%	
+	16.0%	
-	52.3%	

112.4
111.8
€139m
0.0%
€92m
18.4	cent
18.3	cent
€3.4m	/	0.5	cent
€5.4m	/	0.8	cent

96.4
96.4
€292m
0.0%
(€1)m
-0.2	cent
-0.2	cent
n/a
n/a

	
	
 
	
	
	
	
	
	
Annual Report 2015

5

The	Group	has	grown	rapidly	and	the	EPRA	NAV	at	31	March	
2015	was	€755m.	After	careful	consideration,	the	Independent	
Directors	believe	the	time	is	now	right	for	the	Investment	
Manager	to	be	internalised	and	its	16	team	members	moved	
into	direct	contracts	with	the	Company.

The	proposed	transaction	represents	a	related	party	transaction	
under	the	Irish	and	UK	Listing	Rules:	independent	shareholders	
will	be	given	the	opportunity	to	vote	on	the	transaction,	and	in	
advance	of 	this,	full	details	of 	the	transaction	and	the	rationale	
for	it	will	be	sent	to	shareholders.

The	Independent	Directors	believe	the	benefits	will	include:
•	 Securing	the	management	team	for	the	longer	term

•	 Broadening	the	universe	of 	potential	investors	in	the	

Company

•	 Simplifying	the	management	structure	and	decision-

making	processes

•	 Enhancing	transparency	and	management	accountability

•	 Eliminating	any	recruitment	or	retention	challenges	that	
the	Investment	Manager	may	suffer	as	the	end	of 	the	
initial	term	approaches

As	 announced	 on	 8	 May	 2015,	 it	 is	 proposed	 that	 the	
internalisation	 is	 done	 at	no	 material	 additional	 cost	 to	
shareholders	by	the	Company	acquiring	the	Investment	Manager.	
A	sum	of 	c.	€16m	will	be	paid	to	the	Investment	Manager,	
50%	in	cash	and	50%	in	Hibernia	shares,	subject	to	three	year	
clawback	and	earn-out	provisions.	This	payment	reflects	the	net	
present	value	of 	the	base	fees	due	over	the	remaining	term	of 	the	
IMA,	less	the	net	present	value	of 	the	costs	which	the	Company	
will	assume	which	under	the	IMA	would	have	been	borne	by	
the	Investment	Manager,	and	the	book	value	of 	the	net	assets	
of 	the	Investment	Manager	at	31	March	2015	excluding	any	
performance	fees	due.	In	addition,	potential	deferred	payments	
may	be	due	relating	to	“true-up”	payments	on	the	IM	base	fee	
if 	the	NAV	increases,	JV	fees	on	Windmill	Lane	and	Sir	John	
Rogerson’s	Quay	developments	and	the	existing	performance	
fee	arrangements.	

Dividend

The	Board	has	proposed	a	maiden	final	dividend,	subject	to	
approval	at	the	Company’s	AGM,	of 	0.5	cent	per	share	(€3.4m)	
which	will	be	paid	in	August	2015.	Together	with	the	interim	
dividend	of 	0.3	cent,	the	total	dividend	for	the	year	is	0.8	
cent	per	share	or	€5.4m	(2014:	nil).	The	Board	has	decided	to	
introduce	a	Dividend	Reinvestment	Plan	(“DRIP”)	commencing	
with	the	final	dividend:	this	will	allow	shareholders	to	instruct	
Capita,	the	Company’s	registrar,	to	reinvest	dividend	payments	
by	the	purchase	of 	shares	in	the	Company.	The	terms	and	
conditions	of 	the	DRIP	and	information	on	how	to	apply	will	
be	communicated	to	shareholders	along	with	the	Annual	Report.	

Outlook

With	Dublin	at	the	centre	of 	a	broad-based	recovery	in	the	
Irish	economy	and	foreign	direct	investment	flows	continuing,	
the	Board	is	confident	that	conditions	in	the	Company’s	core	
markets	will	continue	to	strengthen	in	the	coming	year.	The	
high	volume	of 	transactions	in	the	Irish	property	market	is	
anticipated	to	persist	as	the	market	normalises	and	the	Board	
expects	continued	success	in	deploying	the	Company’s	capital	
in	building	out	its	property	portfolio.	Additionally	the	Board	is	
confident	that	the	proactive	management	of 	the	Company’s	
assets	and	the	development	of 	the	sites	it	has	acquired	will	
deliver	excellent	returns.

Daniel Kitchen
Chairman
29	May	2015

 
6
6

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Hardwicke House

Hatch Street
Dublin 2

Investment Manager’s report

Annual Report 2015

7

WK Nowlan REIT Management Limited’s first full year of operation 
has been highly active. We assessed a large number of investment 
opportunities for the Company and brought the most attractive of these 
into the Company’s ownership, where they matched the Company’s 
investment policy and returns criteria. We completed 14 transactions for 
the Company, investing €445m and committing a further €43m.

Since	31	March	2015,	we	have	entered	two	further	acquisitions	
for	the	Company,	investing	an	additional	€3m,	taking	the	total	
funds	invested	and	committed	since	IPO	to	€571m	(€568m	net	
of 	disposals	and	capex).

have	been	loan	related.	Since	IPO,	88%	of 	our	transactions	
have	been	agreed	privately	(“off-market”)	rather	than	through	
competitive	auction	processes	(“on-market”),	as	we	believe	this	
generally	improves	certainty	of 	execution	and	pricing.	

Our	expertise	in	the	acquisition	of 	debt	has	enabled	the	
Company	to	gain	ownership	of 	a	number	of 	properties	through	
the	purchase	of 	loans	secured	on	those	assets:	there	has	generally	
been	less	competition	for	loans	than	for	direct	property	and	a	
broader	loan	market,	thereby	improving	potential	returns.	Since	
inception	39%	of 	acquisitions	(by	purchase	price)	made	by	the	
Company	have	been	loan-related	purchases	and	in	the	year	31%	

The portfolio

Our	investment	activity	has	resulted	in	a	property	portfolio	as	
at	31	March	2015	of 	18	investment	properties	valued	at	€636m	
(€641m	per	IFRS	consolidated	statement	of 	financial	position	
less	the	fair	value	of 	the	Windmill	site	option,	€5.1m),	which	
can	be	categorised	as	follows:

Portfolio overview

Market 
Value at 
31-Mar-15

€’m

% of 
portfolio 
value

%

% Uplift since Sep 2014

% Uplift since acquisition1

Yield on costs2

Excl. acq. 
post Sep 
2014

Including all 
property

exclud. 
acq. costs

with 
acq. costs

Passing 
rent

Contracted 
rent

%

%

%

%

%

%

Dublin	CBD	office	portfolio

476

74.8%

14.2%

11.1%

19.3%

16.3%

5.1%

5.4%

Dublin	CBD	Office	development/	
refurb.	

Dublin	residential

Dublin	industrial	logistics

84	

67	

10	

13.1%

25.0%

7.4%

11.7%

8.3%

10.5%

12.4%

12.4%

36.5%

23.4%

-

-

-

-

1.6%

2.2%

2.2%

2.2%

0.0%

5.1%

5.1%

Total investment portfolio

636  100.0% 14.3% 10.5% 19.5% 15.6%

3.8%

4.1%

1 Includes capex spent to date in acquisition costs
2 Passing rent is pre full ownership of Hardwicke and Montague/ contracted rent is post full ownership

	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
8

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Investment Manager’s  
report continued

The	CBD	office	element	of 	our	portfolio	had	the	following	statistics	
at	31	March	2015:
•	 Weighted	average	period	to	earlier	of 	rent	review	or	lease	

expiry:	c.	2.8	years	

•	 WAULT	to	earlier	of 	expiry	or	break:	3.9	years

•	 WAULT	to	expiry:	7.8	years

•	 Average	contracted	rent	per	square	foot	€34.5	

•	 Weighted	average	capital	cost	per	square	foot	at	acquisition:	

€570

•	 Occupancy	level:	89%

Eight	of 	the	Company’s	18	investment	property	acquisitions	since	
formation	have	been	facilitated	through	the	purchase	or	advance	
of 	loans	secured	on	underlying	property	collateral.	Significant	
progress	was	made	during	the	year	to	convey	the	underlying	property	
collateral	into	direct	ownership	and	only	two	properties	totalling	
€26m	in	loans	and	representing	c.	5%	of 	the	property	portfolio	cost	
at	31	March	2015	remain	to	be	conveyed.	These	are	recognised	as	
investment	properties.	

Asset management 

A	key	focus	for	the	Investment	Manager	this	year	has	been	the	
setting	up	of 	asset	management	systems	which	provide	us	and	
Hibernia	with	effective	and	timely	information	on	the	portfolio	and	
its	performance.	The	Asset	Management	team	has	worked	hard	
to	quickly	integrate	all	of 	the	assets	acquired	onto	these	systems.

Key	asset	management	highlights	in	the	period	include	the	following:

Commerzbank House, IFSC
As	expected,	we	agreed	with	Commerz	Management	Services	
Limited	to	an	early	surrender	of 	its	leasehold	interests	in	the	property,	
comprising	55,500	sq.	ft.	out	of 	a	total	of 	71,000	sq.	ft..	As	part	of 	
the	settlement	Hibernia	received	a	payment	of 	all	of 	the	rent	and	
irrecoverable	outgoings	to	the	break	date,	a	one	year	rental	penalty	
of 	€2.4m,	and	a	sum	for	dilapidations.	

We	are	now	in	the	process	of 	refurbishing,	modernising	and	
upgrading	this	property	to	bring	it	up	to	modern	Grade	A	standard.		
The	upgrade	elements	include	new	lifts,	improved	sanitary	facilities,	
increased	facilities	for	cycling	(parking	and	showering)	and	a	
complete	overhaul	of 	its	reception	and	a	leading	design	team	has	
been	appointed.

Montague House 
Adelaide Road, Dublin 2

Block 3, Wyckham Point 
Dundrum, Dublin 16

Guild House and Commerzbank House

Guild Street, IFSC, Dublin 1

Annual Report 2015

9

Work	is	scheduled	to	commence	on	site	in	Q2	2015	and	to	be	
completed	in	Q1	2016.	The	estimated	capital	expenditure	will	
be	c.	€10m	(€7.9m	net	of 	the	dilapidations	payment	received).	
The	available	space	is	being	actively	marketed	and	a	number	
of 	parties	have	expressed	interest.	

Phase	1,	consisting	of 	29	units,	was	handed	over	ahead	of 	
schedule	in	mid-April	2015.	Phase	2,	consisting	of 	41	units	
was	completed,	again	ahead	of 	schedule,	in	early	May	2015	
with	the	remaining	phases	on	programme	to	be	completed	
on,	or	ahead	of,	schedule.	The	final	phase	is	now	expected	to	
complete	in	Q3	2015.

The Observatory Building, South Docks
The	property	comprises	a	total	of 	98,000	sq.	ft.	of 	which	11,000	
sq.	ft.	is	configured	as	“live/work”	units.	These	units	had	been	
vacant	for	a	number	of 	years	and	were	in	a	dilapidated	state	
when	the	Company	acquired	the	property	in	June	2014,	and	
we	ascribed	a	value	of 	€1.7m	to	them	at	purchase.

Having	considered	a	number	of 	asset	management	options	for	
these	units	we	decided	upon	a	change	of 	use	to	office	space	to	
maximise	their	value.	A	planning	application	for	this	change	
was	submitted	in	November	2014	and	a	positive	grant	of 	
permission	with	no	onerous	conditions	was	issued	in	March	
2015.	It	is	expected	that	a	contractor	will	be	selected	shortly	
and	construction	works	will	be	completed	by	Q1	2016	at	an	
estimated	cost	of 	€1.5m.	

We	are	in	discussions	with	a	tenant	regarding	the	lease	of 	the	
whole	of 	this	space.

Block 3, Wyckham Point, Dundrum
This	property	comprises	213	residential	units,	the	loan	over	which	
was	acquired	by	the	Company	in	February	2014	as	part	of 	the	
Dorville	loan	portfolio.	On	acquisition	the	units	were	incomplete:	
the	building	structure	was	finished	and	weatherproofed	but	little	
work	had	been	done	on	the	fit-out.	JJ	Rhatigan	&	Company	was	
appointed	to	complete	the	fit	out	of 	the	property	and	a	phased	
(five	phase)	contract	programme	was	agreed.

The	marketing	of 	the	units	commenced	ahead	of 	the	completion	
of 	Phase	1	and	to	date	35	units	have	been	let	(including	27	
to	a	leading	international	corporate)	and	43	have	bookings	
secured.	To	date,	lettings	with	an	aggregate	annual	rental	value	
of 	€1.6m	have	been	secured	of 	which	€0.8m	is	in	respect	of 	
lettings	which	have	commenced.	On	average	the	rental	level	
achieved	are	9%	in	excess	of 	the	rental	levels	estimated	in	the	
September	2014	valuation.

Other completed assets 
As	the	other	completed	properties	in	the	portfolio	are	close	to	full	
occupation	and	the	tenants’	next	rent	reviews	are	overwhelmingly	
(by	rental	value)	dated	in	future	periods	the	level	of 	leasing	
and	rent	review	activity	has	therefore	been	nil	and	minimal,	
respectively.	Our	Asset	Management	team	is,	however,	carefully	
monitoring	the	letting	markets	and	market	rent	review	activity	
with	a	view	to	ensuring	that	Hibernia	maximises	its	rental	income	
in	the	event	of 	vacancies	arising	in	the	portfolio	and	when	rent	
reviews	dates	are	reached.

Additionally	we	are	working	closely	with	Hibernia’s	tenants	
to	better	understand	their	occupational	requirements	and	
working	pro-actively	with	them	to	establish	if 	mutually	beneficial	
variations	of 	their	leasehold	arrangements	can	be	arrived	at.

	
10

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Investment Manager’s report  
continued

Sale of Dorville non-core assets

Good	progress	has	been	made	in	the	disposal	of 	the	Dorville	non-core	assets.	The	status	as	at	31	March	2015	was	as	set	out	below:

Sold or contracted at year end

Residential	assets
Commercial	assets
Development	sites
Tax	estimate

Sale agreed or committed at year end

Residential	assets
Cost	estimate

Remainder of  Non-Core Assets

Residential	assets
Commercial	assets

1 Excludes stamp duty and other purchasing costs

Carrying 
Value1 
 €’000

5,268	
850	
6,250	

Sales 
Price 
  €’000

5,564	
1,212	
9,415	

12,368 

16,191 

Profit 
 €’000

296	
362	
3,165	
(690)
3,133 

Carrying 
Value1 
 €’000

Price 
Agreed
€’000

Expected
Profit 
 €’000

4,541	

5,467	

4,541 

5,467 

926	
(315)
611 

Carrying 
Value1 
 €’000

Units

18
3
2

23

Units

19

19

Units

43
3

11,107	
2,310	
46          13,417 

Since	the	period	end	three	of 	the	units	which	were	sale	agreed	above	have	been	contracted.	In	addition	the	sales	of 	a	further	
ten	units	were	agreed	with	an	aggregate	sales	value	of 	€3.0m	(carrying	value:	€2.3m).	We	intend	to	complete	the	disposal	of 	the	
non-core	assets	by	the	end	of 	2015.

 
	
																		
																
																
	
	
Annual Report 2015

11

Developments and refurbishments

The	Company	has	committed	and	near	term	development	and	refurbishment	projects	at	five	properties	and	a	further	three	
properties	in	the	development	pipeline.

Committed and near term projects

Net Internal 
Area 
(“NIA”) post 
completion 
(sq ft)

Full 
purchase 
cost

Est. total 
cost €psf/
p.unit

Est. Capex

ERV(1)

Comments

Sector

Fit out or refurbishment

Block 3, 

Wyckham 

Point

Residential

213	units

€32m(2)

€25m(3)	

€275k	per	2	
bed

€3.7m(4)

•	On	budget	and	ahead	of 	schedule		
•		First	completed	units	delivered		

April	2015

•	Project	to	finish	in	Q3	2015	
•		35	units	let	to	date	and	a	further	43	

bookings	secured

Commerzbank 

Office

71k(8)

€47m(5)

€10m(6)

€760psf(5)

€3.3m(5)

•		Refurbishment	scheduled	to	

House

complete	by	early	2016

•		Active	discussions	ongoing	with	

potential	tenants

Observatory 

Office

9.5k	office

€2m

€1.5m

€280psf

€0.4m

•		Conversion	from	Live/Work	units	to	

Live/Work

2k	retail

Development

Windmill 

Office

121k	office

€8m

€52m

€425psf(7)

€5.1m(7)

Lane

7k	retail

15	resi.	

units

office	accommodation

•		Expected	completion	Q1	2016
•	Near	agreement	to	lease	entire	space

•	Demolition	commenced
•		Construction	scheduled	to	start	

by	Q3	2015		

•		Scheduled	completion	by	end	of 	

Q4	2017

•		Increase	in	specification	vs.		

previous	estimates

1-6 SJRQ

Office

102k	office

€18m

€50m

€590psf(7)

€4.9m(7)

•		Revised	planning	application	to	be	

Total 

5k	retail

3	resi.	units

304k 

office

14k retail

231 units

submitted	by	end	of 	May	2015

•		Demolition	commenced
•		Expect	to	complete	construction	by	

mid	2018

•		Increase	in	building	size	and	

specification	vs.	previous	estimates

€107m

€138.5m     

€17.4m

(1) Per CBRE valuation at 31 March 2015
(2) Includes VAT on acquisition
(3) €13.5m spent to 31 March 2015
(4) Net 

(5) For entire
(6) €7.9m net of dilapidation charge received
(7) Commercial only
(8)  55k sq. ft. of 71k sq. ft. being refurbished plus all  

common areas

 
12

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Investment Manager’s report  
continued

1-6 Sir John Rogerson’s Quay

Dublin 2

Development pipeline

Name

Sector

Cumberland House

Office

Current NIA 
(sq. ft.)

112k	on		

1.6	acres

NIA post 
completion 
(sq. ft.)

Existing	
planning	for	
250k	sq.	ft.	
new	build	
office

Purchase 
Price

€49.0m

Gateway

Logistics

178k	on

14.1	acres

See	right

€10.1m

Comments

•		In	active	discussions	with	potential	tenants
•		Both	refurbishment	and	redevelopment	

options	being	assessed

•		Expect	to	submit	planning	application	for	
interchange	connection	road	to	improve	
access	by	Q3	2015

•		Assessing	site	intensification/change	of 	use	

options

Harcourt Square

Office

Total

(1) Excludes Gateway

117k	on		

1.9	acres

407k on  

17.6 acres

285k	sq.	ft.

€70.0m

•		Phase	1	planning	application	submitted	for	

134k	sq.	ft.	NIA	of 	offices

•		Discussions	ongoing	regarding	near	term	

lease	extension

535k sq. ft.(1)

€129.1m

Annual Report 2015

13

Financing

Having	invested	the	proceeds	of 	the	Initial	Public	Offering	
(IPO),	in	August	2014,	the	Investment	Manager	agreed	the	
terms	of 	a	€100m	three	year	revolving	credit	facility	secured	
via	a	floating	charge	over	the	Company’s	assets	with	Bank	of 	
Ireland	Corporate	Banking.	This	was	followed	by	a	second	equity	
issue,	in	which	all	shareholders	were	given	the	opportunity	to	
participate,	which	completed	in	November	2014,	raising	net	
proceeds	of 	c.€286m.	

As	at	31	March	2015,	the	Company	had	cash	of 	€139m	and	
the	revolving	credit	facility	was	undrawn.	Under	its	investment	
policy,	the	Company	can	incur	indebtedness	up	to	a	maximum	
of 	40%	loan	to	value:	currently	therefore,	the	Company	could	
put	in	place	up	to	a	further	c.€400m	of 	new	debt	facilities	and	
preliminary	discussions	have	been	had	with	a	number	of 	lending	
banks	regarding	additional	debt	facilities.	

Team and proposed internalisation

The	team	increased	in	size	in	the	year	to	16	people	(March	2014:	
10)	with	the	hiring	of 	a	Chief 	Financial	Officer	in	June	2014	and	
the	expansion	of 	the	asset	management,	investment	and	finance	
teams	as	the	portfolio	has	grown.	I	am	particularly	pleased	with	
the	culture	of 	openness,	teamwork	and	entrepreneurship	that	
we	have	developed	in	a	short	time.

The	proposed	internalisation	of 	the	Investment	Manager	will	
simplify	the	corporate	structure	and	decision-making	processes	
and	eliminate	any	recruitment	or	retention	challenges	the	
Investment	Manager	may	suffer	as	the	initial	five	year	term	of 	
the	Investment	Management	Agreement	with	the	Company	
approaches	its	end.

Windmill Lane
Dublin 2

Looking ahead

We	expect	the	upward	trend	in	office	rents	to	continue,	given	the	
low	vacancy	in	the	Dublin	CBD	office	market,	anticipated	strong	
occupational	demand	and	little	new	supply	of 	space	expected	
in	the	next	24	months.	In	the	multi-family	residential	market	in	
Dublin	we	expect	similar	supply-demand	dynamics	to	lead	to	
further	rental	increases.	Turning	to	the	investment	market,	we	
are	expecting	the	volume	of 	transactions	in	Dublin	in	the	next	
12-18	months	to	remain	above	the	long-term	average	as	the	
market	normalises.	We	have	identified	and	are	tracking	a	number	
of 	potential	acquisition	opportunities.	With	an	experienced	and	
talented	team,	access	to	competitive	debt	terms,	supportive	
markets	and	a	portfolio	rich	in	opportunity	we	are	confident	
of 	generating	attractive	returns	for	shareholders.

Kevin Nowlan
Chief 	Executive	Officer		
WK	Nowlan	REIT	Management	Limited
29	May	2015

14

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Investment Manager’s report  
continued

Market update

General economy 

The	Irish	economy	was	the	fastest	growing	in	the	Euro	area	in	
2014	and	this	trend	is	expected	to	be	repeated	in	2015	and	2016.	
GDP	growth	of 	4.8%	was	reported	for	2014	and	forecasts	for	
2015	and	2016	are	in	a	similar	range:	Goodbody	are	forecasting	
GDP	growth	of 	4.3%	and	4.0%	in	2015	and	2016,	respectively.	

The	Irish	economic	recovery	came	from	a	broader	base	in	2014;	
investment	grew	by	11%	(the	strongest	performance	in	a	decade)	
and	domestic	demand	moved	into	growth.	Projections	for	these	
two	measures	are	similarly	strong	for	2015	and	2016.	Indeed,	
Goodbody	expects	domestic	demand	to	be	the	key	driver	of 	
growth	going	forward	with	increases	of 	4.3%	and	5.1%	now	
anticipated	for	2015	and	2016,	respectively.

Employment	figures	have	increased	for	nine	consecutive	quarters	
with	unemployment	levels	down	from	the	peak	of 	15.1%	in	
January	2012	to	the	current	10%	level.	As	a	result	of 	these	
employment	figures,	coupled	with	expected	pay	rises	(from	
private	firms)	and	lower	energy	prices,	consumer	sentiment	
and	the	consumer’s	contribution	to	the	domestic	economy	is	
expected	to	continue	to	grow.	Consumer	spending	grew	at	an	
annualised	2.1%	in	Q4	2014	after	a	muted	period	during	the	
two	years	to	end	Q3	2014.	The	latest	KBC	Ireland	/	ESRI	
Consumer	Sentiment	Index	rose	in	March	2015	to	97.8	up	
from	96.1	in	February.	Consumer	confidence	is	improving	as	
people	are	feeling	more	secure	in	their	employment	and	thus	
more	confident	about	their	personal	finances.	

As	a	result	of 	the	significant	growth	of 	the	economy	over	the	
last	couple	of 	years,	Ireland’s	debt	sustainability	has	greatly	
improved	and	this	is	currently	being	reflected	in	the	pricing	of 	
Irish	government	bonds,	with	the	current	10	year	bond	yield	at		
c.	1.27%	after	reaching	a	record	low	of 	0.65%	in	April	2015.	
New	debt	levels	are	expected	to	fall	below	90%	of 	GDP	by	
the	end	of 	2016	(Source:	Goodbody).	With	the	current	weak	
Euro,	Ireland	is	set	to	benefit	further	from	both	a	Foreign	Direct	
Investment	and	an	export	perspective,	with	66%	of 	Ireland’s	
exports	destined	for	non-Eurozone	economies	vs.	33%	for	
Germany	(Source:	IBEC).

Irish property investment market 

According	to	MSCI	(formerly	IPD),	total	property	returns	for	
Ireland	in	2014	were	40.1%	compared	to	a	global	total	return	
of 	9.9%.	Dublin	topped	the	league	tables	with	total	returns	of 	
44.7%	in	2014.	Since	then,	MSCI	has	reported	a	slowing	of 	
growth	across	all	sectors	in	Q1	2015	with	the	annual	total	return	

to	Q1	2015	at	36.3%.	After	a	period	of 	exceptional	growth	the	
market	is	naturally	moving	into	a	more	stabilised,	albeit	still	
high,	growth	phase.	

Prime	office	yields	at	the	end	of 	Q1	2015	are	now	at	4.75%	
(according	to	CBRE),	a	further	25bps	reduction	since	Q4	2014.	
As	with	other	European	countries,	prime	office	yields	in	Dublin	
are	higher	than	those	in	the	USA	and	Asia	and	the	spread	
above	10	year	government	bond	yields	in	the	respective	Asian	
countries	and	US	cities.	

Investment	volumes	were	exceptionally	strong	with	over	€4.5bn	of 	
direct	real	estate	and	€20.8bn	of 	real	estate	related	loans	traded	
in	2014.	This	momentum	continued	into	Q1	2015	with	€1bn	of 	
direct	real	estate	traded	in	Q1	2015.	Interestingly,	the	two	largest	
transactions	of 	Q1	saw	the	arrival	of 	new	buyers	to	the	market:	

•	 Starwood	Property	Trust,	a	US	REIT,	acquiring	Project	

Molly	(portfolio	of 	Dublin	offices)	for	€350m	

•	 Union	Investment	(German	Fund),	acquiring	4&5	Grand	

Canal	Square	for	€233m	

We	are	encouraged	by	the	new	wave	of 	purchasers	entering	
the	market	resulting	in	an	important	broadening	of 	sources	of 	
capital.	Purchasers	in	the	past	year	have	included	US	REITs,	US	
Private	Equity	Funds,	European	funds,	Irish	REITs	and	private	
investors	from	both	Ireland	and	abroad.	Longer	term	investors	
from	other	jurisdictions	have	appeared,	joining	the	opportunistic	
funds	which	have	dominated	the	market	since	2010.	

We	continue	to	see	a	healthy	pipeline	of 	quality	stock	and	expect	
this	trend	to	continue	for	some	time	with	CBRE	forecasting	
€4bn	of 	direct	property	sales	and	€15bn	of 	property	related	
loan	sales	in	2015.	

Office occupational market

The	office	market	in	Dublin	remains	characterised	by	strong	
demand	for	space	(from	all	sectors)	and	a	distinct	lack	of 	vacant	
Grade	A	stock	in	the	CBD.	

Leasing	volumes	remain	strong	and	vacancy	rates	continue	to	
move	downwards:	take	up	in	2014	was	in	excess	of 	2.2m	sq.	ft.	
and	there	was	a	strong	start	to	2015	with	64	leasing	transactions	
signed	in	Q1	2015	–	the	highest	number	of 	individual	leasing	
deals	to	sign	in	a	quarter	in	the	last	7	years,	bringing	take-up	
to	over	400,000	sq.	ft.	in	Q1	2015.	

The	overall	vacancy	rate	in	Dublin	is	now	11.3%;	9.1%	in	the	
CBD	and	1.8%	in	Grade	A	Dublin	2/4.	

Annual Report 2015

15

New Century House

Mayor Street, IFSC
Dublin 1

As	a	result	of 	these	two	factors,	prime	Dublin	CBD	office	rents	
continue	to	move	upwards	and	are	now	c.€47.50psf 	with	CBRE	
expecting	the	€50psf 	barrier	to	be	reached	in	the	coming	months	
and	expectations	in	the	market	that	€55psf 	will	be	the	prime	
rent	by	the	end	of 	2015	and	€65psf 	by	the	end	of 	2017.	

62%	of 	the	leasing	volume	in	Q1	2015	was	in	the	CBD	and	
there	is	a	strong	preference	for	city	centre	locations,	although	
some	occupiers	are	looking	at	suburban	options	due	to	lack	of 	
suitable	available	space	in	the	CBD.	

Residential 

The	 residential	 market	 continues	 to	 perform	 very	 well.	
Nationwide,	residential	property	prices	increased	by	0.9%	month	
on	month	in	March	and	climbed	by	16.8%	year	on	year.	Dublin	
residential	property	prices	rose	by	1.1%	in	March	and	were	
22.8%	higher	year	on	year,	with	Dublin	apartments	increasing	
by	29.8%	year	on	year.	With	property	prices	still	39%	below	their	
peak,	an	unemployment	rate	that	is	expected	to	drop	below	10%	
in	the	coming	months,	and	limited	new	supply	coming	to	the	
market,	the	fundamentals	of 	the	residential	market	look	strong.	

Notable	lettings	in	the	last	12	months	include	the	letting	of 	No.	
5	Grand	Canal	(127,600	sq.	ft.)	to	Facebook	at	€45	per	sq.	ft.	
and	the	entire	65	St.	Stephen’s	Green	(61,500	sq.	ft.)	to	Aercap	
at	€60psf.	This	building	is	due	to	complete	in	2016	so	perhaps	
represents	where	the	market	is	expected	to	be	at	that	date.	

According	to	the	latest	rental	information	from	the	Private	
Residential	Tenancies	Board	(“PRTB”)	index	(Q4	2014),	Dublin	
residential	rents	rose	by	9.6%	year	on	year,	and	Dublin	apartment	
rents	rose	by	10.9%	year	on	year,	outperforming	Dublin	housing	
rents	by	3.9%.		

Supply	shortages	are	expected	to	persist	in	the	city	centre	
which	should	drive	rents	higher	in	the	medium	term.	There	
are	concerns	about	competitiveness	and	ability	to	accommodate	
expansion	space	in	the	short	term	which	leads	us	onto	the	
important	development	pipeline.	

Rental	stock	is	at	its	lowest	level	since	2007	and	Central	Statistics	
Office	(“CSO”)	data	indicates	that	rents	are	now	7%	below	their	
previous	peak	levels	and,	according	to	market	commentators,	
this	will	be	surpassed	by	the	end	of 	2015.	

The	introduction	of 	the	Central	Bank	of 	Ireland’s	new	mortgage	
lending	rules,	which	add	new	limits	on	consumer	mortgage	
lending,	will	shift	pressure	from	the	purchaser	market	to	the	
rental	market,	particularly	in	Dublin,	and	rental	growth	of 	9%	
and	8%	over	2015	and	2016	is	being	forecasted	by	Goodbody.

On	the	supply	side,	according	to	Goodbody,	11,000	new	units	
were	completed	in	2014,	this	is	an	increase	of 	33%	from	the	
prior	year	and	the	main	driver	of 	this	increase	was	the	increase	
in	housing	commencements	(4,708	to	7,717)	confirming	that	
the	residential	construction	market	has	restarted.

Office development pipeline 

The	development	market	for	the	Dublin	CBD	is	starting	to	
respond	to	the	well	documented	current	shortage	of 	supply	and	
there	is	now	1.3m	sq.	ft.	under	construction	with	most	of 	this	
stock	to	be	delivered	to	the	market	by	late	2016/2017.	Of 	the	
stock	under	construction	approximately	27%	has	been	pre-let.	
Of 	the	remaining	1.0m	sq.	ft.,	0.4m	sq.	ft.	is	refurbished	stock	
and	0.6m	sq.	ft.	relates	to	new	builds	which	are	being	built	on	
a	speculative	basis.	The	Group’s	Windmill	Lane	and	1	-	6	Sir	
John	Rogerson’s	Quay	developments	represent	over	0.2m	sq.	
ft.	of 	the	0.6m	sq.	ft.	of 	planned	new	build	stock.

During	the	course	of 	the	last	12	months	a	number	of 	new	
schemes	have	received	planning	permissions	and,	using	data	
from	CBRE	combined	with	management	expectations,	if 	all	
this	stock	was	to	be	delivered	it	would	create	2.7m	sq.	ft.	of 	new	
space:	0.6m	sq.	ft.	of 	this	is	pre-let	or	owner	occupied.	Funding	
is	still	an	issue	for	a	number	of 	schemes	with	planning,	as	there	is	
only	a	limited	number	of 	financial	institutions	who	are	prepared	
to	provide	debt	funding	to	speculative	development.	

16
16

HIBERNIA REIT PLC
HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Title
Investment Manager’s report  
continued
continued

Selected portfolio information

Top 10 tenants by contracted rent as 
percentage of portfolio

Tenant analysis by sector

3.1% 2%

3%

4.5%

5.3%

9%

9.7%

24.1%

12.8%

9%

1%

6%

8%

16%

12.5%

24%

36%

30.9%

10.5%

33%

Office of Public Works

FBD Holdings plc.

Bank of Ireland

Bank of New York Mellon

DEPFA Bank plc.

Riot Games Limited

Deloitte & Touche1

Park Rite

Capita

Renaissance Services 

of Europe Ltd.

1  Deloitte & Touche is a tenant of Hardwicke House, which 
is an investment property of the Group. Deloitte & Touche 
were in situ when the Group acquired its interest in the 
building and all lease arrangements are at arm’s length. 

Banking and Capital markets

Professional Services

Government

Insurance

Other

Retail

TMT

2.8% 2.2%

6%

12.8%

13.5%

19.2%

Banking and Capital Markets

Vacant

Government

Professional Services

Insurance & Reinsurance

TMT

Other

Retail

14.8%

22.2%

32.1%

Dublin 2

IFSC

South Docs

Other

0 - 1 years

2.8

1 - 2 years

5.8

2 - 3 years

1

3 - 4 years

7.6

4 + years

5.5

€m

3.1% 2%

3%

4.5%

5.3%

9%

9.7%

24.1%

12.8%

9%

1%

6%

8%

16%

36%

12.5%

24%

Office of Public Works

FBD Holdings plc.

Bank of Ireland

Bank of New York Mellon

DEPFA Bank plc.

Riot Games Limited

Deloitte & Touche1

Park Rite

Capita

Renaissance Services 

of Europe Ltd.

Banking and Capital markets

Professional Services

Government

Insurance

Other

Retail

TMT

Annual Report 2015
Annual Report 2015

17
17

3. Portfolio by location

4. Portfolio by floor area by sector

14.8%

22.2%

32.1%

Dublin 2

IFSC

South Docs

Other

2.8% 2.2%

6%

30.9%

10.5%

33%

12.8%

13.5%

19.2%

Banking and Capital Markets

Vacant

Government

Professional Services

Insurance & Reinsurance

TMT

Other

Retail

5.  Contracted rent by time to the earlier of the next review or  

expiry date of the lease

0 - 1 years

2.8

1 - 2 years

5.8

2 - 3 years

1

3 - 4 years

7.6

4 + years

5.5

€m

Dublin’s Samuel Beckett Bridge  
by night

18
18

HIBERNIA REIT PLC
HIBERNIA REIT PLC

1

Title
Sir John
Rogerson’s Quay
continued
1-6 Sir John 
Rogerson’s Quay 
Dublin 2

2 Windmill
Lane Site
Windmill Lane
Dublin 2

3

Cumberland
House
Cumberland House
Dublin 2

Parkwest
Business Park

4

Walkinstown
Cross

M50

Santry

Drumcondra

7

10

Fairview

Clontarf

5

6

1

2

Ballybough

IFSC

11

12

13

       Heuston
South Quarter

City Centre

14

Crumlin

15

16

17

3

8

Rathmines

Ballsbridge

Elm Park

Donnybrook

9

Blackrock

Tallaght

4 Gateway Site

Newlands Cross,
Naas Road, Dublin 22

Dundrum

Dun Laoghaire

M50

Office development / refurbishment

Office

Residential

Industrial

5 New Century

House

Mayor Street 

IFSC, Dublin 1

6

The Forum

Commons Street

IFSC, Dublin 1

7

Commerzbank

House, IFSC

Guild Street 

IFSC, Dublin 1

Dublin Harbour

8

Cannon Place

Sandymount

Dublin 4

9

Block 3,

Wyckham Point

Dundrum 

Dublin 16

10 Guild House

Guild Street

IFSC, Dublin 1

11 Observatory

Building

7-11 Sir John

Rogerson's Quay

Dublin 2

12 South Dock

House

Hanover Quay

Dublin 2

13 Hanover

Building

Windmill Lane

Dublin 2

14 Chancery

Building

Chancery Lane

Dublin 8

15 Harcourt

Square

Harcourt Street

Dublin 2

16 Montague

House

Adelaide Road

Dublin 2

17 Hardwicke

House

Hatch Street

Dublin 2

1

Sir John

Rogerson’s Quay

1-6 Sir John 

Rogerson’s Quay 

Dublin 2

2 Windmill

Lane Site

Windmill Lane

Dublin 2

3

Cumberland

House

Dublin 2

Cumberland House

M50

Santry

Drumcondra

7

10

Fairview

Clontarf

Ballsbridge

Elm Park

Donnybrook

9

5

6

1

2

15

16

       Heuston

South Quarter

City Centre

Ballybough

IFSC

11

12

13

17

3

8

Rathmines

Parkwest

Business Park

4

Walkinstown

Cross

14

Crumlin

Tallaght

4 Gateway Site

Newlands Cross,

Naas Road, Dublin 22

Dundrum

M50

Annual Report 2015
Annual Report 2015

19
19

5 New Century

House
Mayor Street 
IFSC, Dublin 1

6

7

8

9

The Forum
Commons Street
IFSC, Dublin 1

Commerzbank
House, IFSC
Guild Street 
IFSC, Dublin 1

Dublin Harbour

Cannon Place
Sandymount
Dublin 4

Block 3,
Wyckham Point
Dundrum 
Dublin 16

Blackrock

Dun Laoghaire

Office

Office development / refurbishment

Residential

Industrial

10 Guild House
Guild Street
IFSC, Dublin 1

11 Observatory
Building
7-11 Sir John
Rogerson's Quay
Dublin 2

12 South Dock
House
Hanover Quay
Dublin 2

13 Hanover
Building
Windmill Lane
Dublin 2

14 Chancery

Building
Chancery Lane
Dublin 8

15 Harcourt

Square
Harcourt Street
Dublin 2

16 Montague
House
Adelaide Road
Dublin 2

17 Hardwicke
House
Hatch Street
Dublin 2

20
20

HIBERNIA REIT PLC
HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Our acquisitions 
Title
continued

New Century House, 
IFSC, acquired for 
€47m

Observatory Building, 
Dublin 2, acquired for 
€52m

Gateway logistics site, 
Dublin 22, acquired for 
€10m

DEC
13

JAN
14

FEB
14

MAR
14

APR
14

MAY
14

JUN
14

JUL
14

AUG
14

Windmill Lane site, 
Dublin 2, acquired for 
€7.5m

Hanover Building, 
Dublin 2, acquired for 
€20m 

Hardwicke House  
and Montague House, 
Dublin 2, acquired for 
€60m (of which €42m 
deferred)

Chancery Building and 
Apartments, Dublin 8, 
acquired for €16m

Annual Report 2015
Annual Report 2015

21
21

Harcourt Square, 
Dublin 2, acquired for 
€70m

35-37 Lower Camden 
Street, Dublin 2, 
acquired for €1.6m

Cumberland House, 
Dublin 2, acquired for 
€49m

11 Lime Street,  
Dublin 2, acquired for 
€1.4m

SEP
14

OCT
14

NOV
14

DEC
14

JAN
14

FEB
15

MAR
15

APR
15

MAY
15

Guild House and 
Commerzbank House, 
IFSC, acquired for 
€91m

1-6 Sir John Rogerson’s 
Quay site, Dublin 2, 
acquired for €18m

The Forum Building, 
IFSC, acquired for 
€38m

South Dock House

Dublin 2

22
22

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Notes forming part of the annual report
continued

Chancery Building

Chancery Lane
Dublin 8

Corporate governance report

Annual Report 2015

23

The year ended 31 March 
2015 was the first full year of 
operations for the Company 
and also saw a second 
equity offering. 

The  composition  and  performance  of   the  Board  and  its 
committees  were  reviewed  during  the  year.  In  addition,  we 
performed an overview of  the Company’s risk framework and 
we keep the process in identifying and monitoring these risks 
under  constant  and  close  review  –  the  Investment  Manager 
reports on compliance and risks at every Board meeting. 

The  coming  year  will  likely  see  our  enterprise  growing 
significantly  both  in  size  and  complexity.  The  proposed 
internalisation  of   the  Investment  Manager  will  also  have 
a  significant  impact  on  governance  practice  within  the 
organisation.  As  a  result,  one  of   our  key  priorities  for  the 
coming  year  is  that  we  manage  this  change  effectively  and 
ensure  that  we  continue  to  keep  pace  with  developments  in 
corporate governance.

Daniel Kitchen
Chairman
29 May 2015

Chairman’s corporate governance 
statement 

The  year  ended  31  March  2015  was  the  first  full  year  of  
operations  for  the  Company  and  also  saw  a  second  equity 
offering.  The  rapid  growth  of   the  portfolio  and  the  wide 
range of  transaction methods the Group has used to acquire 
properties (e.g. secured loan purchases) has required the Board 
to be closely involved in monitoring and developing governance 
procedures. We continue to comply with the Irish Corporate 
Governance Annex to the UK Corporate Governance Code 
(“Irish Code”), UK Corporate Governance Code 2012 (“UK 
Code”) and the Association of  Investment Companies Code 
of  Corporate Governance (“AIC Code”). 

The Company has no executive structure and therefore relies 
on  the  structures  in  place  in  the  Investment  Manager.  We 
believe  good  governance  requires  the  Board  to  have  a  close 
engagement with the Investment Manager and the business so 
that we keep an in depth knowledge of  the business and a clear 
understanding of  the challenges and risks that it faces. 

We  have  only  two  committees,  Audit  and  Nominations,  as 
with no executive Board there is no need for a remuneration 
committee  at  present.  This  will  be  reviewed  in  light  of   the 
proposed  internalisation  of   the  Investment  Manager  which 
we announced on 8 May 2015, should it proceed. The Audit 
Committee had a wide scope of  work for the year, and is an 
important  factor  in  our  being  able  to  state  our  belief   that 
this  Annual  Report  and  Accounts,  taken  as  a  whole,  is  fair, 
balanced  and  understandable,  and  provides  the  information 
necessary to assess the Group’s performance and prospects. 

24

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Corporate governance report
continued

Introduction

The Board of Directors of Hibernia REIT plc (“the Board”) is committed to developing and maintaining a high standard 
of corporate governance. The Company has no executive employees as it is managed by the Investment Manager 
under the terms of the Investment Management Agreement. The Company complies with the relevant requirements and 
procedures as set out by the Central Bank of Ireland, the Irish Stock Exchange and the Financial Conduct Authority in 
the UK, except as outlined below. The main governance requirements are listed in the Listing Rules of the Irish Stock 
Exchange and the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”), the Irish Corporate Governance Annex to the UK Corporate 
Governance Code (“Irish Code”), the UK Corporate Governance Code 2012 (“UK Code”) and the Association of 
Investment Companies Code of Corporate Governance (“AIC Code”). To this end, the Board has established Audit and 
Nominations Committees, as described below, comprised entirely of independent non-executive Directors. 

The Board sets the remuneration of  the non-executive directors. Further information on remuneration is set out in the Report 
of  the Directors on pages 36 to 47 of  this report. If  the proposed internalisation of  the Investment Manager is approved 
by the independent shareholders, the Board will also establish a Remuneration Committee comprised of  independent non-
executive Directors. 

The Board
Leadership and Strategy
Oversight, Control and Risk

Board

Board Level Committees

Audit
Committee

Nominations
Committee

Investment Manager Committees

Risk and 
Compliance Officer
(reporting to the 
Audit Committee)

Portfolio
Management
Committee

Management
Committee

Investment
Committee

The

Board

The

Chairman

Non-Executive

Directors

The Investment Manager

responsibility

control including

CEO

Overall 

for the 

Company

COO

Operational

property and

development

management

CIO

Investment

portfolio

strategic

management

liquidity and

CFO

Financial

management

including

capital

management

RCO

Risk

management

and regulatory

reporting and

compliance

Annual Report 2015

25

The Board

Leadership and Strategy

Oversight, Control and Risk

Board

Board Level Committees

Audit

Committee

Nominations
Committee

Investment Manager Committees

Risk and 

Compliance Officer

(reporting to the 

Audit Committee)

Portfolio

Management

Committee

Management

Committee

Investment
Committee

The
Board

The
Chairman

Non-Executive
Directors

The Investment Manager

CEO
Overall 
responsibility
for the 
Company

COO
Operational
control including
property and
development
management

CIO
Investment
portfolio
strategic
management

CFO
Financial
management
including
liquidity and
capital
management

RCO
Risk
management
and regulatory
reporting and
compliance

The role of the Board 

The Board has reserved the following matters for its direct 
stewardship and decision making:

•  Strategy and Management oversight

•  The Board composition, committees of  the Board and 

the Company Secretary

•  Appointment and oversight of  delegates

•  Corporate structure and share capital

•  Financial control

•  Internal controls

•  Remuneration of  the Board

•  Corporate governance

The  Board  is  responsible  for  providing  governance  and 
stewardship to the Company and its business. This includes 
establishing  goals  for  management  and  monitoring  the 
achievement  of   these  goals.  The  Company  has  entered 
into  the  REIT  Investment  Management  Agreement  with 
the Investment Manager, whereby the Investment Manager 
is  required  to  produce  an  annual  business  execution  plan 
setting out the strategy for the provision of  its services and 
the management of  the properties held or acquired by the 
Company.

The  Board  oversees  the  performance  of   the  Investment 
Manager  and  the  Company’s  activities.  The  Investment 
Manager  has  discretionary  authority 
into 
transactions  for  and  on  behalf   of   the  Company  save  for 
certain  matters  which  require  the  consent  of   the  Board. 
The Board is at all times free to offer ideas to the Investment 
Manager relating to the structure of  a transaction so as to 
afford the Company the greatest value. 

to  enter 

The  Chairman  is  responsible  for  leadership  of   the  Board 
and ensuring its effectiveness in all aspects of  its role. 

All  Directors  are  expected  to  allocate  sufficient  time  to 
the  Company  to  discharge  their  responsibilities  effectively. 
Directors  are  expected  to  attend  all  scheduled  Board 
meetings as well as the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”). 

All  Directors  are  furnished  with  information  necessary  to 
assist them in the performance of  their duties. The Board 
meets  at  least  four  times  each  calendar  year  and,  prior  to 
such  meetings  taking  place,  an  agenda  and  board  papers 
are  circulated  to  the  Directors  so  that  they  are  adequately 
prepared  for  the  meetings.  The  Company  Secretary 
is  responsible  for  the  procedural  aspects  of   the  Board 
meetings. Directors are, where appropriate, entitled to have 
access to independent professional advice at the expense of  
the Company.

26

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Corporate governance report
continued

As  at  the  date  of   this  report,  there  are  five  Directors  on 
the  Board,  all  of   whom  are  non-executive.  Daniel  Kitchen 
(the  Chairman),  Colm  Barrington  (the  Senior  Independent 
Director), Stewart Harrington and Terence O’Rourke are each 
considered independent for the purposes of  legal requirements 
and any applicable governance codes. William Nowlan is also 
a  member  of   the  Board  of   the  Investment  Manager.  This 
number of  directors is considered by the Board to be sufficiently 
small  to  allow  efficient  management  of   the  Company  while 
being  large  enough  to  ensure  an  appropriate  mix  of   skills 
and  backgrounds.  The  Board  has  a  strong  focus  on  property 
investment management to allow it access to a good knowledge 
base.  This  is  balanced  with  some  diversity  of   background, 
extensive experience of  quoted companies and strong financial 
skills.  Further  details  of   the  background  and  qualifications  of  
the Board are given in the Directors’ biographical details report 
on pages 42 to 43.

Senior Independent Non-executive Director

The Company has appointed Colm Barrington as the Senior 
Independent  Director.  The  role  of   the  Senior  Independent 
Director is mainly to:

•  provide a sounding board for the Chairman and to serve as 

an intermediary for the other Directors when necessary

•  facilitate shareholders if  they have concerns which contact 
through the normal channels of  Chairman, or Investment 
Manager has failed to resolve or for which such contact is 
inappropriate

•  to discuss with non-executive Directors the Chairman’s 
performance, taking into account the view of  executive 
directors (if  any)

•  to listen to the views of  major shareholders in order to 

help develop a balanced understanding of  the issues and 
concerns of  major shareholders

Committees of the Board

The  Board  has  established  two  committees:  the  Audit 
Committee and the Nominations Committee. The duties and 
responsibilities of  each of  these committees are set out clearly 
in written terms of  reference, which have been approved by 
the Board.

Any Director appointed to the Board by the Directors will be 
subject  to  re-election  by  the  Shareholders  at  the  first  AGM 
after  his/her  appointment.  Furthermore,  under  the  Articles, 
one third of  all Directors must retire by rotation each year and 
may seek re-election. However, in keeping with best corporate 
governance  practice,  all  Directors  intend  to  seek  re-election 
each year at the AGM. 

The  Board  reviews  the  Company’s  accounts,  including  all 
expenses,  on  a  quarterly  basis,  to  ensure  that  the  Company 
expenditure  is  appropriate  and  in  the  best  interest  of   the 
Shareholders. 

Details  of   the  remuneration  of   Directors  are  set  out  in  the 
Directors’ Remuneration report on page 45.

The composition of  the Board is reviewed regularly to ensure 
that  the  Board  has  an  appropriate  mix  of   expertise  and 
experience.  The  Articles  of   the  Company  provide  that  the 
number of  Directors that may be appointed cannot be fewer 
than two or greater than ten and that two Directors present at 
a Directors’ meeting shall be a quorum. 

On appointment, new directors are provided with induction 
training. 

Board and Committee performance

The first evaluation of  the Board and Committees took place 
in  the  first  quarter  of   2015.  This  evaluation  reviewed  the 
balance of  skills, experience, independence and knowledge of  
the Board on the Company, its diversity, including gender, how 
the Board works together as a unit, and other factors relevant 
to its effectiveness. Individual evaluation of  Directors aimed to 
show whether each Director continues to contribute effectively 
and  to  demonstrate  commitment  to  the  role  (including 
commitment of  time for Board and Committee meetings and 
any other duties). 

The Board was satisfied with the performance and skills and 
experience  of   its  members  for  the  period  under  review.  As 
the period was highly active, with 14 acquisition transactions 
and  a  second  equity  issue,  there  were  an  unusually  high 
number  of   meetings  and  as  a  result  some  members  had  to 
attend  ad  hoc  meetings  by  telephone.  It  was  noted  that 
while this was unavoidable given the circumstances, physical 
attendance is preferable. One outcome of  the review was an 
acknowledgement  of   the  relationship  with  the  Investment 
Manager  and  the  good  dialogue  and  support  in  considering 
acquisition proposals in particular. The evaluation also raised 
the topic of  diversity, and it was emphasised that this should 
stay  on  the  agenda  in  future  when  considering  the  Board 
composition. 

Annual Report 2015

27

Audit Committee 
Chairman of the Audit Committee:
Terence O’Rourke
Members of the Committee:
Colm Barrington, Stewart Harrington

Audit Committee Chairman’s report

Report of the Audit Committee

The Audit Committee is chaired by Terence O’Rourke, who 
is an independent non-executive Director and is considered 
by  the  Board  to  have  sufficient  financial  experience 
and  sufficient  understanding  of   financial  reporting  and 
accounting principles. All members of  the Audit Committee 
are  independent  non-executive  directors,  appointed  by 
the  Board  for  a  period  of   up  to  three  years.  The  Audit 
Committee is constituted in compliance with the UK Code, 
the  AIC  Code,  the  Irish  Code  and  the  Articles  regarding 
the  composition  of   the  Audit  Committee.  The  Terms  of  
Reference  for  the  Audit  Committee  are  published  on  the 
Group’s website.

This was the first full year of  operations of  the Group and 
the  Audit  Committee  met  on  four  occasions  during  the 
financial  year  to  consider  financial,  governance  and  risk 
matters. The year was a very busy one given the significant 
work undertaken in acquiring properties and the launch and 
successful completion of  the second equity issue in November 
2014. Significant property, legal and financial due diligence 
was undertaken by our advisers as part of  the capital raising 
and our Depositary, Credit Suisse International, completed 
their first Depositary review during the year. No significant 
issues were identified as part of  these workstreams.

We also carried out our first self-evaluation and this examined 
both  our  own  work  and  our  interactions  with  external 
assurance such as the external auditors and valuers. We are 
satisfied that the Audit Committee has the right balance of  
skills and resources, has been able to work effectively and has 
received  all  the  support  and  response  it  has  required  from 
both management and the external providers. We are also 
satisfied that the level of  scrutiny on public announcements 
is sufficient and effective. There were no issues arising from 
this evaluation. 

As  the  investment  property  portfolio  was  built  out,  so  too 
were  the  systems  and  procedures  in  place  to  manage  this 
as  well  as  the  reporting  framework  and  risk  management 
activities. This process involved a significant amount of  work 
by  the  Committee  in  order  to  ensure  the  integrity  of   the 
financial  reporting  and  oversight  of   the  auditors’  activities 
and  the  risks  inherent  in  a  period  of   rapid  growth.  This 
included meeting with the external auditors regularly as well 
as the Group’s external valuers. 

In  the  coming  year  the  property  portfolio  is  expected  to 
continue  to  grow  and  the  Audit  Committee  will  continue 
its  oversight  of   the  audit  engagement  and  the  Group  and 
Company’s  financial  reporting  and  risk  management 
processes. 

Terence O’Rourke

28

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Corporate governance report
continued

The Audit Committee meets regularly during the year, in alignment with the financial reporting calendar. The Audit Committee 
requests the attendance of  various relevant parties as required. The parties met were as follows: 

Invitee

Reason for attendance

Deloitte & Touche

CBRE

Representatives of  the 
Investment Manager

The independent auditors attend to present their plans in respect of  the annual audit and interim 
review, their analysis of  the risks they see in the Group, the results of  their audit and review(s), and 
their recommendations for improvements in systems and controls

The  Independent  valuers  meet  the  Audit  Committee  to  discuss  their  work  and  the  significant 
assumptions  in  relation  to  the  property  valuations.  From  this  the  Audit  Committee  can  make 
recommendations to the Directors in relation to their assessment of  property valuations

Representatives  of   the  Investment  Manager,  such  as  the  CFO,  the  COO  and  the  Risk  and 
Compliance  Officer  (“RCO”)  meet  the  Audit  Committee  in  order  to  present  the  financial 
statements, any significant judgements and areas of  uncertainty, the risks and measures in place to 
mitigate those risks, and any other matters as requested by the Audit Committee

Principal Responsibilities of the Audit Committee

The principal responsibilities of  the Audit Committee and the key areas of  discussion in 2014/15 were as follows:

Principal responsibilities

Reporting and 
external audit

•  The monitoring of  the integrity of  the 

•  Prospectus, Interim and Annual results 

Key areas discussed in 2014/2015

Company’s financial statements and any 
other formal announcement relating to 
the Company’s financial performance, 
business model and strategy and to review 
significant financial reporting issues and all 
other material disclosure obligations

•  The development, implementation and 
review of  a policy on the supply of  non-
audit services by the external auditor, 
taking into account any relevant ethical 
guidance on the matter

•  The review and discussion of  the external 
auditor’s audit plan and ensuring that it is 
consistent with the Company’s overall risk 
management system

•  The assessment of  the external auditor’s 
performance, qualifications, expertise, 
resources, independence and their terms of  
reference, the approval of  their fees and the 
review of  external audit reports to ensure 
that where deficiencies in internal controls 
have been identified that appropriate and 
prompt remedial action is taken by the 
Investment Manager 

reviewed

•  Audit plan for year ending 31 March 
2015 reviewed with external Auditors, 
including the Engagement letter. Met 
with the auditors both with and without 
the presence of  management. Considered 
audit scope, risks assessment, results and 
recommendations. The significant audit 
risks identified by the auditor were the 
valuation of  investment properties, the 
existence and entitlement to investment 
properties, performance fees and the 
recognition and measurement of  loans 
and receivables and other assets. Other 
audit risks identified were the existence of  
cash, revenue recognition, taxation, equity 
transactions, compliance with regulatory 
rules, disclosures and related party 
transactions

•  Review of  significant items of  judgement 
and recommendations to the Board in 
terms of  reporting for specific items

•  Review of  the policy on the supply of  

non-audit services by the external auditor, 
particularly in light of  the high level in 
2015, in order to assess the independence 
and objectivity of  the external auditor

•  Met with the valuers, both with and 

without the presence of  management. 
Discussed the valuation approach, methods 
used, interaction with management, 
availability of  information and access to 
the properties 

•  Cash positions and depository review 

Annual Report 2015

29

Principal responsibilities

Key areas discussed in 2014/2015

Risk and internal control

•  Review of  the adequacy and effectiveness 

•  Reviewed the Risk Management 

of  the Company’s internal financial 
controls and internal control and risk 
management systems in particular with 
regard to the operation of  the Investment 
Manager

•  Assess the principal risks of  the Group 

Framework developed by the Investment 
Manager for the Group

•  This included an overview of  the risk 

management structure, the risk appetite, 
the impact of  the main risks and risk 
reporting

•  Review the disclosures made on risk and 

•  Review of  the risk register

internal control in the annual report

•  Monitoring the necessity or otherwise of  
an internal audit function on an ongoing 
basis

Other

•  Verification that procedures in place 

•  Review of  the Audit Committee’s 

comply with applicable legislation, the 
Listing Rules and the Irish REIT Regime 
guidelines

•  The review of  the operation of  the 

Investment Manager in relation to the 
Company’s procedures for the detection 
of  fraud, bribery, and compliance

•  Review the Committee’s terms of  

reference and performance

effectiveness 

•  Gap analysis of  compliance with the 
Irish Corporate Governance Annex 
to the UK Corporate Governance 
Code (“Irish Code”), UK Corporate 
Governance Code 2012 (“UK Code”) 
and the Association of  Investment 
Companies Code of  Corporate 
Governance (“AIC Code”)

•  Review of  all correspondence with 

regulators

The significant issues considered by the Audit Committee during year ended 31 March 2015 and the action taken by the 
Committee are set out below:

Significant issues 
considered

Valuation of  the 
Investment Portfolio

Recognition and 
classification of  
investment transactions

Action taken by Committee

The Investment Manager works to ensure that the information provided to the independent 
valuers, CBRE, is correct and that the results of  their valuation judgements are in line with 
expectations based on their assessment of  the market and knowledge of  the properties. 
The Audit Committee reviews the results of  these valuations and considers whether any 
amendments need to be made to the valuation amounts, e.g. in recognition of  effects arising 
from the accounting policy on the recognition of  rental incentives. 

The Group has acquired an interest in investment property assets both as direct asset 
purchases and through the acquisition of  loans which are secured over the target property. 
Recognition of  property assets collateralising acquired loans as investment properties 
requires significant judgement by the Directors to determine if  it is probable that the future 
economic benefits that are associated with the underlying investment property will flow to 
the Group. The Audit Committee reviewed management papers on key judgements as well 
as the external auditor’s report in order to ensure that the treatment of  the transactions is 
appropriate.

30

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Corporate governance report
continued

Performance fees

Impairment of  other 
non-current assets 
held for sale

As detailed in Note 26.2 to the financial statements, the performance fee calculation involves 
two parts. 50% is calculated by reference to the return to shareholders and is performed 
by the IM, approved by the Board and involves a complex manual calculation. The other 
50% is performed by a third party, IPD, there is therefore a risk that it will not be provided 
in a timely fashion. For the year under review, the return to shareholders is the only part of  
the calculation to give rise to an expense. It is considered a significant item, not insofar as it 
requires judgement, but because it is payable to a related party and dependent on a complex 
calculation. Having reviewed the process and calculation the Audit Committee was satisfied 
that this was performed in a correct fashion. 

Other non-current assets held for sale were acquired as a result of  the work out of  the 
Dorville loan portfolio. They are measured at the lower of  their carrying amount and 
fair value less costs to sell. In order to measure these assets, the Directors are required to 
exercise judgement in making estimations of  the fair value less costs to sell. This involves 
an assessment of  the properties on an individual basis together with a review of  the sales 
agent’s estimation of  achievable price to sell less expected costs to sell, including stamp duty 
and other taxes. The Audit Committee recommended and the Board determined that no 
impairment of  these assets is required as they expect that these assets will be sold at least at 
their carrying value. 

Non-audit work carried out by the external 
auditor during the year ended 31 March 2015

The external auditor has carried out a significant amount of  
work during the year ended 31 March 2015 which is non-audit 
in nature. 

Non audit services during the year arose in two main areas:

Second equity raise: 67% (€225,894) of  non-audit fees related to 
work by the external auditor, mainly by the audit engagement 
team, on the prospectus and the opinions thereon. The audit 
committee  consider  that  the  engagement  of   the  external 
auditor as the reporting accountant for the issuance was both 
appropriate  and  reasonable.  The  Committee  is  also  of   the 
opinion that the undertaking of  this assignment by the external 
auditor  is  not  inconsistent  with  its  work  as  external  auditor 
and does not pose a threat to the auditor’s independence and 
objectivity. 

Tax advisory services: 29% (€97,121) of  non-audit fees related to 
tax  advice.  This  advice  was  provided  by  Deloitte  &  Touche, 
albeit by partners and staff  unrelated to the audit engagement 
team.  This  advice  was  sought  in  relation  to  the  structuring 
of   a  number  of   acquisitions  which  were  complex  in  nature, 
for example the Dorville loan acquisition and the Hardwicke 
House  and  Montague  House  transaction.  The  Group  used 
Deloitte  &  Touche  in  these  cases  as  their  knowledge  of   the 

Group’s structure and activities complemented and expedited 
the advice they were being asked to give. While the Committee 
is of  the opinion that the undertaking of  this work does not 
compromise  the  independence  or  objectivity  of   the  external 
auditor,  it  has  nonetheless  recommended  that  tax  advice  for 
future projects is sought from other providers where possible. 
The Group already uses other consultants for various aspects 
of  tax advice, such as VAT, and will look at alternatives where 
appropriate on new projects. 

The quantum of  the non-audit fees is deemed non-substantial 
relative  to  the  overall  size  of   Deloitte  &  Touche’s  firm-wide 
fee income.

Deloitte & Touche is a tenant of  Hardwicke House, which is 
an investment property of  the Group. Deloitte & Touche were 
in situ when the Group acquired its interest in the building and 
all lease arrangements are at arm’s length. Deloitte & Touche 
occupies some space in this property and therefore pays rent 
to the Group. 

As a result of  their consideration of  the above facts, the Audit 
Committee concluded that the independence and objectivity 
of  the external auditor has not been compromised.

Internal audit

The Audit Committee has reviewed the business model under 
which  the  Company  operates  and  in  particular  the  external 
management  model  which  it  has  put  in  place  to  manage 
its  business  operations.  Having  undertaken  such  a  review, 
and  in  light  of   the  nature,  scale,  complexity  and  range  of  
operations of  the Company, the Committee does not believe 
that  an  internal  audit  function  is  required  at  present  and 
instead it will rely on its own and the Investment Manager’s 
internal  monitoring  procedures,  any  internal  audit  functions 
in  key  service  providers,  on  reviews  by  the  Depositary,  and 
on  external  audit  reports.  In  addition  the  Audit  Committee 
noted that significant due diligence and verification work had 
been completed as part of  the recent equity capital raise and 
this  provided  additional  reassurance.  As  an  internal  audit 
function has not been established, the Audit Committee will 
consider annually (in accordance with the UK Code) whether 
there  is  a  need  for  an  internal  audit  function  and  make  a 
recommendation to the Board. 

Depository

The Group had €139m in cash at the year end. The depository 
is responsible for monitoring the safe keeping of  these assets in 
accordance with the Group’s policy on cash management. 

Approval of Reports

The  Preliminary  Statement  and  Annual  Report  were 
considered  in  draft  on  12  May  2015.  The  Preliminary 
Statement, which included financial statements, was approved 
by the Audit Committee on 12 May 2015 and recommended 
to the Board for signing. The Annual Report was approved by 
Board on 29 May 2015.

Nominations Committee
Membership: 
Colm Barrington, Stewart Harrington,  
Daniel Kitchen (Chair), Terence O’Rourke 

Report of the Nominations Committee

The Nominations Committee met once during the year ended 
31  March  2015.  The  Nominations  Committee  is  chaired  by 
Daniel Kitchen, who is also the non-executive Chairman. All 
members  of   the  Nominations  Committee  are  independent 
non-executive  directors,  appointed  by  the  Board  for  a 
period of  up to three years. The Nominations Committee is 
constituted in compliance with the UK Code and Irish Stock 
Exchange  Annex,  the  AIC  Code  and  the  Articles  regarding 
the composition of  the Nominations Committee. 

Annual Report 2015

31

is  responsible 

The  Nominations  Committee 
the 
appointments  to  the  Board  and  meets  at  least  once  a  year 
and  as  otherwise  directed.  The  Terms  of   Reference  for  the 
Nominations Committee, which are available on the Group’s 
website, were confirmed at the meeting on 27 January 2015 as 
effective and sufficient.

for 

The  Nominations  Committee’s  main  areas  of   focus  are  the 
following:
(a)  to review the structure, size and composition of  the Board 
and  the  combination  and  balance  of   experience,  core 
competencies and other attributes which the Board should 
possess in order to discharge its role and to propose changes 
to the Board where appropriate;

(b)  to  assess  the  effectiveness  of   the  Board  and  each  of   its 

committees;

(c)  to  identify  and  nominate  for  the  approval  of   the  Board, 
candidates to fill Board vacancies as and when they arise; 

(d)  to  engage  in  succession  planning  for  directors  and  other 
senior  executives,  if   any,  of   the  Company  taking  into 
account  any  skills  set  or  expertise  that  the  Board  may 
require; 

(e)  to  review  the  leadership  needs  of   the  Company  and  stay 
fully  informed  about  strategic  issues  and  commercial 
changes affecting the Company; and

(f)  to  provide  a  report  on  its  activity  to  be  included  in  the 

Company’s report and financial statements.

Before any appointment is made by the Board, the Nominations 
Committee  will  evaluate  the  balance  of   skills,  knowledge 
and  experience  and  diversity  of   the  Board.  The  Board 
actively  considers  diversity  and  believes  this  is  an  important 
factor  when  considering  appointments  to  the  Board.  In  this 
context, diversity in skills and background as well as gender is 
important. This topic remains on the agenda for consideration 
in future appointments. 

An evaluation of  the Committee’s work was carried out in the first 
quarter  of   2015.  Given  that  there  have  been  no  appointments 
made to the Board during the period, the work of  the Committee 
has  been  limited.  However,  this  self-assessment  found  that  the 
Committee  is  satisfied  that  there  are  the  right  mixture  of   skills 
involved on the Committee, that the Committee can work with 
sufficient independence from the Investment Manager and that 
the processes in place to make new appointments are appropriate 
and in line with best practice. The Committee reviewed the time 
and  attention  given  by  the  Directors  to  their  duties  and  were 
satisfied that each Director has been adequately carrying out his 
duties as a director of  the Company. 

The  Nominations  Committee  may  not  be  chaired  by  the 
Chairman when it is dealing with the matter of  succession to 
the chairmanship of  the Company.

32

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Corporate governance report
continued

Internal controls

The Board acknowledges it is responsible for maintaining the 
Group’s  system  of   internal  control  and  risk  management  in 
order to safeguard the Group’s assets. Such a system is designed 
to  identify,  manage  and  mitigate  financial,  operational  and 
compliance risks inherent to the Group. The system is designed 
to manage rather than eliminate the risk of  failure to achieve 
business objectives and can only provide reasonable, but not 
absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss. 

The  Group’s  internal  control  system  is  built  on  certain 
fundamental principles, and is subject to review by the Board 
and external auditors. Much of  the activities of  the Group are 
carried out by the Investment Manager under the Investment 
Management  Agreement  (IMA).  The  following  are  the 
principles under which the internal control system operates: 
•  a defined schedule of  matters reserved for the Board

•  a detailed authorisation process

•  formal documentation of  all significant transactions

•  business and financial planning to include cashflows and 

scenario analysis covering a period of  three years forward 
on a rolling basis

•  robust assessment of  property investment decisions

•  performance assessment versus budget on total and 

individual project basis

•  benchmarking of  performance against external sources, i.e. 

the Investment Property Databank (IPD)

The Policies and Procedures Manual has recently been revised 
in  line  with  developments  in  the  business.  This  manual  sets 
out financial reporting and other procedures and policies of  
the  Group  and  addresses  the  respective  authority  levels  and 
responsibilities of  the Group and the Investment Manager, the 
authorisations  required  to  effect  those  transactions,  and  the 
necessary controls to ensure that only appropriately authorised 
individuals  in  either  the  Investment  Manager  or  the  Group 
can  approve  a  transaction.  In  particular,  the  Policies  and 
Procedures  Manual  establishes  the  necessary  controls  and 
authority  levels  of   the  Investment  Manager  to  manage  the 
Group’s property portfolio. Other controls and authorities in 
the Policies and Procedures Manual include those in relation 
to  the  management  of   risk,  property  portfolio  management, 
property  valuations,  and  the  maintenance  of   registers  and 
other administrative matters. 

Accountability and relationship with the 
Investment Manager and the Depository

The Statement of  Directors’ Responsibilities is set out on page 48. 

The  Board  has  contractually  delegated  to  external  third 
parties, including the Investment Manager, and the Depository, 
the  management  of   the  investment  portfolio,  the  custodial 
services  (which  include  the  safeguarding  of   the  assets)  and 
the day to day accounting and administration. Each of  these 
contracts was entered into after full and proper consideration 
by the Board of  the quality and cost of  the services provided, 
including  the  control  systems  in  operation  in  so  far  as  they 
relate to the affairs of  the Group. 

The  Investment  Manager  is  appointed  on  an  exclusive  basis 
to acquire properties on behalf  of  the Group, to manage the 
Group’s  assets  and  properties  on  behalf   of   the  Group  and 
to  provide  or  procure  the  provision  of   various  accounting, 
administrative,  reporting,  record  keeping,  regulatory  and 
other  services  to  the  Group.  The  Investment  Manager  has 
discretionary  authority  to  enter  into  transactions  for  and  on 
behalf  of  the Group subject to certain reserved matters that 
require the consent of  the Board. 

The  Investment  Manager  ensures  that  all  Directors  receive, 
in a timely manner, all relevant management, regulatory and 
financial  information.  Representatives  of   the  Investment 
Manager attend each Board meeting enabling the Directors to 
probe further on matters of  interest. 

Under  the  terms  of   the  REIT  Investment  Management 
Agreement, the Investment Manager provides a management 
team. Within the Investment Manager, the senior management 
team responsible for the provision of  management services to 
the Group are: 

Kevin Nowlan 

Richard Ball 

Chief  Executive Officer

Chief  Investment Officer

Tom Edwards-Moss

Chief  Financial Officer

Frank Kenny

Development Director

William Nowlan 

Investment Director

Sean O’Dwyer

Frank O’Neill 

Risk and Compliance Officer

Chief  Operations Officer

Annual Report 2015

33

All  of   this  team,  with  the  exception  of   Sean  O’Dwyer, 
are  Directors  of   the  Investment  Manager.  The  investment 
management fee covers the services of  this management team, 
except for regulatory costs which are borne by the Company. 

The Company is satisfied that the risk management function 
has the necessary authority, resources, expertise and access to 
relevant information to fulfil its role. Further information on 
the principal risks is given on pages 37 to 40. 

Details  on  the  fee  structure  with  the  Investment  Manager  is 
provided in Note 26 on page 81.

Risk management

The  Company  considers  risk  management  to  be  a  very 
important  matter.  The  Board  and  the  Audit  Committee, 
together  with  the  Investment  Manager,  deal  with  risk 
management on behalf  of  the Company as part of  the regular 
monitoring of  the business. 

The Board has put in place procedures designed to ensure that 
all applicable risks pertaining to the Company can be identified, 
monitored  and  managed  at  all  times.  These  procedures  are 
carried out as part of  the duties of  the Investment Manager 
under the Investment Management Agreement and are kept 
under review by the Audit Committee and the Board.

It is a requirement of  the IMA that the Investment Manager 
establish  a  permanent  risk  management  function  with  the 
following objectives:

Model Code on share dealing

The  Company  must  comply  with  the  Model  Code  which 
imposes  restrictions  on  share  dealings  for  the  purposes 
of   preventing  the  abuse,  or  suspicion  of   abuse,  of   inside 
information  by  Directors  and  other  persons  discharging 
managerial responsibilities within the Company. The Board is 
responsible for taking all proper and reasonable steps to ensure 
compliance with the Model Code by the Directors and others 
to whom the Model Code is applicable.

The Company has in place a share dealing code which gives 
guidance  to  the  Directors,  the  Investment  Manager,  any 
persons  discharging  managerial  responsibilities  as  defined  in 
regulation 12(8) of  the Market Abuse Regulations and persons 
identified by the Board to fulfil this role, and anyone listed on 
the Company’s Insider List on the pre-clearance notification 
procedures to be followed when dealing in the shares of  any 
class of  the Company or any other type of  securities issued by 
or related to the Company. 

(a)  Safeguard  the  assets  of   the  Company  and  identify  and 

Communications with shareholders

The  Board 
shareholders on a regular basis. 

intends  to  continue  to  communicate  with 

General Meetings
The Company holds a general meeting each year as its annual 
general meeting in addition to any other meeting in that year. 
Not more than 15 months shall elapse between the date of  one 
annual general meeting and that of  the next. The Directors 
are  responsible  for  the  convening  of   general  meetings. 
Information is distributed to shareholders at least 20 business 
days  prior  to  such  meetings  to  ensure  compliance  with  the 
Articles and the UK Code. 

Quorum
No business other than the appointment of  a chairman shall 
be  transacted  at  any  general  meeting  unless  a  quorum  is 
present  at  the  time  when  the  meeting  proceeds  to  business. 
Two members present in person or by proxy shall be a quorum.

manage liabilities;

(b) Maintain a risk register;

(c)  Maintain the efficiency and effectiveness of  the Company’s 

operations; 

(d)  Ensure the reliability and completeness of  all accounting, 

financial and management information; and 

(e)  Ensure compliance with its internal policies and procedures 

as well as all applicable laws and regulations.

The  Investment  Manager  has  appointed  a  Risk  and 
Compliance Officer (“RCO”) to undertake this function. The 
RCO  is  responsible  for  monitoring  and  managing  the  key 
risks of  the Company and is independent from those persons 
involved in the operations of  the Company. 

A Risk Register is maintained by the RCO in which risks are 
identified, assessed and any gaps are considered for mitigation. 
The  Risk  Register  is  updated  and  reviewed  by  the  Board  at 
least annually or more frequently if  specifically required. The 
RCO  reports  quarterly  to  the  Board  on  the  adequacy  and 
effectiveness  of   the  risk  management  process.  This  includes 
the identification of  deficiencies and the status of  any remedial 
action required. No specific matters have been escalated to the 
Board as of  this date. 

34

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Corporate governance report
continued

Voting Rights
(a)  Votes of  Members: Votes may be given either personally or 
by proxy. Subject to any rights or restrictions for the time 
being attached to any class or classes of  shares, on a show 
of  hands every member present in person and every proxy 
shall  have  one  vote,  so,  however,  that  no  individual  shall 
have  more  than  one  vote,  and  on  a  poll  every  Member 
shall have one vote for every share carrying voting rights of  
which he is the Holder. The Chairman shall be entitled to a 
casting vote where there is an equality of  votes.

(b)  Resolutions: Resolutions are categorised as either ordinary 
or special resolutions. The essential difference between an 
ordinary resolution and a special resolution is that a bare 
majority of  more than 50% of  the votes cast by members 
voting on the relevant resolution is required for the passing 
of  an ordinary resolution, whereas a qualified majority of  
more  than  75%  of   the  votes  cast  by  members  voting  on 
the relevant resolution is required in order to pass a special 
resolution.  Matters  requiring  a  special  resolution  include 
for example:
• altering the Objects of  the Company;
• altering the Articles of  Association of  the Company; and
• approving a change of  the Company’s name

Other
The Company discloses information to the market as required 
by the Central Bank of  Ireland, the Irish Stock Exchange and 
Financial Conduct Authority including inter alia:
•  periodic financial information such as annual and half  

yearly results

•  price-sensitive information, which might be a significant 
change in the Company’s financial position or outlook, 
unless a reason is present not to (e.g. prejudicing 
commercial negotiations)

•  information regarding major developments in the 

Company’s activities

•  information regarding dividend decisions

•  any changes at board level must be announced immediately 

once a decision has been made

•  information in relation to any significant changes notified to 
the company of  shares held by a substantial shareholder 

The  Company  will  make  an  announcement  if   it  has  reason 
to believe that a leak may have occurred about any on-going 
negotiations of  a price-sensitive nature. Any Board decisions 
which  might  influence  the  share  price  must  be  announced 
before the start of  trading next day. Information relayed at a 
shareholders’ meeting which could be price-sensitive must be 
announced no later than the time the information is delivered 
at the meeting.

In relation to any uncertainty regarding the communication of  
a particular matter, advice will be sought from the Company’s 
sponsors and/or legal adviser(s).

 
 
 
Annual Report 2015

35

Substantial shareholdings

As at 31 March 2015, the Company has been notified of  the following substantial interests in the Company’s shares:

Holder 

Soros Fund Management LLC 
Mainstay Marketfield Fund 
Putnam Investments LLC 
TIAA-CREF Investment Management LLC 
Invesco 
Wellington Management Company LLP 
Goodbody Stockbrokers 
Zurich Life Assurance plc 
Oppenheimer Funds, Inc. 
Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited 

As at 28 May 2015 the Company has been notified of  the following changes:

Holder

Putnam Investments LLC 
Goodbody Stockbrokers 
Oppenheimer Funds, Inc. 

Holding 

‘000 shares

 52,181 
 46,356 
 38,434 
 36,302 
 33,087 
 27,439 
 24,181 
 22,605 
 21,166 
 20,229 

Holding 

‘000 shares

 33,453 
 19,389 
 27,479 

%

 7.78 
 6.91 
 5.73 
 5.42 
 4.94 
 4.09 
 3.61 
 3.37 
 3.16 
 3.02 

%

 4.99 
 2.89 
 4.10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
36

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Report of the directors

The Directors submit their Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2015. The Investment Manager’s Report and all 
other sections of the Annual Report, to which cross reference is made, are incorporated into the Report of the Directors 
by reference.

Directors’ responsibilities

These are set out in the Directors’ Statement of  Responsibilities on page 48 of  this Annual Report.

Principal activity and business review

The principal activity of  the Group is property investment. The Group mainly consists of  the Company, Hibernia REIT plc, 
and its subsidiary, Hibernia REIT Finance Limited. Information regarding subsidiaries is set out in Note 25 to the consolidated 
financial statements. 

Overview of business activities in 2015

2015 was the first full year of  operation for the Group and saw the build-up of  a portfolio of  investment property worth €641m 
(€636m net of  the Windmill option – see Note 13 to the financial statements) on 31 March 2015. 

Overview of financial results and position

IFRS NAV - cent per share
EPRA NAV - cent per share
Net cash and cash equivalents
Group LTV
Profit /(loss) for the period
Basic EPS
Diluted EPS
Final dividend / DPS
Full year dividend / DPS

31 March 
2015

31 March 
2014

Movement

+ 16.6% 
+ 16.0% 
- 52.3% 

112.4
111.8
€139m
0.0%
€92m
18.4 cent
18.3 cent
€3.4m / 0.5 cent
€5.4m / 0.8 cent

96.4
96.4
€292m
0.0%
(€1)m
-0.2 cent
-0.2 cent
n/a
n/a

A  detailed  review  of   the  business  and  performance  is 
contained  in  the  Investment  Manager’s  Report  on  pages  7 
to 13. Financial results are also discussed in more detail on 
pages 2 to 3.

As  discussed  in  Note  17  to  the  financial  statements,  the 
Company made a successful secondary equity offering during 
the year which raised €286m in November 2014. In addition, 
the Group raised debt finance in August 2014 of  €100m which 
was undrawn at year end (Note 19). 

The profit for the period was €92m including unrealised gains 
on  investment  properties  (March  2014:  Loss  €0.8m).  The 
Board has proposed a maiden final dividend of  0.5 cent per 
share  (€3.4m)  which  will  be  paid  in  August  2015.  Together 
with the interim dividend of  0.3 cent, the total dividend for the 
year is 0.8 cent per share or €5.4m (2014: nil). 

REIT status and taxation

Hibernia REIT plc elected for Real Estate Investment Trust 
(“REIT”)  status  under  section  705  E  of   the  Finance  Act 
2013. As a result, the Group does not pay Irish corporation 
tax  on  the  profits  from  qualifying  rental  business  in  Ireland 
provided it meets certain conditions. With certain exceptions, 
corporation  tax  is  still  payable  in  the  normal  way  on  profits 
from  the  Group’s  non-core  business.  The  Group  purchased 
two loan portfolios during the year in order to acquire several 
investment  properties  which  were  part  of   the  collateral 
securing  these  portfolios.  These  portfolios  were  also  secured 
on assets which the Group did not want for its rental business, 
and which it designated as “non-core”. These assets have since 
either  been  sold,  and  the  proceeds  applied  against  the  loan 
balances  due,  or  have  been  acquired  by  the  Group  and  are 
classified as “non-current assets classified as held for sale”. The 
disposal process of  these assets is expected to be complete by 
the end of  2015. As they are not part of  the qualifying rental 
business, the Group will be liable to taxes on any profits arising 
from these assets including capital gains taxes on any profits 
on disposal. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annual Report 2015

37

The Group must satisfy the conditions summarised below for 
each accounting period: 

(a)  at least 75% of  the Aggregate Income of  the Group must 
be derived from carrying on a Property Rental Business;

(b)  it  should  conduct  a  Property  Rental  Business  consisting 
of   the  generation  of   rental  income  from  at  least  three 
properties,  the  market  value  of   no  one  of   which  is  more 
than 40% of  the total market value of  the properties in the 
Property Rental Business;

(c)  it should maintain a property financing ratio being, broadly, 
the  ratio  of   Property  Income  plus  Financing  Costs  to 
Financing Costs, of  at least 1.25:1;

(d)  at least 75% of  the market value of  the assets of  the Group 

must relate to assets of  the Property Rental Business;

(e)  the aggregate debt shall not exceed an amount of  50% of  

In  relation  to  properties  under  development,  where  the 
development  costs  exceed  30%  of   the  market  value  of  
the  property  at  the  commencement  of   development,  then 
the  property  must  not  be  disposed  of   within  three  years  of  
completion.  If   such  a  disposal  takes  place,  then  the  Group 
would be liable to tax on any profit on disposal. 

The Directors confirm that the Company complied with the 
REIT legislation for the year ended 31 March 2015. 

Corporate governance

The  Group  is  committed  to  high  standards  of   corporate 
governance,  details  of   which  are  given  in  the  Corporate 
Governance Report on pages 22 to 35 which forms part of  the 
Report of  the Directors. 

the market value of  the assets of  the Group; and

Results and Dividend

(f)  subject to having sufficient distributable reserves, the Group 
must  distribute  at  least  85%  of   its  Property  Income  to  its 
shareholders  by  way  of   a  Property  Income  Distribution 
(“PID”) for each accounting period

At 31 March 2015 the Group had €139m of  cash remaining to 
be invested from the Group’s secondary equity issue, of  which 
€43m was committed. Profits arising from the investment of  
these  funds,  other  than  in  the  property  rental  business,  are 
treated as property profits for two years from either the date 
of  issue of  the shares or the date of  disposal of  the property. 
Therefore income arising from these funds should qualify for 
tax relief  under the REIT provisions for a period of  two years 
from November 2014. The Group expects that the funds will 
be invested in the next three to six months and therefore the 
Group will comfortably comply with this condition.

The  Group  showed  a  profit  of   €92m  for  the  year  ended  31 
March 2015 (Loss of  €0.8m for the period to 31 March 2014). 
The  Group  paid  an  interim  dividend  of   €2.0m  during  the 
year.  The  Directors  propose  a  payment  of   €3.4m  as  a  final 
dividend for the year (31 March 2014: Nil). 

Shares in issue

At  31  March  2015  the  Company  had  670,317,459  units  of  
ordinary stock in issue (31 March 2014: 385,000,000 units). 

Principal risks and uncertainties

Under Irish company law, the Company is required to give 
a description of  the principal risks and uncertainties which 
it faces. 

The Board recognises there are certain risks in the structure, 
operation  and  management  of   the  Group  and  Company 
and  acts  to  mitigate  these  through  their  close  and  active 
management. The Group and Company exposure to financial 
risk  is  further  described  in  Note  23  to  the  consolidated 
financial  statements.  The  Company’s  procedures  in  respect 
of   the  management  of   these  risks  are  further  explained  in 
the Corporate Governance Report on pages 22 to 35 of  this 
Annual Report.

Description of exposure

Measures to manage risks

Movement in the period

38

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Report of the directors
continued

Principal Risks and Uncertainties

Risks

Macro-
economic

A weakening of  the economic 
recovery both in Ireland and 
/ or globally could lead to a 
reduction in rental levels for 
commercial and residential 
properties in Dublin and 
negatively impact capital values

Dublin property 
market

Under-performance by Dublin 
property market compared to 
other Irish property sectors: all 
the Group’s investments to date 
have been within Dublin

Investment

Competition may limit the 
ability of  the Investment 
Manager to source investment 
opportunities that meet the 
Group’s target returns. Poorly 
judged investment decisions 
(whether buying or selling) may 
impact on returns

▼  The rate of  economic 

recovery has increased in 
pace and breadth during 
the period. However, risk 
of  macro-economic shocks 
remain and 2016 is likely 
to see a general election in 
Ireland which may bring 
additional uncertainty to the 
economic environment 

◆  To date the economic 

recovery in Ireland has been 
strongest in Dublin, where a 
significant proportion of  the 
country’s overall economic 
activity and wealth resides 

 ◆  While competition for assets 
remains strong, the Group 
has successfully invested the 
majority of  the funds raised 
through equity issuance 
in the last year. Capital 
values for Dublin property 
have risen, supported by 
increasing rental levels

The Group uses the services 
of  its Investment Manager and 
its access to market knowledge 
through its contacts and advisers 
to ensure that it has the best 
possible knowledge of  the current 
macro-economic environment. 
The Group pro-actively manages 
its strategy and exposure using 
this knowledge and the combined 
expertise of  its Board 

The Group reviews the execution 
of  its strategy regularly and uses 
the knowledge and research of  the 
Investment Manager to inform its 
decisions. The Group intends to 
maintain relatively low levels of  
leverage across the property cycle 
and a stated policy that its loan to 
value ratio at incurrence will not 
exceed 40%

The Investment Manager actively 
seeks out opportunities that may 
meet its return criteria using its 
extensive contacts in the Irish 
property market. The ability of  
the Group to gain ownership of  
property assets through acquiring 
secured loans has helped in 
reducing competition. The 
Investment Manager regularly 
assesses the property cycle through 
a range of  lead indicators in 
making its investment proposals to 
the Board

Concentration of  investment in 
single assets, tenants, locations 
or sectors may increase risk and 
reduce liquidity

The Group and Investment 
Manager regularly review the 
portfolio to ensure it remains 
balanced and take appropriate 
action if  not. The Group may use 
partnerships to limit exposure to 
especially large assets 

◆  The Group has built a 

balanced portfolio in the past 
12 months. As at 31 March 
2015 the largest single asset 
represented 11% of  the 
portfolio by value

Annual Report 2015

39

Risks

Description of exposure

Measures to manage risks

Movement in the period

Development

Lower than expected returns 
on the Group’s development 
projects through factors 
including but not limited to: 
poor project management, cost 
and timing overruns, poor site 
choice, unattractive building 
design, bad reading of  the 
property cycle

Asset 
Management

Poor management of  the 
Group’s assets and tenants may 
lead to a failure to maximise 
potential income returns from 
the portfolio

▲  The Group acquired a 

number of  development 
sites in the year and has 
commenced development 
work at Windmill Lane 

▲  During the period the 

Group has acquired €641m 
in value of  investment 
property thus increasing its 
asset management risk

The Investment Manager has 
staff  dedicated to development 
management and bi-weekly update 
meetings. The Group has set a 
maximum exposure to active 
speculative development at 15% 
of  reported net asset value. Both 
the Group and the Investment 
Manager intend that joint venture 
structures and / or pre-leases will 
be used to mitigate and manage 
the Group’s development risk

The Investment Manager has 
put a number of  protocols and 
controls in place to ensure that 
the management of  the Group’s 
assets and tenants is optimised. 
A property industry portfolio 
management system (PMS) has 
been installed and populated 
which manages in a structured way 
all the key aspects of  the Group’s 
assets and tenant’s obligations. All 
receivables due under leases and 
licences are fully integrated from 
the PMS into the Group’s financial 
and accounting systems.   The 
PMS also facilitates the proactive 
management of  all significant 
cyclical and ad hoc leasehold 
events such as, inter alia, break 
notices, rent reviews and lease 
terminations 

Regular building Inspection and 
tenant meeting regimes have 
been established to ensure that 
the Investment Manager keeps 
fully abreast of  the condition and 
management of  the Group’s assets 
and the occupational requirements 
of  its tenants

40

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Report of the directors
continued

Description of exposure

Measures to manage risks

Movement in the period

Risks

Financial

People

The Group can use leverage 
to increase available funds for 
investment and enhance returns 
for shareholders. This exposes 
the Group to debt covenant 
compliance risks in the event 
of  interest rate rises or falls in 
property values

The Group has set a limit of  
incurring debt up to a maximum 
of  40% of  total assets, well below 
the maximum permitted under 
Irish REIT legislation and its 
debt covenants. Compliance with 
covenants is actively monitored. 
In the event of  significant debt 
drawings the Group intends to put 
in place interest rate hedging over 
a large proportion of  such debt to 
limit its interest rate exposure 

The Group’s ability to execute 
its plans or hit its target returns 
may be hindered by being 
unable to get loan funding as 
required

Cashflows and future funding 
requirements are frequently 
assessed to ensure the Group has 
sufficient undrawn facilities in 
place to execute its plans

The Group has no employees. It 
is dependent on the Investment 
Manager for its expertise 
in property investment and 
management. In particular, 
the Group is dependent on 
the ability of  the Investment 
Manager to procure and 
retain to suitably skilled and 
experienced staff  to support the 
Group’s activities 

The Group manages the 
performance of  the Investment 
Manager through the close 
supervision of  its activities and 
uses a performance fee structure 
payable in Hibernia shares 
to incentivise the Investment 
Manager and align its interests 
with those of  the Group

Regulatory

Change in regulations including 
EU directives, tax, planning and 
environmental legislation could 
increase the Group’s cost base

The Investment Manager and the 
Board spends substantial time, 
and retains external experts as 
necessary, to ensure compliance 
with current and possible future 
regulatory requirements

▲  The Group entered a three 
year €100m revolving 
credit facility with a floating 
rate in August 2014. As at 
31 March 2015 this was 
undrawn 

▼  The Group has a €100m 
undrawn loan facility 
as outlined above. With 
the improving economic 
situation in Ireland, 
availability of  debt funding 
and terms has improved

▼  In the last 12 months the 
Investment Manager has 
successfully expanded its 
team from 7 to 16, including 
adding a CFO at the senior 
level. Employee turnover 
was zero during the year.  
Plans to internalize the 
Investment Manager 
(discussed on pages 4 to 5 of  
this report) will enhance the 
Group’s ability to attract and 
retain staff  

◆  Our strategy in managing 
this risk together with 
a relatively unchanged 
regulatory environment has 
meant the risk has remained 
relatively stable over the last 
12 months

 
 
Annual Report 2015

41

Going concern

Directors

The Group’s business activities, together with the factors likely 
to affect its future development, performance and position are 
set out in the Investment Manager’s Report on pages 7 to 13 of  
this Annual Report. This also covers the financial position of  
the Company, its cash flows, liquidity position and borrowing 
facilities.  Further  detail  on  the  financial  performance  and 
financial position of  the Group and Company is provided in 
the consolidated financial statements and Company financial 
statements  on  pages  53  to  89.  In  addition,  Note  23  to  the 
Annual Report includes details on the Group’s financial risk 
management and exposures. 

The Company has considerable financial resources in the form 
of  the remaining cash proceeds from its second capital raise 
in  November  2014  of   €139m  as  well  as  an  undrawn  credit 
facility  of   €100m  (Note  19).  Having  therefore  assessed  the 
relevant business risks, the Directors believe that the Company 
is well placed to manage these risks successfully, and they have 
a reasonable expectation that the Company, and the Group as 
a  whole,  have  adequate resources  to  continue  in  operational 
existence  for  the  foreseeable  future.  For  this  reason,  they 
continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing these 
consolidated financial statements.

The  business  of   the  Company  is  managed  by  the Directors, 
each of  whose business address is Hibernia REIT plc, Marine 
House, Clanwilliam Place, Dublin 2, Ireland.

Unless  otherwise  determined  by  the  Company  in  a  general 
meeting, the number of  Directors shall not be more than ten 
nor less than two. A Director is not required to hold shares in 
the Company. Two Directors present at a Directors’ meeting 
shall be a quorum.

The  Directors  do  not  have  service  contracts  but  do  have 
letters  of   appointment  which  reflect  their  responsibilities 
and commitments. Each Director has the same general legal 
responsibilities  to  the  Company  as  any  other  Director  and 
the Board as a whole is collectively responsible for the overall 
success of  the Company.

The Directors were appointed for an initial term of  3 years, 
and  their  dates  of   appointment  are  set  out  below.  The 
Company  may  lawfully  terminate  a  Director’s  appointment 
with  immediate  effect  in  certain  circumstances,  including 
where  a  Director  has  breached  the  terms  of   his  letter  of  
appointment  and  no  compensation  would  be  payable  to 
such  Director  in  such  an  event.  In  addition  to  their  general 
legal responsibilities, the Directors have responsibility for the 
Company’s  strategy,  performance,  financial  and  risk  control 
and personnel.

42

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Report of the directors
continued

Directors’ biographical details 

Daniel Kitchen 
Non-executive Chairman
Appointed: 23 August, 2013
Nationality: Irish 
Age: 63
Committee membership: Nominations (Chair)

Daniel Kitchen is currently the non-executive Chairman of  Workspace Group 
plc, the non-executive Chairman of  Applegreen and a non-executive director 
of  LXB Retail Properties plc, as well as the ISE-nominated director on the Irish 
Takeover Panel. Previously, he was finance director of  Green Property plc from 
1994 to 2002, the Irish Government-appointed Chairman of  Irish Nationwide 
Building Society, deputy chief  executive of  Heron International plc from 2003 to 
2008 and a non-executive director of  Kingspan Group plc and Minerva plc. He 
brings the benefit of  his expertise and the experience gained across a variety of  
property, finance and public company roles to his chairmanship of  the Board and 
Nominations Committee.

Colm Barrington
Independent Non-executive Director and Senior Independent Director
Appointed: 23 August, 2013
Nationality: Irish 
Age: 69
Committee membership: Audit and Nominations 

Colm Barrington is currently chief  executive officer and a director of  Fly Leasing 
Ltd, the NYSE-listed and Irish based aircraft leasing company, non-executive 
Chairman of  Aer Lingus Group plc and a non-executive director of  IFG Group 
plc. Previously he was managing director of  Babcock & Brown Ltd in Ireland, 
President of  GE Capital Aviation Services Ltd, chief  operating officer of  GPA 
Group plc and chief  executive of  GPA’s Capital Division. Colm Barrington’s 
senior executive and non-executive board roles add significant experience to 
the Board from outside the property sector and within the context of  a public 
company.

Stewart Harrington
Independent Non-executive Director
Appointed: 23 August, 2013
Nationality: Irish 
Age: 72
Committee membership: Audit and Nominations

Stewart Harrington is currently a director of  Killeen Properties and a non-
executive director of  the parent company of  the BWG Group, Stafford Holdings 
and Argentum Homes. He has extensive knowledge and experience of  the 
Irish property market over many years in a variety of  roles. Previously, he was 
a partner in Jones Lang Wootton (now JLL), a founding partner of  Harrington 
Bannon Chartered Surveyors (now BNP Paribas Real Estate Ireland), and 
managing director of  Dunloe Ewart Ltd (formerly known as Dunloe House 
Group plc). He was also previously a non-executive director of  St. Vincent’s 
Healthcare Group, CIE (Córas Iompair Éireann, Ireland’s national public 
transport provider), ESB (the Electricity Supply Board, Ireland’s premier 
electricity utility) and the National Development Finance Agency.

Annual Report 2015

43

William Nowlan
Non-executive Director
Appointed: 13 August, 2013
Nationality: Irish 
Age: 69
Committee membership: None

William Nowlan has more than 40 years’ experience investing in Irish 
commercial property. Prior to forming WK Nowlan & Associates (now WK 
Nowlan Property) in 1996, he was Head of  Property Investment at Irish Life 
Assurance plc from 1985 to 1995. He was a member of  the Committee of  
Management of  IPUT (Irish Property Unit Trust, one of  the largest institutional 
property investors in Ireland) from 1997 to 2007. He is a member of  the Irish 
Town Planning Institute, a fellow of  the Royal Institute of  Chartered Surveyors 
and a former Chairman of  both the Royal Institute of  Chartered Surveyors 
Ireland and the Royal Institute of  Chartered Surveyors Europe. He was also 
a member of  the RICS Governing council in London. He was the founding 
Chairman of  the Irish Property and Facilities Managers’ Association. He was 
also Visiting Professor in the University of  Ulster and lecturer in Town Planning 
at University College, Dublin. He assembled and led the Irish REITs Forum, a 
voluntary body of  leading property industry practitioners and shareholders who 
came together in January 2011, to promote the introduction of  REITs to Ireland 
that influenced the introduction of  the Irish REIT legislation in early 2013. He 
is also a director of  WK Nowlan REIT Management Limited, the Investment 
Manager to the Company. 

Terence O’Rourke
Independent Non-executive Director
Appointed: 23 August, 2013
Nationality: Irish 
Age: 60
Committee membership: Audit and Nominations

Terence O’Rourke is currently Chairman of  Enterprise Ireland, a non-executive 
director of  The Irish Times and a council member and non-executive director 
of  the Irish Management Institute. Previously, he was managing partner 
of  KPMG Ireland from 2007 to 2013, a board member of  the Chartered 
Accountants Regulatory Board, President of  The Institute of  Chartered 
Accountants in Ireland and Chairman of  the Leinster Society of  Chartered 
Accountants. He was also a member of  the Global Board, the EMA Board 
and the Global Executive Team of  KPMG International from 2007 to 2013. 
Terence O’Rourke’s professional accounting and management background 
and experience over many years in advising clients across a range of  sectors, 
contributes to the balance of  skills, experience and knowledge of  the Board.

All of  the Directors will retire at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and, being 
eligible, will offer themselves up for election or re-election. 

The  Company  Secretary,  Castlewood  Corporate  Service  Limited  (trading  as 
Chartered Corporate Services), was appointed on 15 November 2013. 

44

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Report of the directors
continued

Directors’ attendance at Board and Committee meetings

Directors’ Attendance at Board Meetings 

Name
Daniel Kitchen 
Colm Barrington
Stewart Harrington
William Nowlan
Frank O’Neill
Terence O’Rourke

Year ended 31 March 2015

Period ended 31 March 2014

Number of meetings 
held during the year 
while a Board member 

Number of meetings 
attended during the 
year while a Board 
member 

Number of meetings 
held during the
 period while a 
Board member 

Number of meetings 
attended during the
 period while a 
Board member 

17
17
17
17
-
17

16
14
16
15
-
16

14
14
14
15
2
14

13
7
14
12
2
11

Directors Attendance at Board Committee Meetings 

Audit Committee
Colm Barrington
Terence O’Rourke
Stewart Harrington

Nominations Committee
Daniel Kitchen 
Colm Barrington
Stewart Harrington
Terence O’Rourke

Year ended 31 March 2015

Period ended 31 March 2014

Number of meetings 
held during the year 
while a Board member 

Number of meetings 
attended during the 
year while a Board 
member 

Number of meetings 
held during the
 period while a 
Board member 

Number of meetings 
attended during the
 period while a 
Board member 

5
5
5

1
1
1
1

5
5
5

1
1
1
1

1
1
1

1
1
1
1

1
1
1

1
1
1
1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annual Report 2015

45

Directors’ remuneration report

The Group has no executive directors or employees. There were no changes in remuneration during the year. 

Remuneration policy
While  the  Group  has  no  employees  it  is  not  intended  to  have  a  Remuneration  Committee.  The  remuneration  of   the  non-
executive directors is determined by the Board of  Directors as a whole. The Chairman is not involved in determining his own 
remuneration.

Levels of  remuneration for non-executive directors should reflect the time commitment and responsibilities of  the role. The fees 
paid to non-executive directors are therefore set at a level which aims to attract individuals with the necessary experience and 
ability to make a significant contribution to the Group and to compensate them appropriately for their role.

The Board will review its performance and the remuneration level of  the Directors on an annual basis. 

Remuneration report
Directors’ remuneration

Name

Daniel Kitchen 
Colm Barrington
Stewart Harrington
William Nowlan
Terence O’Rourke
Totals

Annual Fee

€’000

Year to 31 
March 2015

Period to 31 
March 2014

€’000

€’000

100
50
50
0
50
250

100
50
50
0
50
250

58
29
29
0
29
145

William Nowlan does not receive remuneration for his role as a Director.

The Investment Manager performs most of  the duties associated with key management activities and details on the remuneration 
of   the  Investment  Manager  are  disclosed  in  Note  26  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements.  The  Investment  Manager 
remuneration is set and reviewed by the Board. 

Interests of Directors and Secretary in share capital

Daniel Kitchen 
Colm Barrington
Stewart Harrington
William Nowlan
Terence O’Rourke
Company Secretary,  
Chartered Corporate Services

31 March 2015

31 March 2014

Ordinary shares

% of Company Ordinary shares

% of Company

100,000 
1,100,000 
100,000 
600,000 
150,000 

0.01%
0.16%
0.01%
0.09%
0.02%

100,000 
800,000 
100,000 
500,000 
100,000 

0.03%
0.22%
0.03%
0.14%
0.03%

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

All of  the Directors are non-executive directors. 

The interests disclosed above include both direct and indirect interests in shares.

There have been no changes in the beneficial and non-beneficial shareholdings of  the Directors between 31 March 2015 and 
the date of  this report. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
46

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Report of the directors
continued

The  Investment  Manager  has  also  agreed  to 
lock-in 
arrangements  in  respect  of   any  Performance  Fee  Shares 
that may be issued under the terms of  the REIT Investment 
Management Agreement. No such shares have been issued to 
the Investment Manager as of  the date of  this report. Provision 
of  €5.8m has been made in respect of  the shares to be issued 
on  foot  of   the  agreement  with  the  Investment  Manager  to 
settle the performance fee for the year ended 31 March 2015 
(31 March 2014: €nil). 

Key management personnel

The Company is managed by the non-executive directors who 
have  delegated  investment  management  and  administration 
functions  including  accounting  and  risk  management,  to 
the  Investment  Manager  without  abrogating  their  overall 
responsibility.  The  Investment  Manager’s  remuneration  is 
detailed in Note 26 to the consolidated financial statements.

Directors’ conflict of interest

Section 194 of  the 1963 Act requires each Director who is in 
any way, either directly or indirectly, interested in a contract or 
proposed contract with the Company to declare the nature of  
his interest at a meeting of  the Directors. The Company keeps 
a record of  all such declarations which may be inspected by 
any Director, secretary, auditor or member of  the Company at 
the registered office of  the Company.

The  Chairman  and  each  of   Colm  Barrington,  Terence 
O’Rourke  and  Stewart  Harrington  are  independent  of   the 
Investment Manager. 

William Nowlan is a director of  the Investment Manager and 
a  member  of   the  Management  Team  and  has  provided  an 
undertaking to the Company that he will not: (i) be involved in 
any capacity in the launch or operation of  another REIT or 
other property investment vehicle or fund involved in a similar 
area of  business as the Company, or in the launch or operation 
of   a  REIT  or  other  property  investment  vehicle  or  fund  in 
a  different  area  of   business,  without  approval  of   the  Board 
(such approval not to  be  unreasonably withheld), (ii) acquire 
or  act  for  another  party  to  acquire  a  property  investment 

that is within the parameters of  the investment policy of  the 
Company, to include all income producing property assets of  
any  value  and  non-income  producing  property  assets  with  a 
market value or purchase price of  at least €10 million, other 
than  where  the  Company  has  had  the  opportunity  to  invest 
in  a  particular  property,  and  has  declined  to  do  so  and  has 
consented to William Nowlan pursuing the opportunity or (iii) 
advise any investor in competition with the Company for the 
acquisition  of   an  investment  property.  All  possible  or  actual 
conflicts  of   interest  will  be  disclosed  in  writing  by  William 
Nowlan to the Board. These provisions shall not apply to any 
dealings or interest in property held as of  the date of  the REIT 
Investment Management Agreement.

Subject  to  certain  exceptions,  the  Articles  generally  prohibit 
Directors  from  voting  at  Board  meetings  or  meetings  of  
committees  of   the  Board  on  any  resolution  concerning  a 
matter in which they have a direct or indirect interest which 
is material or a duty which conflicts or may conflict with the 
interests  of   the  Company.  Directors  may  not  be  counted  in 
the  quorum  in  relation  to  resolutions  on  which  they  are  not 
entitled  to  vote.  William  Nowlan  accordingly  will  not  be 
permitted  to  vote  on  any  matter  at  Board  level  relating  to 
the  Investment  Manager.  The  Company  has  implemented 
procedures to address any potential conflicts of  interest which 
may arise from time to time, for example conflicts that arise 
by  virtue  of   William  Nowlan’s  position  as  a  Director  of   the 
Company and of  the Investment Manager.

The Directors also consider that the interests of  the Company 
and the Investment Manager are aligned via the incentivisation 
Investment  Management 
structure  within 
Agreement. 

the  REIT 

Annual Report 2015

47

The  Directors  consider  that  the  fact  that  William  Nowlan 
and Kevin Nowlan are related does not give rise to a conflict 
not addressed by any of  the above procedures and provisions. 
However, should any conflict emerge in relation to this or any 
other matter, the Directors believe that sufficient provisions, in 
the Articles and corporate governance procedures, exist in the 
Company to address it. To the extent any matter arises that is 
unforeseen  at  this  point,  additional  procedures  or  provisions 
that may be required shall be put in place. 

Annual General Meeting

The  2nd  Annual  General  Meeting  of   the  Company  will 
be  held  on  30  July  2015.  The  1st  Annual  General  Meeting 
of   the  Company  was  held  on  22  July  2014.  In  addition  an 
Extraordinary General meeting was held on 3 November 2014 
to approve the secondary equity issue via a Firm Placing and 
Placing and Open Offer representing the issue of, in aggregate, 
285,317,459 New Ordinary Shares and other related matters.

Political and charitable contributions

The  Group  made  no  political  or  charitable  contributions 
during the period. 

Financial risk management

The financial risk management objectives and policies of  the 
Company are set out in Note 23 to the consolidated financial 
statements.

Independent auditors

The  auditors,  Deloitte  &  Touche,  have  indicated  their 
willingness to continue in office and a resolution that they will 
be  reappointed  will  be  included  as  ordinary  business  at  the 
Annual General Meeting.

Subsequent events

These are described in Note 28 to the consolidated financial 
statements. 

The  Board,  having  reviewed  the  Annual  Report  in  their 
entirety, is satisfied it is fair, balanced and reasonable and gives 
the  reader  all  the  information  required  to  understand  the 
business model, strategy and performance of  the Group. The 
Board is assisted in this review by the work carried out by the 
Audit Committee as set out in the Audit Committee Report 
on pages 27 to 31 of  this Annual Report. A key responsibility 
of  the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in monitoring 
the  integrity  of   the  financial  statements  and  to  recommend 
to the Board that it believes that the Annual Report taken as 
a whole is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the 
information  necessary  for  stockholders  to  assess  the  Group’s 
performance, business model and strategy. To achieve this for 
the current reporting period, the Audit Committee reviewed 
the  Annual  Report  and  considered  whether  the  financial 
statements  were  consistent  with  the  operating  and  financial 
reviews elsewhere in the Annual Report. The Audit Committee 
also considered the treatment of  items representing significant 
judgements  and  key  estimates  as  presented  in  the  financial 
statements and where appropriate discussed these items with 
the external auditor.

Mr Daniel Kitchen 
Chairman 
29 May 2015 

Mr Terence O’Rourke
Director
29 May 2015

48

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Directors’ responsibility statement

The  Directors,  whose  names  and  details  are  listed  on  pages 
42 to 43, are responsible for preparing the Annual Report in 
accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

a  Report  of   the  Directors  and  reports  relating  to  Directors’ 
remuneration  and  corporate  governance  that  comply  with 
that law and those Rules. 

Company  law  requires  the  Directors  to  prepare  financial 
statements  for  each  financial  period.  Under  that  law  the 
Directors  are  required  to  prepare  the  Group  and  Company 
financial statements in accordance with International Financial 
Reporting Standards as adopted by the EU (“IFRSs”) and in 
accordance with the provisions of  the Companies Acts, 1963 
to 2013. 

The  Group  and  Company  financial  statements  are  required 
by law and IFRSs to present fairly the financial position and 
performance  of   the  Group  and  Company:  the  Companies 
Acts,  1963  to  2013  provide  in  relation  to  such  financial 
statements that references in the relevant part of  that Act to 
financial statements giving a true and fair view are references 
to their achieving a fair presentation. 

In preparing the Annual Report, the Directors are required to:
•  select suitable accounting policies and then apply them 

consistently;

•  make judgements and accounting estimates that are 

reasonable and prudent;

•  comply with applicable International Financial Reporting 
Standards as adopted by the European Union, subject to 
any material departures disclosed and explained in the 
financial statements; and

•  prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis 
unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group and 
Company will continue in business

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting 
records that are sufficient to show and explain the Group and 
Company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy 
at any time the financial position of  the Group and Company 
and  enable  them  to  ensure  that  the  financial  statements 
are  prepared  in  accordance  with  International  Financial 
Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union and 
comply  with  Irish  statute  comprising  the  Companies  Acts, 
1963 to 2013 and, as regards the Group financial statements, 
Article  4  of   the  IAS  Regulation,  and  the  Listing  Rules  of  
the  Irish  Stock  Exchange.  They  are  also  responsible  for 
safeguarding the assets of  the Company and the Group and 
for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of  
fraud and other irregularities. 

In  accordance  with  the  Transparency  (Directive  2004/109/
EC)  Regulations  2007  (“the  Transparency  Regulations”), 
the  Directors  are  required  to  include  a  management  report 
containing  a  fair  review  of   the  business  and  a  description 
of   the  principal  risks  and  uncertainties  facing  the  Group. 
The  Directors  are  also  required  by  applicable  law  and  the 
Listing  Rules  issued  by  the  Irish  Stock  Exchange  to  prepare 

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

The Directors have contracted with the Investment Manager 
in  order  to  ensure  that  these  requirements  are  met.  The 
accounting  records  of   the  Company  are  maintained  at  the 
registered  office  located  at  Marine  House,  Clanwilliam 
Place,  Dublin  2.  The  Directors  have  delegated  investment 
management  and  administration  functions,  including  risk 
management, to the Investment Manager without abrogating 
their  overall  responsibility.  The  Directors  have  in  place 
mechanisms  for  monitoring  the  exercise  of   such  delegated 
functions  which  are  always  subject  to  the  supervision  and 
direction of  the Board. These delegations of  functions and the 
appointment  of   regulated third  party  entities are  detailed in 
the Corporate Governance Report on pages 23 to 35. Each of  
the Directors, whose names and functions are listed on pages 
42 to 43, confirms that, to the best of  each person’s knowledge 
and belief:

•  the financial statements, prepared in accordance with 

IFRS as adopted by the European Union, give a true and 
fair view of  the assets, liabilities, financial position for the 
Group as at 31 March 2015 and of  the result for the year 
then ended; and 

•  the Report of  the Directors, the Chairman’s Statement 

and the Investment Manager’s Report include a fair review 
of  the development and performance of  the Group’s 
business and the state of  affairs of  the Group at 31 March 
2015, together with a description of  the principal risks and 
uncertainties facing the Group

•  the Annual Report, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and 
understandable and provides the information necessary 
for shareholders to assess the performance, strategy and 
business model of  the Group

This  responsibility  statement  was  approved  by  the  Board  of  
Directors on 29 May 2015 and is signed on their behalf  by: 

By order of  the Board

Mr Daniel Kitchen 
Chairman 
29 May 2015 

Mr Terence O’Rourke
Director
29 May 2015

Annual Report 2015

49

Independent auditor’s report 
to the members of Hibernia REIT plc 

Opinion on financial 
statements of  
Hibernia REIT plc

Going concern

In our opinion:

•  the Group Financial Statements give a true and fair view in accordance with International 

Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRSs”) as adopted by the European Union, of  the state of  the 
Group’s affairs as at 31 March 2015 and of  its profit for the year then ended; 

•  the Company financial statements give a true and fair view in accordance with IFRSs, as 

adopted by the European Union, as applied in accordance with the provisions of  the Companies 
Acts, 1963 to 2013 and of  the state of  the Company’s affairs as at 31 March 2015; and

•  the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Companies Acts, 1963 to 

2013 and, as regards the Group Financial Statements, Article 4 of  the IAS Regulation.

The financial statements comprise the Group Financial Statements: the Consolidated Statement 
of  Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated Statement of  Financial Position, the Consolidated 
Statement of  Changes in Equity, the Consolidated Statement of  Cash Flows and the related 
notes 1 to 28 and the Company Financial Statements: the Company Statement of  Financial 
Position, the Company Statement of  Changes in Equity and the Company Statement of  Cash 
Flows, and the related notes (a) to (p). The financial reporting framework that has been applied 
in their preparation is applicable law and IFRSs as adopted by the European Union, and, as 
regards the Company financial statements, in accordance with the provisions of  the Companies 
Act 1963 to 2013.

As required by the Listing Rules we have reviewed the Directors’ Statement contained within the 
Report of  the Directors on page 41 that the Group is a going concern. We confirm that:
•  we have concluded that the Directors’ use of  the going concern basis of  accounting in the 

preparation of  the financial statements is appropriate; and

•  we have not identified material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast 

significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern.

However, because not all future events or conditions can be predicted, this statement is not a 
guarantee as to the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern.

Our assessment of  
risks of  material 
misstatement

The assessed risks of  material misstatement described below are those that had the greatest effect 
on our audit strategy, the allocation of  resources in the audit and directing the efforts of  the 
engagement team:

Risk of material misstatement

How the scope of our audit responded to the risk

Valuation of  Investment 
Properties
The appropriate valuation 
of  the Group’s investment 
properties requires significant 
judgement to be made by the 
Directors with advice from the 
external valuer and Investment 
Manager. 

Refer also to Note 13 of  
the consolidated financial 
statements.

•  We considered the basis used by the Group for the valuation 
of  investment properties in light of  the Group’s valuation 
policy and the requirements of  IFRS. 

•  We obtained an understanding of  the controls at the 

Investment Manager and at the Board over the valuation 
process.

•  We compared the valuation of  each investment property held 
to the valuation report prepared by the external valuer and 
considered any adjustments made in light of  the Group’s 
accounting policies and the requirements of  IFRS.

•  We assessed the competence, independence and integrity of  

the external valuer.

•  We discussed with management and with the external valuer 
the significant assumptions used in the valuation process, 
including estimated rental value and market based yields, and 
considered these assumptions in accordance with available 
market data.

50

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Independent auditor’s report 
to the members of Hibernia REIT plc continued

Our assessment of  
risks of  material 
misstatement

Risk of material misstatement

How the scope of our audit responded to the risk

•  We reviewed supporting documentation in respect of  investment 

property transactions entered into during the year. 

•  We obtained independent audit evidence in respect to legal title 

of  investment properties held.

•  We considered the recognition criteria applied by the Group for 
investment properties in light of  the Group’s accounting policies 
and the requirements of  IFRS. This includes consideration 
of  the judgements made by the Directors to determine if  it 
is probable that the future economic benefits associated with 
investment properties will flow to the Group.

•  We evaluated the period in which transactions around the year 

end where recorded. 

•  We obtained an understanding of  the controls at the Investment 

Manager and the Board regarding the investment process. 

•  We have considered the inputs to the performance fee 

calculation and where appropriate we have compared the 
inputs to entity data or market data as appropriate.

•  We have examined the calculation of  the performance 

fee to evaluate whether it is consistent with the investment 
management agreement. 

•  We have examined the accounting treatment for performance 
fees to consider that the accounting charge recorded has been 
accounted for in accordance with the share based payments 
requirements of  IFRS 2.

Existence and Entitlement 
to Investment Properties
The Group’s property 
acquisitions may involve 
complexity which requires 
judgement to be applied 
by the Board to determine 
if  the transactions meet 
the recognition criteria for 
investment properties in light of  
the Group’s accounting policies 
and the requirements of  IFRS. 

Refer also to Note 13 of  
the consolidated financial 
statements.

Performance Fees (Share 
Based Payments)
The performance fee calculation 
is complex in nature which 
increases the risk of  error. The 
settlement of  performance 
fees due to the Investment 
Manager is via shares in the 
Company and therefore must 
be recorded in accordance with 
the requirements of  share based 
payments. 

Refer also to Note 26 of  
the consolidated financial 
statements.

Our audit procedures relating to these matters were designed in the context of  our audit of  the 
financial statements as a whole, and not to express an opinion on individual accounts or disclosures. 
Our opinion on the financial statements is not modified with respect to any of  the risks described 
above, and we do not express an opinion on these individual matters.

Our application of  
materiality

We define materiality as the magnitude of  misstatement that makes it probable that the economic 
decisions of  a reasonably knowledgeable person, relying on the financial statements, would be 
changed or influenced. We use materiality both in planning the scope of  our audit work and in 
evaluating the results of  our work.

We determined planning materiality for the Group to be €7,000,000 which is below 1% of  the Net 
Assets. 

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to the Committee any audit differences 
in excess of  €350,000, as well as differences below that threshold that, in our view, warranted 
reporting on qualitative grounds. We also report to the Audit Committee on disclosure matters that 
we identified when assessing the overall presentation of  the financial statements.

Annual Report 2015

51

An overview of  the 
scope of  our audit

Our audit scope focused on the Company and its subsidiary, Hibernia REIT Finance Limited. The 
subsidiary was subject to a full scope audit. We determined the materiality with reference to the size 
of  the subsidiary which was lower than Group Materiality.

Matters on which we 
are required to report 
by the Companies 
Acts 1963 to 2013

•  We have obtained all the information and explanations which we consider necessary for the 

purposes of  our audit;

•  In our opinion proper books of  account have been kept by the Company;

•  The Company’s Statement of  Financial Position is in agreement with the books of  account;

•  In our opinion the information given in the Report of  the Directors is consistent with the financial 

statements and the description in the Corporate Governance Report of  the main features of  
the internal control and risk management systems in relation to the process for preparing the 
consolidated financial statements is consistent with the consolidated financial statements; and

•  The net assets of  the Company, as stated in the Company’s Statement of  Financial Position are 

more than half  of  the amount of  its called up share capital and, in our opinion, on that basis there 
did not exist at 31 March 2015 a financial situation which under Section 40 (1) of  the Companies 
(Amendment) Act, 1983 would require the convening of  an extraordinary general meeting of  the 
Company.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

Directors’ remuneration 
and transactions

Under the Listing Rules we are required to review the six specified elements of  disclosures in the 
report to shareholders by the Board of  Directors’ remuneration. Under the Companies Acts, 1963 
to 2013 we are required to report to you if, in our opinion the disclosures of  Directors’ remuneration 
and transactions specified by law are not made. We have nothing to report arising from our review 
of  these matters.

Corporate Governance 
Statement

Under the Listing Rules of  the Irish and London Stock Exchanges we are also required to review 
the part of  the Corporate Governance Statement relating to the Company’s compliance with 
the nine provisions of  the UK Corporate Governance Code and the two provisions of  the Irish 
Corporate Governance Annex specified for our review. We have nothing to report arising from our 
review.

Our duty to read other 
information in the Report

Under International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland), we are required to report to you if, in 
our opinion, information in the Annual Report is:
•  materially inconsistent with the information in the audited financial statements; or

•  apparently materially incorrect based on, or materially inconsistent with, our knowledge of  the 

Group acquired in the course of  performing our audit; or

•  otherwise misleading.

In particular, we are required to consider whether we have identified any inconsistencies between 
our knowledge acquired during the audit and the Directors’ statement that they consider the Annual 
Report is fair, balanced and understandable and whether the Annual Report appropriately discloses 
those matters that we communicated to the audit committee which we consider should have been 
disclosed. We confirm that we have not identified any such inconsistencies or misleading statements.

52

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Independent auditor’s report 
to the members of Hibernia REIT plc continued

Respective 
responsibilities 
of  Directors 
and auditor

As explained more fully in the Directors’ Responsibilities Statement, 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 Ethical Standards for Auditors.

Scope of  the audit 
of  the financial 
statements

This report is made solely to the Group’s members, as a body, in accordance with section 193 of  the 
Companies Act 1990. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Group’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.

An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements 
sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material 
misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment of: whether the 
accounting policies are appropriate to the Group’s and the Company’s circumstances and have 
been consistently applied and adequately disclosed; the reasonableness of  significant accounting 
estimates made by the Directors; and the overall presentation of  the financial statements. In 
addition, we read all the financial and non-financial information in the Annual Report to identify 
material inconsistencies with the audited financial statements and to identify any information 
that is apparently materially incorrect based on, or materially inconsistent with, the knowledge 
acquired by us in the course of  performing the audit. If  we become aware of  any apparent material 
misstatements or inconsistencies we consider the implications for our report.

Brian Jackson
For and on behalf  of  Deloitte & Touche
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Audit Firm
Dublin

Date: 29 May 2015

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 
For the year ended 31 March 2015

Annual Report 2015

53

Income
Revenue
Direct property costs
Total property income

Revaluation of  investment properties
Other gains and losses
Total income after revaluation gains and losses

Expense
Investment Manager fee - base
Performance fee
Administration expenses
Total operating expenses
Operating profit/(loss)

Finance income
Finance expense
Profit/(loss) before tax 
Income tax expense
Profit/(loss) for the period
Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income/(loss)

Basic earnings per share (cent)
Diluted earnings per share (cent)

 1 April 2014 
to 31 March 
2015 

 13 August 2013 
to 31 March 
2014 

Notes

 €’000 

 €’000 

6

13
7

26
26

8

9
9

10

12
12

18,769 
(725)
18,044 

80,809 
7,691 
106,544

(4,690)
(5,772)
(1,584)
(12,046)
94,498 

399 
(1,974)
92,923 
(691)
92,232 
 - 

158 
(59)
99 

 - 
 - 
99

(669)
 - 
(490)
(1,159)
(1,060)

214 
 - 
(846)
 - 
(846)
 - 

92,232 

(846)

18.4 
18.3 

(0.2)
(0.2)

The  notes  on  pages  57  to  82  form  an  integral  part  of   these  consolidated  financial  statements.  The  consolidated  financial 
statements on pages 53 to 89 were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of  Directors on 29 May 2015 and signed on 
its behalf  by: 

Mr Daniel Kitchen 
Chairman 

Mr Terence O’Rourke
Director

54

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Consolidated Statement of financial position
As at 31 March 2015

Assets
Non-current assets
Investment Property
Loans and receivables

Current assets
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Non-current assets classified as held for sale
Total current assets

Total assets

Equity and liabilities
Capital and reserves
Issued capital and share premium
Retained earnings
Other reserves
Total equity
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Payable due for investment property

Total current liabilities

Total equity and liabilities

IFRS NAV per share (cents)
Diluted IFRS NAV per share
EPRA NAV per share

31 March 
2015

 31 March 
2014 

Notes

 €’000 

 €’000 

13
14

15

16

17

18

20
21

22
22
22

641,296 
152 
641,448 

9,046 
139,048 
148,094 

 - 
68,563 
68,563 

11,647 
291,690 
303,337 

18,499 
166,593 

 - 
303,337 

808,041 

371,900 

657,987 
89,375 
5,772 
753,134 

12,210 
42,697 

54,907 

371,812 
(846)
 - 
370,966 

934 
 - 

934 

808,041 

371,900 

112.4 
111.6 
111.8 

96.4 
96.4 
96.4 

The  notes  on  pages  57  to  82  form  an  integral  part  of   these  consolidated  financial  statements.  The  consolidated  financial 
statements on pages 53 to 89 were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of  Directors on 29 May 2015 and signed on 
its behalf  by: 

Mr Daniel Kitchen 
Chairman 

Mr Terence O’Rourke
Director

 
Consolidated statement of changes in equity  
For the year ended 31 March 2015

Annual Report 2015

55

Notes

Share 
Capital

€’000

Share 
Premium

€’000

Retained  
earnings

€’000

Other 
reserves

€’000

1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015

Balance at start of  period
Total comprehensive income for the period
Profit for the period
Total other comprehensive income

Transactions with owners of the 
Company, recognised directly in equity
Dividends
Issue of  ordinary shares for cash
Share issue costs
Share based payments

11
17
17
18

38,500 

333,312 

(846)

 - 
 - 
38,500 

 - 
28,532 
 - 
 - 

 - 
 - 
333,312 

 - 
271,052 
(13,409)
 - 

92,232 
 - 
91,386 

(2,011)
 - 
 - 
 - 

Total

€’000

370,966 

92,232 
 - 
463,198 

 - 

 - 
 - 
 - 

 - 
 - 
 - 
5,772 

(2,011)
299,584 
(13,409)
5,772 

Balance at end of  period

67,032 

590,955 

89,375 

5,772 

753,134 

13 August 2013 to 31 March 2014

Share 
Capital

€’000

Share 
Premium

€’000

Retained
 earnings

€’000

Other 
reserves

€’000

Total comprehensive income for the period
Loss for the period
Total other comprehensive income

Transactions with owners of the 
Company, recognised directly in equity
Issue of  ordinary shares for cash
Share issue costs

 - 
 - 
 - 

 - 
 - 
 - 

38,500 
 - 

346,500 
(13,188)

(846)
 - 
(846)

 - 
 - 

Balance at end of  period

38,500 

333,312 

(846)

 - 
 - 
 - 

 - 
 - 

 - 

The notes on pages 57 to 82 form an integral part of  these consolidated financial statements.

Total

€’000

(846)
 - 
(846)

385,000 
(13,188)

370,966 

 
 
56

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Consolidated statement of cash flows
For the year ended 31 March 2015

Cash flows from operating activities
Profit/(loss) for the period
Adjusted for: 
Revaluation of  investment properties
Other gains and losses
Share based payment
Rental income paid in advance
Interest (income)
Finance (income)/expense
Income tax expense
Operating cash flow before movements in working capital
(Increase) in trade and other receivables
Increase in trade and other payables
Net cash flow from operating activities 
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of  investment property
Development and Refurbishment Expenditure
Purchase of  non-current assets classified as held for sale
Purchase of  loans and receivables
Proceeds from loan repayments
Proceeds from the sale of  non-current assets classified as held for sale
Finance income
Finance expense
Net cash flow absorbed by investing activities
Cash flow from financing activities
Dividends paid
Arrangement fee paid re bank facility
Proceeds from the issue of  ordinary share capital
Share issue costs
Net cash inflow from financing activities

Net (decrease)/Increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents period start
(Decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents
Net cash and cash equivalents at period end 

1 April 2014
 to 31 March 
2015

13 August 2013 
to 31 March 
2014

Notes

€’000

€’000

92,232 

(846)

(80,809)
(7,691)
5,772 
9 
 - 
1,575 
691 
11,779 
(1,061)
3,369 
14,087 

(445,236)
(12,173)
(541)
(39,300)
41,981 
6,297
399 
(1,820)
(450,393)

(2,011)
(500)
299,584 
(13,409)
283,664 

(152,642)
291,690 
(152,642)
139,048 

 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
(158)
(214)
 - 
(1,218)
(600)
434 
(1,384)

(11,010)
 - 
 - 
(67,905)
 - 
- 
177 
 - 
(78,738)

 - 
 - 
385,000 
(13,188)
371,812 

291,690
 - 
291,690 
291,690 

11
19
17
17

The notes on pages 57 to 82 form an integral part of  these consolidated financial statements.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes forming part of the annual report

Annual Report 2015

57

1.  General Information

 The  Company  together  with  its  subsidiaries,  Hibernia 
REIT  Finance  Limited,  Hibernia  REIT  Holding 
Company  Limited,  Lamourette  Limited  and  Mayor 
House  Basement  Management  Limited  (together  the 
“Group”)  is  engaged  in  property  investment  (primarily 
commercial) in the Irish market with a view to maximising 
its Shareholders’ returns.

 The  Company  is  a  public  limited  company  and  is 
incorporated  and  domiciled  in  Ireland.  The  address 
of   the  Company’s  registered  office  is  Marine  House, 
Clanwilliam  Place,  Dublin  2.  The  Company  was 
incorporated  on  13  August  2013  and  re-registered  as 
a  public  limited  company  on  8  November  2013.  The 
registered number of  the Company is 531267.

 The  Ordinary  Shares  of   the  Company  are  listed  on 
the  primary  listing  segment  of   the  Official  List  of   the 
Irish  Stock  Exchange  (the  ‘‘Irish  Official  List’’)  and  the 
premium listing segment of  the Official List of  the UK 
Listing  Authority  (the  ‘‘UK  Official  List’’  and,  together 
with the Irish Official List, the ‘‘Official Lists’’) and are 
traded on the regulated markets for listed securities of  the 
Irish  Stock  Exchange  and  the  London  Stock  Exchange 
plc. (the ‘‘London Stock Exchange’’).

2.   Application of new and revised 

International Accounting Standards (IFRS)

 There were a number of  changes to IFRS which became 
effective for the Group during the financial year but did 
not result in material changes to the Group’s consolidated 
financial statements.

 The  following  standards  and  interpretations  to  existing 
standards  have  been  published  by  the  International 
Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and, to the extent 
indicated,  have  been  adopted  by  the  European  Union 
(“EU”)  and  will  be  mandatory  for  future  accounting 
periods.  The  Company  has  not  early  adopted  these 
standards or interpretations.

•  IAS  1  Presentation  of   Financial  Statements  amendments 
remove certain impediments to preparers in exercising 
their  judgement  in  presenting  their  financial  reports 
and is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 
1 January 2016. 

•   IFRS  9 Financial  Instruments  is  the  IASB’s  replacement 
of   IAS  39  Financial  Instruments:  Recognition  and 
Measurement.  The  Standard  includes  requirements 
for  recognition  and  measurement,  impairment,  de-
recognition and general hedge accounting. The version 
of  IFRS 9 issued in 2014 supersedes all previous versions 
and  is  mandatorily  effective  for  periods  beginning  on 

or after 1 January 2018 with early adoption permitted 
(subject to local endorsement requirements).

•   IFRS  10  Consolidated  Financial  Statements,  IFRS  12 
Disclosure of  Interests in Other Entities, and IAS 28 Investment 
in Associates and Joint Ventures are amended for accounting 
periods beginning on or after 1 January 2016 to clarify 
the treatment of  the sale or contribution of  assets from 
an investor to its associate or joint venture. 

•  IFRS 11 Accounting for Acquisitions of  Interests in Joint Operations 
amends  IFRS  11  to  require  an  acquirer  of   an  interest 
in  a  joint  operation  in  which  the  activity  constitutes  a 
business  (as  defined  in  IFRS  3  Business  Combinations)  to 
apply  all  the  of   the  business  combinations  principles 
of  IFRS 3 except where they conflict with guidance in 
IFRS 11 and disclose the information required by IFRS 
3  and  other  IFRS  for  business  combinations.  This  is 
effective for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 
January 2016. 

•   IFRS 14 Regulatory Deferral Accounts, applies to an entity’s 
first  annual  IFRS  financial  statements  for  a  period 
beginning on or after 1 January 2016, permits an entity 
which is a first-time adopter of  International Financial 
Reporting  Standards  to  continue  to  account,  with 
some limited changes, for ‘regulatory deferral account 
balances’ in accordance with its previous  GAAP, both 
on initial adoption of  IFRS and in subsequent financial 
statements. 

•   IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers, provides 
a single, principles based five-step model to be applied 
to  all  contracts  with  customers  and  is  applicable  to 
an  annual  reporting  period  beginning  on  or  after  1 
January 2018. 

 •  IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment and IAS 38 Intangible 
Assets,  which  are  effective  for  accounting  periods 
beginning on or after 1 January 2016, clarify acceptable 
methods of  depreciation and amortisation. 

 •  IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment and IAS 41 Agriculture 
are amended for accounting periods starting on or after 
1  January  2016  to  include  and  define  “bearer  plants” 
within property, plant and equipment. 

•   IAS 19 Employee Benefits, which is effective for accounting 
periods  beginning  on  or  after  1  July  2014,  deals  with 
employee contributions to defined benefit plans. 

 •  IAS 27 Separate Financial Statements is amended to permit 
investments in subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates 
to be optionally accounted for using the equity method 
in separate financial statements for accounting periods 
beginning on or after 1 January 2016. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
58

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Notes forming part of the annual report
continued

2.   Application of new and revised 

International Accounting Standards (IFRS) 
continued

  •  Investment 

the 

consolidation 

entities:  applying 

exception 
(amendments  to  IFRS  10  and  12  and  IAS  28) 
addresses issues in applying the consolidation exception 
for  investment  entities  and  is  effective  for  period 
commencing on or after 1 January 2016. 

•  Annual  Improvements  to  IFRS:  2012-2014  cycle 
(effective  for  accounting  periods  beginning  on  or 
after  1  July  2016);  Annual  Improvements  to  IFRS: 
2011-13  cycle  and  Annual  Improvements  to  IFRS: 
2010-12  cycle  (effective  for  annual  periods  beginning 
on  or  after  1  July  2014).  The  IASB  has  adopted  the 
Annual Improvements process to deal efficiently with a 
collection of  narrow scope amendments to IFRSs even 
though the amendments are unrelated. 

 IFRS  15  may  have  a  future  impact  on  revenue 
recognition  and  related  disclosures  although  it  is  not 
practicable to give a reasonable estimate of  the effect of  
implementation of  this standard, if  any, until a detailed 
review has been completed. The Company has not yet 
fully determined the impact of  these amendments on its 
future  financial  reporting  but  does  not  expect  them  to 
have a material impact.

3.   Basis of preparation

a. Statement of compliance
 The consolidated financial statements of  Hibernia REIT 
plc have been prepared in accordance with International 
Financial  Reporting  Standards  (IFRS)  as  adopted  by 
the  EU,  which  comprise  standards  and  interpretations 
approved  by  the  International  Accounting  Standards 
Board  (IASB).  IFRS  as  adopted  by  the  EU  differ  in 
certain respects from IFRS as issued by the IASB. 

 The Company has not early adopted any forthcoming 
IASB  standards.  Note  2  sets  out  details  of   such 
upcoming standards. 

b. Functional and presentation currency
 These consolidated financial statements are presented in 
Euro,  which  is  the  Company’s  functional  currency  and 
the Group’s presentation currency. 

c. Basis of accounting
 The  consolidated  financial  statements  have  been 
prepared on a going concern basis, in accordance with 
IFRS and the IFRS Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) 
interpretations as adopted by the European Union and 
the Companies Acts, 1963 to 2013. The Group financial 
statements  therefore  comply  with  Article  4  of   the  EU 
IAS Regulation. 

 The consolidated financial statements have been prepared 
on the historical cost basis, except for the revaluation of  
investment  properties  and  financial  instruments  that 
are measured at fair value at the end of  each reporting 
period.  Historical  cost  is  generally  based  on  the  fair 
value of  the consideration given in exchange for goods 
and services. 

 Fair  value  is  the  price  that  would  be  received  to  sell 
an  asset  or  paid  to  transfer  a  liability  in  an  orderly 
the 
transaction  between  market  participants  at 
measurement  date,  regardless  of   whether  that  price  is 
directly observable or estimated using another valuation 
technique.  In  estimating  the  fair  value  of   an  asset  or 
liability, the Group takes into account the characteristics 
of   the  asset  or  liability  if   market  participants  would 
take those characteristics into account when pricing the 
asset  or  liability  at  the  measurement  date.  Fair  value 
for  measurement  and/or  disclosure  purposes  in  these 
consolidated financial statements is determined on such a 
basis, except for share based transactions that are within 
the scope of  IFRS 2, leasing transactions that are within 
the scope of  IFRS 17, and measurements that have some 
similarities to fair value but are not fair value, such as net 
realisable value in IAS 2 or value in use in IAS 36.

 In  addition,  for  financial  reporting  purposes,  fair  value 
measurements are categorised into Level 1, 2 or 3 based 
on  the  degree  to  which  the  inputs  to  the  fair  value 
measurements are observable and the significance of  the 
inputs to the fair value measurement in its entirety, which 
are described as follows: 

-  Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active 
markets for identical assets or liabilities that the entity 
can access at the measurement date

-  Level  2  inputs  are  inputs,  other  than  quoted  prices 
included within Level 1, that are observable for the asset 
or liability either directly or indirectly

-  Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or 

liability 

d. Assessment of going concern
 The  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  on  a 
going  concern  basis.  The  Directors  have  performed  an 
assessment  of   going  concern  and  are  satisfied  that  the 
Group  is  appropriately  capitalised.  The  Group  has  a 
positive cash balance as at 31 March 2015 of  €139m (31 
March  2014:  €292m),  is  generating  positive  cashflows 
and,  as  discussed  in  Note  19,  has  in  place  a  revolving 
credit  facility  with  an  undrawn  balance  of   €100m  at 
31 March 2015 (31 March 2014: €0m). The Group has 
assessed its liquidity position and there are no reasons to 
expect that the Group will not be able to meet its liabilities 
as they fall due for the foreseeable future.

 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annual Report 2015

59

Assets”).  The  Dorville  Core  Assets  were  recognised  as 
investment properties during the year in accordance with 
the Group’s accounting policy on investment properties.

 Additionally,  the  Dorville  loan  portfolio  was  secured 
against 13 other asset groups, namely over 70 apartments, 
3  houses,  12  commercial  units  and  26.5  acres  of   land, 
primarily in Dublin. These 13 asset groups are referred to 
as the Dorville Non-Core Assets. The Group determined 
that  the  Dorville  Non-Core  Assets  are  not  suitable  for 
the  Group’s  portfolio  of   investment  properties.  Some  of  
these assets have been disposed of  during the year and the 
balance have been legally transferred to the Company in 
order to complete the disposal of  these assets. The disposal 
process is expected to be completed by December 2015. 
Further details are presented in Note 16.

two  of  

title  of  

 During the year, the Directors judged that the acquisition 
of   the  three  Dorville  Core  Assets  was  virtually  certain 
and as a result these assets were recognised as investment 
properties.  The 
these  properties 
subsequently was legally transferred to the Group during 
the year to 31 March 2015. The third property, Cannon 
Place Apartments, is expected to transfer shortly. These 
properties fulfil the criteria for recognition as investment 
properties  under  the  Group’s  accounting  policy  on 
investment  properties  (Note  4.i)  below.  The  Directors 
considered  that  the  recognition  of   these  properties 
presented  the  most  relevant  and  useful  information  for 
users of  the financial information that was presented both 
in  the  prospectus  relating  to  the  secondary  equity  issue 
and  the  interim  financial  reporting  as  at  30  September 
2014. It ensured that users of  this financial information 
could properly assess the portfolio structure and potential.

 As a result, the acquisitions of  the Dorville Core Assets 
were  recognised  as  investment  properties  during  the 
period, although the legal process has still to complete for 
the Cannon apartments.

 There were no other items of  significant judgement that 
might have a material impact on the financial statements 
at 31 March 2015.

g. Key estimates
 The preparation of  financial information requires the use 
of   certain  critical  accounting  estimates.  Although  these 
estimates are based on the Board’s best knowledge of  the 
amount,  event  or  actions,  actual  results  ultimately  may 
differ  from  those  estimates.  The  following  are  the  key 
estimates  which  were  made  in  respect  of   this  financial 
information:

e. Basis of consolidation
 The  financial  statements  incorporate  the  consolidated 
financial statements of  the Company and its subsidiaries, 
Hibernia  REIT  Finance  Limited,  Hibernia  REIT 
Holding  Company  Limited,  Lamourette  Limited  and 
Mayor  House  Basement  Management  Limited.  The 
Company controls its subsidiaries by virtue of  its 100% 
shareholding in those companies. The Company and its 
subsidiary  Hibernia  REIT  Finance  Limited,  make  up 
the majority of  the Group assets and liabilities and each 
of  their financial statements are made up to 31 March 
each year. 

 All  intragroup  assets  and  liabilities,  equity,  income, 
expenses and cash flows relating to transactions between 
members  of   the  Group  are  eliminated  in  full  on 
consolidation.

f. Significant judgements 
 The  preparation  of   financial  information  requires  the 
Group  to  exercise  judgement  in  applying  the  Group’s 
accounting  policies.  The  following  are  the  significant 
judgements:

 Recognition and classification of  investment 
transactions
 The  Group  has  acquired  an  interest  in  investment 
property assets both as direct asset purchases and through 
the acquisition of  loans which are secured over the target 
property. In some cases the Group may acquire portfolios 
of   loans  where  it  does  not  intend  to  ultimately  directly 
acquire all the underlying property assets.

 Investment  properties  are  treated  as  acquired  when 
the  Group  assumes  the  significant  risks  and  rewards  of  
ownership. In order to make this judgement, the Board 
reviews each deal individually.

 Recognition of  property assets collateralising acquired 
loans  as  investment  properties  requires  significant 
judgement  by  the  Directors  to  determine  if   it  is 
probable  that  the  future  economic  benefits  that  are 
associated  with  the  underlying  investment  property 
will flow to the Group.

 Dorville Loan Portfolio
 The  Dorville  Loan  Portfolio  was  a  loan  portfolio,  with 
a  par  value  (at  the  time  of   acquisition)  of   €151.3m, 
which  was  acquired  by  the  Group  in  March  2014  for 
€67m  (€68.4m  including  costs).  The  Board  completed 
an extensive exercise in reviewing the collateral attached 
to  this  portfolio,  consisting  of   16  asset  groups,  in  May 
2014  and  as  a  result  determined  that  it  would  seek  the 
direct ownership of  three of  the property assets, namely 
Block  3,  Wyckham  Point,  the  Dorville  Cannon  Place 
Apartments and South Dock House (the “Dorville Core 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
60

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Notes forming part of the annual report
continued

3.   Basis of preparation continued

Valuation of  investment properties
 The Group’s investment properties are held at fair value 
and  were  revalued  at  31  March  2015  by  the  external 
valuer, CBRE Limited, a firm employing qualified valuers 
in  accordance  with  the  Royal  Institution  of   Chartered 
Surveyors  Valuation  —  Standards  (January  2014)  (the 
“Red  Book”).  Further  information  on  the  valuation  is 
given in Note 13. 

 The Board and Investment Manager conduct a detailed 
review  of   each  property  valuation  to  ensure  that 
appropriate  assumptions  have  been  applied.  Property 
valuations  are  complex  and  involve  data  which  is  not 
publically  available  and  a  degree  of   judgement.  The 
valuation is based upon the key assumptions of  estimated 
rental  values  and  market  based  yields.  With  regard  to 
redevelopments  and  refurbishment,  the  development 
considered  achievable,  assumed  timescale,  the  assumed 
future  development  cost  and  an  appropriate  finance 
and/or  discount  rate  are  also  used  to  determine  the 
property value together with market evidence and recent 
comparable properties where appropriate. In determining 
fair value the valuers make reference to market evidence 
and recent transaction prices for similar properties.

 The  Directors  must  be  satisfied  that  the  valuation  of  
the  Group’s  properties  is  appropriate  for  inclusion  in 
the accounts. The fair value of  the Group’s properties is 
based on the valuation provided by CBRE. This valuation 
is  based  on  future  cashflows  from  rental  income  both 
for the current lease period and future estimated rental 
values.  In  accordance  with  the  Group’s  policy  on  lease 
incentives,  the  valuation  provided  by  CBRE  is  adjusted 
by  the  fair  value  of   the  rental  income  accruals  ensuing 
from the recognition of  these incentives. The valuations 
were also amended to reflect the impact of  a potential cost 
in respect of  the car park in the Forum Building, IFSC. 
The  total  reduction  in  the  external  valuers’  investment 
property  valuation  in  respect  of   these  adjustments  was 
€2.2m. No further adjustments were required for the year 
ended 31 March 2015.

 Impairment of  non-current assets classified as 
held for sale
 Non-current assets classified as held for sale are measured 
at the lower of  their acquisition cost (or previous carrying 
amount)  and  fair  value  less  costs  to  sell.  In  order  to 
measure these assets, the Directors are required to make 
estimations of  the fair value less costs to sell. In estimating 
these  fair  values,  the  Directors  assessed  the  properties 
on  an  individual  basis  together  and  reviewed  the  sales 
agent’s estimation of  achievable price to sell less expected 
costs  to  sell  including  stamp  duty  and  other  taxes.  The 
Directors have determined as a result that no impairment 
of  these assets is required as they expect that the assets 

will be realised for at least their carrying value. These fair 
values  are  sensitive  to  market  movements  in  residential 
property  prices.  The  Directors  have  estimated  that  the 
current fair value gain is approximately €1.5m. Therefore 
a  movement  of   8%  downwards  in  residential  property 
values would not result in the need for an impairment in 
the carrying value of  these assets. 

 There  were  no  other  key  estimates  that  might  have  a 
material impact on the financial statements at 31 March 
2015.

4.  Significant accounting policies 

a. Revenue recognition
 Revenue  consists  of   rental  income  on  the  Group’s 
investment properties and interest income on loans and 
receivables. 

 Revenue  is  recognised  in  the  Consolidated  Statement 
of   Comprehensive  Income  when  it  meets  the  following 
criteria:
•  It is probable that any future economic benefit associated 

with the item of  revenue will flow to the Group and
•  The amount of  revenue can be measured with reliability

leases.  Rental 

Rental Income 
 Rental  income  arises  on  properties  which  are  included 
as  investment  properties  in  the  Consolidated  Statement 
of   Financial  Position  and  which  are  leased  out  under 
operating 
from  operating 
leases  is  recognised  in  the  Consolidated  Statement  of  
Comprehensive Income on an accruals basis as revenue 
on a straight line basis over the lease term. Rent received 
in advance is deferred in the Consolidated Statement of  
Financial Position and recognised in the period to which 
it relates. 

income 

income  also  arises  on 

 Rental 
the  Group’s  non-
current  assets  classified  as  held  for  sale.  This  income 
is  an  immaterial  and  decreasing  amount  as  the  Group 
continues  its  programme  of   selling  these  assets  in  the 
short  term  and  is  therefore  seeking  vacant  possession 
where possible. This income is included in the “Other” 
segment for reporting purposes. 

 Where  adjustments  to  rent  or  a  review  under  a  lease 
are unsettled at the reporting date, these are included in 
income based on a reasonable estimate of  the expected 
settlement  amount  and  then  adjusted  to  the  actual 
amount when settlement is reached. Surrender payments 
for early lease terminations are reflected, net of  any costs 
such as dilapidation or legal costs relating to the lease, in 
the accounting period in which the surrender took place. 

 Service charges and other sums receivable from tenants 
are  recognised  on  an  accrual  basis  by  reference  to  the 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annual Report 2015

61

d. Finance income and expense
 Interest  income  and  expense  is  recognised  in  the 
Consolidated  Statement  of   Comprehensive  Income 
for  all  interest  bearing  financial  instruments  using  the 
effective interest method. The effective interest method is 
a method of  calculating the amortised cost of  a financial 
asset or financial liability (or group of  financial assets or 
financial liabilities) and of  allocating the interest income, 
interest  expense  and  fees  paid  and  received  over  the 
relevant period.

e. Provisions
 A  provision  is  recognised  if,  as  a  result  of   a  past  event, 
the Group has a present obligation (legal or constructive) 
that can be estimated reliably, and it is probable that an 
outflow  of   economic  benefits  will  be  required  to  settle 
the obligation. Provisions are determined by discounting 
the  expected  future  cash  flows  (in  most  cases,  the  risk 
free rate) at a pretax rate that reflects the current market 
assessments  of   the  time  value  of   money  and  the  risks 
specific  to  the  liability.  The  unwinding  of   the  discount 
is  recognised  as  a  finance  cost.  When  some  or  all  of  
the  economic  benefits  required  to  settle  a  provision  are 
expected to be recovered from a third party, a receivable 
is  recognised  as  an  asset  if   it  is  virtually  certain  that 
reimbursement  will  be  received  and  the  amount  of   the 
receivable can be measured reliably.

f. Expenses
 Expenses are recognised in the Consolidated Statement 
of  Comprehensive Income on an accruals basis.

g. Share based payments
 The  Group  operates  an  Investment  Management 
Agreement  with  the  Investment  Manager  under  which 
the  Group  receives  management  services  which  in  part 
are compensated on a performance fee basis. Any such 
performance fee is paid in shares in the Company. 

 The performance fee is calculated in accordance with the 
provisions  of   the  Investment  Management  Agreement 
and the number of  shares that this represents is determined 
by  the  average  closing  price  in  the  20  days  prior  to 
the  issue  of   the  invoice  for  this  fee  by  the  Investment 
Manager. The shares are issued as soon as is practicable 
after  this  invoice  date.  These  shares  are  issued  directly 
to the Investment Manager at the issue date and there is 
therefore no further fair value measurement required in 
accounting for these after issue. The Investment Manager 
has agreed that these shares will be “locked in” for up to 
three  years  after  their  issuance  under  the  terms  of   the 
Investment Management Agreement. 

 The Group recognises its best estimate of  its obligation 
in relation to the issue of  shares on foot of  the agreement 
with the Investment Manager to settle the performance 
fee in other reserves during the period. 

stage of  completion of  the relevant service or transactions 
at the reporting date. These services generally relate to a 
12 month period.

Lease incentives
 When  the  Group  provides  incentives  to  its  tenants  the 
incentives are recognised over the lease term on a straight 
line basis. These incentives can be a rent free period at 
the  commencement  of   the  lease,  a  reduced  rent  for  a 
period, an assumption of  lessee costs or other incentives 
negotiated.  All  such  incentives  are  recognised  as  an 
integral part of  the net consideration agreed for the use 
of  the leased asset, irrespective of  the incentive’s nature or 
form. The aggregate cost of  such incentives is recognised 
as  a  reduction  of   rental  income  on  a  straight-line  basis 
over the lease term. The lease term is either the period 
to the expiry date of  the lease or to the next break point, 
i.e.  where  there  is  a  legal  right  for  the  tenant  to  break 
the lease. The value of  the resulting accrual is included 
within the respective property value in the Consolidated 
Statement of  Financial Position. 

 Details on all aspects of  rental payments and concessions 
under leases are provided to the external valuers at each 
reporting date for their consideration in assessing the fair 
value of  the properties concerned. 

Interest Income
 Interest income arising on the loans held in the Group’s 
investment portfolio is included in Revenue on the basis 
that  it  relates  to  the  Group’s  property  business.  This 
interest  income  arises  from  the  effective  interest  rate 
applicable to loans and receivables and is calculated by 
calculating the amortised cost of  the loans and advances 
and  of   allocating  the  interest  income,  interest  expense 
and fees paid and received over the relevant period. 

b. Direct property costs 
 Direct  costs  comprise  service  charges  and  other  costs 
directly  recoverable  from  tenants  and  non-recoverable 
costs  directly  attributable  to  investment  properties  and 
other revenue streams. 

c. Foreign currencies transactions and balances
 Transactions in currencies other than Euro are recognised 
at  the  rates  of   exchange  prevailing  on  the  dates  of   the 
transactions. At the end of  each period, monetary amounts 
denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the 
rates prevailing at that date. Non monetary items carried 
at fair value that are denominated in foreign currencies 
are  retranslated  at  the  rates  prevailing  when  the  fair 
value  was  determined.  Non  monetary  items  carried  at 
historical cost are reported using the exchange rate at the 
date of  the transaction.

 Exchange differences on monetary items are recognised 
in profit or loss in the period in which they arise.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
62

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Notes forming part of the annual report
continued

4.  Significant accounting policies continued

 The fair value of  the relevant services are recognised 
as an expense over the accounting period in which they 
are incurred.

h. Taxation
 Hibernia  REIT  plc  elected  for  Real  Estate  Investment 
Trust (REIT) status on 11 December 2013. As a result, 
the  Company  will  not  pay  Irish  corporation  tax  on 
the  profits  and  gains  from  qualifying  rental  business  in 
Ireland provided it meets certain conditions. Corporation 
tax  is  still  payable  as  normal  in  respect  of   income  and 
gains  from  the  Group’s  residual  business  (generally  any 
non-investment property rental business). The Group is 
also liable to pay other taxes such as VAT, capital gains 
tax,  relevant  contracts  tax,  local  property  tax,  property 
rates, payroll taxes and foreign taxes as normal.

Current tax
 Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income 
or loss for the period, using tax rates enacted or substantially 
enacted at the reporting date, and any adjustment in taxes 
payable in respect of  the previous periods. 

Deferred tax
 Deferred  tax  is  recognised  in  respect  of   temporary 
differences  between  the  carrying  amount  of   assets  and 
liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts 
used for taxation purposes. Deferred tax is measured at 
the tax rates that are expected to be applied to temporary 
differences when they reverse using tax rates enacted or 
substantially enacted at the reporting date.

for  capital  appreciation 

i. Investment properties
 Investment properties are properties held to earn rental 
(including 
income  and/or 
property  under  construction 
such  purposes). 
Properties are treated as acquired at the point at which 
the  Group  assumes  the  significant  risks  and  rewards  of  
ownership. This occurs when:

for 

 (1)  It  is  probable  that  the  future  economic  benefits  that 
are associated with the investment property will flow 
to the Group;

 (2)  There  are  no  material conditions  which  could  affect 

completion of  the acquisition; and

(3)  The cost of  the investment property can be measured 

reliably

 Investment  properties  are  measured  initially  at  cost, 
including 
initial 
transaction  costs.  Subsequent 
recognition,  investment  properties  are  measured  at 
fair value. Gains and losses arising from changes in the 
fair  value  of   investment  properties  are  included  in  the 
Consolidated  Statement  of   Comprehensive  Income  in 
the period in which they arise. 

to 

 Investment properties and properties under development 
are  professionally  valued  on  a  twice  yearly  basis  or  as 
required  by  qualified  external  valuers  using  inputs  that 
are  observable  either  directly  or  indirectly  for  the  asset 
in  addition  to  unobservable  inputs  and  are  therefore 
classified  at 
investment 
level  3.  The  valuation  of  
properties is further discussed above under Note 3.

 The valuations of  investment properties and investment 
properties  under  development  are  prepared,  as 
recommended  by  the  Society  of   Chartered  Surveyors, 
in  accordance  with  the  RICS-Valuation-Professional 
Standards (January 2014) (the Red Book).

 When  the  Group  begins  to  redevelop  an  existing 
investment  property,  or  property  acquired  as  an 
investment  property,  for  future  use  as  an  investment 
property,  the  property  remains  an  investment  property 
and is accounted for as such. Expenditure on investment 
properties  is  capitalised  only  when  it  increases  the 
future  economic  benefits  associated  with  the  property. 
All  other  expenditure  is  charged  to  the  Consolidated 
Statement  of   Comprehensive  Income.  Interest  and 
other  outgoings,  less  any  income,  on  properties  under 
development  are  capitalised.  Interest  capitalised 
is 
calculated on development outgoings using the weighted 
average  cost  of   general  Group  borrowings.  Fair  value 
for  investment  properties  under  development  is  based 
on the Group’s external professional valuers’ assessment 
of  future value, with an appropriate adjustment for the 
costs of  completion and remaining risk, based on market 
conditions at the reporting date.

 In  accordance  with  the  Group’s  policy  on  revenue 
recognition  (Note  4.a),  the  value  of   accruals  in  relation 
to  the  recognition  of   lease  incentives  under  operating 
leases  over  the  term  of   the  lease  is  included  in  the  fair 
value assessment of  the investment property to which the 
accrual relates. 

 Where  amounts  are  received  from  departing  tenants 
in  respect  of   “dilapidation”,  i.e.  compensation  for 
works  that  the  tenant  was  expected  to  carry  out  at  the 
termination of  a lease but the tenant, in agreement with 
the Group, pays a compensatory sum in lieu of  carrying 
out  this  work,  the  Group  applies  these  amounts  to  the 
cost of  the property. The value of  the work to be done 
is therefore reflected in the fair value assessment of  the 
property when it is assessed at the end of  the period. 

 An  investment  property  is  de-recognised  on  disposal, 
i.e. when the significant risks and rewards are transferred 
outside  the  Group’s  control,  or  when  the  investment 
property is permanently removed from use and no future 
economic benefits are anticipated from the disposal. Any 
gain  or  loss  arising  on  de-recognition  of   the  property 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annual Report 2015

63

(calculated  as  the  difference  between  the  net  disposal 
proceeds and the carrying amount of  the asset) is included 
in the Consolidated Statement of  Comprehensive Income 
in the period in which the property is de-recognised. 

‘available  for  sale’  (AFS)  financial  assets  and  ‘loans  and 
receivables’. Financial assets ‘at fair value through profit 
or  loss’  has  two  subcategories  which  are  determined  at 
initial recognition:

j. Non-current assets classified as held for sale
 Non-current assets are classified as held for sale if  their 
carrying amount will be recovered principally through 
a sale transaction rather than through continuing use 
as  an  investment  property.  Non-current  assets  are 
treated  as  acquired  at  the  point  at  which  the  Group 
assumes the significant risks and rewards of  ownership. 
This occurs when:

1.  It is probable that the future economic benefits that are 

associated with the asset will flow to the Group;

2.  There  are  no  material  conditions  which  could  affect 

completion of  the acquisition; and

3.  The cost of  the asset can be measured reliably

 Assets fall into this category only when the sale is highly 
probable and the asset is available for immediate sale in 
its  present  condition.  The  Group  must  be  committed 
to  the  sale,  which  should  be  expected  to  qualify  for 
recognition as a completed sale within one year from the 
date of  classification. Non-current assets classified as held 
for sale are measured at the lower of  their acquisition cost 
and fair value less costs to sell.

k. Financial instruments
 Financial  assets  and  liabilities  are  recognised  when 
a  Group  entity  becomes  a  party  to  the  contractual 
provisions of  the instruments.

 Financial assets and liabilities are initially measured at fair 
value. Transaction costs that are directly attributable to the 
acquisition or issue of  financial assets and liabilities (other 
than  financial  assets  or  liabilities  at  fair  value  through 
profit  or  loss)  are  added  to  or  deducted  from  the  fair 
value of  the financial assets or liabilities, as appropriate, 
on  initial  recognition.  Transaction  costs  attributable  to 
the acquisition of  financial assets or liabilities at fair value 
through profit or loss are recognised immediately in the 
Consolidated Statement of  Comprehensive Income.

(1)  Designated.  This  includes  any  financial  asset  to  be 
measured at fair value with fair value changes in profit 
or loss.

(2)  Held  for  trading.  The  second  category  includes 

financial assets that are held for trading.

 Purchases  and  sales  of   financial  assets  in  a  regular 
way,  i.e.  within  timeframes  established  by  regulation  or 
convention  in  the  marketplace,  are  recognised  and  de-
recognised on a trade date basis.

 Effective interest method: The Group uses the effective interest 
method  of   calculating  the  amortised  cost  of   a  debt 
instrument  and  of   allocating  interest  income  over  the 
relevant period. The effective interest rate is the rate that 
exactly discounts estimated future cash receipts (including 
all fees and points paid or received that form an integral 
part  of   the  effective  interest  rate,  transaction  costs  and 
other  premiums  or  discounts)  through  the  expected  life 
of  the debt instrument, or, where appropriate, a shorter 
period, to the net carrying amount on initial recognition.

 Loans  and  receivables:  Loans  and  receivables  are  non 
derivative  financial  assets  with  fixed  or  determinable 
payments  that  are  not  quoted  in  an  active  market. 
Loans  are  recorded  at  fair  value  plus  transaction  costs 
when acquired. They are subsequently accounted for at 
amortised cost using the effective interest method. 

 Impairment  allowances  for  loans  and  receivables  are 
created  if   there  is  objective  evidence  that  it  will  not  be 
possible  for  the  entire  amount  which  is  due  under  the 
original  contractual  arrangements  to  be  recovered. 
Allowances for loans and receivables are calculated where 
there is objective evidence with regard to loan defaults, 
the  structure  and  quality  of   the  loan  portfolio  as  well 
as  macroeconomic  parameters,  on  an  individual  basis. 
Losses  expected  as  a  result  of   future  events,  no  matter 
how likely, are not recognised.

 Where  the  Group  enters  into  a  written  option,  i.e. 
an  option  that  is  written  into  a  contract  with  no  net 
settlement (i.e. it will be settled with a non-financial asset, 
an investment property) the relevant investment property 
will be included at its full fair value while the fair value of  
the written option is classified as a payable. 

 Individual  loans:  The  allowance  is  calculated  as  the 
difference between the carrying value of  the asset and the 
present value of  the expected future cash flows using the 
original effective interest rate. The increase in the present 
value of  an adjusted receivable which occurs over time is 
shown as interest income.

Financial assets
 Financial assets are generally classified into the following 
specified categories: financial assets ‘at fair value through 
profit  or  loss  (FVTPL)’,  ‘held  to  maturity  investments’, 

 In  assessing  the  need  for  impairment  on  loans  and 
receivables,  the  Group  takes  into  account  the  expected 
cash flows from the realisation of  collateral.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
64

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Notes forming part of the annual report
continued

4.  Significant accounting policies continued

 De-recognition:  When  the  cash  flows  from  a  loan  are 
considered  to  have  expired,  or  where  no  further  cash 
flows are expected to be received on the loan in the case 
where the underlying property asset has been recognised 
as an investment property or non-current assets classified 
as  held  for  sale,  the  original  asset  is  de-recognised  and 
a  new  asset  is  recognised,  initially  measured  at  fair 
value. Any difference between the carrying value of  the 
original asset and the fair value of  the new asset on initial 
recognition is recognised within other gains and losses in 
the Consolidated Statement of  Comprehensive Income.

l. Trade and other receivables
 Trade  and  other  receivables  are  initially  measured  at 
fair  value  and  subsequently  measured  at  amortised 
cost.  Where  there  is  objective  evidence  of   loss, 
appropriate allowances for any irrecoverable amounts 
are  recognised  in  the  Consolidated  Statement  of  
Comprehensive Income.

m. Cash and cash equivalents
 Cash  and  cash  equivalents  includes  cash  at  banks  in 
current  accounts,  deposits  held  at  call  with  banks  and 
other highly liquid investments that are readily convertible 
to known amounts of  cash and which are subject to an 
insignificant risk of  changes in value. 

n. Equity and share issue costs
 The equity of  the Company consists of  ordinary shares 
issued. Shares issued are recorded at the date of  issuance. 
The par value of  the issued shares is recorded in the share 
capital  account.  The  excess  of   proceeds  received  over 
the par value is recorded in the share premium account. 
Direct  issue  costs  in  respect  of   the  issue  of   shares  are 
accounted  for  in  the  share  premium  account,  as  a 
deduction from equity, net of  any related tax deduction. 
Direct issue costs include:
•  Costs of  preparing the prospectus
•   Accounting, tax and legal expenses
•  Underwriting fees
 •  Valuation  fees  in  respect  of   the  shares  and  of   other 

assets

 Costs that relate to the listing itself  (e.g. stock exchange 
registration costs) are not directly attributable to the share 
issue and are expensed.

measures.  EPRA NAV  is  calculated  in  accordance with 
the  European  Public  Real  Estate  Association  (EPRA) 
Best Practice Recommendations: December 2014.

 The EPRA Net Asset Value per share includes investment 
property, other non-current asset investments and trading 
properties  at  fair  value.  For  this  purpose,  non-current 
assets classified as held for sale are included at fair value. 
It  excludes  the  fair  value  of   financial  instruments  and 
deferred tax and related goodwill. 

5.  Operating segments

its 

 The  Group  is  organised  into  five  business  segments, 
against  which 
segmental 
the  Group  reports 
information,  being  Office  Assets,  Industrial  Assets, 
Residential Assets, Development Assets and Other Assets 
(loans and other assets that do not fall into the preceding 
classifications).  All  of   the  Group’s  operations  are  in  the 
Republic of  Ireland. Operating segments are reported in 
a manner consistent with the reporting to the Board of  
Directors of  the Company which is the chief  operating 
decision maker of  the Group.

 Unallocated  income  and  expenses  are  those  that  occur 
centrally,  e.g.  investment  management  fees  and  other 
administration expenses. Unallocated assets include cash 
and cash equivalents, tax refundable and administration 
expenses  paid  in  advance.  In  addition,  cash  received 
in  advance  in  relation  to  rental  receipts  on  properties 
and  rental  income  accrued  have  been  allocated  from 
receivables  and  cash  and  cash  equivalents  to  the 
appropriate segment.

 The  Group’s  key  measure  of   underlying  performance 
of   a  segment  is  total  income  after  revaluation  gains 
and  losses  which  comprises  revenue  (rental  and  interest 
income),  property  outgoings,  revaluation  of   investment 
properties  and  other  gains  and  losses.  Total  income 
after revaluation gains and losses includes rental income 
which  is  used  as  the  basis  to  report  key  measures  such 
as EPRA Net Initial Yield (“NIY”) and EPRA “Topped 
Up” NIY, which measure the cash passing rent returns on 
market value of  investment properties before and after an 
adjustment for the expiration of  rent free periods or other 
lease incentives respectively. All interest income relates to 
Other  Assets  whilst  the  revenue  for  all  other  segments 
represents rental income.

o. Trade and other payables
 Trade  and  other  payables  are  initially  measured  at  fair 
value, subsequently measured at amortised cost.

 No segment information is presented for the prior period 
as  the  Group’s  investment  properties  were  all  acquired 
since 31 March 2014.

p. Net Asset Value (NAV)
 The IFRS NAV is calculated as the value of  the Group’s 
assets  less  the  value  of   its  liabilities  based  on  IFRS 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Group consolidated segment analysis
For the year 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015

Annual Report 2015

65

Office 
Assets

€’000

 15,997 
 - 
 15,997 
 (253) 
 15,744 

 66,750 
 - 
 82,494 

Industrial 
Assets

Residential 
Assets

Office 
Development 
Assets

€’000

€’000

€’000

 440 
 - 
 440 
 (140) 
 300 

 196 
 - 
 196 
 (104) 
 92 

 - 
 - 
 - 
 (116) 
 (116) 

Other 
Assets

€’000

 479 
 1,657 
 2,136 
 (74) 
 2,062 

Group 
Consolidated 
Position

Unallocated

€’000

€’000

 - 
 - 
 - 
 (38) 
 (38) 

 17,112 
 1,657 
 18,769 
 (725) 
 18,044 

 (4) 
 - 
 296 

 2,551 
 10,059 
 12,702 

 11,512 
 (5,100) 
 6,296 

 - 
 2,732 
 4,794 

 - 
 - 
 (38) 

 80,809 
 7,691 
 106,544 

 - 

 - 
 - 

 - 

 - 
 - 

 - 

 - 
  - 

 - 

 - 
 - 

 - 

 - 
 - 

 (4,690) 
 (5,772) 
 (1,584) 
 (12,046) 

 (4,690) 
 (5,772) 
 (1,584) 
 (12,046) 

Rental income
Interest income
Revenue
Property outgoings
Total Property Income

Revaluation of  investment 
properties
Other gains and losses
Total Income

Investment Manager  
fee - base
Performance fee
Administration expenses
Total operating expenses

Operating profit/(loss)
Net finance cost

 82,494 
 - 

 296 
 - 

 12,702 
 - 

 6,296 
 - 

 4,794 
 - 

 (12,084) 
 (1,575) 

 94,498 
 (1,575) 

Profit/(loss) before tax

 82,494 

 296 

 12,702 

 6,296 

 4,794 

 (13,659) 

 92,923 

Total Segment Assets

 475,877 

 10,319 

 66,500 

 88,600 

 18,651 

 148,094 

 808,041 

Investment Properties

 475,877 

 10,319 

 66,500 

 88,600 

 - 

 - 

 641,296 

6. Revenue

Rent receivable
Surrender premium
Gross rental and related income
Interest income from loans and receivables

Revenue

 1 April 2014 
to 31 March 
2015 

 13 August 2013 
to 31 March 
2014 

 €’000 

 €’000 

14,712 
2,400 
17,112 
1,657 

 - 
 - 
 - 
158 

18,769 

158 

Rental income arises from the Group’s investment properties. Interest income arises from the recognition of  the effective interest 
rate on the loans and receivables in accordance with the accounting policy described in Note 4(d). Rental income includes €1.4m 
in relation to the spreading of  lease incentives (31 March 2014:€nil). 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
66

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Notes forming part of the annual report
continued

7. Other gains and losses

Gains on recognition of  investment property
Fair value of  written call option
Gains on sales of  non-current assets classified as held for sale

Other gains and losses

 1 April 2014 
to 31 March 
2015 

 13 August 2013 
to 31 March 
2014 

 €’000 

 €’000 

10,059 
(5,100)
2,732 

7,691 

 - 
-
 - 

 - 

The gains on recognition of  investment property arise from the difference between initial recognition at cost of  the loans relating 
to the Dorville Core Assets and the fair value at the date of  subsequent recognition of  the underlying investment properties.

8. Operating profit for the year

Operating profit for the year has been stated after charging/(crediting): 

Non-executive directors’ fees
Professional valuers’ fees
Depository fees
Registrar fees

 1 April 2014 
to 31 March 
2015 

 13 August 2013 
to 31 March 
2014 

 €’000 

 €’000 

250 
218 
218 
28 

145 
 - 
69 
4 

All fees paid to non-executive directors are for services as directors. 

Professional valuers’ fees are paid to CBRE Dublin in return for their services in providing independent valuations of  the Group’s 
properties on an at least twice yearly basis. In 2014 CBRE also provided valuation services in relation to the secondary equity 
issue. CBRE Ireland, a private unlimited company, is part of  a worldwide group with total revenues for 2014 of  approximately 
$9 billion of  which valuation and appraisal services constitute approximately 5%. 

There were no employees during the year.

Auditor’s remuneration

Fees paid to the external auditor
Audit of  financial statements
Other assurance services
Tax advisory services
Other non-audit services

Total 

 1 April 2014 
to 31 March 
2015 

 13 August 2013 
to 31 March 
2014 

 €’000 

 €’000 

85 
17 
97 
226 

30 
 - 
30 
220 

425 

280 

The other non-audit fees were charged in relation to the Company’s share offering, €225,894 to 31 March 2015 (31 March 2014: 
€220,000, relating to the Initial Public Offering).

9. Finance income and expense

Interest income on cash and cash equivalents
Effective interest expense on borrowings
Finance expense on payable due for investment property

Net finance income/(expense)

Annual Report 2015

67

 1 April 2014 
to 31 March 
2015 

 13 August 2013 
to 31 March 
2014 

 €’000 

 €’000 

399 
(897)
(1,077)

(1,575)

214 
 - 
 - 

214 

As disclosed in Note 21 below, the Group has recognised a payable due for investment property in relation to the Hardwicke 
House and Montague House acquisition. The Group has therefore accounted for the related finance charge using the effective 
interest method.

The  effective  interest  expense  on  borrowings  arises  as  a  result  of   the  recognition  of   interest  expense,  commitment  fees  and 
arrangement fee on the Group’s undrawn revolving credit facility (Note 19).

10. Income tax expense

Income tax on non-core property income
Tax on the disposal of  non-core assets

Income tax expense for year

 1 April 2014 
to 31 March 
2015 

 13 August 2013 
to 31 March 
2014 

 €’000 

 €’000 

(5)
(686)

(691)

 - 
 - 

 - 

The tax expense during the year arose in respect of  income and gains from the Group’s residual business. 

Reconciliation of  income tax expense for the year

Profit/(loss) before tax

Tax charge on profit at standard rate of  12.5%
Non-taxable revaluation surplus
REIT tax-exempt rental profit
Other (Additional tax rate on Non-Core)

Income tax expense for year

 1 April 2014 
to 31 March 
2015 

 13 August 2013 
to 31 March 
2014 

 €’000 

 €’000 

92,923 

(846)

11,615 
(10,721)
(547)
344 

 691 

 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 

 - 

Hibernia REIT plc has elected for Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”) status under section 705 E of  the Finance Act 2013. 
As a result, the Group does not pay Irish corporation tax on the profits and gains from its qualifying rental business in Ireland 
provided it meets certain conditions. With certain exceptions, corporation tax is still payable in the normal way in respect of  
income and gains from a group’s Residual Business that is, its non-property rental business. 

The Directors confirm that the Group has remained in compliance with the Irish REIT rules and regulations up to and including 
the date of  this report.

68

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Notes forming part of the annual report
continued

11. Dividends

Interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2015 of  0.3 cent per share

Proposed final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2015 of  0.5 cent per share

 1 April 2014 
to 31 March 
2015 

 13 August 2013 
to 31 March 
2014 

 €’000 

 €’000 

2,011 

3,375 

 - 

 - 

The  Board  has  proposed  a  final  dividend  of   0.5  cent  per  share  which  is  subject  to  approval  by  shareholders  at  the  Annual 
General Meeting and has therefore not been included as a liability in these consolidated financial statements. The proposed 
dividend is payable to all shareholders on the Register of  Members on 26 June 2015 and therefore will include the performance 
fee shares which are to be issued. Of  this proposed final dividend, 0.45 cent per share will be a PID in respect of  the Group’s tax 
exempt property rental business. The total dividends, interim paid and proposed for the year ended 31 March 2015 are 0.8 cent 
per share or €5,386,007 (31 March 2014: €nil). 

The payment of  this dividend will not have any tax consequences for the Group. The Board has decided to introduce a Dividend 
Reinvestment Plan (“DRIP”) commencing with the final dividend: this will allow shareholders to instruct Capita, the Company’s 
registrar, to reinvest dividend payments by the purchase of  shares in the Company. Details will be provided to shareholders along 
with this Annual Report.

12. Earnings per Share

There are no convertible instruments, options, warrants or ordinary shares that are issued upon the satisfaction of  specified 
conditions as at the year ended 31 March 2015. However, the Company has established a reserve of  €5.8m against the issue 
of  ordinary shares relating to the payment of  the performance fee due under the Investment Management Agreement. It is 
estimated that approximately 4.7m ordinary shares will be issued calculated on an issue price of  €1.2375. The dilutive effect of  
these shares is disclosed below. There were no dilutive effects on earnings per share as at 31 March 2014.

The calculations are as follows:

Weighted average number of  shares

Issued share capital at beginning of  period
Shares issued during the period

Shares in issue at end of  period

Weighted average number of  shares
Estimated additional shares due for issue from performance reserve

Diluted number of  shares

31 March 
2015

 31 March 
2014 

 ‘000 

 ‘000 

 385,000 
 285,317 

 - 
 385,000 

 670,317 

 385,000 

 500,690 
 4,664

 383,559 
 - 

 505,354 

 383,559 

 
12. Earnings per Share continued

Basic and diluted earnings per share

Annual Report 2015

69

 1 April 2014 
to 31 March 
2015 

 13 August 2013 
to 31 March 
2014 

 €’000 

 €’000 

Profit/(loss) for the period attributable to the owners of  the Company

92,232 

(846)

Weighted average number of  ordinary shares (basic)
Weighted average number of  ordinary shares (diluted)

Basic earnings per share (cents)
Diluted earnings per share (cents)

 ‘000 
500,690 
505,354 

 ‘000 
383,559 
383,559 

18.4 
18.3 

(0.2)
(0.2)

The estimated additional shares that are to be issued pursuant to performance fee arrangements are not included in the basic 
share calculation due to the way in which the performance fee is earned which is outlined in Note 26.2. The price applied in 
calculating these shares is €1.2375 per share.

For the period 13 August 2013 to 31 March 2014 the calculation of  earnings per share is based on the period from commencement 
to trade, 11 December 2013, to 31 March 2014 rather than the period from incorporation, 13 August 2013, to 31 March 2014 
as the Directors believe that this calculation provides a more informative disclosure to the shareholders because:

• The date of  commencement to trade is the same as the listing date, and
• The majority of  shares were issued at this date

13. Investment Properties

31 March 2015

Office and 
Residential 

Level 3

 €’000 

Development

Industrial

Level 3

 €’000 

Level 3

 €’000 

Total 

Level 3

 €’000 

Carrying Value at 1 April 2014

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

Additions:
Property Purchases
Investment properties recognised on de-recognition of  loans (Note 1)
Development and Refurbishment Expenditure (Note 2)
Revaluations included in income statement

412,714 
48,684 
11,678 
69,301 

76,578 
 - 
510 
11,512 

10,338 
 - 
(15)
(4)

499,630 
48,684 
12,173 
80,809 

Carrying Value at 31 March 2015

542,377 

88,600 

10,319 

641,296 

No disclosures are made in relation to the period ended 31 March 2014 as all investment property acquisitions were made during 
the year ended 31 March 2015. 

Note 1: During the year, certain loans which were acquired by the Group were recognised as investment properties and accounted 
for in accordance with the accounting policies set out in Note 4(i). 

Note 2: The €11.7m of  development and refurbishment expenditure on office and residential includes €13.5m in relation to the 
expenditure on Wyckham Point and a dilapidation receipt for Commerzbank House as discussed below. 

 
 
 
 
70

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Notes forming part of the annual report
continued

13. Investment Properties continued

On 28 August 2014, the Group announced that it had signed a development contract with JJ Rhatigan & Company for the fit- 
out and completion of  the Group’s 213 partially completed apartments in Wyckham Point, Dundrum. The total cost to complete 
the apartments is expected to be up to €25m (including VAT). Approximately €13.5m in costs in relation to this development 
have been incurred to date. This project will be completed on a phased basis with the first units finished and let to tenants in 
April 2015. 

The  Group  received  €2.1m  in  relation  to  a  dilapidation  costs  payment  relating  to  Commerzbank’s  break  of   their  lease  on 
Commerzbank House. This has been applied to the development and refurbishment costs on this property and therefore reduces 
the cost of  this property. 

The vendor of  the Windmill lane site was granted an option when the Group purchased the site, to buy into 50% of  the future 
development project at the original purchase price. This option has been accounted for as written call option and, as there is no 
net settlement, the fair value liability of  €5.1m is shown separately from the investment property value in the financial statements 
as a trade and other payable. In analysing the results of  the portfolio, the Group nets the value of  this option with the fair value 
of  the investment properties, resulting in a total value of  investment property for portfolio performance purposes of  €636m. 

The valuations used in order to determine fair value for the investment properties in the financial statements are determined by 
CBRE, the Group’s independent valuers, and are in accordance with the provisions of  IFRS 13. CBRE has agreed to the use of  
their valuations for this purpose. Some of  the inputs to the valuations are defined as “unobservable” by IFRS 13. As discussed 
in Note 3 (g) above, property valuations are inherently subjective as they are made on the basis of  assumptions made by the 
valuer. For these reasons, and consistent with EPRA’s guidance, the Group has classified the valuations of  its property portfolio 
as Level 3 as defined by IFRS 13. The method that is applied for fair value measurements categorised within Level 3 of  the 
fair value hierarchy is the yield methodology using market rental values capitalised with a market capitalisation rate or yield or 
other applicable valuation technique. A reduction of  €1.2m has been made to the valuation of  the Forum building to reflect the 
maximum value of  a potential payment in relation to the acquisition of  the car park. In addition, a reduction of  €1m has been 
recognised in the valuation as the effect of  the recognition policy on rental incentives. There were no transfers between levels 
during the year. There was no capitalised interest included in investment properties during the year.

Information about fair value measurements using unobservable inputs (Level 3).
The valuation technique used in determining the fair value for each of  the categories of  assets is market value as defined by 
VPS4 of  the Red Book 2014, being the estimated amount for which an asset or liability should exchange on the valuation date 
between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arm’s length transaction after proper marketing wherein the parties had acted 
knowledgeably, prudently and without compulsion, and is in accordance with IFRS 13. Included in the inputs for the valuations 
above are future development costs where applicable. The tables below show a summary of  the quantitative inputs for the fair 
value determination as at 31 March 2015 and sensitivity information for each category. 

Quantitative Information
The following information has been used in calculating the fair value of  Investment Properties at 31 March 2015. There is no 
equivalent disclosure for the period ended 31 March 2014 as the Group had no Investment Properties as at that date.

Annual Report 2015

71

13. Investment Properties continued

Information on fair value inputs as at 31 March 2015

Office assets

Industrial assets

Residential assets

Development assets

Fair value at 
31 March 
2015

Inputs

Lowest in range Highest in range

€m

475

10

67

89

Annual rent € per sq. ft. 
ERV € per sq ft
Equivalent Yield 

Annual rent € per sq. ft. 
ERV € per sq ft
Equivalent Yield 

 €14.45 
 €22.50 
5.00%

 €4.22 
 €2.75 
7.63%

 €45.50 
 €48.00 
6.13%

 €5.12 
 €5.20 
7.63%

Equivalent Yield 

4.50%

4.75%

Equivalent Yield 

5.40%

6.50%

Sensitivity Analysis
Estimated  rental  values  and  market  observed  yields  are  key  inputs  into  the  valuation  models  used.  For  example,  completed 
properties are valued mainly using a term and reversion model, i.e. the present values of  future cash flows from expected rental 
receipts are calculated. For the existing rental contract or “term” this is the expected rents from tenants over the period to the 
next lease break option or expiry. After this period, the “reversion”, estimated rental values are used to calculate cash flows 
based  on  expectations  from  current  market  conditions.  Thus  a  decrease  in  the  estimated  rental  value  will  decrease  the  fair 
value. Similarly, an increase in the yield will decrease the fair value. There are interrelationships between these rates as they are 
determined by market rate conditions. Most of  the Group’s properties are valued on this or a basis using similar assumptions. 

Across the entire portfolio of  investment properties, a 1% increase in yield would have the impact of  a €139m reduction in fair 
value whilst a 1% decrease in yield would result in a fair value increase of  €201m.

This is further analysed by property class, as follows:

Property Class

Office assets
Development assets
Residential assets
Industrial assets

Total

31 March 2015

 Change in fair 
value +1% 
Yield 

 Change in 
fair value -1% 
Yield 

€’000’s

€’000’s

(88,200)
(36,290)
(13,660)
(1,058)

128,783 
52,820 
18,400 
1,370 

(139,208)

201,373 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
72

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Notes forming part of the annual report
continued

14. Loans and receivables 

Balance at beginning of  period

Purchases and loan advances
Loans recognised as investment properties
Loans recognised as non-current assets classified as held for sale
Loan repayments 
Interest income at effective interest rate

Balance at end of  period

31 March 
2015

 31 March 
2014 

 €’000 

 €’000 

68,563 

 - 

38,800 
(38,625)
(22,993)
(47,250)
1,657 

68,405 
 - 
 -
 - 
158 

152 

68,563 

The  opening  loans  and  receivables  balance  consists  of   the  loans  which  were  part  of   the  Dorville  loan  portfolio  acquired  in 
March 2014, which were secured on the Dorville Core and Non-Core Assets as discussed in Note 3(f). The Dorville Core assets 
are recognised as investment properties and the legal acquisition of  213 partially completed apartments at Wyckham Point, 
Dundrum and offices at South Dock House, Grand Canal Dock, Dublin has also completed. The Dorville Non-Core assets have 
now either been disposed of, and the proceeds applied to the loan balances, or acquired by the Company as non-current assets 
classified as held for sale (Note 16). 

Loan purchases and advances for the year consist of  a loan issued to the owners of  Cumberland House as well as part of  a 
portfolio acquired from Ulster Bank, the BH portfolio. The Group acquired Cumberland House in February 2015, at which 
time the loan principle was repaid through the acquisition of  the property. The BH portfolio was purchased for a total cost of  
€2.5m of  which €1.7m related to loans secured over four apartments in the Cannon Place apartment block acquired as part 
of  the Dorville acquisition. These four apartments are recognised as investment properties in line with the Group’s policy on 
investment property recognition. 

The balance of  loans and receivables at the year-end consists of  one loan on which the Group hold a property as collateral. 

15. Trade and other receivables

Deposit paid on investment property
Due from sale of  non-current assets classified as held for sale
Receivable from loan redemptions
Amounts receivable from related parties
Arrangement fee
Property income receivables
Prepayments
VAT refundable

31 March 
2015

 31 March 
2014 

 €’000 

 €’000 

 - 
1,467 
3,613 
 - 
394 
1,911 
266 
1,395 

11,010 
 - 
 - 
366 
 - 
 - 
110 
161 

Balance at end of  period

9,046 

11,647 

There are no amounts past due. The Directors consider that the carrying value of  trade and other receivables approximates to 
their fair value. The amounts receivable from loan redemptions and the sale of  other non-current assets classified as held for sale 
relate to monies due from the sale of  a number of  collateral properties. Apart from this amount, there is no concentration of  
credit risk with respect to trade receivables as most of  these relate to prepayments and refunds due on taxes. 

16. Non-current assets classified as held for sale

Balance at start of  period 
Recognised during the period
Acquisition costs
Sold during the period

Balance at end of  period

Annual Report 2015

73

31 March 
2015

€’000
 - 
 22,993 
 541 
(5,035)

 18,499 

31 March 
2014

€’000

 - 
-
-
 - 

 - 

The Group has purchased two portfolios of  loans (see Note 14) which included as collateral some assets the Group retained for 
its investment portfolio and other assets which the Group intends to dispose of  as soon as possible. Those assets not intended for 
the investment portfolio and not disposed of  by February 2015 have been legally acquired by the Company and recognised as 
non-current assets classified as held for sale in accordance with the Group’s accounting policy (Note 4.j). Plans for the disposal of  
these assets are well advanced. A sales agent has been appointed and a sales plan agreed. In order to ensure that the best prices 
are achieved, these assets are being released to the market in a phased basis over the period to 31 December 2015. It is expected 
that disposal of  these assets will be completed at the latest within 12 months from their acquisition by the Company. These assets 
do not form part of  the REIT property rental business.

Non-current assets classified held for sale are measured at the lower of  carrying amount and fair value less costs to sell. The 
Directors have assessed the fair value of  these assets by reviewing the sales prices achieved on similar assets and the expected 
sales price as determined by the selling agent in preparing their disposal plans. Assets sold to date have achieved at least their 
acquisition price on an individual basis and in total a profit of  approximately €2.7m before tax and after costs has been achieved. 
The Directors have therefore concluded that the fair value of  these assets is at least their carrying value. 

17. Issued capital and share premium

At start of  period
Shares issued during the period
Costs associated with the issue

At end of  period
Authorised share capital

Authorised

Allotted, called up and fully paid
Issued for cash

In issue at period end

31 March 2015

31 March 2014

Share Capital

Share Premium

Total

Share Capital

Share Premium

Total

€’000
38,500 
28,532 
 - 

€’000
333,312 
271,052 
(13,409)

€’000
371,812 
299,584 
(13,409)

€’000
 - 
38,500 
 - 

€’000
 - 
346,500 
(13,188)

€’000
 - 
385,000 
(13,188)

67,032 

590,955 

657,987 

38,500 

333,312 

371,812 

No of shares 
‘000

1,000,000 

670,317 

670,317 

No of shares 
‘000

1,000,000 

385,000 

385,000 

On 7 October 2014 the Company announced its intention to undertake a Firm Placing and a Placing and Open Offer (the “Capital 
Raise”) to raise gross proceeds of  approximately €299.6m through the issue of  285,317,459 New Ordinary Shares at a price of  105 
euro cent (or €1.05) per New Ordinary Share (the “Issue Price”). 71,428,571 New Ordinary Shares were issued through the Firm 
Placing at the Issue Price and 213,888,888 New Ordinary Shares were issued through the Placing and Open Offer at the Issue Price 
to raise gross proceeds of  approximately €299.6m. These shares were admitted to trading on 4 November 2014. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
74

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Notes forming part of the annual report
continued

18. Share based payments

Other reserves

31 March 
2015

 31 March 
2014 

 €’000 

 €’000 

5,772 

 - 

Other  reserves  comprise  amounts  reserved  for  the  issue  of   shares  in  respect  of   the  performance  fees  due  to  the  Investment 
Manager for the year ended 31 March 2015 (31 March 2014: €nil). Further details of  this are set out in Note 26.2. 

19. Loans and advances from banks

On 12 August 2014, the Company and its subsidiary, Hibernia REIT Finance  Limited, signed a €100m  three year floating 
rate revolving credit facility with Bank of  Ireland. An arrangement fee of  €500,000 was paid in relation to this facility and is 
accounted for as part of  the effective interest on the loan. A commitment fee of  1% is payable on the undrawn balance.

First  ranking  security  for  the Revolving  Credit  Facility  is  given  by  way  of   floating  charges  granted  by  the Company  and  its 
subsidiary, Hibernia REIT Finance Limited, over all of  the Group’s assets and also by way of  a fixed charge granted by the 
Company over the shares in each of  its subsidiaries as may from time to time exist.

There was no balance drawn on this facility at 31 March 2015. The Directors confirm that all covenants have been complied 
with and are kept under review. 

20. Trade and Other Payables

Accrued investment property costs
Loan acquisition costs
Fair value of  written call option
Rent deposits and early payments
Investment management fee payable -base
Trade and other payables
PAYE/PRSI payable
Tax payable

31 March 
2015

 31 March 
2014 

 €’000 

 €’000 

687 
 - 
5,100 
1,920 
1,625 
2,153 
36 
689 

 - 
500 
 - 
 - 
 - 
398 
36 
 - 

Balance at end of  period

12,210 

934 

The fair value of  the written call option relates to an option that was granted to the vendor of  the Windmill Lane site to buy into 
50% of  the development project at the original purchase price. Trade and other payables are interest free and have settlement 
dates within one year. The Directors consider that the carrying value of  trade and other payables approximates to their fair 
value.

21. Payable due for investment properties

Payable due for investment property

Annual Report 2015

75

 31 March 
2015 

 31 March 
2014 

€’000

€’000

42,697 

 - 

On  16  May  2014  the  Group  entered  into  an  arrangement  to  acquire  two  Grade  A  office  buildings,  Hardwicke  House  and 
Montague House in Dublin’s Central Business District in a partially deferred transaction for a total consideration of  approximately 
€61.3m (including costs). This transaction was structured as a loan transaction with the Group paying a sum of  €18.25m. Under 
the terms of  a call option and put option agreement, the Group has the right to take ownership (or can be required to take 
ownership) of  the buildings on payment of  the agreed balance and the vendor has the right to sell the property to the Group after 
1 January 2016 if  the Group has not already acquired it. The Company is most likely to complete the acquisition by December 
2015 to comply with existing REIT rules. The finance charge relating to this payable is recognised for the period as a finance 
expense (Note 9). 

22. IFRS and EPRA Net Asset Value per Share

IFRS net assets at period end

Ordinary shares in issue

IFRS NAV per share (cents)

Ordinary shares in issue
Estimated additional shares due for issue from performance reserve
Diluted number of  shares

Diluted IFRS NAV per share (cents)

31 March 
2015

31 March 
2014

€’000

€’000

753,134

370,966

670,317

385,000

112.4

96.4

 670,317 
 4,664
674,981

 385,000 
 -
 385,000 

111.6

96.4

The Company has established a reserve of  €5.8m against the issue of  ordinary shares relating to the payment of  the performance 
fee due under the Investment Management Agreement. It is estimated that approximately 4.7m ordinary shares will be issued in 
relation to this fee. The IFRS NAV is therefore presented on a diluted basis including these shares.

EPRA NAV

IFRS net assets at period end
Revaluation of  non-current assets classified as held for sale
EPRA NAV

EPRA NAV per share (cents)

31 March 
2015

31 March 
2014

€ ‘000

€ ‘000

753,134 
1,445 
754,579 

370,966 
 - 
370,966 

111.8 

96.4 

76

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Notes forming part of the annual report
continued

23. Financial Instruments and risk management 

The Group has identified exposure to the following risks:
Market risk
Credit risk
Liquidity risk

The  policies  for  managing  each  of   these  and  the  principal  effects  of   these  policies  on  the  results  for  the  period  are 
summarised below:

a. Market risk
Market risk is the risk that the fair value or cash flows of  a financial instrument will fluctuate due to changes in market prices. 
Market risk reflects interest rate risk, currency risk and other price risks. 

The Group’s financial assets currently principally comprise short term bank deposits and trade receivables. The Group currently 
has no financial liabilities other than trade payables which do not, with the exception of  a written call option on the Windmill 
lane site, give rise to any significant market risk. The written call option is measured at fair value which is approximately 50% of  
the gain on the Windmill Lane site held as investment property.

The short term bank deposits are used to invest cash while awaiting suitable investment properties for investment. These are 
denominated in euro. Therefore exposure to market risk in relation to these is limited to interest rate risk. Exposure to interest 
rates is limited to the exposure of  its earnings from uninvested funds, €139m at the period end (31 March 2014: €291m). Interest 
rates are at historic lows and therefore the impact of  a change in the rate by 10% during the period would be approximately 
€40,000 (31 March 2014: c. €22,000). 

b. Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk of  loss of  principal or loss of  a financial reward stemming from a counterparty’s failure to repay a loan or 
otherwise meet a contractual obligation. Credit risk is therefore, for the Group and Company, the risk that the counterparties 
underlying its assets default. 

The Group’s main financial asset is cash and cash equivalents. Loans receivables which totalled €69m on 31 March 2014 have 
either been repaid through the sale of  collateral properties and the receipt of  income from these properties or by the direct 
acquisition of  the properties by the Group. 

Cash and cash equivalents are held with major Irish and European institutions. The Board has established a cash management 
policy for these funds which it monitors regularly. This policy includes ratings restrictions, BB or better, and related investment 
thresholds, €25-50m with individual institutions dependent on rating, to avoid concentration risks with any one counterparty. 
The Company has also engaged the services of  a Depository to ensure the security of  the cash assets. 

Concentration of  risk in receivables: Approximately €5.1m of  the balance of  trade and other receivables relates to funds due 
from the sale of  properties. These amounts are therefore secured on the properties as title will not be released until the funds 
have been received on completion. The balance of  trade and other receivables has no concentration of  credit risk as it comprises 
mainly prepayments and tax refunds due. 

The maximum amount of  credit exposure is therefore: 

Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Balance at end of  period

31 March 
2015

31 March 
2014

€’000

€’000

9,046 
139,048 

11,647 
291,690 

148,094 

303,337 

Annual Report 2015

77

23. Financial Instruments and risk management continued

c. Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. 

The  Group  ensures  that  it  has  sufficient  available  funds  to  meet  obligations  as  they  fall  due.  The  Investment  Manager  is 
responsible for this activity and the Board monitors its performance. 

Net current assets at the period end were: 

Net current assets at the period end

31 March 
2015

31 March 
2014

€’000

€’000

111,686

302,403

The  following  tables  show  total  liabilities  due  as  compared  with  funds  available.  No  account  is  taken  of   trade  and  other 
receivables due, rent income due under operating leases, or other cash in-flows. Only trade payables relating to cash expenditure 
are included, the balances relate either to non-cash items or deferred income. 

Liabilities due in less than one year:
Trade and other payables
Payable for investment property

Total liabilities due in less than one year

Funds available:
Cash and cash equivalents
Revolving credit facility undrawn

Total funds available - less than one year

Net funds available 

31 March 
2015

31 March 
2014

€’000

€’000

 5,190 
 42,697 

 934 
 - 

 47,887 

 934 

 139,048 
 100,000 

 291,690 
 - 

 239,048 

 291,690 

 191,161 

 290,756 

All financial liabilities for the Group fall due within one year. 

d. Capital management
The Group manages capital in order to ensure its continuance as a going concern. 

As the Group grows it is planned to finance up to 40% of  the market value of  the Group’s assets out of  borrowings in order 
to enhance the return on equity for its shareholders. This percentage may increase to 50% under the REIT regime and so the 
Group may modify this leverage from time to time taking into account current prevailing economic and market conditions. Any 
alteration in this leverage ratio would be an amendment to the investment policy and therefore require a shareholder vote. This 
leverage ratio will be monitored in the regular financial reporting and prior to entering into any borrowing arrangements in 
order to ensure this policy is maintained. 

Capital comprises share capital, reserves and retained earnings as disclosed in the Consolidated and Company statement of  
changes in equity. At 31 March 2015 the capital of  the Company was €753m (31 March 2014: €371m).

There are no external capital requirements on the Group. 

78

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Notes forming part of the annual report
continued

23. Financial Instruments and risk management continued

d. Capital management continued
Under the Irish REIT regime, the Group must distribute at least 85% of  its property income by way of  a Property Income 
Distribution (“PID”). Therefore, capital available for business growth will not be augmented by dividend policy. To grow the 
business,  the  Group  must  therefore  consider  the  need  to  seek  further  capital  in  the  market  given  both  the  inability  to  grow 
reserves and the restriction on its borrowings as a source of  increasing its portfolio size as discussed above. During the year ended 
31 March 2015, the Group launched a secondary equity issue as discussed in Note 17.

The  Company’s  share  capital  is  publicly  traded  on  the  London  and  Irish  Stock  Exchanges.  In  order  to  ensure  the  proper 
management of  the share register, the Group employs the services of  a share registrar, Capita Registrars (Ireland) Limited t/a 
Capita Asset Services. 

e. Fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities
Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market 
participants at the measurement date. 

For financial reporting purposes, fair value measurements are categorised into Level 1, 2 or 3 based on the degree to which inputs 
to the fair value measurements are observable and the significance of  the inputs to the fair value measurement in its entirety, 
which are described as follows:

Level 1: quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities
Level 2:  valuation techniques for which the lowest level of  inputs which have a significant effect on the recorded fair value are 

observable, either directly or indirectly

Level 3:  valuation techniques for which the lowest level of  inputs that have a significant effect on the recorded fair value are not 

based on observable market data

The following table shows the Group’s financial assets and liabilities and the methods used to calculate fair value. 

Asset/ Liability

Carrying value

Level

Method

Assumptions

Loan and 
receivables 

Amortised cost

3

Assessed in relation 
to collateral value

Trade 
and other 
receivables

Amortised cost

Trade and 
other payables

Amortised cost

2

2

Cash value

Cash value

Valuation of  collateral is subjective based 
on agents’ guide sales prices and market 
observation of  similar property sales where 
available

Most of  these are receivables in relation 
to the sale of  properties, prepayments or 
income tax refunds and therefore there is 
no objective information of  any loss and 
they are expected to be fully recoverable in 
the short term. No discounting is therefore 
applied

These are all accruals and will settle in the 
short term based on their cash value and 
therefore no discounting is applied

The Directors have determined that the carrying value of  loans and receivables approximates their fair value, based on their 
assessment of  the value of  the underlying collateral. The carrying value of  non-interest bearing financial assets and financial 
liabilities and cash and cash equivalents approximates their fair values, largely due to their short-term maturities. 

At 31 March 2015 the Group’s liability, payable due for investment property, is held at fair value based on the net present value 
discounted at a market interest rate. In addition, the written call option on the Windmill Lane site is held at fair value. Other than 
this, the Group had no financial assets or liabilities held at fair value. As at 31 March 2014, the Group had no financial assets or 
liabilities which were carried at fair value. 

Annual Report 2015

79

23. Financial Instruments and risk management continued

e. Fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities continued
The following tables present the classification of  financial assets and liabilities within the fair value hierarchy and the changes in 
fair values measurements at Level 3 estimated for the purposes of  making the above disclosure. 

31 March 
2015

 Carrying 
value 

€’000

152 

9,046 

 Level 1 

€’000

Level 2

€’000

Level 3

€’000

31 March 
2014

 Carrying 
value 

€’000

 Level 1 

€’000

Level 2

€’000

Level 3

€’000

 - 

 - 

 - 

152 

68,563 

9,046 

 - 

11,647 

 - 

 - 

 - 

68,563 

11,647 

 - 

139,048 
148,246 

139,048 
139,048 

 -
9,046 

- 
152 

291,690 
371,900 

291,690 
291,690 

- 
11,647 

 -
68,563 

12,210 

42,697 
54,907 

 - 

 - 
 - 

7,110 

5,100 

42,697 
49,807 

- 
5,100 

934 

 - 
934 

 - 

 - 
 - 

934 

 - 
934 

 - 

 - 
 - 

Financial assets
Loans and receivables
Trade and other 
receivables
Cash and Cash 
equivalents

Financial liabilities
Trade and other payables
Payable due for 
investment property

Fair value movements at level 3

Balance at start of  period

Transfers into level 3 
Transfers out of  level 3

Purchases, sales, issues and settlement
Purchases
Sales
Repayments
Fair value recognition
Amortisation

31 March 
2015

31 March 
2014

€’000

€’000

68,563 

 - 
(22,993)

550,603
 - 
(47,250)
85,768 
1,657

 - 

 - 
 - 

68,405 
-
-
-
158 

Balance at end of  period

636,348

68,563 

The Directors review and approve the valuations as part of  their review of  the financial statements. The Group’s policy is to 
recognise transfers into and out of  the fair value hierarchy levels as of  the date of  the event or change in circumstance that 
caused the transfer.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
80

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Notes forming part of the annual report
continued

24. Operating leases receivables

Future aggregate minimum rentals receivable (to the next break date) under non-cancellable operating leases are: 

Operating lease receivables due in: 
Less than one year
Between two and five years
Greater than five years

31 March 
2015

31 March 
2014

€’000

€’000

20,457 
41,469 
24,412 

86,338 

 - 
 - 
 - 

 - 

The Group leases its investment properties under operating leases. The weighted average unexpired lease term (WAULT) at 
31 March 2015 based on lease expiry date was 7.8 years or 3.9 years based on the next tenant break option date (31 March 
2014: n/a).

25. Investment in subsidiary undertakings

The Company has the following interests in ordinary shares in the following subsidiary undertakings at 31 March 2015. These 
subsidiaries are fully owned and consolidated within the Group. 

Name

Registered 
address/ 
Country of 
Incorporation

Shareholding/ 
Number of 
shares held

Directors

Hibernia REIT 
Finance Limited

Marine House, 
Clanwilliam Place, 
Dublin 2/ Ireland

100%/ 10

Hibernia REIT 
Holding Company 
Limited

Marine House, 
Clanwilliam Place, 
Dublin 2/ Ireland

100%/ 10

Mayor House 
Basement 
Management 
Limited

Lamourette 
Limited

Marine House, 
Clanwilliam Place, 
Dublin 2/ Ireland

100%/2

Marine House, 
Clanwilliam Place, 
Dublin 2/ Ireland

100%/2

The Group has no interests in unconsolidated subsidiaries. 

Daniel Kitchen, 
Colm Barrington, 
Stewart Harrington, 
Terence O’Rourke, 
William Nowlan

Richard Ball, 
Kevin Nowlan, 
Frank O’Neill

Richard Ball, 
Kevin Nowlan, 
Frank O’Neill

Richard Ball, 
Kevin Nowlan, 
Frank O’Neill

Company 
Secretary

Nature of 
business

Castlewood 
Corporate 
Services Limited

Financing 
activities

Castlewood 
Corporate 
Services Limited

Castlewood 
Corporate 
Services Limited

Castlewood 
Corporate 
Services Limited

Holding property 
interests

Property 
management 

Property 
management 

 
 
Annual Report 2015

81

26. Related Parties

26.1 Subsidiaries
All transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries are eliminated on consolidation. 

26.2 Investment Manager
The Group, pursuant to the Investment Management Agreement entered into on 27 November 2013, is managed by WK 
Nowlan  REIT  Management  Limited  (“The  Investment  Manager”).  WK  Nowlan  REIT  Management  Limited  is  wholly 
owned and controlled by Nowlan Property Limited and Mr. Frank Kenny. William Nowlan is the investment director of  the 
Investment Manager. Frank Kenny is the development director of  the Investment Manager. Both the Investment Manager 
and Nowlan Property Limited are considered to be related parties of  the Company. The following are the key management 
of  the Investment Manager:

Kevin Nowlan 

Richard Ball 

Chief  Executive Officer

Chief  Investment Officer

Tom Edwards-Moss

Chief  Financial Officer

William Nowlan 

Investment Director

Frank Kenny

Sean O’ Dwyer

Frank O’Neill 

Development Director

Risk and Compliance Officer

Chief  Operations Officer

All of  this team, with the exception of  Sean O’ Dwyer, are Directors of  the Investment Manager. The investment management 
fee covers the services of  this management team, save regulatory costs which are borne by the Company. 

At 31 March 2015, the Directors of  the Investment Manager held an aggregate of  2,059,894 shares in the Company, of  which 
600,000 are held by William Nowlan and 147,620 are held by Kevin Nowlan.

The Investment Management Agreement governs the provision of  investment management and related services to the Company 
by the Investment Manager. It has an initial term of  five years and will automatically continue for three consecutive year periods, 
unless terminated by the Company or the Investment Manager.

Investment Manager’s fees
Base Fee
The base fee for each quarter is payable quarterly in arrears and is calculated by reference to the following table. The fee is based 
on the EPRA Net Asset Value (NAV) and is the sum of  the following amounts:

EPRA NAV:

EPRA NAV

From

€’000,000
0
>450
>600
Uninvested net proceeds

EPRA NAV

Quarterly Base Fee

To

€’000,000
<=450
<=600

%

0.250
0.200
0.150
0.125

The total base fee earned by the Investment Manager in the period amounted to €4.7m (excluding VAT). The Company paid 
the Investment Manager €2.7m during the period in relation to the base fee and at the period end the Company owed the 
Investment Manager €1.6m with the remaining €0.4m being prepaid as at 31 March 2014.

The Investment Manager incurred “out of  pocket” expenses during the year to the amount of  €159k (excluding VAT). These 
costs were refunded by the Company in accordance with the Investment Management Agreement.

82

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Notes forming part of the annual report
continued

26. Related Parties continued
26.2 Investment Manager continued
Performance fee
A  performance  fee  may  also  paid  to  the  Investment  Manager  subject  to  the  Group  achieving  certain  returns  criteria.  The 
Performance Fee is calculated annually on a per Ordinary Share basis as to 50% by reference to the return to shareholders (via 
the calculation of  REIT IMA Shareholder Return) and as to 50% by reference to outperformance of  the Reference Index the 
“SCSI/IPD Ireland Quarterly Property Index-All Property Quarterly Index” (via the calculation of  the Relative Performance 
Fee). Performance fees due at 31 March 2015 were €5.8m. A reserve has been created for this amount (Note 18). Shares based 
on the average closing price for the 20 days prior to the issuing of  the performance fee invoice by the Investment Manager will 
be issued after the year end when the fees are agreed. 

26.3 Key management personnel
The non-executive directors are the only key management personnel of  the Group. The management functions are delegated 
to the Investment Manager under the Investment Management Agreement. Details on the investment management fees which 
compensate the Investment Manager for these functions are disclosed above. 

26.4 Other related party transactions
WK Nowlan Property Limited is an 80% owned subsidiary of  Nowlan Property Limited and was engaged on an arm’s length 
basis to carry out receivership and project management services in relation to the loan and property portfolios. A significant 
amount of  this work relates to the resolution of  the collateral properties that made up the Dorville portfolio of  loans. The fees 
paid for these services were benchmarked on normal commercial terms. These fees totalled €0.7m to 31 March 2015 (31 March 
2014:  €nil).  No  balances  were  owed  to  WK  Nowlan  Property  Limited  at  the  period  end.  William  Nowlan  is  Chairman  of  
Nowlan Property Limited and Frank O’Neill is a non-executive director.

There were no further related party transactions for the period.

27. Profit or loss of the parent company

The parent company of  the Group is Hibernia REIT plc. In accordance with Section 148(8) of  the Companies Act, 1963 and 
Section 7(1A) of  the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1986, the Parent Company is availing of  the exemption of  presenting its 
individual income statement to the Annual General Meeting and from filing it with the Registrar of  Companies. The Parent 
Company’s profit after tax for the year ended 31 March 2015 determined in accordance with IFRS is €92.2m (31 March 2014: 
€0.8m (Loss)).

28. Subsequent Events

1. On 30 April 2015 the Company acquired 35 – 37 Lower Camden St for a price of  €1.6m (€1.7m including costs). 

2. On 7 May 2015 the Company announced the acquisition of  11 Lime Street for €1.4m. 

3.  On 8 May 2015, the Company announced its intention to seek approval from its shareholders for the internalisation of  the 
investment Manager. Further information on this proposal is given in the Chairman’s Statement on pages 4 to 5 of  this Annual 
Report. 

 
Company statement of financial position
As at 31 March 2015

Annual Report 2015

83

Assets
Non-current assets
Investment Property
Loans to subsidiary

Current assets
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Non-current assets classified as held for sale
Total current assets

Total assets
Equity and liabilities
Capital and reserves
Issued capital and share premium
Retained earnings
Other reserves

Total equity
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Payable due for investment property
Total current liabilities

Total equity and liabilities

31 March 
2015

 31 March
2014 

Notes

 €’000 

 €’000 

c
d

e

f

g

h

i
j

641,296 
3,984 
645,280 

5,428 
138,652 
144,080 
18,499 
162,579 

 - 
68,416 
68,416 

11,647 
291,679 
303,326 
 - 
303,326 

807,859 

371,742 

657,987 
89,249 
5,772 

371,812 
(962)
 - 

753,008 

370,850 

12,154 
42,697 
54,851 

892 
 - 
892 

807,859 

371,742 

The notes on pages 86 to 89 form an integral part of  these Company financial statements. The Company financial statements 
on pages 83 to 89 were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of  Directors on 29 May 2015 and signed on its behalf  
by: 

Mr Daniel Kitchen 
Chairman 
29 May 2015 

Mr Terence O’Rourke
Director
29 May 2015

 
84

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Company statement of changes in equity
For the year ended 31 March 2015

Balance at start of  period
Total comprehensive income  
for the period
Profit for the period
Total other comprehensive income

Transactions with owners of the 
Company, recognised directly in equity
Dividends
Issue of  ordinary shares for cash
Share issue costs
Share based payments

h

1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015

Notes

Share Capital

Share Premium

€’000

€’000

Retained 
earnings

€’000

Other reserves

€’000

Total

€’000

38,500 

333,312 

(962)

 - 

370,850 

 - 
 - 
38,500 

 - 
28,532 
 - 
 - 

 - 
 - 
333,312 

 - 
271,052 
(13,409)
 - 

92,222 
 - 
91,260 

(2,011)
 - 
 - 
 - 

 - 
 - 
 - 

92,222 
 - 
463,072 

 - 
 - 
 - 
5,772 

(2,011)
299,584 
(13,409)
5,772 

Balance at end of  period

67,032 

590,955 

89,249 

5,772 

753,008 

13 August 2013 to 31 March 2014

Share Capital

Share Premium Retained earnings

Other reserves

€’000

€’000

€’000

€’000

Total comprehensive income  
for the period
Loss for the period
Total other comprehensive income

Transactions with owners of the 
Company, recognised directly in equity
Issue of  ordinary shares for cash
Share issue costs

 - 
 - 
 - 

 - 
 - 
 - 

38,500 
 - 

346,500 
(13,188)

(962)
 - 
(962)

 - 
 - 

Balance at end of  period

38,500 

333,312 

(962)

The notes on pages 86 to 89 form an integral part of  these Company financial statements.

 - 
 - 
 - 

 - 
 - 

 - 

Total

€’000

(962)
 - 
(962)

385,000 
(13,188)

370,850 

 
 
Company statement of cash flows
For the year ended 31 March 2015

Cash flows from operating activities
Profit/(loss) for the period
Adjusted for: 
Revaluation of  investment properties
Other gains and losses
Share based payment
Rental income paid in advance/(accrued)
Finance (income)/expense
Income tax expense

(Increase) in trade and other receivables
Increase in trade and other payables
Net cash flow from operating activities 
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of  investment property
Development and Refurbishment Expenditure
Purchase of  non-current assets classified as held for sale
Sale of  non-current assets classified as held for sale
Decrease/(Increase) in inter-company loans
Finance income
Finance expense
Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flow from financing activities
Dividends paid
Arrangement fee paid re bank facility
Proceeds from the issue of  ordinary share capital
Share issue costs
Net cash inflow from financing activities

Net (decrease)/Increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents period start
(Decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents
Net cash and cash equivalents at period end

The notes on pages 86 to 89 form an integral part of  these Company financial statements.

Annual Report 2015

85

 1 April 2014 
to 31 March 
2015 

 13 August 2013 
to 31 March 
2014 

 €’000 

 €’000 

92,222 

(962)

(80,809)
(7,691)
5,772 
9 
1,575 
691 
11,769 
(1,056)
3,355 
14,068 

(483,861)
(12,173)
(23,534)
6,297 
63,933 
399 
(1,820)
(450,759)

(2,011)
(500)
299,584 
(13,409)
283,664 

(153,027)
291,679 
(153,027)
138,652 

 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
(214)
 - 
(1,176)
(600)
392 
(1,384)

(11,010)
 - 
 - 
-
(67,916)
-
177 
(78,749)

 - 
 - 
385,000 
(13,188)
371,812 

291,679
 - 
291,679 
291,679 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
86

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Notes to the company financial statements

a. Accounting policies and critical accounting estimates and judgements

The  Company’s  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards 
(IFRS) and IFRS Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) interpretations as adopted by the European Union (EU) and with those 
parts of  the Companies Acts, 1963 to 2013 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS. The financial statements reflect the 
financial position of  the Company only and do not consolidate the results of  any subsidiaries. The financial statements have 
been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified to include the fair valuation of  certain financial instruments 
and land and buildings. The significant accounting policies of  the parent company are the same as those of  the Group which 
are set out in Note 4 to the consolidated financial statements on pages 62 to 64 of  the Group’s Annual Report. The Company’s 
investments  in  its  subsidiaries  are  stated  at  cost  less  any  impairment.  The  preparation  of   financial  statements  in  conformity 
with IFRS requires the use of  estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of  assets and liabilities at the date 
of  the financial statements and the reported amounts of  revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Although these 
estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of  the amount, event or actions, actual results ultimately may differ from 
those estimates. A description of  the key estimates and significant judgements is set out in Note 3.(f) and 3.(g) to the consolidated 
financial statements on pages 59 to 60 of  the Group’s Annual Report.

Impairment review of shares in Group undertakings
The Company reviews its shares in Group undertakings for impairment at each reporting date. Impairment testing involves the 
comparison of  the carrying value of  the investment with its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of  the 
investment’s fair value or its value in use. Value in use is the present value of  expected future cash flows from the investment. Fair 
value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market 
participants at the measurement date. Impairment testing inherently involves a number of  judgemental areas: the preparation 
of  cash flow forecasts for periods that are beyond the normal requirements of  management reporting; the assessment of  the 
discount rate appropriate to the business; estimation of  the fair value of  the investment; and the valuation of  the separable assets 
comprising the overall investment in the Group undertaking. The use of  reasonably possible alternative assumptions would not 
materially impact the carrying value of  the Company’s shares in Group undertakings. See note k for further information.

b. Auditors’ remuneration 

Fees paid to the external auditor
Audit of  financial statements
Other assurance services
Tax advisory services
Other non-audit services

Total 

 1 April 2014 
to 31 March 
2015 

 13 August 2013 
to 31 March 
2014 

 €’000 

 €’000 

85 
17 
97 
226 

30 
 - 
30 
220 

425 

280 

The other non-audit fees were charged in relation to the Company’s share offering, €225,894 to 31 March 2015 (31 March 2014: 
€220,000 relating to the Initial Public Offering).

c. Investment properties

 For further information on investment properties refer to Note 13 of  the consolidated financial statements.

d. Loans to subsidiary

Balance at start of  period
Loan advances
Loan repayments
Interest income at effective interest rate

Balance at end of  period 

Annual Report 2015

87

31 March 
2015

31 March 
2014

 €’000 

 €’000 

68,416 
93,107 
(161,711)
4,172

-
68,258 
 - 
158 

3,984 

68,416 

This represents funding supplied to the Company’s subsidiary, Hibernia REIT Finance Limited, for the purchase of  loans and 
loan portfolios over collateral properties. The majority of  these properties are destined for the investment property portfolio of  
the Company. These loans are all at current market rates.

e. Trade and other receivables

Deposit paid on investment property
Due from sale of  non-current assets classified as held for sale
Amounts receivable from related parties
Property income receivables
Prepayments
Arrangement fee
VAT refundable

Balance at end of  period

31 March 
2015

 31 March 
2014 

 €’000 

 €’000 

 - 
1,467 
 - 
1,911 
261 
394 
1,395 

11,010 
 - 
366 
 - 
110 
-
161 

5,428 

11,647 

There are no amounts past due. The Directors consider that the carrying value of  trade and receivables approximates to their 
fair  value.  The  amounts  receivable  from  the  sale  of   non-current  assets  classified  as  held  for  sale  relate  to  monies  due  from 
the sale of  a number of  properties which were originally held as collateral for loans due in a subsidiary company. Apart from 
this amount, there is no concentration of  credit risk with respect to trade receivables as the balance relates mainly to either 
prepayments or refunds due on taxes. 

f. Non-current assets classified as held for sale

For further information on non-current assets classified as held for sale refer to Note 16 of  the consolidated financial statements.

g. Issued share capital and share premium

For further information on issued share capital refer to Note 17 of  the consolidated financial statements

h. Other reserves

For further information on share based payments refer to Note 18 of  the consolidated financial statements.

88

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Notes to the company financial statements
continwd

i. Trade and other payables

Accrued investment property costs
Loan acquisition costs
Fair value of  written call option
Rent deposits and early payments
Investment management fee payable -base
Trade and other payables
PAYE/PRSI
Capital gains tax payable 

31 March 
2015

 31 March 
2014 

 €’000 

 €’000 

687 
 - 
5,100 
1,920 
1,625 
2,097 
36 
689 

 - 
500 
-
 - 
 - 
356 
36 
- 

Balance at end of  period

12,154 

892 

For further information on trade and other payables refer to Note 20 of  the consolidated financial statements.

j. Payable due for investment property

For further information refer to Note 21 of  the consolidated financial statements

k. Financial instruments and risk management

The Company has identified exposure to the following risks: 
Market risk
Credit Risk
Liquidity risk

The substantial majority of  these risks for the Group are held by the Company and managed at the Group level. Therefore the 
policies for managing each of  these and the principal effects of  these policies on the results for the period are summarised in 
Note 23 of  the Annual Report. 

The following tables present the classification of  financial assets and liabilities within the fair value hierarchy and the changes in 
fair values measurements at Level 3 estimated for the Company only for the purposes of  making the disclosures in Note 23 of  
the Annual Report. Assets held at level 3 include investment properties in addition to the loans and receivables and written call 
option (trade and other payables) included in the below table of  financial assets and liabilities. 

Financial assets
Loans to subsidiary
Trade and other receivables
Cash and Cash equivalents

Financial liabilities
Trade and other payables
Payable due for investment 
property

31 March 
2015

 Carrying 
value 

 Level 1 

€’000

€’000

31 March 
2014

 Carrying 
value 

 Level 1 

€’000

€’000

Level 2

€’000

Level 3

€’000

Level 2

€’000

Level 3

€’000

 - 
3,984 
 - 
5,428 
138,652 
138,652 
148,064  138,652 

 - 
5,428 
 - 
5,428 

3,984 
 - 
 - 

 - 
68,416 
 - 
11,647 
291,679 
291,679 
3,984  371,742  291,679 

 - 
11,647 
 - 
11,647 

68,416 
 - 
  - 
68,416 

12,154 

42,697 
54,851 

 - 

 - 
 - 

7,054 

5,100 

42,697 
49,751 

 - 
5,100 

892 

 - 
892 

 - 

 - 
 - 

892 

 - 
892 

 - 

 - 
 - 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
k. Financial instruments and risk management continued

Fair value movements at level 3

Balance at start of  period

Transfers into level 3 
Transfers out of  level 3

Purchases, sales, issues and settlement
Purchases
Sales
Repayments
Fair value recognition
Amortisation

Annual Report 2015

89

31 March 
2015

31 March 
2014

€’000

€’000

68,416 

 - 
(22,993)

643,710 
 - 
(138,719)
85,768 
3,998 

 - 

 - 
 - 

68,416 
 - 
 - 
 - 
 - 

Balance at end of  period

640,180 

68,416 

The Company has, in addition to the short term bank deposits and trade payables and receivables, loans to subsidiary financial 
assets, the risks of  which correspond to the risks of  the loans and receivables discussed for the Group risks as these loans were 
made to facilitate the purchase of  the loans and receivables portfolio for the Group. 

l. Dividends

For information on the dividends refer to Note 11 of  the consolidated financial statements

m. Investment in subsidiary undertakings

For information on the Company’s holdings in subsidiaries refer to Note 25 of  the consolidated financial statements. 

n. Related parties

For information on related parties refer to Note 26 of  the consolidated financial statements. 

o. Profit or loss of the parent company. 

The parent company of  the Group is Hibernia REIT plc. In accordance with Section 148(8) of  the Companies Act, 1963 and 
Section 7(1A) of  the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1986, the parent company is availing of  the exemption of  presenting its 
individual income statement to the Annual General Meeting and from filing it with the Registrar of  Companies. The parent 
company’s profit after tax for the year ended 31 March 2015 determined in accordance with IFRS is €92.2million (31 March 
2014: €0.9m (Loss)).

p. Subsequent events

For information on subsequent events refer to Note 28 of  the consolidated financial statements. 

90

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Supplementary disclosures (unaudited)

European Real Estate Association (EPRA) Performance Measures
EPRA performance measures are calculated according to the EPRA Best Practices Recommendations December 2014. EPRA 
performance measures are used in order to enhance transparency and comparability with other public real estate investment 
companies in Europe. EPRA has consulted with investors and preparers of  information in order to compile its recommendations. 
Using these measures ensures that the Group’s investors can compare the Group’s performance on a like for like basis with other 
similar companies. 

EPRA measures are discussed in the Investment Manager’s Report on pages 7 to 13. Further detail on these measures is set out 
below, including their calculation and reconciliation to the financial statements where applicable. 

Table 1: Summary of EPRA performance measures 

Year ended 

31 March 2015 

Period ended

31 March 2014

€ ‘000

cent per share

€ ‘000

cent per share

EPRA Earnings

EPRA NAV
EPRA NNNAV

EPRA NIY
EPRA “topped-up” NIY
EPRA vacancy rate

- basic
- diluted

3,961 
3,961 
 754,579 
 754,218 

(i)

(ii)
(ii)

(iii)
(iii)
(iv)

(846)
(846)
 370,966 
 370,966 

 0.8 
 0.8 
 111.8 
 111.7 

4.4%
4.9%
3.0%

(0.2)
(0.2)
96.4 
96.4 

n/a
n/a
n/a

Calculation and explanation of EPRA performance measures
(i) EPRA Earnings
EPRA earnings are presented as they are important for investors who want to assess the extent to which dividends are supported 
by recurring income. They indicate the extent to which current dividend payments are supported by earnings. 

IFRS Profit/(loss) for the period after taxation
Exclude: 
Changes in fair value of  investment properties
Fair value of  written call option
Loan income from asset disposals (net)1
Profit and loss on disposals of  non-core assets 
Tax in respect of  EPRA adjustments
EPRA earnings

Weighted average number of  shares

Basic
Potential shares to be issued re performance fees
Diluted number of  shares

EPRA Earnings per share - (cents)
Diluted EPRA earnings per share (cents)

31 March 
2015

31 March 
2014

€ ‘000

€ ‘000

92,232

(846)

(90,868)
5,100 
(454)
(2,732)
683 
3,961 

 - 
  - 
 - 
 - 
 - 
(846) 

500,690 

383,559 

4,664 
505,354 

 -
383,559 

0.8 
0.8 

(0.2)
(0.2)

1  Loan income from asset disposals comprises profit on the sale of  collateral assets which is recognised under IFRS as part of  the effective interest rate on loans. However, since 
it arises from asset disposals it is deducted from EPRA income in the above calculation. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annual Report 2015

91

(ii) EPRA NAV and EPRA NNNAV
The objective of  these measures is to highlight the fair value of  net assets on an on-going, long-term basis. Therefore assets which 
are not expected to crystallize in normal circumstances are excluded while trading properties are adjusted to their fair value. The 
Group presents its investment properties in its financial statements at fair value as allowed under IAS 40 and has no items not 
expected to crystallise in a long term investment property business model. EPRA NAV as calculated includes an adjustment for 
the revaluation of  other non-current assets held for sale. Under the provisions of  IFRS 5 these are held at the lower of  cost or 
net realisable value. In order to make this adjustment the Directors have estimated the fair value based on expected sales value 
derived from sale of  similar properties in the recent past and agents guide prices. As these assets are subject to tax, a deferred 
tax adjustment is also made. There are no adjustments for fair value required to EPRA NAV in order to reach EPRA NNNAV.

NAV per the Financial statements
Revaluation of  other non-current assets held for sale
EPRA NAV

Deferred tax on the revaluation of  other non-current  
assets held for sale
EPRA NNNAV

Ordinary shares in issue
Estimated additional shares due for issue  
from performance reserve

Ordinary shares in issue including  
performance shares to be issued -”diluted”

31 March 2015

31 March 2014

€ ‘000

cent per share

€ ‘000

cent per share

753,134 
1,445 
754,579 

(361)
754,218 

670,317 

4,664 

674,981 

111.8 

111.7 

370,966 
 - 
370,966 

 - 
370,966 

385,000 

 - 

385,000 

96.4 

96.4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
92

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Supplementary disclosures (unaudited)
continued

(iii) EPRA Net Initial Yield (EPRA NIY) and EPRA “topped-up” Net Initial Yield (EPRA “topped-up” NIY)
EPRA NIY: This measures the inherent yield of  the portfolio according to set guidelines to allow investors to compare real 
estate investment companies across Europe on a consistent basis, using current cash passing rent. The EPRA “topped-up” NIY 
measures yield based on rents adjusted for the expiration of  lease incentives, i.e. on a contracted rent free period.

Investment property at fair value
Developments / Refurbishments1:

Completed property portfolio
Allowance for purchasers’ costs (per CBRE valuation report)

Gross up completed property portfolio

Annualised cash passing rental income
Property outgoings

Annualised net rents

Expiration of  lease incentives and fixed uplifts

“Topped-up” annualised net rent

EPRA NIY
EPRA “topped-Up” NIY

1 Commerzbank House is included at 77% of  floor space representing area being refurbished

1 April 2014 
to 31 March 
2015

13 August 2013 
to 31 March 
2014

€ ‘000

€ ‘000

 641,296 
(195,078)

446,218 
19,052 

465,270 

20,524 
(167)

20,357 

2,214 

22,571 

4.4%
4.9%

 - 

 - 
 - 

-

 - 
 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

0.0%
0.0%

(iv) EPRA vacancy rate
This provides comparable and consistent vacancy data for investors based on the independent valuers’ assessment of  ERV. 

Annualised ERV vacant units
Annualised ERV completed portfolio1

EPRA vacancy rate

1 The part of  Commerzbank House undergoing refurbishment is not treated as a vacant nor completed property

1 April 2014 
to 31 March 
2015

13 August 2013 
to 31 March 
2014

€ ‘000

€ ‘000

 756 
 25,326 

 - 
 - 

3.0%

 n/a 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annual Report 2015

93

Other disclosures 

1.   Disclosures required under the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (“AIFMD”) 

for Annual Reports of Alternative Investment Funds (“AIF”s) 

a. Material changes and periodic risk management disclosures
 All disclosure requirements to be made to investors prior to their investing in the Company are made on the Company’s 
website,  www.hiberniareit.com.  The  Company  published  a  prospectus  for  the  second  equity  offering  in  October  2014, 
which details all the information required. There have been no material changes to this information other than has been 
disclosed in the Annual Report on pages 4 to 5.

b. Financial information disclosures
 There were no realised gains or losses on investments during the period as no investment properties were sold. Included 
within the unrealised gains disclosed under IFRS there is a total of  €0.7m in unrealised losses. 

c. Remuneration disclosures
 The Investment Manager, WK Nowlan REIT Management Limited, has adopted a Remuneration Policy with the objective 
of  aligning the interests of  employees of  WKNRM with the creation of  long term value for the shareholders of  WKNRM 
and  Hibernia  REIT  plc.  The  remuneration  paid  takes  account  of   the  remuneration  paid  in  similar  organisations,  the 
regulatory and governance framework and the current economic climate. The key elements comprising remuneration are 
base salary, pension contribution and annual bonus to a maximum of  100% of  annual salary. Where the annual bonus 
exceeds certain monetary amounts there is a requirement that a portion of  the total bonus be invested in shares of  Hibernia 
REIT plc. Performance related remuneration takes account of  individual performance and the financial performance of  
the Investment Manager and Hibernia REIT plc

 The total remuneration paid to the staff  of  the Investment Manager in the period, all of  whom are engaged in managing 
the Group activities, was €2,206,416 of  which €1,404,250 comprised fixed remuneration and €802,165 comprised variable 
remuneration. The number of  staff  employed during the period was 17. 

2.  Occupiers representing over 0.5% of rent

Tenant Occupiers Representing over 0.5% of total contracted rent

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21

Office of  Public Works
FBD Holdings Plc.
Bank of  Ireland
Bank of  New York
DEPFA Bank PLC
Riot Games Limited
Deloitte & Touche1
Park Rite
Capita 
Renaissance Services of  Europe Ltd.
JMC Van Trans Ltd
Realex
Morgan Stanley
Bearingpoint Ireland Limited
Gala networks Europe Limited
Quinn McDonnell Pattison Limited
Wella (U.K.) Limited
Prudential Int. Services Ltd, 
Triode Newhill Hanover St. Ltd. T/A Eurospar
Guggenheim Partners Europe Ltd
Open Hydro Group

 €’m 
5.5 
2.9 
2.8 
2.2 
2.0 
1.2 
1.0 
0.7 
0.7 
0.4 
0.4 
0.4 
0.2 
0.3 
0.3 
0.3 
0.2 
0.2 
0.2 
0.1 
0.1 

%
24.0
12.7
12.5
9.7
9.0
5.3
4.5
3.2
3.1
2.0
1.9
1.8
0.8
1.3
1.3
1.2
1.0
0.9
0.7
0.6
0.6

 1  Deloitte & Touche is a tenant of  Hardwicke House, which is an investment property of  the Group. Deloitte & Touche were in situ when the Group acquired its 

interest in the building and all lease arrangements are at arm’s length. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
94

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Directors and other information

Depository 

Registrar

Principal Legal
Advisers

Corporate 
Brokers

Credit Suisse International, 
Dublin Branch
Kilmore House
Park Lane
Spencer Dock
Dublin 1
Ireland

Capita Registrars (Ireland) 
Limited t/a Capita Asset Services
2 Grand Canal Square
Dublin 2
Ireland

A&L Goodbody
25/28 North Wall Quay
IFSC
Dublin 1
Ireland

Goodbody Stockbrokers
Ballsbridge Park
Ballsbridge
Dublin 4
Ireland

Credit Suisse Securities  
(Europe) Limited
One Cabot Square
London E14 4QJ
United Kingdom

Directors

Secretary 

Registered Office

Daniel Kitchen (Chairman)
Colm Barrington (Senior 
Independent Director)
Stewart Harrington
William Nowlan
Terence O’Rourke

Castlewood Corporate  
Services Limited 
(Trading as Chartered  
Corporate Services)
Taney Hall
Eglinton Terrace
Dundrum
Dublin 14
Ireland

Marine House
Clanwilliam Place
Dublin 2
Ireland

Company Number

531267

Independent
Auditor

Deloitte & Touche
Chartered Accountants and 
Statutory Audit Firm
Hardwicke House
Hatch Street
Dublin 2
Ireland

Investment Manager WK Nowlan REIT Management
Limited
Marine House
Clanwilliam Place
Dublin 2
Ireland

Independent Valuer CBRE Dublin

Principal Bankers

3rd Floor, Connaught House 
1 Burlington Road 
Dublin 4
Ireland

Bank of  Ireland
50-55 Baggot Street Lower
Dublin 2
Ireland

Glossary

Annual Report 2015

95

AIF is an Alternative Investment Fund.

AIFM is an Alternative Investment Fund Manager. 

EPRA NNNAV is the EPRA NAV adjusted to reflect the fair 
value of  debt and derivatives and to include deferred taxation 
on revaluations.

Cash passing rent is the gross property rent receivable on 
a cash basis as at the reporting date. It includes sundry items 
such  as  car  parks  rent  and  estimates  of   rents  in  respect  of  
unsettled rent reviews. 

EPRA  Topped-up  Net  Initial  Yield  is  calculated  as  the 
EPRA NIY but adjusting the cash passing rent for contractually 
agreed uplifts, where these are not in lieu of  rental growth. 

Contracted  rent  is  the  annualised  rent  adjusted  for  the 
inclusion of  rent that is subject to a rental incentive such as a 
rent free or reduced rent period. 

EPRA  vacancy  rate  is  the  Estimated  Rental  Value  (ERV) 
of   vacant  space  divided  by  the  ERV  of   the  whole  portfolio, 
excluding  developments  and  residential  property.  This  is  the 
inverse of  the occupancy rate. 

Developer’s profit is the profit on cost estimated by valuers 
which  is  typically  a  percentage  of   developer’s  costs,  usually 
20%. 

EPS or Earnings per share is the profit after taxation divided 
by the weighted average number of  shares in issue during the 
period.

Development  construction  cost  is  the  total  costs  of  
construction to completion, excluding site and financing costs. 
Finance costs are assumed at a notional 6% per annum by the 
valuers. 

Equivalent  yield  is  the  weighted  average  of   the  initial 
yield  and  reversionary  yield  and  represents  the  return  that 
a property will produce based on the occupancy data of  the 
tenant leases. 

EPRA is the European Public Real Estate Association, which 
is the industry body for European REITs

EPRA cost ratio (including direct vacancy costs) is the 
ratio  of   net  overheads  and  operating  expenses  against  gross 
rental  income.  Net  overheads  and  operating  expenses  relate 
to all administrative and operating expenses net of  any service 
fees, recharges or other income which is specifically intended 
to cover overhead and property expenses. 

EPRA cost ratio (excluding direct vacancy costs) is the 
same as above except it excludes direct vacancy costs. 

EPRA earnings are the profit after tax excluding revaluations 
and  gains  and losses  on  disposals  and  associated taxation  (if  
any). 

Estimated  Rental  Value  (ERV)  or  market  rental  value  is 
the external valuers’ opinion as to what the open market rental 
value of  the property is on the valuation date, and which could 
reasonably  be  expected  to  be  the  rent  obtainable  on  a  new 
letting on that property on the valuation date. 

Fair  value  movement  is  the  accounting  adjustment  to 
change  the  book  value  of   the  asset  or  liability  to  its  market 
value. 

Gross rental income is the accounting based rental income 
under IFRS. When the Group provides incentives to its tenants 
the incentives are recognised over the lease term on a straight 
line  basis  in  accordance  with  IFRS.  Gross  rental  income  is 
therefore the cash passing rent as adjusted for the spreading 
of  these incentives. 

EPRA  NAV  per  share  is  the  EPRA  NAV  divided  by  the 
diluted number of  shares at the period end. 

IPO is the Initial Public Offering, i.e. the first equity raising 
of  the Company. 

EPRA  net  assets  (EPRA  NAV)  are  defined  as  the  IFRS 
assets  excluding  the  mark  to  market  on  effective  cash  flow 
hedges and related debt instruments and deferred taxation on 
revaluations. 

EPRA  Net  Initial  Yield  (NIY)  is  the  cash  passing  rent 
generated by the investment portfolio, less estimated recurring 
irrecoverable  property  costs  expressed  as  a  percentage  of  
the  portfolio  valuation  as  adjusted.  The  portfolio  valuation 
is  adjusted  by  the  exclusion  of   development  and  residential 
properties  and  the  addition  of   purchaser’s  costs  where 
applicable. 

IPD  is  the  Investment  Property  Databank  Limited  which 
is  part  of   the  MSCI  Group  and  produces  an  independent 
benchmark of  property returns and which provides the Group 
with the performance information required in calculating the 
performance based management fee. 

Net development value is the external valuers’ view on the 
end value of  a development property when the building is fully 
completed and let. 

96

HIBERNIA REIT PLC

Glossary
continued

Net equivalent yield is the weighted average income return 
(after  allowing  for  notional  purchaser’s  costs)  a  property  will 
produce  base  on  the  timing  of   the  income  received.  As  is 
normal  practice,  the  equivalent  yield  (as  determined  by  the 
external valuers) assumes rent is received annually in arrears. 

Net reversionary yield is the expected yield after the rent 
reverts to the ERV. 

NIA is the Net Internal Area.

Occupancy rate is the estimated rental value of  let units as a 
percentage of  the total estimated rental value of  the portfolio, 
excluding development properties. 

Over rented is used to describe when the contracted rent is 
higher than the ERV. 

Property  Income  Distributions  (PIDs)  are  dividends 
distributed by a REIT that are subject to taxation in the hands 
of   the  shareholders.  Normal  withholding  tax  still  applies  in 
most cases. 

REIT  is  a  Real  Estate  Investment  Trust  as  set  out  under 
section 705 E of  the Finance Act 2013.

Reversion is the rent uplift where the ERV is higher than the 
contracted rent. 

Tenant  or  lease  incentives  are  incentives  offered  to 
occupiers  on  entering  into  a  new  lease  and  may  include  a 
rent free or reduced rent period, or a cash contribution to fit-
out.  Under  accounting  rules  the  value  of   these  incentives  is 
amortised through the rental income on a straight line basis 
over the term of  the lease or the period to the next break point. 

Total  shareholder  return  is  the  growth  in  share  value 
over a period assuming dividends are reinvested to purchase 
additional units of  stock. 

Under rented is the term used to describe where contracted 
rents  are  lower  than  ERV.  This  implies  a  positive  reversion 
after expiry of  the current lease contract terms. 

Cover image:

Dublin’s Samuel Beckett Bridge  
by night

Annual Report 2015

97

Shareholders’ information

Hibernia REIT plc website: 
http://www.hiberniareit.com

Investor contacts

Hibernia REIT plc 
Marine House 
Clanwilliam Place 
Dublin 2

For investor queries please send an email to:  info@hiberniareit.com
For media enquiries please send an email to: media@hiberniareit.com

Hardwicke House

Hatch Street
Dublin 2

This Annual Report contains forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks and uncertainties because they relate to expectations, 
beliefs,  projections,  future  plans  and  strategies,  anticipated  events  or  trends,  and  similar  expressions  concerning  matters  that  are  not 
historical facts.  Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the 
actual results, performance or achievements of  the Company or the industry in which it operates, to be materially different from any future 
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.  The forward-looking statements speak 
only as at the date of  this Annual Report.  The Company will not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revision or updates 
to these forward-looking statements to reflect future events, circumstances, unanticipated events, new information or otherwise except as 
required by law or by any appropriate regulatory authority. 

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Marine House
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Dublin 2

Email: 

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