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Supermarket Income REIT plc

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FY2019 Annual Report · Supermarket Income REIT plc
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SUPERMARKET INCOME REIT  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2019 

CLICK & COLLECT 
AT STORE

TRADITIONAL  
IN-STORE

HOME DELIVERY 
FROM STORE

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE MODEL OF UK GROCERY

STRATEGIC REPORT  |  WHO WE ARE 

Supermarket Income REIT plc (LSE: SUPR) is a real estate investment  
trust dedicated to investing in property which enables the future model  
of UK grocery. 

We invest in omnichannel supermarkets:

TRADITIONAL  
IN-STORE

CLICK & COLLECT 
AT STORE

HOME DELIVERY 
FROM STORE

With highly attractive lease terms:

LONG 
LEASE 
LENGTHS

INFLATION 
LINKED 
RENT  
REVIEWS

STRONG 
TENANT  
COVENANTS

18 YEARS AVERAGE  
UNEXPIRED LEASE TERM1

UPWARD-ONLY  
INFLATION LINKED  
RENT REVIEWS

MORRISONS, TESCO AND 
SAINSBURY’S

Providing regular, sustainable, inflation-linked income with strong total shareholder returns:

5.6

PENCE

8.0%

5.8

PENCE

TOTAL DIVIDEND  
DECLARED FY 19

TOTAL SHAREHOLDER 
RETURN FY 19

TARGET  
DIVIDEND FY 202

1   Excludes post balance sheet event 
2  This is a target dividend not a forecast

CONTENTS
STRATEGIC REPORT  
1  Highlights 
2  Chairman’s Statement 
4  Key performance indicators 
5  Our Portfolio 
9 
14  Our Market 
20  Our Principal Risks

 Investment Adviser’s Report 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
26  Board of Directors 
27  Investment Adviser 
28   Corporate Governance 

Statement

33  Audit Committee Report
37  Directors’ Report
39   Directors’ Remuneration 

Report

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
44   Independent Auditors’ Report 
50  Consolidated Statements 
54   Notes to the Consolidated 
Financial Statements
75  Company Statements 
77   Notes to the Company 
Financial Statements 
79   Unaudited Supplementary 

42   Directors’ Responsibilities 

Information

Statement

43   Alternative Investment Fund 

83  Glossary
84   Contacts and Company 

Manager’s Report

Details

2     S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

STRATEGIC REPORT  |  HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE YEAR

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 

EPRA EPS 

Quarterly dividend per share 

EPRA NAV per share 

Total net assets 

Annualised passing rent  

Loan to value 

Portfolio net initial yield 

Total shareholder return 

30 June 2019 

30 June 2018 

5.0p 

1.419p 

97p 

£230.5m 

£19.2m 

36.3% 

4.9% 

8.0% 

3.8p1 

1.375p 

96p 

£176.7m  

£13.7m1 

32.4% 

4.9% 

8.0% 

Change

+31.6%

+3.2%

+1.0%

+30.4%

+40.1%

+3.9%3

–

–

•  Quarterly dividends up 3.2% since September 2018 in line with UK RPI inflation 

•  Investment properties independently valued on 30 June 2019 at £368.2 million  

(2018: £264.9 million)

  ›   4.8% growth above the Portfolio acquisition price (excluding acquisition costs) 

  ›   1.3% up on a like for like basis

• 3.2% average rent review increase for the Year in line with UK RPI inflation (2018: 3.6%)

BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS

•  Acquisition of two accretive omnichannel supermarket assets at an aggregate purchase 

price of £96.7 million:

  ›  New assets average acquisition NIY 5.1% vs Portfolio average of 4.9%
  ›  New assets 21 year WAULT vs Portfolio 18 year WAULT
• £56.3 million total equity raised in the Year
  ›  £45.0 million oversubscribed Placing and Offer for Subscription in March 2019 
  ›  £11.3 million issued in part consideration of a supermarket acquisition in April 2019

• Justin King former CEO of Sainsbury’s joined Atrato as Senior Adviser March 2019

POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS 

•  Acquisition of an eighth supermarket, a Sainsbury’s superstore in Preston, Lancashire 
with an unexpired lease term of 23 years, for £54.4 million (net of acquisition costs), 
reflecting a net initial yield of 5.1%

•  £47.6 million debt facility and an uncommitted £40 million accordion option provided  

by Deka Bank, fixed at 1.9% for the five year term of the facility

1  2018 comparative period is for the 13 months from 1 June 2017 to 30 June 2018

2  FTSE EPRA NAREIT UK index

3  Movement in percentage

A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9        1

  
 
 
STRATEGIC REPORT  |  CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

I am delighted to report to you another year of 
strong performance by the Group and am pleased  
to present the Group’s results for the year ended 
30 June 2019.

Overview
We invest in omnichannel stores which we believe are 
the future model of grocery in the UK. Omnichannel 
supermarkets operate both as physical supermarkets  
and as online fulfilment centres. 

Our Portfolio is let on fully repairing and insuring lease 
terms (“FRI”), with upward-only, RPI-linked rent 
reviews, providing an annualised passing rent roll of 
£19.2 million with a current weighted average unexpired 
lease term of 18 years3. This stable, inflation linked 
income stream enabled us to declare dividends totalling 
5.6 pence per share for the year (13 months to 30 June 
2018: 5.5 pence), and we are announcing a further 2.9% 
increase in our quarterly dividend target from October 
2019 to an annualised 5.8 pence per ordinary share,  
with the first quarterly dividend of 1.46 pence per share 
expected to be declared in January 2020 and paid in 
February 2020. We are again increasing the dividend  
in line with UK RPI inflation for the year.

We have acquired three additional supermarkets 
(including one post balance sheet) totalling £151.1 
million. The new assets are accretive to both portfolio 
yield and portfolio unexpired lease term. These 
acquisitions were in part financed by the oversubscribed 
£45.0 million share placing in March 2019 and the 
allotment of £11.3 million of Ordinary Shares in April 
2019. The latter was made in part consideration for the 
purchase of the Tesco Extra supermarket in Mansfield, 
Nottinghamshire for £45.0 million. We are especially 
pleased to have been able to use Ordinary Shares in  
the Company as part consideration in a supermarket 
acquisition for the first time. We believe there are many 
owners of supermarket properties that would benefit 
from swapping their ownership into shares in 
Supermarket Income REIT, gaining both diversification, 
specialist management and the benefits of our REIT 
corporate wrapper. 

2     S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

Nick Hewson Chairman

Financial results
The Group’s investment properties were independently 
valued on 30 June 2019 at £368.2 million, an increase of 
4.8% above the aggregate acquisition price (excluding 
acquisition costs) and providing like for like growth of 1.3%. 

All our properties have contractual, upward-only, 
inflation-linked rental uplifts and average rental increases 
were 3.2% in the year (13 months to 30 June 2018: 3.6%). 
The high degree of certainty of income inherent in the 
Group’s long, inflation linked, leases, combined with the 
improving financial performance of the supermarket 
operators, gives the Board confidence that further 
valuation growth can be achieved in the future. 

Our EPRA earnings for the year were £9.9 million 
(13 months to 30 June 2018: £4.7 million), generating 
EPRA earnings per share for the year of 5.0 pence per 
share (13 months to 30 June 2018: 3.8 pence). The Group 
has a highly-transparent and low cost base. Our EPRA 
cost ratio for the year was 17.9% (13 months to 30 June 
2018: 23.4%), with an ongoing charge ratio, calculated 
under the AIC methodology, of 1.4% (13 months to 30 
June 2018: 1.5%). The Group’s EPRA NAV was 97 pence 
per ordinary share as at 30 June 2019 (2018: 96 pence). 

Dividends
One of our core objectives is to deliver a high-quality, 
low-risk income stream to shareholders. We declared 
four quarterly interim dividends totaling 5.6 pence per 
share for the year (13 months to 30 June 2018: 5.5 
pence). Our EPRA dividend cover ratio was 90% for  
the year (13 months to 30 June 2018: 92%).

We are targeting a 2.9% increase in the quarterly 
dividend for the year from October 2019, in line with UK 
RPI inflation for the year, resulting in an annual dividend 
target of 5.8 pence per share for the financial year 
ending 30 June 2020. 

Debt financing
As of 30 June 2019, we have drawn down debt facilities 
totalling £144.9 million, with a further £7.2 million of 
facilities undrawn at the year end. 

3 Excludes post balance sheet events.

“ Over the two years since IPO we have  

delivered Total Shareholder Returns  
in excess of 16% compared with minus  

1% for the sector” 

We have broadened our banking arrangements during 
the year, adding Bayerische Landesbank (“BLB”) to our 
initial relationship with HSBC. This £52.1 million facility 
has a margin of 1.25% above three-month LIBOR and is 
secured against the Morrisons supermarket in Sheffield 
and the Sainsbury’s supermarket in Ashford. This new 
facility was hedged using an interest rate swap, thus 
fixing the Group’s cost of debt at 2.55% on this 
borrowing for the term of the facility. 

As at 30 June 2019, the Group’s net loan-to-value (LTV) 
ratio was 36.3% (2018: 32.4%). The Group will target a 
LTV ratio of 30-40% in the medium term once the 
portfolio growth phase is complete, which the Board 
considers conservative, given the low risk nature of  
the Portfolio. 

We continue to diversify the Group’s sources of debt 
finance, adding Deka Bank to our banking relationships 
and agreeing a new £47.6 million debt facility and 
£40 million uncommitted accordion facility with  
them (see post balance sheet events).

The average unexpired term of our borrowing is four 
years (including a one-year extension option on the 
HSBC facility and the new Deka Bank facility) and our 
weighted average cost of debt is 2.4% (2018: 2.4%).  
Our favourably priced debt facilities reflect the  
quality of the underlying Portfolio and strength  
of the tenant covenants. 

Hedging and loan interest
Managing risk is essential to delivering the quality of 
income we are targeting for our shareholders.

Our hedging strategy for the Group’s variable rate debt 
is primarily to use interest rate derivatives, which allows 
the Group to benefit from current historically low 
interest rates, while minimising the effect of a significant 
interest rate increase. The Group has entered into an 
interest rate cap and interest rate swap instrument to 
hedge our interest rate exposure on the drawn debt on 
the HSBC and BLB debt facilities respectively which, 
when combined with the post balance sheet fixed-rate 
debt, hedge 85% (2018: 80%) of its drawn borrowings. 

Our interest rate cap and interest rate swap run 
coterminous with the respective loan maturities.  
Further details of hedging facilities can be found  
in note 16 to the financial statements. 

Post balance sheet events
On 28 August 2019, we completed the acquisition of  
our eighth supermarket asset, a Sainsbury’s superstore 
in Preston, Lancashire for £54.4 million (net of 
acquisition costs), at a net initial yield of 5.1%.

The Group has also arranged a new five-year, interest-
only loan facility with Deka Bank. The £47.6 million 
facility, which includes an uncommitted £40 million 
accordion option, has a fixed coupon of 1.9% and is 
secured against the Sainsbury’s superstore in Preston, 
Lancashire and the Tesco Extra supermarket in 
Mansfield, Nottingham. The accordion allows the Group 
the option to expand the £47.6 million debt by a further 
£40 million, subject to Deka Bank credit approval, during 
the term of the facility. 

Outlook
We are very pleased to have delivered a total shareholder 
return of 8.0% for the year (13 months to 30 June 2018: 
8.0%) and remain confident of delivering continued 
strong returns for our shareholders. 

The Board and the Investment Adviser continue to see 
numerous opportunities in the market which meet the 
Company’s investment objectives while potentially 
adding further geographical, covenant and income 
diversification to the portfolio. These opportunities  
are still at an early stage and remain subject to the 
Investment Adviser’s and Company’s stringent due 
diligence procedures. If these opportunities reach a  
more advanced stage, they are expected to contribute 
materially to earnings growth and our progressive 
dividend policy. 

Nick Hewson
Chairman
3 September 2019

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9   

3

STRATEGIC REPORT  |  KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 

Our objective is to deliver attractive, low risk returns to shareholders. Set out below  
are the Key Performance Indicators we use to track our progress. Further details  
and calculations can be found on page 79.

8.0%

FY18 - 8.0%

TOTAL SHAREHOLDER 
RETURN

36%

FY18 - 32%

NET LOAN  
TO VALUE

18yrs

FY18 - 19 yrs

WAULT

18%

FY18 - 23%

EPRA  
COST RATIO

97p

FY18 - 96p

EPRA NAV 
PER SHARE

5.0p

FY18 - 3.8p

EPRA EPS

4     S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

STRATEGIC REPORT  |  OUR PORTFOLIO 

TESCO,  
CUMBERNAULD

VALUATION AS AT  
30TH JUNE:
£55.1m 
PASSING RENT:
£3.03m
UNEXPIRED LEASE TERM:
21yrs

SAINSBURY’S,  
PRESTON1

VALUATION AS AT  
30TH JUNE:
£54.4m 
PASSING RENT:
£2.96m 
UNEXPIRED LEASE TERM:
23yrs

TESCO,  
SCUNTHORPE

VALUATION AS AT  
30TH JUNE:
£55.7m 
PASSING RENT:
£2.98m 
UNEXPIRED LEASE TERM:
21yrs

MORRISONS,  
SHEFFIELD2

VALUATION AS AT  
30TH JUNE:
£53.0m 
PASSING RENT:
£2.54m 
UNEXPIRED LEASE TERM:
20yrs

TESCO,  
BRISTOL

VALUATION AS AT  
30TH JUNE:
£29.6m 
PASSING RENT:
£1.58m
UNEXPIRED LEASE TERM:
12yrs

SAINSBURY’S,  
ASHFORD

VALUATION AS AT  
30TH JUNE:
£84.5m 
PASSING RENT:
£3.93m
UNEXPIRED LEASE TERM:
19yrs

TESCO,  
MANSFIELD

VALUATION AS AT  
30TH JUNE:
£46.9m 
PASSING RENT:
£2.51m 
UNEXPIRED LEASE TERM:
20yrs

TESCO,  
THETFORD

VALUATION AS AT  
30TH JUNE:
£43.4m 

PASSING RENT:
£2.64m
UNEXPIRED LEASE TERM:
11yrs

1. Asset acquired post balance sheet
2. Image: Our Morrison’s store, Sheffield

A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9        5

Q&A WITH JUSTIN KING  |  THE FUTURE OF GROCERY

A conversation with Justin King 
about the future of the UK  
grocery sector.

Justin King is a senior adviser 
to Atrato Capital, the Investment 
Adviser to Supermarket Income 
REIT. Justin is recognised as 
one of the UK’s most successful 
grocery sector leaders, having 
served as Chief Executive of 
J Sainsbury plc for 10 years 
until 2014. Prior to that, he was 
part of the leadership team 
at Marks & Spencer plc and 
previously held senior roles 
at Asda. He is currently non-
executive director of Marks and 
Spencer Plc and a member of 
the Public Interest Body of PwC 
and Vice Chairman of Terra 
Firma. Justin brings a wealth of 
grocery sector experience and a 
deep understanding of grocery 
property strategy.
Q: The UK grocery sector 
is experiencing significant 
structural change, how do you 
think this impacts the traditional 
supermarket shop and is this 
now a thing of the past?
A: There is still no greater retail 
proposition than a large, grocery led 
supermarket selling fresh food in  
the right location. Supermarkets 
generate significant cash flow,  
and the core of how and where 
consumers perform the grocery shop 
is substantively unchanged. If you 
look at the UK, the grocery sector is 
heading to be a £200 billion market 
and some 60% or £120 billion, is still 

done in or fulfilled from a 
supermarket as part of a weekly 
grocery shop. That cash value is 
unchanged from 10 years ago. 

Clearly market growth has come 
from convenience, discount and 
online, in that order, but the dominant 
channel remains, and I believe will 
remain, the supermarket. 
Q: Doesn’t online grocery and 
the shift in growth away from 
bricks and mortar change that?
A: This distinction between bricks 
and mortar vs online is a largely false 
one, and will diminish in the future. 
The line between what is online and 
what is in-store is already blurred. 
Take UK online grocery, over 75% is 
actually fulfilled from a supermarket 
operating as a hub for click and 
collect and home delivery, so the 
share of the market which is fulfilled 
from the traditional supermarket is 
actually more than 60% or £120bn. 

You need to remember that customer 
preference for choice, convenience 
and fresh produce combined with 
operators’ need to optimise last mile 
delivery logistics, results in large 
supermarkets being ideally placed  
to operate as last mile fulfilment 
centres and that’s exactly what’s 
happening in what’s now known  
as omnichannel stores. 
Q: Do you think there is a threat 
from the likes of Ocado and 
Amazon to that model? 
A: Grocery shopping online is only 
6% of the UK grocery market, yet we 
are 20 years into that journey with 

every major operator, and a pure play 
in Ocado, between them investing 
billions in the opportunity. Today, 
around 1%, out of 30 million 
households in the UK, do more than 
50% of their grocery shop online, of 
which most live in the London area. 
Online grocery remains a minority 
channel in and of itself. 

Pure play home delivered grocery  
has not been profitable, and I believe 
it is unlikely to ever generate 
sufficient profit as a standalone  
sales channel. However, you need to 
recognise that online grocery is, for 
most customers, a pivotal part of the 
overall relationship with the operator. 
I once described online grocery as  
no different to selling a can of beans 
below cost, you do it because your 
competitors do it, and you accept that 
it’s required to generate a long term 
loyal relationship with your customer, 
and that ultimately drives a profitable 
overall relationship with the customer. 

I consider the most significant retail 
transaction in the last 10 years was 
Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods. 
Amazon was not motivated by 
acquiring technology, it was a 
technology company acknowledging 
that a successful grocery business 
can only be achieved through well 
located shops with great customer 
service, operating an omnichannel 
business model with a well-
developed supply chain. 

It seems to me that the property 
market doesn’t understand that when 
it comes to supermarket property as 
an investment class. 

6     S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

Q&A WITH JUSTIN KING  |  THE FUTURE OF GROCERY

large grocery led omnichannel supermarkets 

“ There is still no greater retail proposition than 
selling fresh food in the right location” 

Q: Do the discounters threaten 
your view on supermarkets?
A: It’s worth remembering that 
presence of discounters in the UK 
grocery market is not new, nor is 
their business model. Aldi and  
Lidl have opened stores and gained 
significant market share in recent 
years, however previous discounter 
brands such as Netto (acquired by 
Asda) and KwikSave (acquired by 
Co-Op) have all but disappeared.

The current market share of Aldi and 
Lidl (14%) is similar to the market 
share of previous discounters as far 
back as the mid-80s.

The ability of discounters to compete 
with large supermarkets is limited  
as most UK consumers cannot  
meet all their needs in a small  
10,000 sq ft discounter store, with 
90% of shoppers at a discounter  
also shopping elsewhere. Most 
consumers want a wider range of 
products including well-loved brands 
and own brand fresh food that are 
typically not available in discounters. 
For this reason, among others, I do 
not believe that the discounters will 
grow to the same extent as Germany 
where the discounters hold 40% 
market share.

Aldi and Lidl have not been able to 
copy the low-cost German model like 
for like. In contrast, they have been 
forced to invest heavily on store layout 
to make them attractive to the British 
shopper. For example, Aldi’s “Project 
Fresh” was a £300 million investment 
in redesigning the store experience 
with wider aisles, clear signage and 

more focus on fresh food. This serves 
to increase the cost base of the store, 
thereby diluting somewhat the 
discounters’ cost advantage. 

I believe discounters are now  
through the zenith of their expansion 
programmes and disruption in the 
UK. They will continue to keep  
pricing sharp, but not result in  
further incremental disruption  
to market share.
Q: How environmentally 
sustainable is the traditional 
supermarket? 
A: Sainsbury’s recently celebrated a 
150-year anniversary, and it’s worth 
remembering that Sainsbury’s was 
founded in response to the largest 
sustainability issue of the Victorian 
era, which was how to provide safe 
affordable food and strengthen the 
representation of the consumer in  
the supply chain. 

Grocery operators have maintained 
that level of leadership on the most 
significant sustainability issues of  
the past 100 years. They were the  
first to make women a major 
contributor to their work force and 
first to implement significant 
recycling programmes in response  
to shortages during both world wars 
and that innovation continues today 
with environmental sustainability. It is 
an embedded value of the sector. 

The grocery operators have one of  
the clearest articulations of what 
environmental sustainability  
means to their business model. 
Supermarkets have invested 
significant capital into ongoing  

carbon reduction initiatives such as 
solar panels, switching to natural 
refrigerants, green gas using 
combined heat and power (CHP) 
plants and installing LED lighting. 
The scale of the operator’s business 
means they can and are making an 
important contribution to sustainable 
grocery development in the UK and 
internationally.

Sainsbury’s created five values  
for environmental and economic 
responsibility as part of its 2020 
sustainability plan and it’s 
encouraging to see SUPR taking  
a leading role in recognising how 
important environmental 
sustainability is to the operator’s 
business model, by investing in 
on-site renewables across its 
supermarket estate as part of  
its asset management policy. 

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9   

7

STRATEGIC REPORT  |  OUR PORTFOLIO 

NEW ACQUISITION CASE STUDY:  
TESCO, MANSFIELD 

A Tesco Extra 
supermarket located on 
an 8.6 acre town centre 
site in Mansfield, 
Nottinghamshire. The 
store comprises a 64,000 
sq. ft (NSA) Tesco Extra, 
approximately 530 parking 
spaces and a 12-pump 

petrol filling station.

The store was originally 

developed in 2007 and 
occupies a prominent 
position as the only large 
Supermarket inside 
Mansfield’s inner ring 
road with the store’s 
catchment area set to 

benefit from significant 
residential development. 
The store facilitates online 
fulfilment via click and 
collect.

It was acquired with 
annual, upward-only, 
RPI-linked rent reviews 
(capped and floored) on 

fully repairing and insuring 
terms and with the first 
break being at lease expiry 
in March 2039.

The Group acquired the 
property in April 2019 for 
£45.0 million, reflecting a 
net initial yield of 5.2%.

PURCHASE PRICE:
£45.0m 

ACQUISITION DATE:
April 2019 

PASSING RENT:
£2.51m 

RENT REVIEW BASIS:
Annual RPI

NEXT RENT REVIEW:
March 2020

RENT REVIEW COLLAR:
4% cap, 0% floor

LEASE EXPIRY:
March 2039

SIZE NSA:
64,000 sq ft

8     S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

Image: Our Tesco store, Mansfield

STRATEGIC REPORT  |  INVESTMENT ADVISER’S REPORT 

properties operate as physical stores 

“ Our omnichannel supermarket 
and online fulfilment centers” 

Ben Green Atrato Capital 

Atrato Capital Limited, the Investment Adviser to 
Supermarket Income REIT plc, is pleased to report  
on the operations of the Group for the year. 

Overview
The Company’s investment policy is to invest in stores 
which deliver the future model of grocery in the UK.  
As grocery retailers are increasingly adopting a strategy 
of integrating online and offline shopping, with all of the 
big four operators now utilising well-located stores as 
last-mile fulfilment centres, the Group targets stores  
that operate both as physical supermarkets and online 
fulfilment centres, via home delivery and/or click and 
collect, with the following characteristics:

•   large catchment populations and excellent 

transportation links

•   long unexpired lease terms with inflation linked  

rental uplifts

•   attractive property fundamentals with opportunities 

for active asset management

The financial stability of the grocery sector is improving. 
In June Moody’s Investors Services upgraded Tesco plc to 
investment grade (Baa3) following the actions of Fitch 
Ratings who raised them to the equivalent level (BBB-) 
in late 2018. Moody’s cited the operator’s improvements 
in cash generation, debt reduction and their anticipated 
growth in profits as the reasons behind the positive 
change.

To date, the Group has invested in a portfolio of 
principally freehold and virtual freehold properties let to 
Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons. All of the properties  
in the Portfolio benefit from contractual RPI-linked 
rental increases from long dated FRI leases, generating 
an average unexpired lease term of 18 years.

Investment activity
The Group acquired two supermarket stores during the 
year. The Morrisons store in Hillsborough, Sheffield was 
acquired with an unexpired lease term of 21 years with 
five-yearly, upward-only, RPI-linked rent reviews, 

compounded annually, and the Tesco Extra in Mansfield, 
Nottinghamshire was acquired with an unexpired lease 
term of 20 years with annual, upward-only, RPI-linked 
rent reviews.  Details of our post balance sheet 
acquisition can also be found below. 

Our £151.1 million of overall acquisitions (including post 
balance sheet events) had a blended NIY of 5.1%, and a 
blended WAULT of 21 years, which is accretive to the 
portfolio yield of 4.9% and lengthens the average 
WAULT across the portfolio, supporting Company’s 
ability to grow its dividend while enhancing the quality 
and diversification of the portfolio.

Our portfolio of stores comprises the properties in the 
table on page 11. 

These omnichannel supermarket properties operate 
both as physical stores and online fulfilment centres. 
Each property is located on a large site with the potential 
for income and capital growth opportunities. The 
Portfolio benefits from highly attractive leases to strong 
tenant covenants (Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons), 
with upward-only, RPI-linked rent reviews and long 
unexpired lease terms (weighted average 18 years).

The properties in the table on page 11 are listed 
chronologically in order of acquisition. Acquisitions  
after the year end date are described in the post  
balance sheet event note below.

Portfolio valuation 
Cushman & Wakefield valued the Portfolio at 30 June 
2019 in accordance with the RICS Valuation Global 
Standards July 2017. The properties were valued 
individually without any premium/discount applying to 
the Portfolio as a whole. The Portfolio market value was 
£368.2 million, compared with the assets’ combined 
purchase price of £351.4 million (excluding acquisition 
costs). This represents an increase of £16.8 million or 
4.8%, above the aggregate purchase price.

This valuation growth since the acquisition of the 
Portfolio reflects: (i) the supermarket operators’ 
improving covenant strength as tenants; (ii) favourable 

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9   

9

STRATEGIC REPORT  |  OUR PORTFOLIO 

NEW ACQUISITION CASE STUDY:  
SAINSBURY’S, PRESTON 

A Sainsbury’s store 
comprising 78,000 sq. ft 
(NSA) located on a 9.9 acre 
site in Preston, Lancashire. 
The site has more than 
500 parking spaces and  
a 12-pump petrol filling 
station. The store was 
extended in 2010 and now 
plays an important role  

in Sainsbury’s online 
fulfillment network across 
the Lancashire area. 

The property is let to 
Sainsbury’s on a fully 
repairing and insuring 
lease with annual, 
upwards only, RPI linked 
rent reviews (capped and 
floored). It has an 

unexpired lease term of  
23 years with the first 
break being on lease 
expiry in February 2042. 
The property’s catchment 
area is situated within the 
Bartle Lane development 
area, which will see the 
development of up to  
1,100 homes and 

associated infrastructure. 
This store fulfils both 
online home delivery  
and click and collect.

The Group acquired the 

property in August 2019 
for £54.4 million reflecting 
a net initial yield of 5.1%.

PURCHASE PRICE:
£54.4m 

PASSING RENT:
£2.96m 

RENT REVIEW BASIS:
Annual RPI uplift

NEXT RENT REVIEW:
March 2020

ACQUISITION DATE:
August 2019 

RENT REVIEW COLLAR:
4% cap, 1% floor

LEASE EXPIRY:
Feb 2042

SIZE NSA:
78,000 sq ft

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Image: Our Sainsbury store, Preston

STRATEGIC REPORT  |  INVESTMENT ADVISER’S REPORT   CON TIN UED

Tenant 

Location 

Tesco 

Tesco 

Sainsbury’s  Tesco 

Tesco 

Morrisons 

Tesco 

Sainbury’s1

Thetford,  
Norwich 

Lime Trees,  Ashford, 
Bristol  

Kent 

Cumbernauld,  Doncaster  Hillsborough, Mansfield, 
North 
Lanarkshire  Scunthorpe

Sheffield 

Road, 

Notts 

Preston, 
Lancashire  

Acquisition date 

Aug 2017 

Aug 2017 

Aug 2017  Dec 2017 

May 2018 

Jul 2018 

Apr 2019 

Aug 2019

Purchase price  
(millions) 

£43.2 

£28.5 

£79.8 

£50.0 

£53.0 

£51.7 

£45.0 

£54.4 

Valuation at  
30 June 2019 (millions) 

£43.4 

£29.6 

£84.5 

£55.1 

£55.7 

£53.0 

£46.9 

£54.4 

Passing annual rent  
(millions) 

GIA (sq.ft.) 

NSA (sq.ft.) 

£2.64 

78,000 

48,000 

£1.58 

55,000 

31,000 

£3.93 

£3.03 

125,000 

117,000 

72,000 

70,000 

£2.98 

98,000 

65,000 

£2.54 

£2.51 

£2.96

113,000 

90,000 

106,000

58,000 

64,000 

78,000

Rent review basis 

Annual RPI  Annual RPI  Annual RPI Annual RPI  Annual RPI  5 yearly RPI  Annual RPI  Annual RPI

Lease expiry 

Dec 2029  Mar 2031 

Sep 2038  Aug 2040 

Aug 2040 

Oct 2039 

Mar 2039 

Feb 2042

Tenure 

Virtual 
freehold2 

Virtual 
freehold2 

Freehold  Virtual 

freehold2 

Virtual  
freehold2 

Virtual 
freehold2 

Virtual 
freehold2

Freehold 

1 Asset acquired post balance sheet
2 Long leasehold i.e. greater than 900 years

supply and demand characteristics in the investment 
market; and (iii) our ability to source off-market 
acquisitions for Supermarket Income REIT. 

With contracted rents increasing on average by 3.2%  
in the year and the high degree of certainty of income 
inherent in the Group’s long leases, the Investment 
Adviser believes further valuation growth will be 
achieved in the future.

Financial results 
IFRS net rental income for the year was £17.2 million  
(13 months to 30 June 2018: £8.9 million). Contracted 
RPI rent reviews in the year resulted in average rental 
increases of 3.2% (13 months to 30 June 2018: 3.6%) 
with £2.9 million of IFRS rental growth contribution 
from new acquisitions. The strong rental growth reflects 
the contracted upward-only, RPI-linked rent reviews 
present in all of the Group’s leases. 

Administrative and other expenses, which include 
management and advisory fees and other costs of 
running the Group, were £3.1 million (13 months to 
30 June 2018: £2.1 million) generating an EPRA cost 
ratio of 17.9% (13 months to 30 June 2018: 23.4%).  
Our EPRA cost ratio compares favourably with our  
peer group average of 20.2% and the reduction reflects  

a growing level of cost efficiency achievable as the 
Group continues to scale. 

Financing costs for the year were £4.2 million (13 months 
to 30 June 2018: £1.9 million) reflecting a weighted 
average finance cost of 2.5% (2018: 2.4%). The change  
in net financing costs in the year reflects the continued 
growth in the business. The Group’s conservative 
leverage policy continues to maintain a healthy level of 
interest cover at 487% compared to the covenant at a 
minimum of 200%. Further information on financing 
and hedging is provided below.

As a result of the above, operating profit, before changes 
in the fair value of investment properties, as reported 
under IFRS, increased by 107% to £14.1 million 
(13 months to 30 June 2018: £6.8 million). 

Change in fair values of investment properties in the 
year was £0.6 million (13 months to 30 June 2018: £(4.1) 
million), which comprises £5.6 million acquisition costs 
offset via a £6.6 million increase in valuation and £(0.4) 
million rent smoothing adjustment. The Group’s EPRA 
NAV at 30 June 2019 equates to 97 pence per ordinary 
share (2018: 96 pence per ordinary share).

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    1 1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
STRATEGIC REPORT  |  INVESTMENT ADVISER’S REPORT   CON TIN UED

The Group is a qualifying UK Real Estate Investment 
Trust (”REIT”) which exempts the Group’s property 
rental business from UK Corporation Tax. For the  
Period ending 30 June 2018, the Group was subject to 
corporation tax on its property rental business in the 
intervening period from incorporation on 1 June 2017  
to the date of entry into the REIT regime on the 21 
December 2017. During this period the Group was 
subject to UK corporation tax at an effective rate of 19%, 
resulting in a non-recurring £227,000 tax charge being 
recognised. The June 2018 UK corporation tax return was 
finalised in June 2019 and resulted in a £18,000 increase 
in the tax charge, being recognised in the current year,  
in relation to the pre-REIT regime period, due to 
non-deductible expenses of £94,000.  

Total shareholder return generated during the year  
was 8.0% (13 months to 30 June 2018: 8.0%). This is 
measured as the growth in share price over the year of 
2.5p (13 months to 30 June 2018: 2.5%), plus dividends 
declared for the of 5.6% (13 months to 30 June 2018: 
5.5%) divided by the share price at the beginning of the 
financial year. 

Financing and hedging
The Investment Adviser has successfully broadened the 
Group’s debt funding relationships, adding Bayerische 
Landesbank in July 2018 and Deka Bank in August 2019 
as lenders to the Group in addition to the Group’s £100 
million revolving credit facility from HSBC.  

The Bayerische Landesbank credit facility has a credit 
margin of 125 basis points above three-month LIBOR 
and is secured against the Morrisons supermarket in 
Sheffield and the Sainsbury’s supermarket in Ashford. 
This new facility was fully hedged using an interest rate 
swap, thus fixing the Company’s cost of debt at 2.55% 
on this borrowing for the term of the facility. 

The Group has the following credit facilities:

Total net debt as at 30 June 2019 is £144.8 million, 
reflecting a net loan-to-value (“LTV”) ratio of 36.3%.  
The Group’s medium-term target is an LTV ratio of 
30%-40% once the portfolio growth phase is complete. 

Each loan drawn under the credit facilities requires 
interest payments only until maturity and is secured 
against both the subject property and the shares of the 
property-owning entity. Each property-owning entity  
is either directly or ultimately owned by the Company.

The Group has negotiated significant headroom on its 
LTV covenants. The covenants contain a maximum 60% 
LTV threshold and a minimum 200% interest cover ratio 
for each asset in the Portfolio. As at 30 June 2019, the 
Group could afford to suffer a fall in property values of 
34% before being in breach of its LTV covenants and, 
with the current hedging arrangements it has in place,  
it has significant interest cover headroom.

The Group has designed its debt strategy to minimise 
the effect of a significant rise in underlying interest rates 
through the use of hedging instruments. The notional 
value of our interest rate cap was £63.5 million at 30 June 
2019, meaning that we had effectively hedged more  
than 68% of our HSBC drawn facility. The strike of the 
interest rate cap is 1.75% which means that if three-
month LIBOR rises above 1.75%, the Group’s cost of 
debt is effectively fixed at 3.35% on the hedged notional 
amount (including the lenders initial margin). The 
notional value of the interest rate swap is £52.1 million 
thus fixing the Company’s cost of debt on the BLB 
facility at 2.55% for the five year term of the facility. Our 
interest rate cap and interest rate swap run coterminous 
with the respective loan maturities. The total hedge ratio 
for the Group as at 30 June 2019 was 80% on drawn 
debt (2018: 71%).

Lender 

HSBC 

Facility  

Revolving Credit Facility  

Bayerische Landesbank 

Term Loan 

Maturity 

Aug 2021 

Jul 2023 

Credit 
margin 

1.60% 

1.25% 

Loan 
commitment 
£m 

100.0 

52.1 

Amount  
drawn at  
30 June 
2019 £m

92.8

52.1

Post balance sheet events 
Deka Bank  

Term loan  

Aug 2024 

1.35% 

47.6 

47.6

1 2    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Post balance sheet events 
On 28 August 2019, we completed the acquisition of our 
eighth supermarket asset, a Sainsbury’s superstore in 
Preston, Lancashire for £54.4 million (net of acquisition 
costs), reflecting a net initial yield of 5.1%.

The Group has also arranged a new five-year, interest-
only loan facility with Deka Bank. This £47.6 million 
facility has a fixed coupon of 1.9% and is secured against 
the Sainsbury’s superstore in Preston and the Tesco Extra 
supermarket in Mansfield, Nottingham.

Atrato Capital Limited
Investment Adviser
3 September 2019

Dividends
The Company has declared four interim dividends  
for the year as follows:

•   On 8 October 2018, a first interim dividend of 
1.375 pence per share, which was paid on  
6 November 2018. 

•   On 8 January 2018, a second interim dividend  
of 1.419 pence per share, which was paid on  
8 February 2019.

•   On 8 April 2019, a third interim dividend of 
1.419 pence per share, which was paid on  
7 May 2019.

•   On 8 July 2019, a fourth interim dividend of 
1.419 pence per share, which was paid on  
7 August 2019. 

In line with its objective, the Company has declared an 
annualised dividend of 5.6 pence per Ordinary Share. 
The Group’s EPRA dividend cover ratio was 90% for  
the year (13 months to 30 June 2018: 92%). 

The Company intends to target an increase of 2.9% in 
the quarterly dividend from October 2019 to 1.46 pence 
per share (representing an increase equivalent to the 
published UK RPI inflation for the year).The first 
quarterly dividend of 1.46 pence per share is expected to 
be declared in January 2020 and paid in February 2020. 
As such the Company is targeting a dividend for the  
year to 30 June 2020 of 5.8 pence per share.

Asset management
Five rent reviews were concluded during the year. The 
combination of these inflation-linked rent reviews led to 
an increase in rental income of £0.4 million, equivalent 
to a 3.2% average annualised increase in the rents for 
these reviewed properties. All rent reviews on the 
Portfolio are upward only and linked to the UK Retail 
Price Index with a weighted average Portfolio cap of 4%. 
Further information on rent reviews can be found in the 
Supermarket property lease structure section on page 14.

The Investment Adviser is engaged in detailed 
discussions with the operators of a number of the 
Company’s sites on asset management initiatives  
linked to the repurposing of space and investing  
in green energy efficiency schemes, such as roof  
top solar panelling.  

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    1 3

STRATEGIC REPORT  |  OUR MARKET

Supermarket real estate assets represent an attractive 
asset class for investors seeking long dated, secure, 
inflation-linked income with capital appreciation 
potential over the longer term.

The UK grocery market
UK consumer spending on grocery has grown year-on-
year since 1999. According to forecasts by IGD Retail 
Analysis, total spending will continue to increase by a 
further 12.5% in the next five years from £194 billion in 
2019 to £218 billion by 2024. Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s 
and Morrisons (the ‘‘Big Four’’) have a combined market 
share of approximately 68% and together operate more 
than 9,000 stores in the UK. Each of the Big Four has 
multi-billion-pound revenues, an established consumer 
brand and strong credit covenants.

One of the many reasons that the Big Four have been 
able to protect their market dominance has been due  
to the nature of their underlying store portfolio. The Big 
Four benefitted from a first mover advantage and as a 
result are located in the best locations in each and every 
town across the UK.

The grocery sales channels continue to evolve, however 
the larger stores remain the bedrock of the larger 
operators’ business models. According to IGD Retail 
Analysis research, supermarkets fulfil more than 60% of 
sales in the UK, followed by convenience stores at c.21%.  
This trend is not expected to change over the next five 
years. Discounters are expected to continue to grow with 
the discount channel representing approximately 16%  
of the total market by 2024.

IGD UK grocery market forecast

IGD UK channel forecasts 2019-2024

)
n
b
£
(

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a
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220

215

210

205

200

195

190

185

180

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

)

%

(
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120

100

80

)
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£
(

60

40

20

0

109

106

Over 74% of total UK 
online grocery sales 
are fulfilled direct 
from supermarkets

48

41

34

25

17

12

10 9

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

Convenience

Discount

Online

Grocery sales

Cumlitave growth

2019 Value (£bn)

2024 Value (£bn)

Although dominated by a few players, the grocery 
market is dynamic and highly competitive and has 
fragmented over the last 15 years, with lower-price 
operators (the ‘‘discounters’’), led by Aldi and Lidl, 
experiencing strong sales growth. The discounters 
continue to expand their presence by adding new  
stores and competing on price. This has resulted in  
them successfully gaining market share, though 
principally from the existing discounter channel  
rather than the Big Four. 

Supermarket property lease structure
Supermarket lease agreements are often long dated  
and index-linked. Original lease tenures range from 20 
to 30 years without break options. Rent reviews link the 
growth in rents to an inflation index such as RPI, RPIX or 
CPI (with caps and floors), or, alternatively, may have a 
fixed annual growth rate. Such rent reviews take place 
either annually or every five years, with the rent review 
delivering an increase in the rent at the growth rate, 
compounded over the period. 

9.0

8.0

7.0

6.0

)

%

(
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1 4    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

5.0

4.0

)

%

(
d
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9.0

8.0

7.0

6.0

5.0

4.0

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2004

2013

2005

2014

2006

2015

2007

2016

2008

2017

2009

2018

2010

2019

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Supermarkets

Distribution Warehouses

UK Commercial Property

Supermarkets

Distribution Warehouses

UK Commercial Property

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
IPD net investment yields 2004-2019 (YTD) 

)

%

(

d

l

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i

y

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a

i

t

i

n

i

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N

9.0

8.0

7.0

6.0

5.0

4.0

IPD net investment yields 2004-2019 (YTD) 

9.0

8.0

7.0

)

%

(
d
l
e
i
y

l
a
i
t
i
n

i

6.0
t
e
N
2008

2004

2005

2006

2007

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

5.2

4.7
4.6

Supermarkets

Distribution Warehouses

5.0

UK All Property

4.0

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

Supermarkets

Distribution Warehouses

UK All Property

Landlords often benefit from “full repairing and insuring 
leases”. These are lease agreements whereby the tenant  
is obligated to pay all taxes, building insurance, other 
outgoings and repair and maintenance costs on the 
property, in addition to the rent and service charge.  
Under such a lease, the tenant is responsible for all costs 
associated with the repair and maintenance of the building.

Operators will typically have the option to acquire the 
leased property at the lease maturity date at market 
value. Furthermore, to ensure that the operator does not 
transfer its lease obligation to other parties, assignment 
of the lease is often prohibited.

Investment yields 
Supermarket property has a long record of positive total 
returns underpinned by strong income returns due in 
part to the long length of lease commitments, upward-
only rent review growth and strong occupier covenants. 

Investment yields on supermarket property have 
consistently been lower than UK all-property yields  
and reached a low of 4.3% in 2007. However, since 2013,  
the market dynamics have changed: in contrast to most 
other long-income property yields, the supermarket 
sector has experienced a negative yield shift with yields 
increasing by 20% from March 2007 to March 2019. 

Supermarket yields have now been trading at higher 
yields than UK all-property since 2015. Over the last  
five years the distribution warehouse subsector of the 
property market has seen a significant compression in 
yields. Distribution warehouses are fundamentally 
performing a different role to supermarkets in the supply 
chain. However, the Investment Adviser believes there 
are certain similarities in areas such as online sales,  
with supermarkets fulfilling online deliveries out of  
their larger omnichannel stores. Despite these 
similarities, there has been a significant difference  
in how the underlying property yields of the two  
sectors have performed.

The grocery sector is now entering a period of increased 
stability. Competition remains high among operators, but 
multiple datapoints during 2018/19 suggest a more stable 
margin environment. In June Moody’s Investors Services 
upgraded Tesco plc back to investment grade following 
the actions of Fitch Ratings which raised them to the 
same level in late 2018 citing the operator’s improvements 
in cash generation, debt reduction and their anticipated 
growth in profits as the reasons behind the positive 
change. In addition, they believe that Tesco will cement 
its position as the dominant UK grocer and further 
deleverage its balance sheet.

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    1 5

 
 
 
 
 
 
STRATEGIC REPORT  |  OUR MARKET  CONTINUED

In this current climate, the Investment Adviser believes 
that secure, long-income supermarket property leases 
with index-linked rent can be acquired at attractive 
investment yields.

Inflation protection
The Investment Adviser believes that currently, real 
estate markets are undervaluing the inflation protection 
characteristics embedded in supermarket leases when 
compared to other comparable inflation-linked products, 
such as UK index-linked gilts. UK index-linked gilts 
have traded at negative real yields since 2013.

Opportunities for asset management 
In addition to current rental yields, supermarket 
property has further potential for asset management 
upside opportunities to enhance total shareholder 
returns. These multiple asset management opportunities 
can be categorised into two distinct segments: 

Light asset management 
Light asset management typically involves small-scale 
changes and improvements to a building which require 
limited additional capital and/or planning approvals. 
Examples include investing in green energy efficiency 
schemes, such as energy efficient lighting, solar 
panelling, battery capture and storage and combined 
heat and power. These types of schemes may provide 
incremental additional returns for investors on a 
risk-adjusted basis, but, importantly, can also assist  
the underlying operator in meeting certain strategic 
objectives in areas such as sustainability targets. 

Repurposing space 
The repurposing of space allows operators to maximise 
the value of their building and potentially increase 
underlying footfall or revenues per square foot by adding 
new customer offerings or facilities in or around the 
store. Repurposing space typically requires an increased 
level of interaction with the operator and an element of 
planning approval. However, the primary use of the 
majority of the asset is not expected to change.  
Examples include adding restaurants, cafes and drive-
through facilities on excess car parking or adapting some 
of the existing store for alternative use such as click-and-
collect facilities. 

The Company will engage and work closely with its 
tenants on all available asset management opportunities 
with a view to enhancing long-term shareholder returns.

Supply and demand
After a period of material expansion in store numbers 
since 2000, the Big Four have substantially completed 
their store growth plans and are now in a consolidation 
phase. Few new large properties are being developed  
by the operators and the strategic focus has generally 
shifted from creating new assets to increasing 
efficiencies on the supply side, meeting customer 
concerns with an improved shopping experience  
and further diversification in brands, merchandise  
and sales channels. 

1 6    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

5  Property Data 2019. Includes securitisation buy backs

The effect of this shift in strategic focus has been an  
end to sale-and-leaseback transactions involving the  
Big Four and, therefore, there has been a decline in the 
number of assets being offered to the investment 
market. Indeed, in a reversal of recent trends, Tesco  
has now become a net buyer of stores, spending around 
£1.2 billion5 on store buybacks since 2015 to date.

The Investment Adviser believes that operator buybacks 
will continue to be a key theme in the investment 
market, as changes to accounting rules through IFRS 16 
mean that reducing existing lease commitments will be 
an increasingly attractive way for the operators to 
strengthen their underlying balance sheet. IFRS 16 
effectively requires all rental obligations to be capitalised 
on a balance sheet as a financing liability and then 
expensed as a finance cost rather than rental expense  
in the income statement. 

Demand for supermarket assets has been consistently 
strong. According to Colliers International, both 2018 
and 2019 each saw more than £1 billion of secondary 
market transactions take place with institutional 
investment activity up 29% in 2019. Other than the 
transactions carried out by the Company, the majority  
of this activity arose from operators seeking to buy back 
stores and overseas investors who appear to have taken 
advantage of the decline in sterling exchange rates and 
attractive asset pricing.

The Investment Adviser believes that the reduced supply 
of new stock from operators combined with a growing 
demand for supermarket assets will generate favourable 
supply and demand dynamics and therefore trigger a 
long-term compression in yields closer to those for the 
UK commercial property, with a corresponding increase 
in supermarket property asset values.

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    1 7

STRATEGIC REPORT  |  IMPLEMENTING THE GROUP’S INVESTMENT POLICY

“ Supermarket property is  

an attractive asset class for  
investors seeking secure,  

inflation-linked income” 

Steven Noble Atrato Capital

The supermarket property sector remains highly 
attractive and we continue to demonstrate our  
ability to source attractively priced, high-quality 
supermarket property.  

Investing in the future model of UK grocery
A cornerstone of our investment strategy is to target 
future-proofed supermarkets known as omnichannel 
supermarkets. These supermarkets operate as both 
physical stores and online fulfilment centres.

In the 22 years since Tesco introduced the UK’s first 
nationwide online grocery platform in 1997, UK grocers 
have pioneered the development of this omnichannel 
business model which seamlessly integrates both 
in-store and online demand across the UK. 

These omnichannel properties have become the nucleus 
for last-mile grocery fulfilment, representing the crucial 
infrastructure that is integrating online and traditional 
in-store sales, with characteristics not evident in other 
forms of real estate, namely:
•   modern flexible buildings adapted to operate both 
in-store and online operations, accommodating 
multiple loading bays, refrigeration units and home 
delivery vehicles

•   situated in population centres close to consumers 
•   strategically located close to major road networks, 

allowing efficient goods inward stocking, distribution 
of home deliveries and convenient access to click and 
collect facilities

•   large floor areas, capable of housing a full range of 
fresh groceries and providing scale economies for  
the operator

The success of the omnichannel grocery model has 
resulted in pure-play online retailers adopting the 
omnichannel format. Examples of this trend are 
Amazon’s purchase of Whole Foods in the US and 

Alibaba’s Hema omnichannel grocery store network  
in China.

Online-only grocery warehouses (known as “dark stores” 
or “Customer Fulfilment Centres”) will continue to play 
an important role in optimising online fulfilment in very 
high population density cities, such as London. 
However, away from megacities there is now a global 
convergence on the future model of grocery being an 
omnichannel store. As a result, both pure-play online 
and traditional bricks-and-mortar retailers are 
increasingly relying on supermarket real estate, 
generating significant scope for rental and valuation 
growth in the longer term.

Optimising portfolio value
Our deep understanding of where and how each of our 
grocery stores fits both within the national store network 
and the micro catchment area is key to our investment 
decision. A good example of this is our Tesco Store in 
Thetford, acquired in 2017, which had significant 
potential given local housing shortages and nearby 
planning consent to build 5,000 homes and associated 
infrastructure. We are delighted to see the first phase 
being completed directly adjacent to the store, which 
ultimately repositions this Tesco store in the centre of  
the significantly enlarged town, enhancing the regear 
potential of the supermarket and the long-term value  
of the underlying real estate. 

Capitalising on the depth of our relationship with 
occupiers is a key part of our overall strategy. Our regular 
programme of operator engagement at all levels of the 
organisation allows us to identify opportunities to 
enhance our sites and generate additional income to 
increase capital values. An example of this is providing 
environmentally sustainable supermarkets to support 
carbon reduction efforts, better returns for investors  
and lower running costs for occupiers. 

1 8    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

During the year, we have performed extensive due 
diligence on the opportunity to install on-site 
decarbonised energy producing plant across our estate.  
To date we have commenced District Network Operator 
(DNO) applications for the installation of extensive 
rooftop photovoltaic panels covering more than 70%  
of the total GIA of our estate. Through green energy 
investment, we not only generate an income producing 
asset but also reduce costs for our tenants while  
also assisting their transition to a lower carbon  
emission future. 

A good example of this is our Tesco store in Scunthorpe, 
where we have received approval from the DNO for the 
installation of a 190 kwp solar array which can supply 
power direct to the store. This investment will enhance 
the environmental sustainability of the site whilst also 
generating additional income stream for Supermarket 
Income REIT, enhancing the long-term capital value  
of the site. 

We continue to explore the repurposing of space that 
allows operators to maximise the value of their building 
and, potentially, increase underlying footfall or revenues 
per square foot by adding new customer offerings or 
facilities in or around the store. Repurposing space 
typically requires an increased level of interaction with 
the operator and an element of planning approval. 
However, the primary use of the majority of the asset  
is not expected to change. Examples include adding 
restaurants, cafes and drive-through facilities on excess 
car parking or adapting some of the existing store for 
alternative use such as click-and-collect facilities.

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    1 9

STRATEGIC REPORT  |  OUR PRINCIPAL RISKS

The Board of the Company and JTC Global AIFM 
Solutions Limited, the Company’s Alternative 
Investment Fund Manager (the “AIFM”), together 
have joint overall responsibility for the Company’s 
risk management and internal controls, with the Audit 
Committee reviewing the effectiveness of the Board’s 
risk management processes on its behalf.

surrounding anticipated outcomes, balanced against  
the objective of creating value for shareholders.

There are a number of potential risks and uncertainties 
which could have a material impact on the Group’s 
performance over the forthcoming financial year and 
could cause actual results to differ materially from 
expected and historical results. 

We aim to operate in a low-risk environment, focusing 
on a single sector of the UK real estate market. The 
Board and the AIFM therefore recognise that effective 
risk management is key to the Group’s success. Risk 
management ensures a defined approach to decision 
making that seeks to decrease the uncertainty 

The matrix below illustrates our assessment of the 
impact and the probability of the principal risks 
identified. The rationale for the perceived increases  
and decreases in the risks identified is contained in  
the commentary for each risk category. 

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I

 3

 1

 8

 6

 2

 4

 7

 9

 5

 11

 10

Rare Probability

Low

Medium

High

   The Board considers these risks have increased since last year
 8   We are reliant on the continuance of the Investment Adviser

  The Board considers all the other risks to be broadly unchanged 
since last year

 1   The lower-than-expected performance of the Portfolio could 

reduce property valuations and/or revenue, thereby affecting our 
ability to pay dividends or lead to a breach of our banking 
covenants

 2   Our ability to source assets may be affected by competition for 

investment properties in the supermarket sector

 4   Our use of floating rate debt will expose the business to 

underlying interest rate movements

 6   We must be able to operate within our banking covenants
 7   There can be no guarantee that we will achieve our investment 

objectives

 10   European Union exit without EU trade deal (“Brexit”)
 11   Shareholders may not be able to realise their shares at a price 

above or the same as they paid for the shares or at all 

    The Board considers these risks have decreased since last year
 3   The default of one or more of our lessees would reduce revenue 

and may affect our ability to pay dividends

 5   A lack of debt funding at appropriate rates may restrict our ability 

to grow

 9   We operate as a UK REIT and have a tax-efficient corporate 

structure, with advantageous consequences for UK shareholders

2 0    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

 
 
PROPERTY RISK

1

The lower-than-expected performance of the Portfolio could reduce property valuations and/or revenue, thereby 
affecting our ability to pay dividends or lead to a breach of our banking covenants

Probability: 
Low

Impact: 
Moderate

Mitigation

An adverse change in our property 
valuations may lead to breach of our 
banking covenants. Market conditions 
may also reduce the revenues we earn 
from our property assets, which may 
affect our ability to pay dividends to 
shareholders. A severe fall in values may 
result in us selling assets to repay our 
loan commitments, resulting in a fall in 
our net asset value.

Our property portfolio is 100% let with long weighted average unexpired 
lease terms and an institutional-grade tenant base. All the leases 
contain upward-only rent reviews which are inflation linked. These 
factors help maintain our asset values.

We manage our activities to operate within our banking covenants and 
constantly monitor our covenant headroom on loan to value and interest 
cover.

2

Our ability to source assets may be affected by competition for investment properties in the supermarket sector

Probability: 
Low

Impact: 
Moderate

Mitigation

The Company faces competition from 
other property investors. Competitors 
may have greater financial resources 
than the Company and a greater ability  
to borrow funds to acquire properties.

The Investment Adviser has extensive contacts in the sector and we 
often benefit from off-market transactions. They also maintain close 
relationships with a number of investors and agents in the sector, 
giving us the best possible opportunity to secure future acquisitions  
for the Group.

We are not exclusively reliant on acquisitions to grow the portfolio.  
Our leases contain upward-only rent review clauses, which mean we 
can generate additional income and value from the current portfolio.  
We also have the potential to add value through asset management  
and we are actively exploring opportunities for all our sites.

3

The default of one or more of our lessees would reduce revenue and may affect our ability to pay dividends

Probability: 
Low

Impact: 
High

Mitigation

Our focus on supermarket property 
means we directly rely on the 
performance of UK supermarket 
operators. Insolvencies could affect our 
revenues earned and property valuations.

Our investment policy requires the Group to derive at least 60% of its 
rental income from a portfolio let to the largest four supermarket 
operators in the UK by market share. Focusing our investments on 
assets let to tenants with strong financial covenants and limiting 
exposure to smaller operators in the sector decreases the probability  
of a tenant default.

Before investing, we undertake a thorough due diligence process with 
emphasis on the strength of the underlying covenant and receive a 
recommendation on any proposed investment from the AIFM. All our 
leases are either guaranteed by the parent company in the operator 
group or are a direct obligation of the main UK operating entity of the 
operator group.

We select assets that have strong property fundamentals (good location, 
large sites with low site cover) and which should be attractive to other 
occupiers or have strong alternative use value should the current 
occupier fail.

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    2 1

 
 
 
STRATEGIC REPORT  |  OUR PRINCIPAL RISKS  CON TIN UED

FINANCIAL RISK

4

Our use of floating rate debt will expose the business to underlying interest rate movements

Probability: 
Low

Impact: 
Low

Mitigation

Interest on the majority of our debt 
facilities is payable based on a margin 
over LIBOR. Any adverse movements in 
LIBOR could significantly impair our 
profitability and ability to pay dividends  
to shareholders.

We have entered into interest rate derivative contracts to partially 
mitigate our direct exposure to movements in LIBOR, by capping  
our exposure to LIBOR increases. 

We aim to prudently hedge our LIBOR exposure, by utilising hedging 
instruments with a view to keeping the overall exposure at an 
acceptable level.

5

A lack of debt funding at appropriate rates may restrict our ability to grow

Probability: 
Low

Impact: 
Low

Mitigation

Without sufficient debt funding we may 
be unable to pursue suitable investment 
opportunities in line with our investment 
objectives. If we cannot source debt 
funding at appropriate rates, this will 
impair our ability to maintain our 
targeted level of dividend.

Before we contractually commit to buying an asset, we enter 
discussions with our lenders to get outline heads of terms on debt 
financing, which ensures that we can borrow against the asset and 
maintain our borrowing policy.

The Board keeps our liquidity and gearing levels under review. We have 
recently broadened our lender base, entering banking facilities with a 
new lender. This has created new banking relationships for us with the 
aim of keeping lending terms as competitive as possible.

Supermarket property should remain popular with lenders, owing to 
long leases and letting to single tenants with strong financial covenants

6

We must be able to operate within our banking covenants

Probability: 
Low

Impact: 
Moderate

Mitigation

If we were unable to operate within our 
banking covenants, this could lead to 
default and our bank funding being 
recalled.

We and the AIFM continually monitor our banking covenant compliance 
to ensure we have sufficient headroom and to give us early warning of 
any issues that may arise. We will enter into interest rate caps and 
swaps to mitigate the risk of interest rate rises and also invest in  
assets let to institutional grade covenants.

7

There can be no guarantee that we will achieve our investment objectives

Probability: 
Low

Impact: 
Low

Mitigation

Our investment objectives include 
achieving the dividend and total returns 
targets. The amount of any dividends 
paid or total return we achieve will 
depend, among other things, on 
successfully pursuing our investment 
policy and the performance of our assets. 
Future dividends are subject to the 
Board’s discretion and will depend,  
on our earnings, financial position,  
cash requirements, level and rate of 
borrowings, and available profit.

At 30 June 2019, we had acquired seven supermarket assets that meet 
our investment criteria. The Investment Adviser’s significant experience 
in the sector should continue to provide us with access to assets that 
meet our investment criteria going forward as evidenced by the 
acquisition of an eighth asset after the balance sheet date. 

Rental income from our current portfolio, coupled with our hedging 
policy, supports the current 5.8 pence per share dividend target. 
Movement in capital value is subject to market yield movements and 
the ability of the Investment Adviser to execute asset management 
strategies.

2 2    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

 
 
 
 
8

We are reliant on the continuance of the Investment Adviser

Probability: 
Low

Impact: 
Moderate

Mitigation

We rely on the Investment Adviser’s 
services and reputation to execute our 
investment strategy. Our performance 
will depend to some extent on the 
Investment Adviser’s ability and the 
retention of its key staff.

Unless there is a default, either party may terminate the Investment 
Advisory Agreement by giving not less than 12 months’ written notice, 
which may not be given before the fifth anniversary of the IPO. The 
Board regularly reviews and monitors the performance of the 
Investment Adviser.

The interests of the Company and the Investment Adviser are aligned 
due to (a) key staff of the Investment Adviser having significant personal 
equity investments in the Company and (b) any fees paid to the 
Investment Adviser in shares of the Company are to be held for a 
minimum period of 12 months. The Board can pay up to 25% of the 
Investment Adviser fee in shares of the Company. 

In addition, the Board meets regularly with the Investment Adviser  
to ensure we maintain a positive working relationship and the AIFM 
receives and reviews regular reporting from the Investment Adviser  
and reports to the Company’s Board on the Investment Adviser’s 
performance. The AIFM also reviews and makes recommendation to the 
Company’s Board on any investments or significant asset management 
initiatives proposed by the Investment Adviser.

TAXATION RISK

9

We operate as a UK REIT and have a tax-efficient corporate structure, with advantageous consequences for UK 
shareholders. Any change to our tax status or in UK tax legislation could affect our ability to achieve our 
investment objectives and provide favourable returns to shareholders

Probability: 
Low

Impact: 
Moderate

Mitigation

If the Company fails to remain a REIT for 
UK tax purposes, our profits and gains 
will be subject to UK corporation tax.

The Board takes direct responsibility for ensuring we adhere to the UK 
REIT regime by monitoring the REIT compliance. The Board has also 
engaged third-party tax advisers to help monitor REIT compliance 
requirements and the AIFM also monitors compliance by the Company 
with the REIT regime.

POLITICAL RISK

10

European Union exit without EU trade deal (“Brexit”)

Probability: 
High

Impact: 
Low

Mitigation

The Group operates with a focus on the UK supermarket sector. It is 
currently well positioned with long term secure leases to institutional-
grade tenants with strong balance sheets and well placed to withstand 
any downturn in the UK economy.

The vote in June 2016 to leave the 
European Union has resulted in political 
and economic uncertainty that could 
have a negative effect on the 
performance of the Group. Until the 
terms of the settlement with the 
European Union become clearer the 
exact outcome on the business is  
difficult to predict at this stage.

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    2 3

 
 
 
STRATEGIC REPORT  |  OUR PRINCIPAL RISKS  CON TIN UED

MARKET PRICE RISK

11

Shareholders may not be able to realise their shares at a price above or the same as they paid for the shares or at all

Probability: 
Moderate

Impact: 
Moderate

Mitigation

Although the Company’s Ordinary Shares 
have to date traded in a relatively narrow 
range closely related to the price at 
which they were issued, this is largely a 
function of supply and demand for the 
Ordinary Shares in the market and 
cannot therefore be controlled by the 
Board. Shareholders who wish to sell 
their Ordinary Shares may be obliged to 
sell their Ordinary Shares at a significant 
discount or may not be able to sell them 
at all.

The Company may seek to address any significant discount to NAV at 
which its Ordinary Shares may be trading by purchasing its own Ordinary 
Shares in the market on an ad hoc basis. The Directors have the 
authority to make market purchases of up to 14.99 per cent of the 
Ordinary Shares in issue as at IPO. Ordinary Shares will be repurchased 
only at prices below the prevailing NAV per Ordinary Share, which should 
have the effect of increasing the NAV per Ordinary Share for remaining 
shareholders. It is intended that a renewal of the authority to make 
market purchases will be sought from shareholders at each annual 
general meeting of the Company. Purchases of Ordinary Shares will be 
made within guidelines established from time to time by the Board. 

Investors should note that the repurchase of Ordinary Shares is entirely 
at the discretion of the Board and no expectation or reliance should be 
placed on such discretion being exercised on any one or more 
occasions or as to the proportion of Ordinary Shares that may be 
repurchased.

Risk

Assumption

Tenant risk

Tenants (or guarantors where relevant) 
continue to comply with their rental obligations 
over the term of their leases and do not suffer 
any insolvency events over the term of the 
review. 

Borrowing risk The Group continues to comply with all 

relevant loan covenants. The Group is able to 
refinance the £100.0 million RCF falling due in 
August 2021 and the £52.1 million Term Loan 
falling due in July 2023 on acceptable terms.

Liquidity risk

The Group continues to generate sufficient 
cash to cover its costs while retaining the 
ability to make distributions.  

Going concern
The Board regularly monitors the Group’s ability to 
continue as a going concern. Included in the information 
reviewed at quarterly Board meetings are summaries of the 
Group’s liquidity position, compliance with loan covenants 
and the financial strength of its tenants. Based on this 
information, the Directors are satisfied that the Group  
and Company are able to continue in business for the 
foreseeable future and therefore have adopted the going 
concern basis in the preparation of this financial statement. 

Viability statement
The Board has assessed the prospects of the Group over 
the five years from the balance sheet date to 30 June 
2024, which is the period covered by the Group’s longer 
term financial projections. The board considers five years 
to be an appropriate forecast period since, although the 
Group’s contractual income extends beyond five years, 
the availability of finance and market uncertainty 
reduces the overall reliability of forecast performance 
over a longer period.

The Board considers the resilience of projected liquidity, 
as well as compliance with secured debt covenants and 
UK REIT rules, under a range of RPI and property 
valuation assumptions.

The principal risks and the key assumptions that  
were relevant to this assessment are as follows:

2 4    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

 
Based on the work performed, the Board has a 
reasonable expectation that the Group will be able to 
continue in business over the five year period of its 
assessment.

Other disclosures
Disclosure in relation to the Company’s business model 
and strategy have been included within the Investment 
Adviser’s report on pages 9 to 13. Disclosures in relation 
to the main industry trends and factors that are likely to 
affect the future performance and position of the 
business have been included within Our Market on 
pages 14 to 17. Disclosures in relation to environmental 
and social issues have been included within Corporate 
Social Responsibility on page 32. Employee diversity 
have not been included as the Directors’ do  
not consider these to be relevant to the Company. 

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
The KPIs used by the Group in assessing its strategic 
progress have been included within the Chairman’s 
Statement on pages 2 to 3, the Investment Adviser’s 
report on pages 9 to 13 and the supplementary 
information on pages 79 to 82.

The Strategic Report, which comprises the Chairman’s 
Statement, Achievements in Brief, Our Portfolio, 
Investment Adviser’s Report, Our Market and Our 
Principal Risks section in the Annual Report was  
signed on behalf of the Board on 3 September 2019. 

Nick Hewson
Chairman
3 September 2019

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    2 5

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE  |  BOARD OF DIRECTORS

DIRECTORS

NICK HEWSON 
CHAIRMAN 
Nick Hewson was co-founder, 
CEO and chairman of Grantchester 
Holdings plc, where he worked from 
1990 until 2002. Nick currently serves 
as a non-executive director and chair 
of the audit committee at Redrow 
plc, a FTSE 250 company and one 
of the UK’s leading housebuilders. 
Prior to this, Nick was chair of the 
executive committee of Pradera AM 
plc, a European retail property fund 
management business. Nick was also 
a founding partner of City Centre 
Partners LP.

VINCE PRIOR 
SENIOR INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR 
Vince Prior joined Sainsbury’s 
Property Investment team in 2008 
and was subsequently appointed as 
Head of Property Investment. Over 
a five-year period to 2014, the value 
of Sainsbury’s property portfolio 
grew from £7.5 billion to £12 billion. 
Before joining Sainsbury’s Vince was 
the head of Retail Advisory Services 
at Jones Lang LaSalle (“JLL”) and 
provided strategic advice to a range 
of high-profile supermarket and retail 
operators. Vince started his career 
working for Tesco where he helped  
to set up their store location team. 

JON AUSTEN 
CHAIR OF AUDIT COMMITTEE 
Jon Austen is chief financial officer at 
Audley Court Limited, which develops 
retirement villages in the UK. Jon is 
also a non-executive director of McKay 
Securities plc, which specialises in 
office and industrial property. Prior 
to Audley Court, Jon was group 
finance director at Urban&Civic Plc. 
Jon has also held senior finance roles 
at London and Edinburgh Trust plc, 
Pricoa Property plc and Goodman 
Limited. Jon is a fellow of the Institute 
of Chartered Accountants of England 
and Wales.

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INVESTMENT ADVISER

BEN GREEN
Ben has over 20 years of experience 
structuring and executing real estate 
transactions and has completed 
£4 billion of supermarket sale and 
leasebacks over the course of his 
career. Ben qualified as a lawyer in 
1997 and worked at Wilde Sapte and 
Linklaters LLP. He left law in 2000 and 
has since spent his career at Barclays, 
Lloyds and Goldman Sachs where 
he was a Managing Director and 
European Head of Structured Finance.

STEVE WINDSOR
Steve spent 16 years at Goldman 
Sachs specialising in finance and risk 
management. Steve became a partner 
at Goldman Sachs in 2008 and headed 
Goldman Sachs’ European, Middle 
East and African Debt Capital Markets 
and Risk Management businesses 
from 2010 until 2016. Steve has helped 
and advised a number of FTSE 100 
companies on how to finance their 
business and manage risk. Steve was 
a member of the Goldman Sachs 
Investment Banking Risk Committee.

STEVEN NOBLE
Steven spent nine years at Lloyds in 
origination and risk management 
with focus on commercial real estate. 
Steven has negotiated and executed 
over £500 million of supermarket 
property transactions. Prior to Lloyds, 
Steven was at KPMG where he 
qualified as a chartered accountant. 
Steven is a fellow of the Institute  
of Chartered Accountants Ireland  
and holds the Chartered Financial 
Analyst designation.

CHRISTOPHER FEARON
Christopher provides research analysis 
on potential acquisitions and asset 
management initiatives. Christopher 
has several years’ experience working 
for multi-sector asset managers and 
holds an MSc in Real Estate from 
CASS Business School.

SANDEEP PATEL
Sandeep is a fellow of the Association 
of Certified Chartered Accountants. 
He trained at Ernst & Young, following 
which he spent 10 years at Lloyds 
Banking Group in a variety of senior 
Accounting & Finance positions.

NATALIE MARKHAM
Natalie was previously chief financial 
officer at Macquarie Global Property 
Advisors Europe. Natalie was also 
amember of the MGPA European 
management team and a director 
of the MGPA European advisory 
business. Natalie was involved in the 
development of business strategy, 
financial planning and responsible 
for all aspects of the financial 
management of the business. Natalie 
qualified as a chartered accountant in 
2000 and is a fellow of the Institute  
of Chartered Accountants of England 
and Wales. 

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    2 7

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE  |  CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT 

The Board has considered the principles and 
recommendations of the AIC Code of Corporate 
Governance (‘AIC Code’) by reference to the AIC 
Corporate Governance Guide (“AIC Guide”). The AIC 
Code as explained by the AIC Guide, addresses all the 
principles set out in the UK Corporate Governance  
Code (the “UK Code”), as well as setting out additional 
principles and recommendations on issues that are of 
specific relevance to the Company.

The Board considers that reporting against the principles 
and recommendations of the AIC Code, and by reference 
to the AIC Guide, (which incorporated the UK Code), 
will provide better information to shareholders.

The Company has complied with the recommendations 
of the AIC Code and the relevant provisions of the UK 
Code as set out below.

Code principles and provisions, as well as the new 
requirements simultaneously introduced by The 
Companies (Miscellaneous Reporting) Regulations  
2018, the Board will review the Company’s governance 
arrangements during the year ending 30 June 2020  
and will report against the new AIC Code  in its next 
Annual Report. This will include an explanation of how 
stakeholder interests and the matters set out under 
section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 are considered  
in Board discussions and decision-making. The Board 
recognises that, in light of the recent developments to 
the corporate governance landscape, some changes  
to its current governance practices may be necessary.  
The Company is committed to maintaining the highest 
standards of governance and during the year ending 
June 2020 it will work to ensure that it continues to  
meet all applicable requirements. 

The UK Corporate Governance Code includes  
provisions relating to:
•  the role of the Chief Executive
•  Executive Directors’ renumeration; and 
•  the need for an internal audit function.

For the reasons set out in the AIC Guide, and as 
explained in the UK Code, the Board considers these 
provisions are not relevant to Supermarket Income REIT 
plc, being an externally managed investment company. 
All of the Company’s day-to-day management and 
administrative functions are outsourced to third parties. 
As a result, the Company has no executive directors, 
employees or internal operations. The Company has 
therefore not reported further in respect of these 
provisions. A copy of the AIC Code and the AIC Guide 
can be obtained via the AIC’s website, www.theaic.co.uk.

In February 2019 the AIC published the revised AIC Code 
to reflect the changes that had been introduced by the new 
2018 edition of the UK Corporate Governance Code in so 
far as they are appropriate to an investment company. 

The new Code applies to financial periods beginning on 
and after 1 January 2019. In light of the updated AIC 

This Corporate Governance Statement forms part  
of the Directors’ Report. 

The Company’s compliance with, or reasons for 
departure from, the principles of the AIC Code are  
set out in the table below. Throughout the period,  
the Company has also complied with the following 
provisions of the UK Code:

A.4.1 The Board should appoint one of the independent 
non executive directors to be senior independent director.  
The Board took the decision on 7 February 2018 to 
appoint Vince Prior as the Senior Independent Director.

B.2.4 (DTR 7.2.8AR) Provide a description of the Board’s 
policy on diversity, including gender, any measurable 
objectives that this has set for implementing the policy, 
and progress on achieving the objectives and Diversity 
Policy.  The Board adopted a formal diversity policy at its 
meeting on 3 September 2018, reflecting wider diversity 
characteristics of gender, ethnicity, age, disability, social 
or educational background.  Previously, the Board’s 
approach was to appoint the best possible candidate, 
considered on merit and against objective criteria.

AIC Code Principle

Evidence of compliance/explanation of departure from the AIC Code

1

2

The Chairman should be 
independent.

A majority of the board 
should be independent of 
the manager and of  
the Investment Adviser.

The Chairman, Nick Hewson, was independent on appointment. 

During the period under review the Board consisted solely of Non-Executive Directors with 
Nick Hewson as Chairman. All of the Directors are considered by the Board to be 
independent of the Alternative Investment Fund Manager (the ‘AIFM’ or ‘Investment 
Manager’) and of Atrato Capital Limited (the ‘Investment Adviser’). As such they are 
considered to be free from any business or other relationships that could interfere with the 
exercise of their judgements.

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AIC Code Principle

Evidence of compliance/explanation of departure from the AIC Code

3

4

5

6

7

8

Directors should be 
submitted for re-election at 
regular intervals. 
Nomination for re-election 
should not  
be assumed but be based 
on disclosed procedures 
and continued satisfactory 
performance.

The Board should have a 
policy on tenure, which is 
disclosed in the annual 
report.

There should be full 
disclosure of information 
about the Board

The Board should aim to 
have a balance of skills, 
experience, length of 
service and knowledge of 
the company.

The Board should 
undertake a formal and 
rigorous annual evaluation 
of its own performance and 
that of its committees and 
individual directors.

Director remuneration 
should reflect their duties, 
responsibilities and the 
value of their time spent.

All Directors retire at each Annual General Meeting and those eligible and wishing to 
serve again offer themselves for election. Each of Nick Hewson, Vince Prior and Jon 
Austen were appointed as directors of the Company on 5 June 2017. Brief biographical 
details on Nick Hewson, Vince Prior and Jon Austen may be found in the section of the 
Annual Report and Accounts on the Board of Directors.  

The Board’s policy on tenure is that continuity and experience are considered to add 
significantly to the strength of the Board and, as such, there is no limit on the overall 
length of service of any of the Directors. The Board does not believe that length of 
service on a wholly non-executive Board has a bearing on independence. An individual 
Director’s experience and continuity of Board membership can significantly enhance the 
effectiveness of the Board as a whole. In line with the recommendation of the 2019 AIC 
Code, a policy on chair tenure will be considered by the Board in during the year ending 
30 June 2020.

Full information about the Board is set out in the Directors’ biographies on the Company 
website at http://supermarketincomereit.com 

All new appointments by the Board are subject to election by shareholders at the AGM 
following their appointment. The Board believes in the benefits of having a diverse range 
of skills and backgrounds, and the need to have a balance of experience, independence, 
diversity, including gender, and knowledge on its Board of Directors.

The Board has a formal policy to evaluate its own performance annually. The Chairman 
leads the assessment which covers:
•   The performance of the Board and its committees, including how the Directors work 

together as a whole;

•   The balance of skills, experience, independence and knowledge of the Directors; and
•   Individual performance, particularly considering whether each Director continues to 

make an effective contribution.

The assessment involves the completion of anonymous questionnaires followed by a 
discussion with all Directors, as a group and individually. 

Following the completion of the first years’ evaluation process, the Chairman held one to 
one discussions with the Board members to consider the feedback on the performance 
of the individuals and the Senior Independent Director, Vince Prior, led the discussion on 
the performance of the Chairman. The results of the evaluation process were presented 
to and discussed by the Board and it was concluded that the Board was functioning 
effectively. One of the actions arising from the  
2018 evaluation is to address the diversity of the Board, which is being addressed with 
discussions around hiring a fourth Director.

A similar evaluation will be undertaken during the next financial year.

The Group does not have a separate remuneration committee as the Board fulfils the 
function of a remuneration committee. Directors’ remuneration levels are set by the 
Board by reference to market rates for equivalent positions in REITs of similar size and /
or mandate. The remuneration of the Directors is determined within the limits set out in  
the Remuneration policy and the total aggregate annual fees payable to the Directors in 
respect of any financial period shall not exceed £500,000. Any fees in excess of this 
amount must be approved by shareholders by way of an Ordinary Resolution. 

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    2 9

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE  |  CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT  CONTINUED

AIC Code Principle

Evidence of compliance/explanation of departure from the AIC Code

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

The independent directors 
should take the lead in the 
appointment of new 
directors and the process 
should be disclosed in the 
annual report.

Directors should be offered  
relevant training and 
induction.

The Chairman (and the 
Board) should be brought 
into the process of 
structuring a new launch at 
an early stage.

The Board, which consists solely of independent non-executive Directors, is responsible 
for identifying and recommending the appointment of new Directors. The Board does not 
use a separate nomination committee given the size and nature of the Board¬. Following 
the annual evaluation process during which the Board considers its own performance 
and that of any committees and individual directors, the Board led by the Chairman 
assesses whether any skill gaps exist which would require the appointment of a new 
Board member. The Board also considers: 
•   the time spent by each Director, during the period, on matters relating to the 

Company, having due regard to the other commitments each Director has outside  
his or her involvement with the Company;

•   whether each Director has demonstrated sufficient commitment to discharging his  
or her duties as a Director for the Company and has committed sufficient time to 
Company matters; 

•   whether the performance of each Director submitting themselves for re-election 

continues to be effective, and 

•   that each Director has demonstrated commitment to the role.

New Directors will receive an induction from the Investment Manager and the 
Administrator on joining the Board.

Directors receive market updates and regulatory developments and are provided training 
as identified through the Board evaluation, as required.

This principle applies to the launch of new investment companies and is therefore not 
applicable to the Company. Whenever the Company is planning an equity fundraising,  
the Chairman and the Board will be involved and are integral to the process from an 
early stage.

Boards and managers 
should operate in a 
supportive, co-operative 
and open environment.

Formal Board meetings provide a forum for the Directors to receive reports and interact 
with key members of the Investment Manager’s team. However, there is ongoing 
informal interaction between the Directors and the Manager through the provision of 
investment updates and other queries that the Board may have.

The Board meets regularly and receives full information on the Group’s investment 
performance, assets, liabilities, proposed investments and other relevant information  
in advance of Board meetings.

The primary focus at regular 
board meetings should be a 
review of investment 
performance and associated 
matters such as gearing, 
asset allocation, marketing/
investor relations, peer 
group information and 
industry issues.

Boards should give 
sufficient attention  
to overall strategy.

Strategic issues and operational matters of a material nature are determined and 
monitored on any on-going basis by the Board.  
Where required Board meetings are convened to discuss strategy.

The Board should regularly  
review both the 
performance of, and 
contractual arrangements 
with, the manager (or 
executives of a self-
managed company).

JTC Global AIFM Solutions Limited has been appointed by the Group, pursuant to the 
AIFM Agreement, to be the Group’s Alternative Investment Fund Manager (the ‘AIFM’ or 
‘Investment Manager’), under which it is responsible for overall portfolio management 
and compliance with the Group’s investment policy, ensuring compliance with the 
requirements of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (‘AIFMD’) that  
apply to the Group, and undertaking risk management. The AIFM has delegated certain 
services in relation to the Group and its Portfolio to Atrato Capital Limited (‘Atrato’ or  
the ‘Investment Adviser’). Atrato advises the Group and the AIFM on the acquisition and 
financing of its Portfolio and on the development, management and disposal of UK 
commercial assets in its Portfolio pursuant to the Investment Advisory Agreement.

The Board keeps the appropriateness of the Investment Adviser’s appointment under 
review. In doing so the Board considers the past investment performance of the Group 
and the capability and resources  
of the Investment Adviser to deliver satisfactory investment performance in the future.  
It also reviews the fees payable to the Investment Adviser, together with the standard  
of the other services provided. 

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AIC Code Principle

Evidence of compliance/explanation of departure from the AIC Code

16

17

18

19

20

21

The Board should agree 
policies with the manager 
covering key operational 
issues.

The management agreement between the Group and the Investment Manager sets out 
the matters over which the Investment Manager has authority and the limits beyond 
which Board approval must be sought. All other matters, including investment and 
dividend policies, corporate strategy, gearing and, corporate governance procedures  
and risk management, are reserved for the approval of the Board of Directors. 

Boards should monitor the 
level of the share price 
discount or premium  
(if any) and, if desirable, 
take action to reduce it.

The Board monitors the share price on an ongoing basis. The Board has not attempted 
to manage any discount through a repurchase of shares as Directors believe that the 
discount is minimised through consistently good long term returns, transparent 
reporting, rigorous valuation, avoidance of risk at the Company level and the 
maintenance of an active programme of market engagement.

The Board should monitor 
and evaluate other service 
providers.

The Board should regularly 
monitor the shareholder 
profile of the Group and  
put in place a system for 
canvassing shareholder 
views and for 
communicating the Board’s 
views to shareholders.

The Board should normally 
take responsibility for, and 
have a direct involvement 
in, the content of 
communications regarding 
major corporate issues 
even if the manager is 
asked to act as spokesman.

All third party service providers are monitored on an on-going basis by reference to the 
quality of work produced. A rolling programme has been set up to review and monitor 
compliance of third party providers against the terms of their agreements. The nature 
and depth of each review is based upon the risk and materiality of each provider.  
The performance of the other service providers is assessed on a regular basis by  
the Board. The Board concluded that for the year ended 30 June 2019 the performance 
of all third party service providers was considered satisfactory and there were no 
material concerns to address.

The Board seeks the views of its shareholders and places great importance on 
communication with them. The Board receives regular reports, from the Investment 
Adviser and from the Corporate Broker, on the views of shareholders, and the Chairman 
and other Directors make themselves available to meet shareholders, when required,  
to discuss any significant issues that have arisen and address shareholder concerns  
and queries.

The AGM provides the Board with an important opportunity to make contact with 
shareholders, who are invited to meet the Board following the formal business of  
the meeting.

The Board has responsibility for approving the content and timing of communications 
regarding major corporate issues and events. Communications normally take the form 
of stock exchange R.I.S. announcements, press releases and direct correspondence with 
shareholders. The Board seeks the views of its shareholders and places great 
importance on communication with them.

The Board should ensure 
that shareholders are 
provided with sufficient 
information for them to 
understand the risk:reward 
balance to which they are 
exposed by holding the 
shares.

The Board places great importance on communication with shareholders. It aims  
to provide shareholders with a full understanding of the Company’s activities and 
performance and reports formally to shareholders twice a year by way of the Interim 
Report and Annual Report and Accounts, particularly the Strategic Report. The Board 
considers that the Company’s Strategic Report provides information about the 
performance of the Company, the Investment Policy, strategy and the principal risks  
and uncertainties relating to the Company’s future prospects so that shareholders have 
sufficient information to understand the nature of their investment in the Company.

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STRATEGIC REPORT  |  CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

All of our tenants have broad and deep corporate 
responsibility targets and we continue to encourage  
and engage with them, so we can work together to 
understand their property requirements and provide 
environmentally efficient Supermarkets which suit their 
needs. Examples include investing in green energy 
efficiency schemes, such as energy efficient lighting, 
solar, battery capture and storage and combined heat 
and power. These types of schemes may provide 
incremental additional returns for investors on a 
risk-adjusted basis, but, importantly, can also assist  
the underlying operator in meeting certain strategic 
objectives in areas such as sustainability targets.

Social policy 
Our assets provide important benefits to their local 
communities. They offer employment, often in areas 
where traditional industries have declined, boosting the 
local economy. They also support economic activity more 
broadly, by underpinning our tenants’ efficient operation 
and helping them succeed. 

The Company is committed to delivering its strategic 
objectives in an ethical and responsible manner and 
meeting its corporate responsibilities towards society  
and the environment. The Company’s environmental 
and social policies address the importance of these  
issues in the day-to-day running, as detailed below. 

Environmental policy 
The Board’s responsibility to society is broader than 
simply generating financial returns for shareholders and 
the Board ensures the Investment Adviser acts responsibly 
in the areas it can influence as a landlord, for example  
by working with tenants to improve the environmental 
performance of the Company’s assets and minimise  
their impact on climate change. The Board believes that 
following this strategy will ultimately be to the benefit  
of shareholders through enhanced asset values. 

The investment properties are let on full repairing and 
insuring leases, meaning its day-to-day environmental 
responsibilities are limited as properties are controlled 
by the tenants. We do not purchase any utilities and we 
cannot use the lease terms to influence how the tenant 
operates. As a result, we do not submit performance data 
to benchmarking indices such as the Global Real Estate 
Sustainability Benchmark. However, the Board and 
Investment Adviser adopt sustainable principles where 
possible and the key elements of the Company’s 
environmental policy are: 

•   We want our properties to minimise their impact  
on the local and wider environment. We carefully 
consider the environmental performance of assets 
before we acquire them, including obtaining an 
independent environmental report and energy 
performance certificate (“EPC”) for all potential 
acquisitions, which considers, amongst other matters, 
the historical and current usage of the site and the 
extent of any contamination present. This report may 
lead to further enquiries of the vendor, surveyor or 
legal teams and is considered by the Investment 
Committee of the Investment Manager when 
approving the acquisition; 

•   Sites are visited periodically and any obvious 

environmental issues are reported to the Board.

•   We perform extensive due diligence on the opportunity 
to install on-site decarbonised energy producing plant 
on each acquisition. To date we have completed 
District Network Operator (“DNO”) applications for 
the installation of extensive rooftop photovoltaic 
panels covering over 70% of the total gross internal 
area of our estate. 

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STRATEGIC REPORT  |  AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT 

The Audit Committee comprises Jon Austen and Vince 
Prior and is chaired by Jon Austen. Jon Austen has 
sufficient recent and relevant financial experience to act 
as chair of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee 
has responsibility for, amongst other things, the planning 
and review of the Group’s Annual Report and Accounts 
and half-yearly reports and the involvement of the 
Group’s auditors in the process. The Committee focuses 
in particular on compliance with legal requirements, 
accounting standards and on ensuring that an effective 
system of internal financial control is maintained. The 
Audit Committee also reviews the objectivity of the 
Group’s auditor and the terms under which the Group’s 
auditor is appointed to perform non-audit services. 

The terms of reference of the Audit Committee, which 
are available at the Company’s registered office for 
inspection, cover such issues as committee membership, 
frequency of meetings, quorum requirements and the 
right to attend meetings. The responsibilities of the 
Audit Committee covered in the terms of reference 
relate to the following: external audit, internal audit, 
financial reporting, internal controls and risk 
management. The terms of reference also set out 
reporting responsibilities and the authority of the 
Committee to carry out its responsibilities. 

The Audit Committee will meet at a minimum twice a 
year and at the appropriate times in the reporting and 
audit cycle and at such other times as the Committee 
Chairman shall require.

The Audit Committee’s primary responsibility is to 
monitor the integrity of the financial statements of the 
Company and Group, covering annual and interim 
reports and financial statements and any other formal 
announcement relating to financial performance. The 
Committee reviews that information and reports to the 
Board on significant financial reporting issues and 
judgements, having regard to matters communicated to 
it by the external auditor. In particular, the Committee 
reviews and challenges where necessary:

•   the consistency of, and any changes to, accounting 
policies both from year-to-year and across the 
Company or Group;

•   the methods used to account for significant or unusual 
transactions where different approaches are possible;

•   whether the Group and Company have followed 
appropriate accounting standards and made 
appropriate estimates and judgements, taking into 
account the views of the external auditor;

•   the clarity and completeness of disclosure in the 
Group’s and Company’s financial reports and the 
context in which statements are made; and

•   all material information presented with the financial 
statements, such as the business review and the 
corporate governance statements relating to the  
audit and to risk management.

Where requested by the Board the Audit Committee also 
reviews the content of the Annual Report and Accounts 
to advise the Board whether, taken as a whole, they are 
fair, balanced and understandable and provide the 
information necessary for shareholders to assess the 
Company’s performance, business model and strategy. 

The other key responsibilities of the Audit Committee 
are:

•   overseeing the relationship with the auditor, including 

an assessment of their independence and the 
effectiveness of the external audit;

•   reviewing the adequacy and effectiveness of the 

Company’s internal financial controls and internal 
control and risk management systems, including those 
of the Investment Adviser and their delegates as far as 
they are relevant to the Company; 

•   reviewing the adequacy and security of the Company’s 
arrangements for any relevant party to raise concerns, 
in confidence, about possible wrongdoing in financial 
reporting, regulatory matters or other relevant matters;

•   reviewing the Company’s procedures for detecting 

fraud; and 

•   reviewing the Company’s systems and controls for  
the prevention of bribery and receiving reports on 
non-compliance.

In overseeing the relationship with the external auditor, 
the Committee considers and makes recommendations 
to the Board, to be put to shareholders for approval at 
the AGM, in relation to the appointment, reappointment 
or removal of the auditor. If an auditor resigns, the 
Committee is required to investigate the issues leading 
to this and to decide whether any action is required.  
The Committee also makes recommendations on the 
remuneration of the auditor, including fees for both  
audit and any non-audit services, ensuring that the level 
of fees is appropriate to enable an effective and high-
quality audit to be conducted while remaining 
reasonably consistent with other similar real estate 
companies. Where the auditor undertakes non-audit 
work, the Committee considers whether that work  
could be detrimental to the independence of the auditor. 
The Committee also approves the auditor terms of 
engagement, including the scope of the audit, and on  
an annual basis assesses their independence and 
objectivity, taking into account relevant UK professional 
and regulatory requirements and the relationship with 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE  |  AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT  CONTINUED

the auditor as a whole, including the provision of any 
non-audit services to the Group and any services to  
the Investment Adviser and the Investment Manager.

shareholders vote in favour of the reappointment of the 
auditor, which is proposed as an ordinary resolution at 
the Company’s forthcoming AGM.

Composition of the Audit Committee
The Audit Committee currently comprises Jon Austen 
and Vince Prior, and is chaired by Jon Austen. The 
Committee has assessed whether its members have the 
requisite skills to carry out their role and believes that 
the composition of the Committee remains appropriate.

Meetings of the Audit Committee
The Audit Committee met twice during the year. 
Meetings were held on 3 September 2018 and 6 February 
2019 prior to the release of the 30 June 2018 results and 
the December 2018 interim results announcement 
respectively. Both meetings were attended by both 
members of the Committee.

External audit
BDO LLP were initially appointed as auditor of the 
Company in June 2017 and were reappointed at the 
AGM held on 6 November 2018. The audit partner is 
Russell Field.

The Committee met formally with the auditor at each 
Committee meeting during the year. Part of each 
meeting took place without the Investment Adviser 
being present to discuss any issues arising relating to 
them. The Committee’s review of the findings of the 
audit with the auditor covered:
•   a discussion of any major issues which arose during 
the audit of the Company’s accounts to 30 June 2018 
and the review of the Group’s interim Report to 
31 December 2018;

•   a review of the key accounting matters and 
judgements relating to those engagements;

•   confirmation of the levels of potential adjustments,  

if any, identified during the engagements;

•   an assessment of the overall control environment; and
•   an assessment of the effectiveness of the audit and 

review processes.

The Committee has considered the performance, 
effectiveness and objectivity of the auditor through its 
regular meetings and communications with them. The 
Committee’s assessment is that the auditor has the 
necessary experience, independence and qualifications 
to deliver an effective audit, and that their ability to 
challenge and review the Investment Adviser and Board 
is sufficient and appropriate. 

There are therefore currently no plans for re-tendering 
the audit. The Committee recommends that 

The total fees charged by the auditor to the Group 
during the year were £150,000 (13 months to 30 June 
2018: £225,000), as disclosed in note 6 to the Group 
financial statements and including fees accrued for the 
audit of these financial statements. This total includes 
£30,000 of non-audit work during the Year largely 
relating to their work as Reporting Accountants in 
connection with the Company’s share placing in March 
2019. Such work is, in the Committee’s view, most 
effectively and cost-efficiently carried out by the auditor 
and is not considered a threat to their independence. 

The Committee has approved a policy for non-audit 
services, which aims to comply with the requirements of 
the FRC’s Revised Ethical Standard 2016 applicable to 
public interest entities. Non-audit services may not be 
carried out by the auditor if they are considered to have 
a direct effect on the financial statements or an indirect 
effect that is not inconsequential.

Risk management and internal control
During the year, the Audit Committee reviewed the 
Group’s risk register, which is maintained by the 
Investment Adviser subject to the supervision and 
oversight of the Committee. Taking into account that 
review, together with its review of the Group’s internal 
controls and its knowledge of the business, the 
Committee has reviewed and approved any statements 
included in the annual report concerning internal 
controls and risk management. A summary of the risk 
register is reviewed at least annually by the Board.

The Audit Committee has reviewed the adequacy of the 
Company’s arrangements for any relevant party to raise 
concerns, in confidence, about possible wrongdoing in 
financial reporting, regulatory or other relevant matters. 
The Committee considers that these arrangements  
allow proportionate and independent investigation of 
such matters and appropriate follow-up action. It has 
also reviewed the Company’s Investment Manager’s  
and Investment Adviser’s procedures for detecting  
fraud and for preventing bribery and considers them  
to be appropriate.

Significant matters relating to the  
financial statements
The significant issues and judgements that the 
Committee reviewed before recommending the financial 
statements to the Board for approval were as follows:

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Matter

Description

Investment property 
valuations

Revenue recognition

Management overriding 
controls 

Investment properties make up the majority of the Group’s assets. Investment property valuations 
are inherently subjective, but the Group operates in a mature and liquid property market in the UK, 
which is a jurisdiction with well-developed valuation processes and methodologies. The opinion of 
external valuers is obtained at each reporting date, using recognised valuation techniques and the 
principles of IFRS 13 “Fair Value Measurement”. The valuations at the balance sheet date were 
performed by Cushman and Wakefield (“C&W”), who the Audit Committee believes to be suitably 
independent, competent and experienced to carry out the work.

The Committee Chairman attended a meeting between the auditor and C&W which included 
detailed discussions of material fair value changes and a comparison of changes to external 
sources. The meeting also included a review of current conditions and recent, relevant transactions 
to provide a context for the valuations and to allow an assessment of the assumptions and 
judgements made by C&W. The Committee’s intention is to continue to meet with the valuer  
in future to discuss their valuations.

The Committee considered that the inputs provided by the Group to C&W for the valuations 
adopted in the financial statements were accurately extracted from the Group’s accounting records. 
The Committee also reviewed the level of disclosure in note 12 to the financial statements and 
believes that it meets the requirements of IFRS 13.

In accordance with applicable accounting standards, the Group recognises rental income on an 
accruals basis. Contingent income such as that arising from RPI uplifts is recognised  in the 
income statement in the period in which it is earned.

The Committee has reviewed recognised rent receivable from each property in the year based on 
expectations from a review of each lease agreement and having regard to any contractual rent 
uplifts which took effect in the year and published RPI data. Under IAS 17 ‘Leases’, the Group is 
required to recognise rent receivable under operating leases on a straightline basis over the 
expected term of the lease.  This has resulted in the Group accruing £366,000 of uninvoiced rental 
income in the year to 30 June 2019 (13 months to 30 June 2018: £328,000) in respect of the 1% 
guaranteed annual uplifts provided within the Sainsbury’s Ashford lease. 

Following this review the Committee is not aware of any issues that suggest Group revenue has 
not been recognised in accordance with the requirements of IAS 17.

The management of an entity are in a unique position to perpetrate fraud because they have the 
ability directly or indirectly to manipulate accounting records and prepare fraudulent financial 
statements by overriding controls that otherwise appear to be operating effectively. The Committee 
considered that due to the unpredictable way in which such override could occur, there exists a 
significant risk of material misstatement due to fraud.

In relation to the financial statements for the Group, the Committee would have expected that 
management override of controls would  manifest through bias in the key accounting estimates. 
The Committee considers the key accounting estimate to be the valuation of investment property. 
This estimate was considered as a separate risk item above. The Committee also considered other 
accounting estimates which could be subject to bias within the financial statements but did not 
identify any material issues. The Committee also considered the transactions that occurred 
between the Group and the Investment Adviser to confirm that they were in accordance with 
expectations and the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement. No issues were identified  
in relation to these transactions. 

The Committee did not identify any instances where management have overridden controls to  
give rise to a material misstatement within the financial records of the Group.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE  |  AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT  CONTINUED

Matter

REIT status

Description

The Company and its subsidiaries gave notice to HMRC on 20 December 2017 that they would be 
operating as a UK REIT, effective from 21 December 2017. Any failure to comply with the various 
conditions that are required to be satisfied on an on-going basis to operate as a UK REIT could 
have a material impact on the tax balances that need to be reflected in the financial records of  
the Group. 

The Committee reviewed a copy of the notice submitted by the Company to HMRC on 20 December 
2017. Following successful entry into the UK REIT regime the Group’s exposure to UK taxation is 
minimal. The Committee reviewed the Group’s compliance with the various requirements of the 
UK REIT regime having regard to the work undertaken by the auditors and their tax specialists. 
The tax calculations and reconciliations prepared by the Investment Adviser for the purposes of 
inclusion in the Group’s financial statements were considered to ensure that the provisions 
appropriately reflect the tax payable by the Group at the reporting date in respect of its profits  
that are excluded from inclusion in the UK REIT regime. 

The Committee has not identified any issues to suggest that the tax provisions and disclosures 
contained within the Group’s financial statements are materially inappropriate. 

Going concern and viability 
statement 

The Board is required to consider whether the Group has adequate resources to continue in 
operational existence for the foreseeable future, which is considered to be at least 12 months  
from the date of approval of the Annual Report and Accounts.

The Audit Committee has reviewed the work of the Investment Adviser on going concern, which 
included a report on the Group’s liquidity position, compliance with loan covenants and the 
financial strength of its tenants, together with forecasts of the Group’s cash flow over the period  
to at least September 2020. As a result, the Committee has concluded that the going concern 
basis  of preparation for the financial statements remains appropriate.

The Committee has also reviewed the work of the Investment Adviser to support the viability 
statement included in the Strategic Report, which included forecasts of the Group’s results over 
the period to June 2024. In carrying out this review, the Committee considered the risks and 
assumptions relevant to those forecasts, together with the various sensitivity scenarios modelled 
in them. As a result, the Committee has concluded that there is a reasonable expectation that  
the Group will be able to continue in business over the five year period of the assessment.

Signed on behalf of the Audit Committee  
on 3 September 2019.

Jon Austen
Audit Committee Chairman 
3 September 2019

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE  |  DIRECTORS’ REPORT

The Directors present their report together with the 
audited financial statements for the year ended 30 June 
2019. The Corporate Governance Statement pages 26 to 
31 forms part of their report.

Results and dividends 
The results for the year are set out in the attached 
financial statements. It is the policy of the Board to 
declare and pay dividends as quarterly interim 
dividends. During the year and subsequently, the 
following interim dividends amounting to aggregate 
5.558 pence per share were declared:

Date declared 

Amount per share (pence) 

Date paid

17 July 2018 
8 October 2018 
8 January 2019 
8 April 2019 
8 July 2019 

1.375 
23 August 2018
1.375  6 November 2018
8 February 2019
1.419 
7 May 2019
1.419 
7 August 2019
1.419 

Dividend policy
Subject to market conditions and performance, financial 
position and outlook, it is the Directors’ intention to pay 
an attractive level of dividend income to shareholders  
on a quarterly basis. The Company intends to grow  
the dividend progressively through investment in 
supermarket properties with upward-only, inflation-
protected, long-term lease agreements. 

Principal activities and status
Supermarket Income REIT plc (the “Company” or 
“Group”) is registered as a public limited company 
under the Companies Act 2006. It is an Investment 
Company as defined by Section 833 of the Companies 
Act 2006 and has been established as a closed-ended 
investment company with an indefinite life. The 
Company has a single class of shares in issue which  
are traded on the Specialist Fund segment of the 
London Stock Exchange’s Main Market. The Group  
has entered the Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) 
regime for the purposes of UK taxation.

The Company is a member of the Association of 
Investment Companies (the “AIC”).

Strategy and investment policy 
The strategy and investment objectives of the Group  
are set out in the Strategic Report on pages 1 to 18.

Risk management and internal control
The Board is responsible for financial reporting and 
controls, including the approval of the Annual Report 
and Accounts, the dividend policy, any significant 
changes in accounting policies or practices, and treasury 
policies including the use of derivative financial 
instruments. During the year the Board has carried out a 

robust assessment of the principal risks facing the Group 
and how they are being mitigated, as described in the 
Strategic Report on pages 1 to 18.

In light of the Group’s current position and principal 
risks, the Board has assessed the prospects of the Group 
for a period of 12 months from the date of this Annual 
Report, reviewing the Group’s liquidity position, 
compliance with loan covenants and the financial 
strength of its tenants, together with forecasts of the 
Group’s future performance under various scenarios.  
The Board has concluded there is a reasonable 
expectation that the Group will be able to continue in 
operation and meet its liabilities over that period. The 
Board has also assessed the prospects of the Group over 
a longer period than the going concern review and has  
a reasonable expectation that the Group will be able to 
continue in business over the five year period examined 
in that assessment. 

The Board is also responsible for the internal controls  
of the Group, including operational and compliance 
controls and risk management systems, which are 
documented in a Board memorandum. We have 
contractually delegated responsibility for administrative, 
accounting and secretarial services to the Administrator 
(“JTC”). JTC have their own internal control systems 
relating to these matters. The Board and the Investment 
Adviser have together reviewed all financial performance 
and results notifications. Non-financial internal controls 
include the systems of operational and compliance 
controls maintained by JTC. As with any risk 
management system, the Group’s internal control 
framework is designed to manage risk but cannot give 
absolute assurance that there will never be any material 
misstatement or loss. The Board has reviewed the risk 
management and internal control framework in the  
year and believes it to be working effectively.

The Board has considered the appropriateness of 
establishing an internal audit function and, having 
regard to the relatively simple nature of the Group’s 
operations and the likely cost of such a function, has 
concluded that it is not necessary at this stage.

The Board meets at least every quarter to review  
the Group’s performance against its strategic aims, 
objectives, business plans and budgets and ensures  
that any corrective action considered necessary is taken. 
Additional meetings are held as required to deal with 
the business of the Group in a timely manner.

Directors are expected to attend all meetings of the 
Board and all meetings of those committees on  
which they sit, as well as the Annual General Meeting 
(the “AGM”). Meetings called outside the scheduled 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE  |  DIRECTORS’ REPORT  CONTINUED

quarterly Board meetings may need to be convened at 
relatively short notice and therefore at times when not 
every Director is available. Every meeting during the  
year has however been correctly convened with an 
appropriate quorum.

Details of Directors’ attendance at each of the scheduled 
Board and Committee meetings during the year are set 
out below:

Director 

Nick Hewson 
Vince Prior 
Jon Austen 

Audit  
Committee 

Quarterly  
Board

N/A 
2/2 
2/2 

3/3
3/3
3/3

All Directors attended the Company’s AGM held on 
6 November 2018.

Directors
All three Directors retired and were re-elected at the 
AGM on 6 November 2018. In accordance with the 
Articles of Association, all Directors are required to retire 
and seek re-election at least every three years. Although 
not required by the Company’s Articles of Association, 
the Company is choosing to comply voluntarily with  
the provision of the UK Corporate Governance Code 
requiring all directors of FTSE 350 companies to be 
subject to annual election. All three Directors retire  
at each AGM and those eligible and wishing to serve 
again offer themselves for election. 

The Company maintains £10 million of Directors’ and 
Officers’ Liability Insurance cover for the benefit of the 
Directors, which was in place throughout the year and 
which continues in effect at the date of this report.

Directors’ interests
The beneficial interests of the Directors and their families 
in the Ordinary shares of the Company as at 30 June 2019 
were as follows:

Nick Hewson 
Jon Austen 
Vince Prior 

Number of 
shares 

380,000 
99,000 
55,431 

Percentage 
of issued 
share capital

0.16%
0.04%
0.02%

Significant shareholdings
As at 6 August 2019 the Directors have been notified that 
the following shareholders have a disclosable interest of 
3% or more in the ordinary shares of the Company:

Number  
of shares 

Percentage 
of issued 
share capital

26,649,757 

11.11

Quilter Cheviot Investment  
  Management    
Smith & Williamson  

Investment Management 

16,842,839 

BMO Global Asset  
  Management 
Premier Fund Management 
West Yorkshire Pension Fund 
Canaccord Genuity Wealth  
Close Asset Management  
River & Mercantile  
  Asset Management 
TR Property Investment Trust 
Ruffer 
Miton Asset Management  
Brooks Macdonald  
  Asset Management 
Charles Stanley 

14,842,500 
14,410,770 
14,166,291 
14,001,484 
13,595,957 

13,525,280 
11,289,711 
9,310,994 
8,090,603 

7,768,953 
7,473,334 

7.02

6.19
6.01
5.91
5.84
5.67

5.64
4.71
3.88
3.37

3.24
3.12

Political contributions
The Group made no political contributions during the 
year (13 months to June 2018: none).

Greenhouse gas emissions reporting
The Board has considered the requirement to disclose  
the Company’s measured carbon emissions sources under 
the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic report and Director’s 
report) Regulations 2013. 

During the year ended 30 June 2019:

•   performed extensive due diligence on the opportunity 
to install on-site decarbonised energy producing plant 
across our estate. To date we have commenced District 
Network Operator (DNO) applications for the 
installation of extensive rooftop photovoltaic panels 
covering over 70% of the total GIA of our estate. 
Through green energy investment, we not only 
generate an income producing asset but also reduce 
costs for our tenants whilst also assisting their 
transition to a lower carbon emission future

3 8    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
•   any emissions from the Group’s properties have been 
the tenant’s responsibility rather than the Group’s, so 
the principle of operational control has been applied;

•   any emissions that are either produced from the 

Company’s registered office or from offices used to 
provide administrative support are deemed to fall 
under the Investment Adviser and Investment 
Manager’s responsibility; and

•   the Group has not leased or owned any vehicles  
which fall under the requirements of Mandatory 
Emissions Reporting.

Auditor
BDO LLP was appointed as auditor by the Directors  
in June 2017 and was re-appointed as auditor by  
the Company’s shareholders at the AGM held on  
6 November, 2018.  BDO LLP have expressed their 
willingness to continue as auditor for the financial  
year ending 30 June 2020. A resolution to appoint  
BDO LLP as auditor of the Company will be proposed  
at the forthcoming AGM.

Signed by order of the Board on 3 September 2019.

As such, the Board believes that the Company has no 
reportable emissions for the year ended 30 June 2019  
(13 month to June 2018: none). 

Nick Hewson
Chairman
3 September 2019

Employees
The Group has no employees and therefore no 
employees share scheme or policies for the employment 
of disabled persons or employee engagement.

Post balance sheet events
On 28 August 2019, the Group completed the 
acquisition of its eighth supermarket asset, a Sainsbury’s 
superstore in Preston, Lancashire with an unexpired 
lease term of 23 years, for £54.4 million (net of 
acquisition costs), reflecting a net initial yield of 5.1%.

The Group has also arranged a new £47.6 million debt 
facility and an uncommitted £40 million accordion 
option provided by Deka Bank, fixed at 1.9% for the five 
year term of the facility. The accordion option allows the 
Group to expand the £48.1m debt by a further £40 
million subject to Deka Bank credit approval. 

Other disclosures
Disclosures of financial risk management objectives  
and policies and exposure to financial risks are included 
in note 16 to the financial statements. Details of future 
developments are included in the Strategic Report on 
pages 1 to 18.

Disclosure of information to auditor
All of the Directors have taken all the steps that they 
ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any 
information needed by the auditor for the purposes  
of their audit and to establish that the auditor is aware  
of that information. The Directors are not aware of  
any relevant audit information of which the auditor  
is unaware.

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    3 9

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE  |  DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT

Annual Statement
The Board comprises only independent non-executive 
Directors. The Group has no executive Directors or 
employees. For these reasons, it is not considered 
necessary to have a separate Remuneration Committee. 
The full Board determines the level of Directors’ fees.

Full details of the Group’s policy with regards to 
Directors’ fees and fees paid during the year ended 
30 June 2019 are shown below.

Directors’ remuneration policy
The Board considers the level of Directors’ fees at least 
annually. Reviews of Directors’ fees take place in each 
financial year with any changes being applicable from the 
start of the next financial year. The remuneration of the 
Directors’ was benchmarked at the time of the Company’s 
listing in June 2017 and again in December 2018. The 
Directors’ remuneration has remained unchanged.

The remuneration of the Directors for their services are 
determined within the limit set out in the Company’s 
Articles of Association. The present limit states that fees 
in aggregate shall not exceed £500,000 per annum but 
this may be changed by way of ordinary resolution. 
Directors can also be paid additional remuneration if 
approved at a General Meeting. Directors’ fees are fixed 
and payable in cash, monthly in arrears. Directors are 

Director 

Nick Hewson 
Jon Austen 
Vince Prior 

not eligible for bonuses, pension benefits, share options, 
long term incentive schemes or other benefits. 

The Company may repay to any Director all such 
reasonable expenses incurred in undertaking their duties. 

It is the Board’s policy that Directors do not have service 
contracts, but each new Director is provided with a letter 
of appointment. In accordance with the terms of the 
Directors’ appointments all Directors retired and  
were re-elected at the first Annual General Meeting on  
6 November 2018. At each AGM Shareholders are 
offered the chance to approve the re-election of each 
Director. The Directors’ remuneration policy was 
approved by shareholders at the 2018 AGM and 
shareholder approval will be sought for any proposed 
changes to that policy prior it being subject to another 
shareholder vote in 2021 

In accordance with the Articles of Association, all 
Directors are required to retire and seek re-election at 
least every three years. Although not required by the 
Company’s Articles of Association, the Company is 
choosing to comply voluntarily with the provision of the 
UK Corporate Governance Code requiring all directors 
of FTSE 350 companies to be subject to annual election. 
All three directors retire at each annual general meeting 
and those eligible and wishing to serve again offer 
themselves for election.

Date of  
original  
appointment 

Most recent 
date of 
election 

Latest due 
date of 
re-election

  20 June 2017 
  20 June 2017 
  20 June 2017 

6 November 2018  7 November 2019
6 November 2018  7 November 2019
6 November 2018  7 November 2019

Directors’ emoluments for the year
The Directors who served during the year received the following emoluments in the form of fees:

Nick Hewson 
Jon Austen 
Vince Prior 

Year ended 
30 June 2019 
£000  

Period ended 
30 June 2018 
£000

55 
40 
39 

60
42
39

Relative importance of spend on pay

The table below sets out, in respect of the year ended 30 June 2019:

a) The remuneration paid to the Directors;
b)  The management fee and expenses which have been included to give shareholders a greater understanding  

of the relative importance of spend on pay; and
c)  Distributions to shareholders by way of dividend.

4 0    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Year ended 
30 June 2019 
£000  

Period ended 
30 June 2018 
£000

146 
1,840 
10,934 

160
1,079
4,675

Year ended 
30 June 2019 
%  

Period ended 
30 June 2018 
%

7.9 
1.33 

14.3
3.42

It is a company law requirement to compare the 
performance of the Group’s share price to a single broad 
equity market index on a total return basis. However,  
it should be noted that constituents of the comparative 
index used above are larger in size than the Group.  
The Group does not have a benchmark index.

Voting at Annual General Meeting 
Ordinary resolutions for the approval of this Report on 
Directors’ Remuneration Report and of the Directors’ 
remuneration policy will be put to shareholders at  
the AGM.

On behalf of the Board

Nick Hewson
Chairman
3 September 2019

Directors’ fees 
Management fee and expenses 
Dividends paid 

Director’s fees as a percentage of:

Management fee and expenses 
Dividends paid 

Directors’ shareholdings
The Directors, including connected parties, who held 
office at the 30 June 2019 and their interests in the 
Ordinary Shares of the Company as at that date are  
set out in the Directors’ Report on pages 37 to 39.

Group performance 
The Board is responsible for the Group’s investment 
strategy and performance, whilst the management of the 
investment portfolio is delegated to the Investment 
Manager. The Investment Manager has in turn delegated 
certain services, including but not limited to advice on 
acquisitions and financing, to the Investment Adviser. 
The graph below compares, for the year from 1 July 2018 
to 30 June 2019, the total return (assuming all dividends 
are reinvested) to ordinary shareholders compared to the 
FTSE All-Share Index. This index was chosen as it is 
considered an indicative measure of the expected return 
from an equity stock. An explanation of the performance 
of the Group for the year ended 30 June 2019 is given in 
the Strategic Report.

FTSE 100 vs SUPR (Indexed)

110

105

100

95

90

85

e
c
n
a
m
r
o
f
r
e
p
e
v
i
t
a
l
e
R

JUL17

SEP17

DEC17

MAR18

JUN18

SEP18

DEC18

MAR19

JUN19

Supermarket REIT

FTSE 100

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    4 1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE  |  DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES STATEMENT 

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

The Company is required to make the Annual Report 
and Accounts available on a website. The Company’s 
website address is www.SupermarketIncomeREIT.co.uk. 
Financial statements are published on the Company’s 
website in accordance with legislation in the United 
Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination 
of financial statements, which may vary from such 
legislation in other jurisdictions. The maintenance and 
integrity of the Company’s website is the responsibility 
of the Directors. The Directors’ responsibility also 
extends to the ongoing integrity of the financial 
statements contained therein.

Responsibility Statement
The Directors confirm to the best of their knowledge:
•   The Group financial statements prepared in 

accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards as adopted by the European Union and 
Article 4 of the IAS Regulation, give a true and fair 
view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and 
profit or loss of the Group.

•   The Annual Report and Accounts include a fair review 
of the development and performance of the business 
and the position of the Group and Company, together 
with a description of the principal risks and 
uncertainties that they face.

•   The Annual Report and Accounts taken as whole, is 

fair, balanced and understandable and the information 
provided to shareholders is sufficient to allow them  
to assess the Group’s performance, business model 
and strategy.

This Responsibility Statement was approved by the 
Board of Directors and is signed on its behalf by:

Nick Hewson
Chairman
3 September 2019

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual 
Report and Accounts in accordance with applicable law 
and regulations.

The UK Companies Act 2006 requires the Directors to 
prepare financial statements for each financial period. 
Under that law, the Directors have elected to prepare  
the Group financial statements in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted 
by the European Union, and the Company financial 
statements in accordance with applicable law and 
United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United 
Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), 
including Financial Reporting Standard 102 “The 
Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and 
Republic of Ireland”. Under company law the Directors 
must not approve the financial statements unless they 
are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the 
state of affairs of the Group and Company and of the 
profit or loss of the Group for that period.

In preparing these financial statements, the Directors  
are required to:
•   select suitable accounting policies and then apply 

them consistently;

•   make judgements and accounting estimates that  

are reasonable and prudent;

•   state whether applicable accounting standards have 
been followed, 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 Company’s transactions and disclose with 
reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position  
of the Company and enable them to ensure that the 
financial statements comply with the requirements  
of the Companies Act 2006 and as regards the Group 
financial statements, Article 4 of the IAS Regulation. 
They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets  
of the Company and hence for taking reasonable  
steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and  
other irregularities.

The Directors are responsible for such internal control  
as they determine necessary to enable the preparation  
of financial statements that are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

4 2    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE  |  ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT FUND MANAGER’S REPORT

3. Leverage and borrowing
The Company is entitled to employ leverage in 
accordance with its investment policy and as described 
in the sections entitled “Debt Financing” in the 
Chairman’s Statement and “Financing and Hedging” in 
the Investment Adviser’s Report and in notes 17 and 25 
to the financial statements.  Other than as disclosed 
therein, there were no changes in the Company’s 
borrowing powers and policies.

4.  Remuneration of the AIFM’s Directors  

and Employees

During the financial year under review, no separate 
remuneration was paid by the AIFM to its executive 
directors, James Tracey and Graham Taylor, because they 
were both employees of the JTC group of companies,  
of which the AIFM forms part. Matthew Tostevin is a 
non-executive director and is paid a fixed fee of £10,000 
for acting in such capacity.  Other than the directors,  
the AIFM has no employees.  The Company has no 
agreement to pay any carried interest to the AIFM.

5. Remuneration of the AIFM Payable by the Company
The AIFM was during the period under review paid a  
fee of 0.04% per annum of the net asset value of the 
Company, subject to a minimum of £50,000 per annum. 
The total fees paid to the AIFM during the year under 
review were £79,000. 

Graham Taylor 
JTC Global AIFM Solutions Limited
Alternative Investment Fund Manager 
3 September 2019

Background
The Alternative Investment Fund Manager’s  
Directive (“AIFMD”) came into force on 22 July 2013. 
The objective of the AIFMD was to ensure a common 
regulatory regime for funds marketed in or into the EU 
which are not regulated under the UCITS regime. This 
was primarily for investors’ protection and also to enable 
European regulators to obtain adequate information in 
relation to funds being marketed in or into the EU to 
assist their monitoring and control of systemic risk issues.

The AIFM is a non-EU AIFM, although the Company is 
an EU Alternative Investment Fund (an “AIF”) and the 
Company is marketed into the EU, primarily the United 
Kingdom.  Although the AIFM is a non-EU AIFM, so  
the depositary rules in Article 21 of the Alternative 
Investment Fund Managers Directive (the “AIFMD”) do 
not apply, the transparency requirements of Articles 22 
(Annual report) and 23 (Disclosure to investors) of the 
AIFMD do apply to the AIFM and therefore to the 
Company. In compliance with those articles, the 
following information is provided to the Company’s 
shareholders by the AIFM.

1. Material Changes in the Disclosures to Investors
During the financial year under review, there were no 
material changes to the information required to be made 
available to investors before they invest in the Company 
under Article 23 of the AIFMD from that information set 
out in the Company’s prospectus dated 25 April 2018 
(comprising the registration document, summary and 
securities note), save as updated in the Summary and 
Securities Note published on 12 March 2019 and as 
disclosed below and in the Strategic Report, which 
comprises the Chairman’s Statement, Achievements in 
Brief, Our Portfolio, Investment Adviser’s Report, Our 
Market and Our Principal Risks sections in this Annual 
Report and Accounts.

2. Risks and Risk Management Policy 
The current principal risks facing the Company and  
the main features of the risk management systems 
employed by AIFM and the Company to manage those 
risks are set out in the Strategic Report and in notes  
16 and 18 to the financial statements.

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    4 3

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE  |  INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT   
TO THE MEMBERS OF SUPERMARKET INCOME REIT PLC 

Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of 
Supermarket Income REIT Plc (the ‘Parent Company’) 
and its subsidiaries (the ‘Group’) for the year ended 
30 June 2019 which comprise the consolidated statement 
of comprehensive income, consolidated and company 
statements of financial position, consolidated and 
company statements of changes in equity, consolidated 
cash flow and notes to the financial statements, 
including a summary of significant accounting policies.

The financial reporting framework that has been applied 
in the preparation of the Group financial statements is 
applicable law and International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union. 
The financial reporting framework that has been applied 
in the preparation of the Parent Company financial 
statements is applicable law and United Kingdom 
Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally 
Accepted Accounting Practice), including Financial 
Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard 
in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.

In our opinion:
•   the financial statements give a true and fair view of 

the state of the Group’s and of the Parent Company’s 
affairs as at 30 June 2019 and of the Group’s profit for 
the year then ended;

•   the Group financial statements have been properly 

prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the 
European Union;

•   the Parent Company financial statements have been 

properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom 
Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
•   the financial statements have been prepared in 

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

Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International 
Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable 
law. Our responsibilities under those standards are 
further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the 
audit of the financial statements section of our report. 
We are independent of the Group and the Parent 
Company in accordance with the ethical requirements 
that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements 
in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard as 
applied to listed public interest entities, and we have 
fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance 
with these requirements. We believe that the audit 
evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate 
to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to principal risks, going concern 
and viability statement
We have nothing to report in respect of the following 
information in the Annual Report, in relation to which 
the ISAs (UK) require us to report to you whether we 
have anything material to add or draw attention to:
•   the disclosures in the Annual Report and Accounts set 
out on pages 20 to 25 that describe the principal risks 
and explain how they are being managed or mitigated;

•   the Directors’ confirmation set out on page 37 in the 
Annual Report and Accounts that they have carried 
out a robust assessment of the principal risks facing 
the Group, including those that would threaten its 
business model, future performance, solvency or 
liquidity;

•   the Directors’ statement set out on page 37 in the 
financial statements about whether the Directors 
considered it appropriate to adopt the going concern 
basis of accounting in preparing the financial 
statements and the Directors’ identification of any 
material uncertainties to the Group and the Parent 
Company’s ability to continue to do so over a period 
of at least twelve months from the date of approval  
of the financial statements; 

4 4    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

•   whether the Directors’ statement relating to going 

concern required under the Listing Rules in 
accordance with Listing Rule 9.8.6R(3) is materially 
inconsistent with our knowledge obtained in the 
audit; or

•   the Directors’ explanation set out on page 37 in the 
Annual Report and Accounts as to how they have 
assessed the prospects of the Group, over what period 
they have done so and why they consider that period 
to be appropriate, and their statement as to whether 
they have a reasonable expectation that the Group will 
be able to continue in operation and meet its liabilities 
as they fall due over the period of their assessment, 
including any related disclosures drawing attention  
to any necessary qualifications or assumptions.

Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our 
professional judgment, were of most significance in our 
audit of the financial statements of the current period 
and include the most significant assessed risks of 
material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) that 
we identified, including those which had the greatest 
effect on: the overall audit strategy, the allocation of 
resources in the audit; and directing the efforts of the 
engagement team. These matters were addressed in  
the context of our audit of the financial statements as  

a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we  
do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

Our application of materiality
We apply the concept of materiality both in planning 
and performing our audit, and in evaluating the effect  
of misstatements. We consider materiality to be the 
magnitude by which misstatements, including 
omissions, could influence the economic decisions  
of reasonable users that are taken on the basis of the 
financial statements. In order to reduce to an 
appropriately low level the probability that any 
misstatements exceed materiality, we use a lower 
materiality level, performance materiality, to  
determine the extent of testing needed. Importantly, 
misstatements below these levels will not necessarily be 
evaluated as immaterial as we also take account of the 
nature of identified misstatements, and the particular 
circumstances of their occurrence, when evaluating  
their effect on the financial statements as a whole.

The materiality for the Group financial statements as  
a whole was set at £3.6 million. This was determined 
with reference to a benchmark of Group property assets 
(of which it represents 1.0 per cent) which we consider 
to be one of the principal considerations for the users  
of the financial statements in assessing the financial 
performance of this asset based business.

Key audit matter

How we addressed the key audit matter in the audit

Valuation of investment properties
As detailed in note 12, the Group owns a 
portfolio of investment properties which, 
as described in the accounting policy in 
note 3.8, are held at fair value in the 
Group financial statements.

As described in the Group’s significant 
accounting judgements, estimates and 
assumptions in note 2, determination of 
the fair value of investment properties  
is a key area of estimation and we 
therefore considered this to be an area 
of significant audit risk and focus.

The Group engages an independent 
expert valuer to help mitigate this risk. 
The valuation of the Group’s investment 
properties requires significant 
judgements to be made by the external 
valuer and any inaccuracies in 
information provided to the valuer or 
unreasonable judgements could result 
in a material misstatement of the 
income statement and balance sheet.

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to, the following:
•   We assessed the competency, qualifications, independence and objectivity of  
the external valuer engaged by the Group and reviewed the terms of their 
engagement for any unusual arrangements.

•   We read the valuation report and confirmed that all valuations had been prepared 
on a basis that was appropriate for determining the carrying value in the Group’s 
financial statements.

•   The senior members of our team met with the Group’s external valuer to discuss 
and challenge the valuation methodology, key assumptions and to consider if 
there were any indicators of undue management influence on the valuations.
•   We tested the accuracy of the key observable valuation inputs supplied to and 
used by the external valuer. This primarily involved agreeing the passing rental 
income and lease terms to underlying supporting documentation. 

•   We compared the key valuation assumptions against our independently formed 

market expectations and challenged the external valuer where significant 
variances from these expectations were identified. We then corroborated their 
responses against supporting documentation where appropriate. The key 
valuation assumptions were the market capitalisation rates, which we reviewed 
by reference to market data based on the location and specifics of each property.
•   We reviewed the appropriateness of the Group’s disclosures within the financial 

statements in relation to valuation methodology, key valuation inputs and 
valuation uncertainty.

Key observations
We did not identify any indicators to suggest that the valuation of the Group’s  
investment properties is inappropriate.

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    4 5

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  |  INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT   
TO THE MEMBERS OF SUPERMARKET INCOME REIT PLC  CONTINUED

The materiality for the Parent Company financial 
statements as a whole was set at £2.6 million, determined 
with reference to a benchmark of the Parent Company’s 
total assets (of which it represents 1.1 per cent) on the 
basis that this is an asset based investment entity.

ISAs (UK) also allow the auditor to set a lower 
materiality for particular classes of transactions, balances 
or disclosures for which misstatements of lesser amounts 
than materiality for the financial statements as a whole 
could reasonably be expected to influence the economic 
decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial 
statements. In this context, we set a lower level of 
materiality of £450,000 to apply to those classes of 
transactions and balances which impact on the Group’s 
EPRA earnings. This was determined with reference 
those EPRA earnings for the year (of which it represents 
4.5 per cent).

The materiality level applied in the previous period was 
£2.6 million for the Group financial statements and 
£1.7 million for the Parent Company financial statements, 
with the specific materiality level applied to items affecting 
EPRA earnings being £220,000. The same benchmarks 
were applied in each period, with the increases in the 
current year figures arising as a result of the increases  
in the Group’s property assets and EPRA earnings.

We set performance materiality at 75% (2018: 75%) of 
the respective materiality levels for both the Group and 
Parent Company, having considered a number of factors 
including the expected total value of known and likely 
misstatements based on previous assurance 
engagements and other factors.

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would 
report to the Committee all individual audit differences 
in excess of £75,000 (2018: £130,000). We also agreed to 
report differences in excess of £10,000 (2018: £11,000) 
that impacted upon EPRA earnings and others that, in 
our view, warranted reporting on qualitative grounds.

An overview of the scope of our audit
Our Group audit was scoped by obtaining an 
understanding of the Group and its environment, 
including the Group’s system of internal control, 
applicable legal and regulatory framework and the 
industry in which it operates, and assessing the risks  
of material misstatement at the Group level.

The Group operates solely in the United Kingdom and 
operates through one segment, investment property, 
structured through a number of subsidiary special 
purpose vehicle companies. The Group audit engagement 
team performed all the work necessary to issue the 
Group and Parent Company audit opinion, including 
undertaking all of the audit work on the risks of material 
misstatement identified above.

The extent to which the audit is capable of detecting 
irregularities is affected by the inherent difficulty in 
detecting irregularities, the effectiveness of the entity’s 
controls, and the nature, timing and extent of the audit 
procedures performed. Irregularities that result from 
fraud might be inherently more difficult to detect than 
irregularities that result from error.

As part of the audit we gained an understanding of the 
legal and regulatory framework applicable to the Group 
and the industry in which it operates, and considered 
the risk of acts by the Group that were contrary to 
applicable laws and regulations, including fraud.  
We considered the Group’s compliance with laws and 
regulations that have a direct impact on the financial 
statements including, but not limited to, UK company 
law and UK tax legislation (including the REIT regime 
requirements), and we considered the extent to which 
non-compliance might have a material effect on the 
Group financial statements.

We designed audit procedures to respond to the risk, 
recognising that the risk of not detecting a material 
misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not 
detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve 
deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or 
intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion.

4 6    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

Our tests included reviewing the financial statement 
disclosures and agreeing to underlying supporting 
documentation where necessary. We made enquiries of 
management and of the Board as to the risks of non-
compliance and any instances thereof, and made similar 
enquiries of advisers to the Group, where information 
from that adviser has been used in the preparation of the 
Group financial statements. As in all of our audits, we 
also addressed the risk of management override of 
internal controls, including testing journals and 
evaluating whether there was evidence of bias by the 
Board that represented a risk of material misstatement 
due to fraud.

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures 
described above and, the further removed non-
compliance with laws and regulations is from the events 
and transactions reflected in the financial statements, 
the less likely we would become aware of it.

Other information
The Directors are responsible for the other information. 
The other information comprises the information 
included in the Annual Report and Accounts 2019, other 
than the financial statements and our auditor’s report 
thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does 
not cover the other information and, except to the extent 
otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not 
express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, 
our responsibility is to read the other information and, in 
doing so, consider whether the other information is 
materially inconsistent with the financial statements or 
our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise 
appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such 
material inconsistencies or apparent material 
misstatements, we are required to determine whether 
there is a material misstatement in the financial 
statements or a material misstatement of the other 
information. If, based on the work we have performed, 
we conclude that there is a material misstatement of the 
other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.
In this context, we also have nothing to report in  
regard to our responsibility to specifically address the 
following items in the other information and to report  
as uncorrected material misstatements of the other 
information where we conclude that those items meet 
the following conditions:

•   Fair, balanced and understandable set out on page 42 

– the statement given by the Directors that they 
consider the Annual Report and Accounts taken as  
a whole is fair, balanced and understandable and 
provides the information necessary for shareholders to 
assess the Group’s performance, business model and 
strategy, is materially inconsistent with our knowledge 
obtained in the audit; or

•   Audit Committee reporting set out on pages 33 to 36  

– the section describing the work of the Audit 
Committee does not appropriately address matters 
communicated by us to the Audit Committee; or

•   Directors’ statement of compliance with the UK 
Corporate Governance Code set out on page 28  
– the parts of the Directors’ statement required under 
the Listing Rules relating to the Company’s 
compliance with the UK Corporate Governance  
Code containing provisions specified for review by  
the auditor in accordance with Listing Rule 9.8.10R(2) 
do not properly disclose a departure from a relevant 
provision of the UK Corporate Governance Code.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the 
Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, the part of the Directors’ Remuneration 
Report to be audited has been properly prepared in 
accordance with the Companies Act 2006.

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the 
course of the audit:

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

•   the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report have 
been prepared in accordance with applicable legal 
requirements.

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    4 7

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  |  INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT   
TO THE MEMBERS OF SUPERMARKET INCOME REIT PLC    CONTINUED

In preparing the financial statements, the Directors are 
responsible for assessing the Group’s and the Parent 
Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, 
disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern 
and using the going concern basis of accounting unless 
the Directors either intend to liquidate the Group or  
the Parent Company or to cease operations, or have  
no realistic alternative but to do so.

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

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit 
of the financial statements is located on the Financial 
Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/
auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part  
of our auditor’s report.

Matters on which we are required to report  
by exception
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of  
the Group and Parent Company and its environment 
obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified 
material misstatements in the Strategic Report or the 
Directors’ Report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following 
matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 
requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

•   adequate accounting records have not been kept by 

the Parent Company, or returns adequate for our audit 
have not been received from branches not visited by 
us; or

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

•   certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration  

specified by law are not made; or

•   we have not received all the information and 

explanations we require for our audit.

Responsibilities of Directors
As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors 
Responsibilities in Respect of the Annual Report and 
Accounts , the Directors are responsible for the 
preparation of the financial statements and for being 
satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such 
internal control as the Directors determine is necessary 
to enable the preparation of financial statements that are 
free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud 
or error.

4 8    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

Other matters which we are required to address
Following the recommendation of the Audit Committee, 
we were appointed by the Directors in June 2017 to audit 
the financial statements for the period ending 30 June 
2018. We were subsequently reappointed by the members 
at the Parent Company’s first Annual General Meeting  
in November 2018. The period of total uninterrupted 
engagement is two years, covering the periods ending 
30 June 2018 and 30 June 2019.

The non-audit services prohibited by the FRC’s Ethical 
Standard were not provided to the Group or the Parent 
Company and we remain independent of the Group  
and the Parent Company in conducting our audit.

Our audit opinion is consistent with the additional 
report to the Audit Committee.

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

Russell Field (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of BDO LLP, Statutory Auditor
London, United Kingdom
3 September 2019

BDO LLP is a limited liability partnership registered  
in England and Wales (with registered number 
OC305127).

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    4 9

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME  
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2019

Rental income 
Administrative and other expenses 

Operating profit before changes in fair value of  

investment properties 

Changes in fair values of investment properties 

Operating profit 

Finance expense 

Profit before taxation 

Tax charge for the year/period 

Profit for the year/period 

1 July 2018 to 
30 June 2019 
£000 

1 June 2017 to 
30 June 2018 
£000

17,231 
(3,088) 

8,942
(2,097)

Notes 

4 
5 

12 

8 

9 

14,143 

6,845

647 

14,790 

(4,081)

2,764

(4,180) 

(1,917)

10,610 

(18) 

10,593 

847

(227)

620

Items to be reclassified to profit or loss in subsequent periods
Changes in fair value of interest rate derivatives 

16 

(1,121) 

 (82)

Total comprehensive income for the year/ period 

Total comprehensive income for the year/period attributable  

to ordinary shareholders 

9,471 

9,471 

538

538

Earnings per share – basic and diluted 

10 

5.3 pence 

0.5 pence

5 0    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 
AS AT 30 JUNE 2019

Non-current assets 
Investment properties 
Interest rate derivatives 

Total non-current assets 

Current assets 
Trade and other receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Total current assets 

Total assets 

Non-current liabilities 
Bank borrowings 
Interest rate derivatives 

Total non-current liabilities 

Current liabilities 
Deferred rental income 
Corporation tax liability 
Trade and other payables 

Total current liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Net assets 

Equity 
Share capital 
Share premium reserve 
Capital reduction reserve 
Retained earnings 
Cash flow hedge reserve 

Total equity 

Net asset value per share – basic and diluted 

EPRA NAV per share 

As at  
30 June 2019 
£000 

As at 
30 June 2018  

£000

Notes 

12 
16 

368,230 
– 

264,900
37

368,230 

264,937

14 

3,521 
9,898 

13,419 

1,035
2,239

3,274

381,649 

268,211

17 
16 

143,708 
1,113 

88,099

144,821 

88,099

3,543 
245 
2,570 

6,358 

1,666
227
1,473

3,366

151,179 

91,465

230,470 

176,746

2,398 
203,672 
14,391 
11,212 
(1,203) 

1,844
149,039
25,325
620
(82)

230,470 

176,746

96 pence  

96 pence

97 pence  

96 pence 

15 

19 
19 
19 

23 

23 

The consolidated financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors  
on 3 September 2019 and were signed on its behalf by:

Nick Hewson  
Chairman

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    5 1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 
FOR THE YEAR 1 JULY 2018 TO 30 JUNE 2019

Share 
capital 
£000 

As at 1 July 2018 
Comprehensive income for the year 

1,844 
– 

Profit for the year 
Other comprehensive income 

Total comprehensive income  

for the year 

– 
– 

– 

Share 
premium 
reserve 
£000 

149,039 
– 

– 
– 

– 

Cash flow 
hedge 
reserve 
£000 

(82) 
– 

– 
(1,121) 

(1,121) 

Capital  
reduction 
reserve 
£000 

25,325 
– 

– 
– 

– 

Retained  
earnings 
£000 

620 
– 

10,593 
– 

Total 
£000

176,746
–

10,593
(1,122)

10,593 

9,471

Transactions with owners 

Ordinary shares issued at a  
  premium during the year 
Share issue costs 
Interim dividends paid 

554 
– 
– 

55,695 
(1,062) 
– 

– 
– 
– 

– 
– 
(10,934) 

– 
– 
– 

56,249
(1,062)
(10,934)

As at 30 June 2019 

2,398 

203,672 

(1,203) 

14,391 

11,212 

230,470

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 
FOR THE PERIOD 1 JUNE 2017 TO 30 JUNE 2018

Share 
capital 
£000 

Share 
premium 
reserve 
£000 

Cash flow 
hedge 
reserve 
£000 

Capital  
reduction 
reserve 
£000 

Retained  
earnings 
£000 

As at 1 June 2017 
Comprehensive income for the period 
Profit for the period 
Other comprehensive income 

Total comprehensive income  

for the period 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

Transactions with owners 

Ordinary shares issued at a  
  premium during the period 
Share issue costs 
Issue of redeemable  
  preference shares 
Redemption of redeemable  
  preference shares 
Transfer to capital reduction reserve 
Interim dividends paid 

1,844 
– 

183,156 
(4,117) 

12 

(12) 
– 
– 

– 

– 
(30,000) 
– 

– 
(82) 

(82) 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

– 
30,000 
(4,675) 

620 
– 

620 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

Total 
£000

620
(82)

538

185,000
(4,117)

12

(12)
–
(4,675)

As at 30 June 2018 

1,844 

149,039 

(82) 

25,325 

620 

176,746

5 2    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW 
FOR THE YEAR 1 JULY 2018 TO 30 JUNE 2019

Operating activities 
Profit for the year/period (attributable to ordinary shareholders) 
Adjustments for: 
Changes in fair value of Investment properties 
Movement in rent smoothing adjustments 
Finance expense 
Tax expense 

Cash flows from operating activities before changes  

in working capital 

Increase in trade and other receivables 
Increase in deferred rental income 
Increase in trade and other payables 

Cash flows from operating activities 

Investing activities 
Acquisition of investment properties 
Capitalised acquisition costs 

Net cash flows used in investing activities 

Financing activities 
Proceeds from issue of ordinary share capital 
Costs of share issues 
Issue of redeemable preference shares 
Redemption of redeemable preference shares 
Bank borrowings drawn  
Bank borrowings repaid 
Loan arrangement fees paid 
Bank interest paid 
Bank commitment fees paid 
Interest rate cap premium paid 
Dividends paid to equity holders 

Net cash flows from financing activities 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents for the year/period 

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year/ period 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year/period 

1 July 2018 to 
30 June 2019 
£000 

1 June 2017 to 
30 June 2018 
£000

Notes 

10,593 

620

12 
4 
8 
9 

12 

19 
19 
19 
19 
17 
17 
17 
17 
17 
16 
11 

(647) 
(366) 
4,180 
18 

13,777 
(2,486) 
1,877 
745 

13,913 

4,081
(328)
1,917
227

6,517
(1,035)
1,666
913

8,061

(85,450) 
(5,617) 

(254,540)
(14,113)

(91,067) 

(268,653)

45,000 
(1,062) 
– 
– 
128,341 
(72,291) 
(933) 
(3,323) 
(42) 
(27) 
(10,850) 

185,000
(4,117)
12
(12)
98,430
(9,586)
(1,029)
(1,053)
(94)
(158)
(4,562)

84,813 

262,831

7,659 

2,239 

9,898 

2,239

–

2,239

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    5 3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Basis of preparation

General information
Supermarket Income REIT plc (‘the Company’) is a company registered in England and Wales with its registered office  
at 7th Floor 9 Berkeley Street, London, United Kingdom, W1J 8DW. The principal activity of the Company and its 
subsidiaries (‘the Group’) is to provide its shareholders with an attractive level of income together with the potential  
for capital growth by investing in a diversified portfolio of supermarket real estate assets in the UK.

At 30 June 2019 the Group comprised the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries as set out in Note 13. Each of 
these subsidiaries is incorporated in England and Wales and has the same registered office as the Company.

These audited consolidated financial statements set out in this report covers the year to 30 June 2019, with comparative 
figures relating to the period from incorporation to June 2018, and includes the results and net assets of the Group.  
The financial information contained in this announcement has been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies  
set out in the financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2019. Whilst the financial information included in this 
announcement has been computed in accordance with IFRS, as adopted by the European Union, this announcement 
does not itself contain sufficient information to comply with IFRS. The financial information does not constitute the 
Group’s financial statements for the years ended 30 June 2019 or 30 June 2018, but is derived from those financial 
statements. Those financial statements give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and results of 
the Group. Financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2018 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and 
those for the year ended 30 June 2019 will be delivered following the Company’s AGM. The auditors’ reports on both the 
30 June 2019 and 30 June 2018 financial statements were unqualified; did not draw attention to any matters by way of 
emphasis; and did not contain statements under section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006. 

The Consolidated financial  information  has been prepared in accordance with:
•   International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) 

as adopted by the European Union; 

•  The Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority; and
•  The Companies Act 2006, as applicable to companies reporting under IFRS. 

Accounting convention and currency
The audited consolidated financial statements (the “financial statements”) have been prepared on a historical cost basis, 
except that investment properties and interest rate derivatives are measured at fair value.

The financial statements are presented in Pounds Sterling and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand (£000), 
except where otherwise indicated. Pounds Sterling is the functional currency of the Company and the presentation 
currency of the Group.

Going concern
In assessing the going concern basis of accounting the Directors have had regard to the guidance issued by the Financial 
Reporting Council. 

During the period covered by this report, the Group has raised a total of £56.3 million from the issue of equity shares 
and a further £52.1 million under the Bayerische Landesbank credit facility referred to in note 17. All financial covenants 
have been met to date. 

During August 2019 the Group entered into a £47.6 million credit facility with Deka Bank and acquired a further 
investment property for £54.4 million plus acquisition costs. Further details are set out in note 25.

The Group generated net cash flow from operating activities in the period of £13.9 million, with its cash balances at 
30 June 2019 totalling £9.9 million and the Group having no capital commitments or contingent liabilities as at that date.

The Group benefits from a secure income stream from its property assets that are let to tenants with excellent covenant 
strength under long leases that are subject to upward only RPI rent reviews.

As a result, the Directors believe that the Group is well placed to manage its financing and other business risks and that 
the Group will remain viable, continuing to operate and meet its liabilities as they fall due. The Directors are therefore of 
the opinion that the going concern basis adopted in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

5 4    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

New standards, interpretations and amendments
During the year, the Group has adopted IFRS 9 “Financial instruments” and IFRS 15 “Revenue from contracts with 
customers”. IFRS 9 deals with the classification and measurement of financial instruments and includes a requirement 
to apply an expected credit loss approach to the impairment of short term financial assets such as rent receivables, but 
its adoption has not had a material impact on the Group’s financial statements other than certain additional disclosures 
in respect of hedging which are included in note 18. On initial application of IFRS 9 the Group has elected to continue 
applying the hedge accounting requirements of IAS 39 in respect of the Group’s interest rate derivatives, and this election 
applies to all of the Group’s hedging relationships. The Group’s revenue is derived entirely from leases which are outside 
the scope of IFRS 15, therefore its adoption has not had any material impact on the Group’s financial statements.

The Group has also adopted the amendments to IAS 40 “Investment Property”, which clarify when a disposal of 
investment property should be recognised in line with the revenue recognition criteria of IFRS 15. The Group has not yet 
disposed of any investment properties, nor is there an intention to dispose of any assets, therefore the adoption of IAS 40 
has not had any impact on the Group’s financial statements. 

None of the other new or amended standards or interpretations issued by the International Accounting Standards Board 
(“IASB”) or the IFRS Interpretations Committee (“IFRIC”) have led to any material changes in the Group’s accounting 
policies or disclosures during the year.

Standards and interpretations in issue not yet adopted 
The IASB has issued IFRS 16 “Leases”, which is effective from 1 January 2019 and has not been adopted early. Since 
IFRS 16 will not result in significant changes of accounting policies for lessors, the Directors’ assessment of its impact 
remains unchanged from that reported in the 2018 financial statements, where it was noted that it was not expected to 
have a material impact on the Group’s financial statements as there are no significant headlease rents on the group’s 
long leasehold properties.

2. Significant accounting judgements, estimates and assumptions

The IASB and IFRIC have also issued or revised IFRS 3, IFRS 9, IFRS 10, IFRS 11, IFRS 14, IFRS 17, IAS 1, IAS 8, IAS 12, 
IAS 19, IAS 23, IAS 28 and IFRIC 23, but these are not expected to have a material effect on the operations of the Group. 
In the application of the Group’s accounting policies, which are summarised in note 3, the Directors are required to 
make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts recognised in the financial statements 
and the disclosures therein.

The judgements, estimates and assumptions that the Directors consider have a significant risk of causing a material 
adjustment to the carrying amounts of the Group’s assets and liabilities within the next 12 months are outlined below.

Key estimate: Fair value of investment properties
The valuation of the Group’s investment properties is at fair value, which is determined by the Group’s independent 
valuer on the basis of market value in accordance with the RICS Valuation – Global Standards (the ‘Red Book’). 
Recognised valuation techniques are used by the independent valuer which are in accordance with those recommended 
by the International Valuation Standard Committee and compliant with IFRS 13 “Fair Value Measurement.”

The independent valuer is considered to have sufficient current local and national knowledge of the supermarket 
property market and the requisite skills and understanding to undertake the valuation competently.

In forming an opinion as to fair value, the independent valuer makes a series of assumptions, which are typically 
market-related, such as those in relation to net initial yields and expected rental values. These are based on the 
independent valuer’s professional judgement. Other factors taken into account by the independent valuer in arriving at 
the valuation of the Group’s investment properties include the length of property leases, the location of the properties 
and the strength of tenant covenants. 

The fair value of the Group’s investment properties as determined by the independent valuer, along with the significant 
methods and assumptions used in estimating this fair value, are set out in note 12. 

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    5 5

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  CONTINUED

2. Significant accounting judgements, estimates and assumptions continued

Key judgement: Acquisition of investment properties
The Group has acquired and intends to acquire further investment properties. At the time of each purchase the  
Directors assess whether an acquisition represents the acquisition of an asset or the acquisition of a business.  
To date all acquisitions of properties have been direct asset purchases. The Group may in the future acquire entities  
that own property assets. These acquisitions would be accounted for as a business combination only if an integrated  
set of activities were to be acquired in addition to the property. In the situations where such an acquisition was not  
being judged to be an acquisition of a business, the Group would not treat it as a business combination. Rather, the  
cost to acquire the entity concerned would be allocated between the identifiable assets and liabilities of the entity  
based upon their relative fair values at the acquisition date. Accordingly, no goodwill or additional deferred taxation 
would arise from such an acquisition.

Key judgement: Operating lease contracts – the Group as lessor
The Group has acquired investment properties that are subject to commercial property leases with tenants.  
The Directors have concluded, based on an evaluation of the terms and conditions of the arrangements, in particular  
the duration of the lease terms and the minimum lease payments, that the Group retains all the significant risks and 
rewards of ownership of the properties acquired to date and so has accounted for these leases as operating leases 
rather than finance leases. Such considerations are required each time that the Group acquires a new property.

3. Summary of significant accounting policies 

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements are set out below.

3.1 Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements comprise the financial statements of the Company and all of its subsidiaries 
drawn up to 30 June 2019. 

Subsidiaries are those entities including special purpose entities, directly or indirectly controlled by the Company. 
Control exists when the Company is exposed or has rights to variable returns from its investment with the investee and 
has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. In assessing control, potential voting rights 
that presently are exercisable are taken into account.

The financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial information from the date that control 
commences until the date that control ceases.

In preparing the consolidated financial information, intra group balances, transactions and unrealised gains or losses 
are eliminated in full. 

Uniform accounting policies are adopted for all companies within the Group.

3.2 Segmental information
The Directors are of the opinion that the Group is currently engaged in a single segment business, being investment in 
United Kingdom in supermarket property assets.

3.3 Rental income
Rental income arising on investment properties is accounted for in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the lease 
term, as adjusted for the following: 
•   Any rental income from fixed and minimum guaranteed rent review uplifts is recognised on a straight-line basis over 

the shorter of the term to lease expiry or to the first tenant break option; 

•   Lease incentives are spread evenly over the lease term, even if payments are not made on such a basis. The lease 

term is the non-cancellable period of the lease together with any further term for which the tenant has the option to 
continue the lease, where, at the inception of the lease, the Directors are reasonably certain that the tenant will 
exercise that option. 

Contingent rents, such as those arising from indexed-linked rent uplifts or market-based rent reviews, are recognised in 
the period in which they are earned.

Where income is recognised in advance of the related cash flows due to fixed and minimum guaranteed rent review 
uplifts or lease incentives, an adjustment is made to ensure that the carrying value of the relevant property, including 
the accrued rent relating to such uplifts or lease incentives, does not exceed the external valuation. 

5 6    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

Rental income is invoiced in advance with that element of invoiced rental income that relates to a future period being 
included within deferred rental income in the consolidated statement of financial position.

3.4 Finance expense
Finance expenses consist principally of interest payable and the amortisation of loan arrangement fees.

Loan arrangement fees are expensed using the effective interest method over the term of the relevant loan.  
Interest payable and other finance costs, including commitment fees, which the Group incurs in connection with  
bank borrowings, are expensed in the period to which they relate. 

3.5 Administrative and other expenses
Administrative and other expenses, including the investment advisory fees payable to the Investment Adviser,  
are recognised in profit and loss on an accruals basis. 

3.6 Dividends payable to shareholders
Dividends to the Company’s shareholders are recognised when they become legally payable, as a reduction in equity in 
the financial statements. Interim equity dividends are recognised when paid. Final equity dividends will be recognised 
when approved by shareholders at an AGM.

3.7 Taxation
Non-REIT taxable income
Taxation on the Group’s profit or loss for the period that is not exempt from tax under the UK-REIT regulations 
comprises current and deferred tax, as applicable. Tax is recognised in profit or loss except to the extent that it relates to 
items recognised as direct movements in equity, in which case it is similarly recognised as a direct movement in equity.

Current tax is tax payable on any non-REIT taxable income for the period, using tax rates enacted or substantively 
enacted at the end of the relevant period.

Entry to the UK-REIT regime
The Group obtained its UK-REIT status effective from 21 December 2017. Entry to the regime results in, subject to 
continuing relevant UK-REIT criteria being met, the profits of the Group’s property rental business, comprising both 
income and capital gains, being exempt from UK taxation.

The Group intends to ensure that it complies with the UK-REIT regulations on an on-going basis and regularly monitors 
the conditions required to maintain REIT status.

3.8 Investment properties
Investment properties consist of land and buildings (all supermarkets) which are held to earn income together with the 
potential for capital growth.

Investment properties are recognised when the risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred and are 
measured initially at cost, being the fair value of the consideration given, including transaction costs. Where the 
purchase price (or proportion thereof) of an investment property is settled through the issue of new ordinary shares  
in the company, the number of shares issued is such that the fair value of the share consideration is equal to the fair 
value of the asset being acquired. Transaction costs include transfer taxes and professional fees for legal services.  
Any subsequent capital expenditure incurred in improving investment properties is capitalised in the period incurred and 
included within the book cost of the property. All other property expenditure is written off in profit and loss as incurred.

After initial recognition, investment properties are measured at fair value, with gains and losses recognised in profit and 
loss in the period in which they arise. 

Gains and losses on disposals of investment properties will be determined as the difference between the net disposal 
proceeds and the carrying value of the relevant asset. These will be recognised in profit and loss in the period in which 
they arise. 

3.9 Financial assets and liabilities
Financial assets and liabilities are recognised when the relevant Group entity becomes a party to the unconditional 
contractual terms of an instrument. Unless otherwise indicated, the carrying amounts of financial assets and liabilities 
are considered by the Directors to be reasonable estimates of their fair values.

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    5 7

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  CONTINUED

3. Summary of significant accounting policies continued

Financial assets
Financial assets are recognised initially at their fair value. All of the Group’s financial assets, except interest rate 
derivatives, are held at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash in hand and short-term deposits in banks with an original maturity of three 
months or less.

Trade and other receivables
Trade and other receivables, including rents receivable, are recognised and carried at the lower of their original  
invoiced value and recoverable amount. Provisions for impairment are calculated using an expected credit loss  
model. Balances will be written-off in profit or loss in circumstances where the probability of recovery is assessed  
as being remote.

Trade and other payables
Trade and other payables are recognised initially at their fair value and subsequently at amortised cost.

Bank borrowings
Bank borrowings are initially recognised at fair value net of attributable transaction costs. After initial recognition,  
bank borrowings are subsequently measured at amortised cost, using the effective interest method. The effective 
interest rate is calculated to include all associated transaction costs. 

Derivative financial instruments and hedge accounting
The Group’s derivative financial instruments currently comprise an interest rate cap and interest rate swap. Both are 
designated as hedging instruments for which hedge accounting is being applied. These instruments are used to manage 
the Group’s cash flow interest rate risk. 

The instruments are initially recognised at fair value on the date that the derivative contract is entered into, being the 
cost of any premium paid at inception, and are subsequently re-measured at their fair value at each reporting date.

Fair value measurement of derivative financial instruments
The fair value of derivative financial instruments is the estimated amount that the Group would receive or pay to 
terminate the agreement at the period end date, taking into account current interest rate expectations and the current 
credit rating of the relevant group entity and its counterparties.

The Group uses valuation techniques that are appropriate in the circumstances and for which sufficient data is available 
to measure fair value, maximising the use of relevant observable inputs and minimising the use of unobservable inputs 
significant to the fair value measurement as a whole.

A number of assumptions are used in determining the fair values including estimations over future interest rates and 
therefore future cash flows. The fair value represents the net present value of the difference between the cash flows 
produced by the contract rate and the valuation rate.

Hedge accounting
At the inception of a hedging transaction, the Group documents the relationship between hedging instruments and 
hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategy for undertaking the hedging transaction.

The Group also documents its assessment, both at hedge inception and on an ongoing basis, of whether the derivatives 
that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of hedged items.

Assuming the criteria for applying hedge accounting continue to be met the effective portion of gains and losses on the 
revaluation of such instruments are recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in the cash flow 
hedging reserve. Any ineffective portion of such gains and losses will be recognised in profit or loss within finance 
income or expense as appropriate. The cumulative gain or loss recognised in other comprehensive income is reclassified 
from the cash flow hedge reserve to profit or loss (finance expense) at the same time as the related hedged interest 
expense is recognised. 

5 8    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

3.10 Equity instruments
Equity instruments issued by the Company are recorded at the amount of the proceeds received, net of directly 
attributable issue costs. Costs not directly attributable to the issue are immediately expensed in profit or loss. 

Further details of the accounting for the proceeds from the issue of shares in the period are disclosed in note 19.

3.11 Fair value measurements and hierarchy
Fair value is the price that would be received on the sale of an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, in an orderly 
transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value measurement is based on the 
presumption that the transaction takes place either in the principal market for the asset or liability, or in the absence  
of a principal market, in the most advantageous market. It is based on the assumptions that market participants would 
use when pricing the asset or liability, assuming they act in their economic best interest. A fair value measurement of  
a non-financial asset takes into account the best and highest value use for that asset.

The fair value hierarchy to be applied under IFRS 13 is as follows:

Level 1: Quoted (unadjusted) market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Valuation techniques for which the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement  
is directly or indirectly observable.

Level 3: Valuation techniques for which the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement  
is unobservable. 

For assets and liabilities that are carried at fair value and which will be recorded in the financial information on  
a recurring basis, the Group will determine whether transfers have occurred between levels in the hierarchy by 
reassessing categorisation at the end of each reporting period.

3.12 Occupational leases
The Directors exercise judgement in considering the potential transfer of the risks and rewards of ownership in 
accordance with IAS 17 “Leases” for all occupational leases and head leases and determine whether such leases are 
operating leases. A lease is classified as a finance lease if substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership 
transfer to the lessee. If the Group substantially retains those risks, a lease is classified as an operating lease. All 
occupational leases reflected in these financial statements are classified as operating leases.

4. Rental income

Rental income – freehold property 
Rental income – long leasehold property 

Total rental income 

Insurance/service charge income  
Insurance/service charge expense 

Total rental income 

1 July 2018 to 
30 June 2019 
£000 

1 June 2017 to  
30 June 2018 
£000

3,510
5,432

8,942

4,280 
12,951 

17,231 

163 –
(163) –

17,231 

8,942

Included within rental income is a £366,000 (2018: £328,000) rent smoothing adjustment that arises as a result of IAS 17 
‘Leases’ requiring that rental income in respect of leases with rents increasing by a fixed percentage to be accounted for 
on straight-line basis over the lease term. During the period this resulted in an increase in rental income and an 
offsetting entry being recognised in profit or loss as an adjustment to the investment property revaluation.

On an annualised basis, rental income comprises £10,500,000 (2018: £5,432,000) relating to the Group’s largest tenant, 
£4,280,029 (2018: £3,510,000) relating to the Group’s second-largest tenant and £2,452,000 (2018: nil) relating to the 
Group’s third-largest tenant.

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  CONTINUED

5. Administrative and other expenses

Investment Adviser fees (Note 24) 
Directors’ remuneration (Note 7) 
Corporate administration fees  
Legal and professional fees 
Other administrative expenses 

Total administrative and other expenses 

1 July 2018 to 
30 June 2019 
£000 

1 June 2017 to  
30 June 2018 
£000

1,814 
145 
372 
396 
361 

3,088 

1,079
160
216
297
345

2,097

The fees relating to the issue of shares in the period have been treated as share issue expenses and offset against the 
share premium reserve. 

6. Operating profit

Operating profit is stated after charging fees for:

Audit of the Company’s consolidated and individual financial statements 
Audit of subsidiaries, pursuant to legislation 

Total audit services 

Audit related services: audit of the Historical Financial Information for  

the period ended 31 December 2017 for inclusion in the April 2018 Prospectus 

Audit related services: interim review 
Audit related services: audit of the Company’s initial financial  

information to 18 September 2017 

Total audit and audit related services 

1 July 2018 to 
30 June 2019 
£000 

1 June 2017 to  
30 June 2018 
£000

74 
21 

95 

– 

25 

– 

55
15

70

55

20

10

120 

155

The Group’s auditor also provided the following services in relation to the placing of share capital and the fees for which 
have been recognised within equity as a deduction from share premium:

Other non-audit services: corporate finance services in  
  connection with the July 2017 & May 2018 placing 
Other non-audit services: corporate finance services in  
  connection with the March 2019 placing 

Total other non-audit services 

Total fees charged by the Group’s auditor 

1 July 2018 to 
30 June 2019 
£000 

1 June 2017 to  
30 June 2018 
£000

– 

30 –

30 

150 

70

70

225

The other non-audit services charged to income in the current period relate to work as Reporting Accountants in 
connection with the share placing in March 2018. The audit-related services are as described above.

6 0    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7. Directors’ remuneration

The Group had no employees in the current period. The Directors, who are the key management personnel of the 
Company, are appointed under letters of appointment for services. Directors’ remuneration, all of which represents fees 
for services provided, was as follows:

Directors’ fees  
Employer’s National Insurance Contribution  

Total Directors’ remuneration 

The highest paid director received £55,000 (2018: £60,000) for services during the year.

8. Finance expense

Interest payable on bank borrowings and hedging arrangements 
Fair value adjustment of interest rate derivatives (note 16) 
Commitment fees payable 
Amortisation of loan arrangement fees 
Amortisation of interest rate derivative premium (note 16) 

Total finance expense 

1 July 2018 to 
30 June 2019 
£000 

1 June 2017 to  
30 June 2018 
£000

134 
12 

146 

142
18

160

1 July 2018 to 
30 June 2019 
£000 

1 June 2017 to  
30 June 2018 
£000

3,334 

1,495

252 –
47 
492 
54 

99
284
39

4,180 

1,917

The above finance expense include the following in respect of liabilities not classified as fair value through profit  
and loss 

Total interest expense on financial liabilities held at amortised cost 
Fee expense not part of effective interest rate for financial liabilities held at amortised cost  

Total finance expense 

9. Taxation

A) Tax charge in profit or loss

UK corporation tax 

1 July 2018 to 
30 June 2019 
£000 

1 June 2017 to  
30 June 2018 
£000

3,827 
47 

3,873 

1,779
99

1,878

1 July 2018 to 
30 June 2019 
£000 

1 June 2017 to  
30 June 2018 
£000

18 

227

The Company and its subsidiaries operate as a UK Group REIT. Subject to continuing compliance with certain rules, the 
UK REIT regime exempts the profits of the Group’s property rental business from UK corporation tax. To operate as a UK 
Group REIT a number of conditions had to be satisfied in respect of the Company, the Group’s qualifying activity and the 
Group’s balance of business. Since the 21 December 2017 the Group has met all such applicable conditions. In the 
intervening period from incorporation of the Company on 1 June 2017 to 21 December 2017 the Group was subject to  
UK corporation tax on its property rental business at an effective rate of 19%, resulting in the above tax liability.

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    6 1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  CONTINUED

9. Taxation continued

The reconciliation of the profit before tax multiplied by the standard rate of corporation tax for the period of 19% to the 
total tax charge is as follows:

B) Reconciliation of the tax charge for the year/period

Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 
Theoretical tax at UK standard corporation tax rate of 19% 
Effects of: 
Investment property revaluation not taxable 
REIT exempt income 
Adjustments in respect of prior period 

Tax charge for the year/period 

10. Earnings per share

1 July 2018 to 
30 June 2019 
£000 

1 June 2017 to  
30 June 2018 
£000

10,610 
2,016 

(123) 
(1,893) 
18 –

847
160

776
(709)

18 

227

Earnings per share (EPS) amounts are calculated by dividing the profit or loss for the year/period attributable to ordinary 
equity holders of the Company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period. As there 
are no dilutive instruments outstanding, basic and diluted earnings per share are identical. 

The European Public Real Estate Association (“EPRA”) publishes guidelines for calculating adjusted earnings on a 
comparable basis. EPRA EPS is a measure of EPS designed by EPRA to enable entities to present underlying earnings 
from core operating activities, which excludes fair value movements on investment properties. 

The calculation of basic, diluted and EPRA EPS is as follows:

Net profit 
attributable 
to ordinary 
shareholders 
£000 

Weighted 
average 
number of 
ordinary 
shares1 
Number 

Earnings 
per share 
Pence

10,593 

198,087,482 

5.3p

(647) 

– 

9,946 

198,087,482 

(0.3)p

5.0p

Net profit 
attributable 
to ordinary 
shareholders 
£000 

Weighted 
average 
number of 
ordinary 
shares1 
Number 

620 

124,235,902 

4,081 

– 

4,701 

 124,235,902 

Earnings 
per share 
Pence

0.5p

3.3p

3.8p

For the period from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019 

Basic and diluted EPS 
Adjustments to remove:
Changes in fair value of investment properties  

EPRA EPS 

For the period from 1 June 2017 to 30 June 2018 

Basic and diluted EPS 
Adjustments to remove:
Changes in fair value of investment properties  

EPRA EPS 

1 Based on the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue.

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11. Dividends 

Amounts recognised as a distribution to ordinary shareholders in the year/period: 
Dividends paid 

1 July 2018 to 
30 June 2019 
£000 

1 June 2017 to  
30 June 2018 
£000

10,934 

4,675

On 18 July 2018, the Board declared a Q4 interim dividend of 1.375 pence per share, which was paid on 23 August 2018 
to shareholders on the register on 26 July 2018. 

On 8 October 2018, the Board declared a Q1 interim dividend of 1.375 pence per share, which was paid on  
6 November 2018 to shareholders on the register on 19 October 2018.

On 8 January 2019, the Board declared a Q2 interim dividend of 1.419 pence per share, which was paid on  
8 February 2019 to shareholders on the register on 18 January 2019.

On 8 April 2019, the Board declared a Q3 interim dividend of 1.419 pence per share, which was paid on 7 May 2019 to 
shareholders on the register on 23 April 2019.

On 8 July 2019, the Board declared a Q4 interim dividend of 1.419 pence per share, which was paid on 7 August 2019 to 
shareholders on the register on 19 July 2019. This has not been included as a liability as at 30 June 2019.

12. Investment properties

In accordance with IAS 40 “Investment Property”, the Group’s investment properties have been independently valued  
at fair value by Cushman & Wakefield, an accredited independent valuer with a recognised and relevant professional 
qualification and with recent experience in the locations and categories of the investment properties being valued.  
The valuations have been prepared in accordance with the RICS Valuation – Global Standards (the “Red Book”) and 
incorporate the recommendations of the International Valuation Standards Committee, which are consistent with the 
principles set out in IFRS 13.

The independent valuer in forming its opinion on valuation makes a series of assumptions. As explained in note 2, all  
the valuations of the Group’s investment property at 30 June 2019 are classified as ‘level 3’ in the fair value hierarchy 
defined in IFRS 13. 

The valuations are ultimately the responsibility of the Directors. Accordingly, the critical assumptions used in 
establishing the independent valuation are reviewed by the Board.    

At 1 July 2018 
Property additions 
Capitalised acquisition costs 
Revaluation movement 

Valuation at 30 June 2019 

Freehold 
£000  

83,350 
– 
– 
1,100 

Long 
Leasehold 
£000  

181,550 
96,700 
5,617 
(87) 

Total 
£000

264,900
96,700
5,617
1,013

84,450 

283,780 

368,230

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

12. Investment properties continued

At 1 June 2017 
Property additions 
Capitalised acquisition costs 
Revaluation movement 

Valuation at 30 June 2018 

Freehold 
£000  

– 
79,885 
4,462 
(997) 

Long 
Leasehold 
£000  

– 
174,655 
9,651 
(2,756) 

Total 
£000

–
254,540
14,113
(3,753)

83,350 

181,550 

264,900

All property acquisitions in the period were direct asset acquisitions. One Property acquisition during the year was part 
paid in non-cash consideration totaling £11.3 million.

Of the six properties held under long leaseholds, one has 120 years unexpired on the headlease, one has 160 years with 
the option to extend and option to acquire, three have 987 years unexpired and one has 990 year unexpired. The Group 
has no material liabilities in respect of these headleases. 

Included within the carrying value of investment properties at 30 June 2019 is £694,000 (2018: £328,000) in respect of 
the smoothing of fixed contractual rent uplifts as described in note 4. The difference between rents on a straight-line 
basis and rents actually receivable is included within the carrying value of the investment properties but does not 
increase that carrying value over fair value. The effect of this adjustment on the revaluation movement for the period  
is as follows:

Revaluation movement per above 
Rent smoothing adjustment (note 4) 

Change in fair value recognised in profit or loss 

Valuation techniques and key unobservable inputs

1 July 2018 to 
30 June 2019 
£000 

1 June 2017 to  
30 June 2018 
£000

1,013 
(366) 

647 

(3,753)
(328)

(4,081)

Valuation techniques used to derive fair values
The valuations have been prepared on the basis of market value which is defined in the RICS Valuation Standards as  
‘the estimated amount for which an asset or liability should exchange on the date of the valuation between a willing 
buyer and a willing seller in an arm’s length transaction after proper marketing wherein the parties had each acted 
knowledgeably, prudently and without compulsion’. Market value as defined in the RICS Valuation Standards is the 
equivalent of fair value under IFRS.

Unobservable inputs
These include but are not limited to: the estimated rental value (“ERV”) based on market conditions prevailing at the 
valuation date; the future rental growth - the estimated average increase in rent based on both market estimations  
and contractual situations; the equivalent yield (defined as the weighted average of the net initial yield and reversionary 
yield); and the physical condition of the individual properties determined by inspection.

A decrease in ERV would decrease the fair value. A decrease in the equivalent yield would increase the fair value. 

Sensitivity of measurement of significant unobservable inputs
As described in note 2 to the financial information the determination of the valuation of the Group’s investment property 
portfolio is open to judgements and is inherently subjective by nature.

Sensitivity analysis – impact of changes in initial yields and passing rent
Initial yields of the Group’s investment properties at 30 June 2018 range from 4.36% to 5.70%. A 0.25% shift of the initial 
yield on all the Group’s investment properties would have an approximate £18.1 million (2018: £13.1 million) impact on 
the total valuation of the properties. A 1% movement in the passing rents across all the Group’s investment properties 
would have approximately a £3.7 million (2018: £2.6 million) impact on the total valuation of the properties.

6 4    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
13. Subsidiaries

The companies listed in the following table were the subsidiary undertakings of the Company at 30 June 2019 all  
of which are wholly owned. All subsidiary undertakings are incorporated in England with their registered office at  
7th floor, 9 Berkeley Street, London, W1J 8DW.

Company name 

Type of holding 

Nature of business

Supermarket Income Investments UK Limited 
Supermarket Income Investments (Midco2) UK Limited 
Supermarket Income Investments (Midco3) UK* Limited 
Supermarket Income Investments UK (NO1) Limited 
Supermarket Income Investments UK (NO2) Limited 
Supermarket Income Investments UK (NO3) Limited 
Supermarket Income Investments UK (NO4) Limited 
Supermarket Income Investments UK (NO5) Limited 
Supermarket Income Investments UK (NO6) Limited 
Supermarket Income Investments UK (NO7) Limited* 

* New subsidiaries incorporated during the year ended 30 June 2019.

Direct 
Direct 
Direct 
Indirect 
Indirect 
Indirect 
Indirect 
Indirect 
Indirect 
Indirect 

14. Trade and other receivables

Intermediate parent company
Intermediate parent company
Intermediate parent company
Property investment
Property investment
Property investment
Property investment
Property investment
Property investment
Property investment

Other receivables 
Prepayments and accrued income 

Total trade and other receivables 

As at 
30 June 2019 
£000  

As at  
30 June 2018 
£000

3,503 
17 

3,521 

29
1,006

1,035

All trade receivables relate to amounts that are less than 30 days overdue as at the period end date. Included within other 
receivables is £3,315,000 of rental receipts held by the group’s managing agents as at 30 June 2019. These amounts are 
held within ring-fenced client trust accounts by the managing agent before being transferred to the group and therefore 
there is not deemed to be any material credit risk in relation to these receivables.

15. Trade and other payables

Corporate accruals 
VAT payable 

Total trade and other payables 

As at 
30 June 2019 
£000  

As at  
30 June 2018 
£000

1,828 
742 

2,570 

1,132
341

1,473

All trade and other payables relate to amounts that are less than 30 days overdue at the period end date. 

16. Interest rate derivatives

Non-current asset: Interest rate cap 
Non-current liability: Interest rate cap 
Non-current liability: Interest rate derivative 

As at 
30 June 2019 
£000  

As at  
30 June 2018 
£000

 – 
(18) 
(1,095) 

37
–
–

The interest rate cap is remeasured to fair value by the counterparty bank on a quarterly basis.

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    6 5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

16. Interest rate derivatives continued

The fair value at the end of period comprises:
At start of period 
Interest rate cap premium paid on inception  
Amortisation of cap premium in the period (note 8) 
Changes in fair value of interest rate derivative in the period 
Charge to the Income Statement (note 8) 

Fair Value as at 30 June 2019 

£000 

£’ 000

37  
26 
(55) 
(1,374) 
253 

(1,113) 

–
158
(39)
(82)
–

37

To partially mitigate the interest rate risk that arises as a result of entering into the debt facilities referred to in note 17, 
the Group has entered into a derivative interest rate cap (‘the cap’) and a derivative interest rate swap (‘the swap’). 

The total notional value of the cap was £63.5 million with its term coinciding with the expiry of the term of the HSBC 
credit facility. The strike rate of the cap as at 30 June 2019 was 1.75%. which caps the Group’s cost of borrowing at 
3.35% on the hedged notional amount. 

The total notional value of the swap was £52.1 million with its term coinciding with the maturity of the Bayerische 
Landesbank loan facility. The fixed interest rate of the swap as at 30 June 2019 was 1.305%. 

The Group uses all of its interest rate derivatives in risk management as cash flow hedges to protect against movements 
in future interest cash flows on secured loans which bear interest at variable rates. The Group enters into interest rate 
swaps that have similar critical terms as the hedged item, such as reference rate, reset dates, payment dates, maturities 
and notional amount. Since all critical terms matched during the year, the economic relationship was 100% effective. 
There was no ineffectiveness during the year ending June 2019 or period ending June 2018 in relation to the interest  
rate swaps. 

The derivatives have been valued in accordance with IFRS 13 by reference to interbank bid market rates as at the  
close of business on the last working day prior to each balance sheet date. The fair values are calculated using the 
present values of future cash flows, based on market forecasts of interest rates and adjusted for the credit risk of the 
counterparties. The amounts and timing of future cash flows are projected on the basis of the contractual terms.  
All interest rate derivatives are classified as level 2 in the fair value hierarchy as defined in IFRS 13 and there were  
no transfers to or from other levels of the fair value hierarchy during the year.

The entire £52.1 million notional amount of the interest rate swaps and £63.5 million of the notional amount of the 
interest rate caps are used to hedge cash flow interest rate risk on £115.6 million of the floating rate loans described  
in note 17 and they have been wholly designated for hedge accounting. The hedges are expected to be 100% effective 
throughout their lives. 

80% of the Group’s total drawn debt was hedged as at 30 June 2019 (2018: 72%) It is the Group’s target to hedge at least 
60% of the Group’s total debt at any time using interest rate derivatives.

 In accordance with the Group’s treasury risk policy, the Group applies cash flow hedge accounting in partially hedging 
the interest rate risks arising on its variable rate linked loans. Changes in the fair values of derivatives that are 
designated as cash flow hedges and are effective are recognised directly in the cash flow hedge reserve and included  
in other comprehensive income. 

Any ineffectiveness that may arise in this hedge relationship will be included in profit or loss. 

6 6    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
17. Bank borrowings

Amounts falling due after more than one year: 
Secured debt  
Less: Unamortised finance costs 

Bank borrowings per the consolidated statement of financial position  

As at 
30 June 2019 
£000  

As at  
30 June 2018 
£000

144,894 
(1,186) 

88,844
(745)

143,708 

88,099

Secured debt comprises a revolving credit facility (the ‘credit facility’) of £100 million with HSBC Bank Plc and a five year 
interest-only loan facility (the ‘loan facility’) of £52.1 million with Bayerische Landesbank. 

The credit facility is secured on four Tesco assets (Thetford, Bristol, Cumbernauld and Scunthorpe) and the loan facility 
is secured on Sainbury’s, Ashford and Morrisons, Sheffield. 

During June 2019 the Group exercised a 12-month extension on the credit facility from 30 August 2020 to 30 August 2021. 
The original terms of the credit facility are unchanged, and the facility contains one further 12-month extension option to 
August 2022. The extension option requires the agreement of both the Group and counterparty bank in order to exercise. 

At June 2019, £92.8 million has been drawn down in total under the credit facility. 

All the advances drawn under the credit facility have an interest charge which is payable quarterly based on a margin 
above three-month LIBOR. The margin payable by the Group on the credit facility as at 30 June 2019 was 160 basis 
points above three-month LIBOR. 

As at 30 June 2019, the full amount of the loan facility had been drawn down. Interest is payable quarterly on the loan 
facility based on a margin of 125 basis points above three-month LIBOR. The fixed interest rate on the loan facility 
resulting from the Interest rate swap was 2.55%.

Both facilities have loan covenants of 60% LTV and 200% interest cover. There have been no defaults or breaches of any 
loan covenants during the current or any prior period. 

Any associated fees in arranging the bank borrowings that are unamortised as at the end of the period are offset  
against amounts drawn under the facility as shown in the table above. The debt is secured by charges over the Group’s 
investment properties and by charges over the shares of certain group companies, not including the Company itself. 
There have been no defaults or breaches of any loan covenants during the current or any prior period.

A new £47.6 million loan facility was subsequently entered into with Deka Bank in August 2018. Full details are set out  
in note 25.

18. Categories of financial instruments

Financial assets 
Financial assets at amortised costs: 
Cash and cash equivalents  
Trade and other receivables 
Derivatives in effective hedges: 
Interest rate derivative 

Total Financial Assets 

Financial liabilities 
Financial liabilities at amortised cost: 
Secured debt 
Trade and other payables 
Derivatives in effective hedges: 
Interest rate derivative  

Total Financial Liabilities 

As at 
30 June 2019 
£000  

As at  
30 June 2018 
£000

9,898 
3,503 

– 

13,401 

2,239
1,035

37

3,311

143,708 
1,828 

88,099
1,132

1,113 –

146,649 

89,231

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    6 7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

18. Categories of financial instruments
At the balance sheet date, all financial assets and liabilities were measured at amortised cost except for the interest 
rate derivative which is measured at fair value. The interest rate derivative valuation is classified as ‘level 2’ in the fair 
value hierarchy as defined in IFRS 13 and its fair value was calculated using the present values of future cash flows, 
based on market forecasts of interest rates and adjusted for the credit risk of the counterparties. 

Financial risk management 
Through the Group’s operations and use of debt financing it is exposed to certain risks. The Group’s financial risk 
management objective is to minimise the effect of these risks, for example by using an interest rate cap and interest 
rate swap derivative to partially mitigate exposure to fluctuations in interest rates, as described in note 16. 

The exposure to each financial risk considered potentially material to the Group, how it arises and the policy for 
managing it is summarised below.

Market risk
Market risk is defined as the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate  
because of changes in market prices. The Group’s market risk arises from open positions in interest bearing assets  
and liabilities, to the extent that these are exposed to general and specific market movements. 

The Group’s interest-bearing financial instruments comprise cash and cash equivalents and bank borrowings.  
Changes in market interest rates therefore affect the Group’s finance income and costs, although the Group has 
purchased interest rate derivatives as described in note 16 in order to partially mitigate the risk in respect of finance 
costs. The Group’s sensitivity to changes in interest rates, calculated on the basis of a ten-basis point increase or 
decrease in closing three-month LIBOR, was as follows:

Effect on profit for the current period 

Effect on other comprehensive income and equity 

1 July 2018 to 
30 June 2019 
£000 

1 June 2017 to  
30 June 2018 
£000

142 

(211) 

70

7

Trade and other receivables and payables are interest free as long as they are paid in accordance with their terms, and 
have payment terms of less than one year, so it is assumed that there is no material interest rate risk associated with 
these financial instruments.

The Group prepares its financial information in Sterling and all of its current operations are Sterling denominated.  
It therefore has no exposure to foreign currency and does not have any direct sensitivity to changes in foreign currency 
exchange rates.

Credit risk 
Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Group if a counterparty fails to meet its contractual obligations.  
The principal counterparties are the Group’s tenants (in respect of rent receivables arising under operating leases)  
and banks (as holders of the Group’s cash deposits). 

The credit risk of rent receivables is considered low because the counterparties to the operating leases are considered 
by the Board to be high quality tenants and any lease guarantors are of appropriate financial strength. Rent collection 
dates and statistics are monitored to identify any problems at any early stage, and if necessary rigorous credit control 
procedures will be applied to facilitate the recovery of rent receivables. The Group does not hold any financial assets 
which are either past due or impaired. The credit risk on cash deposits is limited because the counterparties are banks 
with credit ratings which are acceptable to the Board and are kept under review each quarter. 

Liquidity risk 
Liquidity risk arises from the Group’s management of working capital and the finance costs and principal repayments on 
its secured debt. It is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due.

The Group seeks to manage its liquidity risk by ensuring that sufficient cash is available to meet its foreseeable needs. 
These liquidity needs are relatively modest and are capable of being satisfied by the surplus available after rental receipts 
have been applied in payment of interest as required by the credit agreement relating to the Group’s secured debt. 

6 8    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Before entering into any financing arrangements, the Board assesses the resources that are expected to be available to 
the Group to meet its liabilities when they fall due. These assessments are made on the basis of both base case and 
downside scenarios. The Group prepares detailed management accounts which are reviewed by the Board at least 
quarterly to assess ongoing liquidity requirements and compliance with loan covenants. The Board also keeps under 
review the maturity profile of the Group’s cash deposits in order to have reasonable assurance that cash will be available 
for the settlement of liabilities when they fall due.

Inflation risk arises from the impact of inflation on the Group’s income and expenditure. All of the Group’s passing rent 
at 30 June 2019 is subject to inflation linked rent reviews. Consequently, the Group is exposed to movements in the 
Retail Prices Index (“RPI”), which is the relevant inflation benchmark. However, all RPI-linked rent review provisions 
provide that rents will only be subject to upwards review and never downwards. As a result, the Group is not exposed to 
a fall in rent in deflationary conditions.

The following table shows the maturity analysis for financial assets and liabilities. The table has been drawn up based 
on the undiscounted cash flows of non-derivative financial instruments, including future interest payments, based on the 
earliest date on which the Group can be required to pay and assuming that three-month LIBOR remains at the 30 June 
2019 rate. Interest rate derivatives are shown at fair value and not at their gross undiscounted amounts.

As at 
30 June 2019 

Financial assets: 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Trade and other receivables 

Total Financial assets 

Financial liabilities: 
Bank borrowings 
Trade payables and other payables 
Interest rate derivatives 

Total Financial liabilities 

As at 
30 June 2018 

Financial assets:
Cash and cash equivalents 
Trade and other receivables 
Fair value through profit and loss 

Total Financial assets 

Financial liabilities:
Bank borrowings 
Trade payables and other payables 

Total Financial liabilities 

Less than 
one year 
£000  

One to two 
years  
£000 

Two to five 
years 
£000 

More than 
five years 
£000 

9,898 
3,503 

13,401 

3,626 
1,828 
– 

5,454 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

7,251 
– 
– 

7,251 

148,084 
– 
1,113 

149,197 

– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 

– 

Less than 
one year 
£000  

One to two 
years  
£000 

Two to five 
years 
£000 

More than 
five years 
£000 

2,239 
1,016 
– 

3,274 

2,200 
1,132 

3,332 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
37 

37 

4,400 
– 

4,400 

90,283 
– 

90,283 

– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 

– 

Total 
£000

9,898
3,503

13,401

158,961
1,828
1,113

161,902

Total 
£000

2,239
1,016
37

3,292

96,883
1,132

98,015

Capital risk management
The Board’s primary objective when monitoring capital is to preserve the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern, 
while ensuring it remains within its debt covenants so as to safeguard secured assets and avoid financial penalties. 
Bank borrowings are secured on the Group’s property portfolio by way of fixed charges over property assets and over the 
shares in the property-owning subsidiaries and any intermediary holding companies of those subsidiaries. The Group 
does not provide any cross-group guarantees nor does the Company act as a guarantor to the lending bank. 

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    6 9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

18. Categories of financial instruments continued
At 30 June 2019, the capital structure of the Group consisted of bank borrowings (note 17), cash and cash equivalents, 
and equity attributable to the shareholders of the Company (comprising share capital, retained earnings and the other 
reserves referred to in notes 19 and 20). 

In managing the Group’s capital structure, the Board considers the Group’s cost of capital. In order to maintain or adjust 
the capital structure, the Group keeps under review the amount of any dividends or other returns to shareholders and 
monitors the extent to which the issue of new shares or the realisation of assets may be required.

Reconciliation of financial liabilities relating to financing activities

Bank 
  borrowings due 
in more than 
one year 
£000 

Interest and 
commitment 
fees payable 
£000 

Interest rate 
derivatives 
£000 

Total 
£000

At 1 July 2018 

88,099 

447 

(37) 

88,509

Cashflows: 
Debt drawdowns in the Year  
Debt repayments in the Year 
Interest and commitment fees paid 
Loan arrangement fees paid 
Interest rate cap premium paid 
Non-cash movements: 
Finance costs in the statement of comprehensive income 
Fair value changes 

At 30 June 2019 

At 1 June 2017 

Cashflows: 
Debt drawdowns in the period 
Debt repayments in the period 
Interest and commitment fees paid 
Loan arrangement fees paid 
Interest rate cap premium paid 
Non-cash movements: 
Finance costs in the statement of comprehensive income 
Fair value changes 

At 30 June 2018 

128,341 
(72,291) 
– 
(933) 
– 

492 
– 

143,708 

– 
– 
(3,365) 
– 
– 

3,663 
– 

715 

– 
– 
– 
– 
(27) 

54 
1,122 

1,113 

Bank 
borrowings due 
in more than 
one year 
£000 

Interest and 
commitment 
fees payable 
£000 

Interest rate 
derivatives 
£000 

– 

– 

– 

98,430 
(9,586) 
– 
(1,029) 
– 

284 
– 

88,099 

– 
– 
(1,147) 
– 
– 

1,594 
– 

447 

– 
– 
– 
– 
(158) 

39 
82 

(37) 

88,509

128,341
(72,291)
(3,365)
(933)
(27)

4,180
1,122

145,535

Total 
£000

–

98,430
(9,586)
(1,147)
(1,029)
(158)

1,917
82

Movements in respect to share capital are disclosed in note 19 below.

The interest and commitment fees payable are included within the corporate accruals balance in note 15. Cash flow 
movements are included in the consolidated statement of cash flows and the non-cash movements are included in 
note 8. The movements in the interest rate derivative financial asset can be found in note 16.

7 0    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
19. Share capital

As at 1 July 2018 

Ordinary shares issued and fully paid –  
  26 March 2019 
Ordinary shares issued and fully paid –  
  24 April 2019 

Share issue costs 

Dividends paid in the Year (note 11) 

  Ordinary shares 
of 1 pence 
Number 

184,356,434 

44,554,455 

10,922,330 

– 

– 

Share 
capital 
£000 

1,844 

446 

109 

– 

– 

Share 
premium 
reserve 
£000 

149,039 

44,554 

11,141 

(1,062) 

Capital 
reduction 
reserve 
£000 

Total 
£000

25,325 

176,208

– 

– 

– 

45,000

11,250

(1,062)

– 

(10,934) 

(10,934)

As at 30 June 2019 

239,833,219 

2,398 

203,672 

14,391 

220,461

  Ordinary shares 
of 1 pence 
Number 

Share 
capital 
£000 

Share 
premium 
reserve 
£000 

Capital 
reduction 
reserve 
£000 

As at 1 June 2017 

Issue of 1 ordinary share 
Issue of 50,000 redeemable  
  preference shares – one quarter paid up   
Redemption and cancellation of  
  50,000 redeemable preference shares 
Ordinary shares issued and fully paid –  
  18 July 2017 
Ordinary shares issued and fully paid –  
  15 November 2017 
Ordinary shares issued and fully paid –  
  25 May 2018 
Cancellation of 1 ordinary share 

Share issue costs 

Transfer to capital reduction reserve 
Dividends paid in the period (note 11) 

– 

1 

– 

– 

– 

– 

12 

(12) 

– 

– 

– 

– 

100,000,000 

1,000 

99,000 

19,999,999 

64,356,435 
(1) 

– 

– 
– 

200 

644 
– 

– 

– 
– 

19,800 

64,356 
– 

(4,117) 

(30,000) 
– 

30,000 
(4,675) 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Total 
£000

–

–

12

(12)

100,000

20,000

65,000
–

(4,117)

–
(4,675)

As at 30 June 2018 

184,356,434 

1,844 

149,039 

25,325 

176,208

Share allotments and other movements in relation to the capital of the Company in the period:
On 26 March 2019 the Company completed a equity fundraising and issued an additional 44,554,455 ordinary shares of 
one pence each at a price of £1.01 per share. The consideration received in excess of the par value of the ordinary 
shares issued, net of total capitalised issue costs, of £43.9 million was credited to the share premium reserve.

On 25 April 2019 the Company issued an additional 10,922,330 ordinary shares to the Charities Pension Fund, as partial 
consideration for the acquisition of Tesco Mansfield, of one pence each at a price of £1.03 per share. The consideration 
received in excess of the par value of the ordinary shares issued, net of total capitalised issue costs, of £11.3 million was 
credited to the share premium reserve.

Ordinary shareholders are entitled to all dividends declared by the Company and to all the Company’s assets after 
repayment of its borrowings and ordinary creditors. Ordinary shareholders have the right to vote at meetings of the 
Company. All ordinary shares carry equal voting rights.

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    7 1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

20. Reserves

The nature and purpose of each of the reserves included within equity at 30 June 2019 are as follows:
•   Share premium reserve: represents the surplus of the gross proceeds of share issues over the nominal value of the 

shares, net of the direct costs of equity issues

•   Cash flow hedge reserve: represents cumulative gains or losses, net of tax, on effective cash flow hedging instruments
•   Capital reduction reserve: represents a distributable reserve created following a Court approved reduction in capital 

less dividends paid

•  Retained earnings represent cumulative net gains and losses recognized in the statement of comprehensive income.

The only movements in these reserves during the period are disclosed in the consolidated statement of changes in equity. 

21. Capital commitments

The Group had no capital commitments outstanding as at 30 June 2019.

22. Operating leases

The Group’s principal assets are investment properties which are leased to third parties under non-cancellable 
operating leases. The weighted average remaining lease term at 30 June 2019 is 18.4 years (2018: 18.6 years) and there 
are no break options. The leases contain either fixed or RPI-linked uplifts.

The future minimum lease payments receivable under the Group’s leases, are as follows:

Within one year 
Between one year and five years 
More than five years 

23. Net asset value per share

As at 
30 June 2019 
£000  

As at  
30 June 2018 
£000

19,241 
77,366 
260,172 

13,758
55,422
194,032

356,779 

263,212

Basic NAV per share is calculated by dividing the Group’s net assets as shown in the consolidated statement of financial 
position that are attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the Company by the number of ordinary shares outstanding 
at the end of the period. As there are no dilutive instruments outstanding, basic and diluted NAV per share are identical.

EPRA has issued guidelines aimed at enabling entities to provide a comparable measure of NAV on the basis of long 
term fair values. The EPRA measure excludes items that are considered to have no impact in the long term. For the 
current period EPRA NAV is calculated as net assets per the consolidated statement of financial position excluding the 
fair value of interest rate derivatives.

NAV and EPRA NAV per share calculation are as follows:

Net assets per the consolidated statement of financial position 
Fair value of interest rate derivatives 

EPRA NAV 

Ordinary shares in issue at 30 June 2018 
NAV per share – Basic and diluted (pence) 
EPRA NAV per share (pence) 

7 2    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

As at 
30 June 2019 
£000  

As at  
30 June 2018 
£000

230,470 
1,113 

176,746
(37)

231,583 

176,709

Number

239,833,219 
96p 
97p 

184,356,434
96p
96p

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
24. Transactions with related parties

Details of the related parties to the Group in the period and the transactions with these related parties were as follows: 

a. Directors
Directors’ fees
Nick Hewson, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, is paid fees of £55,000 per annum, with the other two 
Directors each being paid fees of £35,000 per annum. Jon Austen is paid an additional £5,000 per annum for his role as 
chair of the Company’s Audit Committee and Vince Prior is paid an additional £3,500 per annum for his role as Senior 
Independent Director.

The total remuneration payable to the Directors in respect of the current year and previous period is disclosed in note 7. 
There were no amounts outstanding at the end of either period.

Directors’ interests
Details of the direct and indirect interests of the Directors and their close families in the ordinary shares of one pence 
each in the Company at 30 June 2018 were as follows:
•  Nick Hewson: 380,000 shares (0.16% of issued share capital)
•  Jon Austen: 99,000 shares (0.04% of issued share capital)
•  Vince Prior: 55,431 shares (0.02% of issued share capital)

b. Investment Adviser
Advisory fees
The investment adviser to the Group, Atrato Capital Limited (the ‘Investment Adviser’), is entitled to certain advisory  
fees under the terms of the Investment Advisory Agreement (the ‘Agreement’) dated 20 June 2017. 

The entitlement of the Investment Adviser to advisory fees is by way of what are termed ‘Monthly Management Fees’  
and ‘Semi-Annual Management Fees’ both of which are calculated by reference to the net asset value of the Group at 
particular dates, as adjusted for the financial impact of certain investment events and after deducting any un-invested 
proceeds from share issues up to the date of the calculation of the relevant fee (these adjusted amounts are referred to 
as ‘Adjusted Net Asset Value’ for the purpose of calculation of the fees in accordance with the Agreement).

Until the Adjusted Net Value of the Group exceeds £500 million, which it has not as at 30 June 2019, the entitlements to 
advisory fees can be summarised as follows:
•   Monthly Management Fee payable monthly in arrears: 1/12th of 0.7125% per calendar month of Adjusted Net Asset 

Value up to or equal to £500 million;

•   Semi-Annual Management Fee payable semi-annually in arrears: 0.11875% of Adjusted Net Asset Value up to or  

equal to £500 million.

For the period to 30 June 2019 the total advisory fees payable to the Investment Adviser were £1,814,000 (2018: 
£1,079,000) of which £379,000 (2018: £304,000) is included in trade and other payables in the consolidated statement  
of financial position. 

Interest in shares of the Company
Details of the direct and indirect interests of the Directors of the Investment Adviser and their close families in the 
ordinary shares of one pence each in the Company at 30 June 2019 were as follows:
•  Ben Green: 1,122,491 shares (0.47% of issued share capital)
•  Steve Peter Windsor: 1,166,018 shares (0.49% of issued share capital)

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    7 3

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

24. Transactions with related parties continued

c. Transactions with other related parties
Morgan Williams acts as the Senior Adviser to the Company, with their appointment being to provide their supermarket 
expertise to assist in sourcing suitable assets for investment. They are therefore considered to provide key management 
personnel services to the Company. Any fees payable to the Senior Adviser form part of the acquisition costs in relation 
to the acquisition of the relevant property.

Mark Morgan is a partner in Morgan Williams and sits on the Investment Committee of the Investment Adviser.

In the period to 30 June 2019 the amount payable to Morgan Williams for these services was £483,000 (2018: £1,273,000) 
all of which has been capitalised as additions to investment properties. No amounts payable were outstanding at the end 
of either period.

Other transactions:
Other than those related party transactions disclosed in this or other notes to the financial statements the Directors are 
not aware of any transactions with related parties requiring disclosure. The Company does not have an ultimate 
controlling party.

25. Post balance sheet events

On 28 August 2019, the Group acquired a Sainsbury’ Supermarket in Lancashire, Preston for £54.4 million (excluding 
acquisition costs). The Company has also arranged a new five-year, fixed rate loan facility with Deka Bank. The 
£48.1million facility has a margin of 135 basis points and is secured against the new Sainsbury’s supermarket in Preston 
and the Tesco supermarket in Mansfield. The Deka Bank facility also contains a £40 million accordion option which 
allows the Group the option to expand the £47.6 million debt by a further £40 million, subject to Deka Bank credit 
approval, during the term of the facility.

On 08 July 2019, the Board declared a Q4 interim dividend of 1.419 pence per share, which was paid on 07 August 2019 
to shareholders on the register on 19 July 2019.

7 4    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 
AS AT 30 JUNE 2019

Non-current assets 
Investments in subsidiaries 

Total non-current assets 

Current assets 
Trade and other receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Total current assets 

Total assets 

Current liabilities 
Trade and other payables 

Total current liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Total net assets 

Equity 
Share capital 
Share premium reserve 
Capital reduction reserve 
Accumulated Profit 

Total equity 

As at 
30 June 2019 
£000 

As at 
30 June 2018 
£000

Notes 

C 

228,458 

172,466

222,458 

172,466

D 

E 

F 

831 
7,531 

8,362 

3,780
225

4,005

230,820 

176,471

9,529 

9,529 

9,529 

609

609

609

221,291 

175,862

2,398 
203,672 
14,391 
829 

1,844
149,039
25,325
(346)

221,291 

175,862

The notes on pages 77 to 78 form part of these financial statements.

The Company has taken advantage of the exemption within section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 not to present its  
own profit and loss account. The accumulated profit for the year dealt with the financial statements of the Company  
was £1,175,000 (2018: loss 346,000). As at 30 June 2019 the Company has distributable reserves of £15.2 million. 

The Company financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 3 September 
2019 and were signed on its behalf by:

Nick Hewson  
Chairman 
3 September 2019 

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    7 5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 
FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1 JULY 2018 TO 30 JUNE 2019

As at 1 July 2018 

Profit and total comprehensive Income  

for the period 

Transactions with owners 

Ordinary shares issued at a premium  
  during the period 

Share issue costs 
Interim dividends paid 

As at 30 June 2019 

Share 
capital 
£000 

1,844 

Share 
premium 
reserve 
£000 

149,039 

Capital  
reduction 
reserve 
£000 

25,325 

Accumulated 
Profit 
£000 

Total 
£000

(346) 

175,862

– 

– 

555 

55,695 

– 

– 

– 
– 

(1,062) 
– 

– 
(10,934) 

1,175 

1,175

– 

– 
– 

56,250

(1,062)
(10,934)

2,398 

203,672 

14,391 

829 

221,291

COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 
FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1 JUNE 2017 TO 30 JUNE 2018

Share 
capital 
£000 

Share 
premium 
reserve 
£000 

Capital  
reduction 
reserve 
£000 

Accumulated 
Loss 
£000 

Total 
£000

As at 1 June 2017
Profit and total comprehensive Loss for the period 

– 

– 

Transactions with owners 

Ordinary shares issued at a premium  
  during the period 

1,844 

183,156 

– 

– 

Share issue costs 
Issue of redeemable preference shares 
Redemption of redeemable preference shares 
Transfer to capital reduction reserve 
Interim dividends paid 

– 
12 
(12) 
– 
– 

(4,117) 
– 
– 
(30,000) 
– 

– 
– 
– 
30,000 
(4,675) 

(346) 

(346)

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

185,000

(4,117)
12
(12)
–
(4,675)

As at 30 June 2018 

1,844 

149,039 

25,325 

(346) 

175,862

The notes on pages 77 to 78 form part of these financial statements.

7 6    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

A. Basis of preparation

The Company’s financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102, the Financial Reporting Standard 
applicable in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

The principal accounting policies relevant to the Company are as follows:
•  Investments in subsidiaries are recognised at cost less provision for any impairment;
•  Loans and receivables are recognised initially at fair value plus transaction costs less provision for impairment;
•  Trade payables are recognized initially at fair value and subsequently at amortised cost;
•  Equity instruments are recognised as the value of proceeds received net of direct issue costs; and
•  Dividends are recognised as a financial liability and deduction from equity in the period in which they are declared

In preparing the Company’s financial statements, advantage has been taken of the following disclosure exemptions 
available in FRS 102:
•  no cash flow statement has been presented;
•   disclosures in respect of the Company’s financial instruments have not been presented as equivalent disclosures have 

been provided in respect of the Group;

•   no reconciliation of the number of shares outstanding at the beginning and end of the year has been presented as it is 

identical to the reconciliation for the Group shown in note 18 to the Group financial statements; and

•   no disclosure has been given for the aggregate remuneration of the key management personnel of the Company as 

their remuneration is shown in note 6 to the Group financial statements

In the year to 30 June 2020, the Company intends to continue to use these disclosure exemptions unless objections are 
received from shareholders.

B. Significant accounting judgements, estimates and assumptions 

In preparing the financial statements of the company, the directors have made the following judgements:

•   Determine whether there are any indicators of impairment of the investments in subsidiary undertakings. Factors 

taken into consideration in reaching such a decision include the financial position and expected future performance  
of the subsidiary entity. 

C. Auditors’ remuneration

The remuneration of the auditors in respect of the audit of the Company’s Consolidated and Individual Financial 
Statements for the Year was £74,000 (2018: £55,000). Fees payable for audit and non-audit services provided to the 
Company and the rest of the Group are disclosed in note 6 to the consolidated financial statements.

D. Investment in subsidiary undertakings

The Company’s wholly owned direct subsidiaries are Supermarket Income Investments UK Limited, Supermarket 
Income Investments (Midco2) UK Limited and Supermarket Income Investments (Midco3) UK Limited, all of which  
are incorporated and operating in England with a registered address of 7th Floor 9 Berkeley Street, London, England, 
W1J 8DW. The full list of subsidiary entities directly and indirectly owned by the Company is disclosed in note 13 to the 
Consolidated Financial Statements.

The movement in the period was as follows:

As at 1 July 2018 
Additions 

As at 30 June 2018 

Impairments of investments in subsidiaries  

Closing value per Statement of Financial Position  

As at 
30 June 
£000

172,466
84,897

257,363

(34,905)

222,458

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    7 7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

As at 1 June 2017 
Additions 

As at 30 June 2018 

As at 
30 June 
£000

–
172,466

172,466

An impairment of investments in subsidiaries was recognised during the year following the payment of an upstream 
dividend to the Company. Following the payment of the dividend, the net assets of the dividend paying subsidiary no 
longer supported the carrying value of the Company’s investment in that enity and thus an impairment charge was 
recognised to bring the carrying value of the investment in line with the recoverable amount. 

E. Trade and other receivables

Intercompany receivables 
Prepayments and accrued income 
Corporation tax receivable 
VAT receivable 
Other receivables 

Total trade and other receivables 

F. Trade and other payables

Corporate accruals 
Intercompany payables 

Total trade and other payables 

G. Share capital

As at 
30 June 2019 
£000  

As at  
30 June 2018 
£000

637 
16 
– 
153 
25 

831 

3,293
19
310
129
29

3,780

As at 
30 June 2019 
£000  

As at  
30 June 2018 
£000

768 
8,761 –

9,529 

609

609

Details of the share capital of the Company are disclosed in note 18 to the Consolidated financial statements.

H. Related party transactions

Details of related party transactions are disclosed in note 24 to the Group financial statements. 

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UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Key performance indicators 

Our objective is to deliver attractive, low-risk returns to Shareholders, by executing the Investment Policy.  
Set out below are the key performance indicators we use to track our progress. 

KPI and definition 

Total Shareholder Return for the Period 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019  
Total Shareholder Return is measured by reference to the growth in the  
Company’s share price over a period, plus dividends declared over the  
same period divided by the share price at the beginning of the financial year.

Weighted average unexpired lease term as at 30 June 2019 
The average unexpired lease term of the property portfolio,  
weighted by valuation.

EPRA NAV per share as at 30 June 2019 
The value of our assets (based on an independent valuation)  
less the book value of our liabilities, attributable to Shareholders  
and calculated in accordance with EPRA guidelines.

Net Loan to value ratio  
Balance sheet loan amount less cash balances divided by total investment  
properties valuation.

EPRA Cost Ratio  
Administrative and operating costs divided by gross rental income.

Earnings per share (EPS) 
Earnings attributable to Shareholders adjusted for other earnings not  
supported by cash flows and calculated in accordance with EPRA guidelines. 

Performance

8%

18 years

97 pence

36%

18%

5.0 pence

Total Shareholder Return 
Shareholder return is one of the Group’s principal measures of performance. Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) is 
measured by reference to the growth in the Company’s share price over a period, plus dividends. The tables below  
show the calculation of TSR for the Period.

Total Shareholder Return

Share price at start of the year 
Share price at the end of the year 

Increase in share price  
Dividends declared for the year  

Increase in share price plus dividends 

Share price at start of period 

Total Shareholder Return 

As at 
30 June 2019 

As at  
30 June 2018 
  Pence per share  Pence per share

102.5 
105.0 

2.5p 
5.6p 

8.1p 

100.0p
102.5p

2.5p
5.5p

8.0p

102.5p 

100.0p

8.0% 

8.0%

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    7 9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION CONTINUED

Net loan to value ratio
The proportion of our gross asset value that is funded by borrowings calculated as balance sheet borrowings less cash 
balances divided by total investment properties valuation.

Net Loan to value 

Bank borrowings  
Less cash and cash equivalents 

Net borrowings  
Investment properties valuation  

Net Loan to value ratio  

EPRA measures

EPRA NAV Per Share 
EPRA Triple Net Asset Value (NNNAV) Per Share 

EPRA EPS 
EPRA Net Initial Yield 
EPRA Topped Up Net Initial Yield 
EPRA Vacancy Rate 
EPRA Cost Ratio 
Adjusted EPRA Cost Ratio  

Further information on these EPRA measures is included below. 

EPRA NAV per share

EPRA NAV (note 10) 
Fair value of interest rate derivatives  
EPRA NAV 

EPRA Triple Net Asset Value Per Share

EPRA NAV (note 10) 
Fair value of interest rate derivatives  
Adjustments to reflect fair value of bank borrowings 

EPRA Triple Net Asset Value Per Share 

As at 
30 June 2019 
£000 

As at  
30 June 2018 
£000

143,708 
(9,898) 

133,810 
368,230 

88,099
(2,239)

85,860
264,900

36% 

32%

As at 
30 June 2019 

As at  
30 June 2018 
  Pence per share   Pence per share

97p 
96p 

96p
95p

1 July 2018 to 
30 June 2019 

1 June 2017 to  
30 June 2018

5.0 pence 
4.9% 
4.9% 
0% 
17.9% 
17.9% 

3.8 pence
4.9%
4.9%
0%
23.4%
20.5%

As at  
30 June 2019 
£000  Pence per share

230,470 
1,113 
231,583 

96p
1p
97p

As at  
30 June 2019 
£000  Pence per share

231,583 
(1,113) 
(1,185) 

229,284 

97p
–
–

96p

The EPRA triple NAV is adjusted to reflect the fair values of any debt and hedging instruments, and any inherent tax 
liabilities not provided for in the financial statements. EPRA NAV Per Share and EPRA Triple Net Asset Value Per Share 
are calculated on the number of shares in issue at each balance sheet of 239,833,219.

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EPRA EPS 

For the period from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019 

Basic and diluted EPS (note 10) 
Adjustments to remove: 
Changes in fair value of investment properties  

EPRA EPS 

Net profit  

Weighted  
attributable  average number 
of ordinary 
to ordinary 
shares1 
shareholders 
Number 
£000 

Earnings 
per share 
Pence

10,593 

198,087,482 

5.3p

(647) 

– 

9,946 

 198,087,482 

(0.3)p

5.0p

1 Based on the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue in the year ending 30 June 2019. 

EPRA Net Initial Yield

Wholly owned investment property at external valuation (note 12) 
Allowance for estimated purchasers’ costs at 6.8%  

Grossed up completed property portfolio valuation 

Annualised net rents 

EPRA Net Initial Yield  

EPRA Topped Up Net Initial Yield

EPRA Topped Up Net Initial Yield 

As at 
30 June 2019 
£000 

As at  
30 June 2018 
£000

368,230 
25,039 

264,900
18,013

393,269 

282,913

As at 
30 June 2019 
£000 

As at  
30 June 2018 
£000

19,209 

4.9% 

13,727

4.9%

As at 
30 June 2019 

As at  

30 June 2018

4.9% 

4.9%

There are no unexpired tenant incentives therefore EPRA topped up net initial yield is the same as EPRA net initial  
yield in each year. 

EPRA Vacancy Rate

EPRA Vacancy Rate 

The Group had no vacant property in the Period. 

EPRA Cost Ratio

EPRA Gross Rental Income  

Administrative and other expenses (note 5) 

EPRA Costs 

As at 
30 June 2019 

As at  

30 June 2018

0% 

0%

1 July 2018 to 
30 June 2019 
£000  

1 June 2017 to 
30 June 2018 
£000

17,231 

3,088 

3,088 

8,942

2,097

2,097

EPRA Cost Ratio inclusive and exclusive of vacant property costs 

17.9% 

23.4%

The Group has had no vacant property, therefore the EPRA Cost Ratio is the same inclusive and exclusive of vacant 
property costs. 

The Group has no capitalised overheads or operating expenses.

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    8 1

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION CONTINUED

Adjusted EPRA Cost Ratio
The Group also calculates an Adjusted EPRA Cost Ratio excluding from administrative and other expenses £260,000 of 
non-recurring costs relating to the establishment of the Group to give what the Board considers to be a measure of cost 
efficiency more directly relevant to its ongoing cost performance. 

EPRA gross rental income  

Administrative and other expenses (note 5) 

non-recurring costs relating to the establishment of the Group  

Adjusted EPRA Cost 

Adjusted EPRA Cost Ratio excluding non recurring costs 

1 July 2018 to 
30 June 2019 
£000  

1 June 2017 to 
30 June 2018 
£000

17,231 

3,088 

– 

3,088 

17.9% 

8,942

2,097

(260)

1,837

20.5%

8 2    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GLOSSARY

AGM

AIFMD

EPRA

EPRA EPS

Annual General Meeting

Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive

European Public Real Estate Association 

A measure of EPS designed by EPRA to present underlying earning from core 
operating activities

EPRA Guidance

The EPRA Best Practices Recommendations Guidelines November 2016

EPRA NAV

EPS

FRI

IFRS

A measure of NAV designed by EPRA to present the fair value of a company on a 
long term basis, by excluding items such as interest rate derivatives that are held 
for long term benefit, net of deferred tax

Earnings per share, calculated as the profit for the period after tax attributable to 
members of the parent company divided by the weighted average number of 
shares in issue in the period

A lease granted on an FRI basis means that all repairing and insuring obligations 
are imposed on the tenant, relieving the landlord from all liability for the cost of 
insurance and repairs

International Financial Reporting Standards adopted for use in the European 
Union

Investment Advisory Agreement

The agreement between the Company and the Investment Adviser, key terms of 
which are set out on page 101-102 of the IPO Prospectus

IPO

LTV

NAV

An initial public offering (IPO) refers to the process of offering shares of a 
corporation to the public in a new stock issuance

Loan to Value: the outstanding amount of a loan as a percentage of property value

Net Asset Value

Net Initial Yield

Annualised net rents on investment properties as a percentage of the investment 
property valuation, less assumed purchaser’s costs of 6.8%

Net Loan to Value or Net LTV

LTV calculated on the gross loan amount less cash balances

Omnichannel

Stores offering both instore picking and online fulfilment

REIT

Running yield

Real Estate Investment Trust

The anticipated Net Initial Yield at a future date, taking account of any rent 
reviews in the intervening period

Total Shareholder Return

The movement in share price over a period plus dividends declared for the same 
period expressed as a percentage of the share price at the start of the Period 

WAULT

Weighted Average Unexpired Lease Term. It is used by property companies as an 
indicator of the average remaining life of the leases within their portfolios

  A N N U A L   R E P O R T   2 0 1 9    8 3

CONTACTS AND COMPANY DETAILS 

Directors

Company Secretary

AIFM

Investment Adviser

Financial adviser, Broker  
and Placing Agent

Auditors

Property Valuers

Financial PR Advisers

Registrar

Nick Hewson (Chairman)
Vince Prior (Senior Independent Director)
Jon Austen (Chair of Audit Committee)

JTC
7th Floor, 9 Berkeley Street 
London
W1J 8DW

JTC Global AIFM Solutions Limited
Ground Floor, Dorey Court, Admiral Park 
St Peter Port 
Guernsey, Channel Islands
GY1 2HT

Atrato Capital Limited  
8 Greencoat Place  
London  
SW1P 1PL

Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited
150 Cheapside
London 
EC2V 6ET

BDO LLP
55 Baker Street
London
W1U 7ET

Cushman & Wakefield
125 Old Broad Street
London
EC2N 1AR

Tavistock
1 Cornhill
London
EC3V 3ND

Link Asset Service
The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road
Beckenham, Kent
BR3 4TU
Registrar’s email address: enquiries@linkgroup.co.uk

Website

www.supermarketincomereit.com

Registered office

7th Floor, 9 Berkeley Street
London
W1J 8DW

Stock exchange ticker 
ISIN

SUPR 
GB00BF345X11

8 4    S U P E R M A R K E T   I N C O M E   R E I T   P LC

Design and production: theteam.co.uk

Print: Westerham Print

Supermarket Income Reit Plc
7th Floor, 9 Berkeley Street 
London 
W1J 8DW

www.supermarketincomereit.com