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FY2018 Annual Report · TowneBank
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Proud to be making a difference

Annual Report &
Accounts 2018

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Town Centre House

The Merrion Centre

Leeds LS2 8LY

6 Duke Street

Marylebone

London W1U 3EN

+44 (0)113 222 1234

+44 (0)20 3370 0080

info@tcs-plc.co.uk  |  tcs-plc.co.uk  |

Proud to
be making
a difference

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Introduction 
Who we are and what we do 
Business Model and Strategy 
Financial Highlights 
5 Year Record

Strategic Report 

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement 
Introduction 
Creating Places in Leeds 
Leeds - The Arena Quarter and The Merrion Centre 
Merrion House 
Leeds Retail 
Leeds Commercial 
Creating Places in Manchester 
Introducing Piccadilly Basin 
Future Plans for Piccadilly Basin 
Creating Places in Scotland 
Creating Places in Suburban London 
In control of our future - our Development Plan 
Detailed Portfolio Performance 
Financial Review 
Key Performance Indicators 
CitiPark 

2 
3 
4 
5

6-81 

6-45 
6-9 
10-11 
12-14 
15-16 
17-18 
19-21 
22-23 
24-27 
28-29 
30-31 
32-33 
34 
35-36 
37-40 
41 
42-45

Corporate Social Responsibility

46-49

Environmental Report

Locations of Property Portfolio

The Board

Valuers Report 
JLL 
CBRE

Corporate Governance 
Introduction 
Nominations Committee Report 
Audit Committee Report 
Risk Management 
Viability Statement 
Directors Remuneration Report 
Report of the Directors 
Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities 
Independent Auditors’ Report

Financial Statements 
Consolidated Financial Statements 
Company Financial Statements

Notice of Annual General Meeting

Investor Information 

50

51

52-53

54-55 
54 
55

56-85 
56-60 
61 
62-63 
64-70 
70 
71-78 
79-80 
80-81 
82-85

86-119 
86-108 
109-118

119-125

126

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

01

 
 
 
Town Centre Securities Plc

are a specialist regional property 
investor with a portfolio of over £400m.

Operating principally in Leeds, Manchester, Scotland and London, we have a 
long track record as a listed company with 58 years of dividend payments either 
maintained or increased. Our strategy is focused on active management of 
income based on local knowledge. We are conservatively funded and we have 
delivered high long term returns for shareholders which compare favourably 
against market indices.

Vicar Lane, Leeds

02

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

58 YEARS OF 
UNBROKEN DIVIDENDS

BUSINESS MODEL AND STRATEGY

We aim to maximise shareholder value by investing in property and car parking assets.

Our strategic priorities are:

Intensive Management 
For many years we have managed our properties 
intensively to maximise income. This has translated 
into excellent total returns and has allowed us to 
maximise and maintain our long term outstanding 
dividend growth.

We concentrate our portfolio in the strong regional 
cities of Leeds, Manchester and Glasgow along with 
suburban London.

Property Sales and Re-Investment 
Property can reach a plateau in respect of value and 
income in a low growth economy. It is crucial that such 
properties are sold and the capital re-invested in 
opportunities where growth can be achieved.

The Company has a significant development pipeline 
and continues to seek to add value by developing this 
portfolio over time.

Investment in Car Parking 
We have always believed that car parking can 
generate above average returns. We built up a 
substantial business in the 1990’s and we intend 
to do the same again.

Secure Funding 
We are conservatively funded - the majority of our 
borrowings are long term fixed interest. Our loan 
to value is moderate at 45% and we have £30m of 
headroom as protection for the future (including 
Merrion House financing).

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

03

Financial Highlights

TOTAL DIVIDENDS PER SHARE

STATUTORY PROFIT BEFORE TAX

11.75p

2017: 11.5p

£18.4m

2017: £6.7m

EPRA NET ASSETS PER SHARE

EPRA PROFIT BEFORE TAX

384p

2017: 359p

£6.9m

2017: £7.0m

TOTAL PROPERTY RETURN

STATUTORY EARNINGS PER SHARE

9.4%

2017: 6.0%

34.6p

2017: 12.7p

TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN

EPRA EARNINGS PER SHARE

3.2%

2017: 9.6%

13.0p

2017: 13.2p

58 YEARS OF UNBROKEN DIVIDENDS

10

7.5

5.0

2.5

04 TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 

Annual Report and Accounts 2018

5 Year Record

EPRA NET ASSETS PER SHARE 

EPRA EARNINGS PER SHARE 

384p

308

344

357

359

384

13.0p

14.4

12.1

12.4

13.2

13.0

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

DIVIDENDS PER SHARE 

EPRA PROFIT BEFORE TAX (000’s) 

11.75p

11.50p

10.44

10.44

11.00

11.50

11.75

7,629

6,451

6,595

7,036

6,906

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

PROPERTIES AND BORROWINGS (£m):

50%

321

362

377

50%

49%

383

406

49.3%

47.5%

160

174

186

189

45.3%

193

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Portfolio

Borrowings

Loan to Value

Pro Forma Loan to Value (includes effect of Merrion House financing)

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

05

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement

Portfolio performance 
The total like for like valuation of the portfolio is up 3.2% year 
on year (FY17: unchanged)

The like for like increase in the value of our investment property 
portfolio (including joint ventures) this year has been 0.5% 
(2017: decrease of 1.4%) which reflects a reversionary yield 
of 6.4% (2017: 6.5%). The like for like increase in development 
property is 33.9% (2017: 20.1%). The Total Property Return is 
9.4% (2017: 6.0%).

The investment properties, developments, joint ventures and 
car parks value at the year-end stood at £403.5m (2017: £381.1m).

Results 
Net assets and EPRA net assets at 30 June 2018 were £204.1m, 
representing 384 pence per share (2017: £191.1m, 359 pence per 
share). This represents an increase of 6.8% year on year.

We report a statutory profit for the year of £18.4m (2017: £6.7m) 
which includes the property revaluation surplus of £9.8m this 
year (2017: deficit of £1.1m).

Our EPRA profit before tax of £6.9m (2017: £7.0m) (excluding 
property revaluation and property disposals) is in line with 
expectations following strategic disposals and the effect of 
the redevelopment of our Milngavie, Scotland property. 
CitiPark’s operating profit (before funding costs) was up 3.7%.

Statutory earnings per share (including property revaluation and 
property disposals) were 34.6p (2017: 12.7p). EPRA earnings per 
share were 13.0p (2017: 13.2p).

Dividends 
The Board is recommending a final dividend of 8.50p per share, 
which, with the interim dividend of 3.25p per share gives a total 
of 11.75p (2017: 11.50p). 

The final dividend of 8.50p is entirely a Property Income 
Distribution. The final dividend will be paid on 4 January 2019 
to shareholders on the register on 7 December 2018.

Improving leverage and securing on-going financing 
Over the last year we have extended or renewed all our bank 
debt facilities. Following the bank refinancing we have £108m 
of revolving credit facilities with average maturity of 4.3 years 
including extensions.

Furthermore, in July 2018 we announced the completion of an 
innovative financing agreement with Leeds City Council (‘LCC’) 
in respect of our joint venture investment in Merrion House. 
The joint venture nature of the asset made it a challenge for 
us to leverage the significant value created in this asset. The 
innovative agreement with LCC is similar in nature to a Credit 
Tenant Loan where we effectively borrow against the income 
stream provided by the 25-year lease to the council. As a result, 
TCS received net cash of £26.4m in July 2018. Further details 
can be found in the Finance Section.

Following the extension and renewal of our bank debt facilities 
and including the effect of the Merrion House financing and 
Ducie House purchase, our borrowing headroom stood at over 
£30m at the end of July 2018.

We have delivered considerable 
change in the last year, making 
great progress in our strategy 
of reshaping the portfolio in 
order to ensure on-going strong 
returns. With asset recycling, 
strategic purchases, and the 
continued exploitation of our 
development pipeline we have 
been able to deliver an overall 
portfolio valuation increase of 
3.3%. In addition, like-for-like 
ERV is up 1.6%. I am very proud 
of our unbroken, now 58-year, 
history either maintaining or 
increasing our dividend.

06

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement

Net debt at 30 June 2018 amounted to £192.6m (2017: £188.8m). This comprised £105.9m (net of £0.2m of unamortised arrangement 
fees) of 5.375% First Mortgage Debenture Stock 2031 and £108m of revolving credit facilities, of which we had drawn £87.8m at the year 
end. Finance leases of £4.4m, and net of cash of £5.5m make up the remaining balance. The increase in the level of net debt is principally 
due to capital expenditure on the development schemes. Borrowings represent 47.5% of property values (2017: 49.3%).

This reported loan to value (‘LTV’) is impacted by the fact that the year end balance sheet includes the full value for the Ducie House and 
recognises the sale of Princes Street, although the cash was not transferred until July.

In addition, the new Merrion House financing arrangement which completed in July further improves LTV and leverage. 

Adjusting for all these items, the pro-forma LTV drops to 45.3% (2017: 49.3%) and leverage drops to 81.7% (2017: 96.5%). A more detailed 
analysis can be found in the Finance section.

We are particularly pleased with the re-financing activity undertaken, which has the combined effect of providing longer term borrowing 
security, lowering LTV and leverage, and providing the company with funds for future investment.

Creating Places in Leeds and Manchester 
Leeds and Manchester combined represent 74% of the portfolio by value and remain core to the strategy and growth prospects of the 
business. In the last 12 months significant progress has been made in further strengthening our regional presence:

Leeds: 
The Merrion Centre is the Company’s largest single asset. This is 
now a true mixed-use asset and with the re-development of the 
Merrion House office and the ibis Styles hotel, the dependence 
on traditional “mall” retail income has reduced to less than a 
quarter of the total.

The Company is in the process of developing plans to consider 
building a new office tower above part of the centre, in the 
on-going delivery of its long-term plans for further diversification. 
In the meantime, footfall and rental income continue to be 
strong with underlying LFL rents up 2.0%, increasing to 13.4% 
with the inclusion of Merrion House.

In addition, the Company has:

•	 Completed	the	development	and	occupation	of	Merrion		
  House with our joint venture (‘JV’) partner and tenant Leeds  
  City Council

•	 Created	three	new	ground	floor	units	as	part	of	the	Merrion		
  House development

•	 Exchanged	contracts	to	acquire	The	Cube,	123	Albion		
  Street in Leeds. Completion is expected on 1 October  
  2018. The purchase price of £12m represents an initial yield  
  of over 12.5% on the passing income. With lease expiries in   
  2019 and 2020 the yield will reduce to around 9%, a strong  
  and sustainable return for a city-centre asset. This is not  

included in the year-end portfolio. This acquisition further    
  diversifies the portfolio, and will enable further asset disposals

•	 Agreed	to	enter	into	a	joint	venture	with	Leeds	City	Council		
for construction of an apart-hotel with retail units on George  

  Street, alongside Leeds City Market and Victoria Gate. 
  We expect work to commence in early 2019

•	 Been	developing	plans	to	update	and	improve	the	central		 	
  Leeds Vicar Lane island site, following our acquisition of 

100% ownership of the site in June 2017

Manchester: 
Piccadilly Basin is the Company’s most significant development 
opportunity and will drive future income and capital growth. 
Important progress has been made with this strategic site in the 
last year. This includes:

•	 Construction	of	our	Burlington	House	residential		
  development, is proceeding to time and budget. 
  This scheme, being developed in joint venture with   
  our partner Highgrove Group, will be held for private 

rental sector use, with completion targeted for May 2019

•	 We	are	planning	on	beginning	work	on	the	next	residential			
  development, Eider House, in 2019

•	 The	acquisition	of	Ducie	House	has	now	completed. 
  Ducie House is a 33,000 sq ft office building and effectively  
increases the size of our Piccadilly Basin site. In addition to   

  gross annual income of £675,000, the plot includes a  
  63-space surface car park which provides further  
  development opportunity for the Basin

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

07

	
	
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement

Continuing to reposition the portfolio 
Since June 2017 we have sold another three properties. 
In Edinburgh we have sold 1-23 Shandwick Place for £6.3m in 
line with valuation, and also a retail unit on Princes Street for 
£3.3m significantly ahead of valuation. We also sold a retail 
unit in East Kilbride for £0.5m again well ahead of valuation. 
In the last two years we have sold seven properties raising 
almost £32m in proceeds with all properties selling at or above 
valuation, averaging 6% above book value.

Furthermore, since June 2018, we have continued to be active 
in further improving our portfolio:

•	 We	have	completed	the	purchase	of	Ducie	House,		
  Manchester, as highlighted above, and included in 
  our year end portfolio

We have also either completed or exchanged contracts on a 
further three property acquisitions as follows (none of which 
are included in our year-end portfolio):

•	 We	have	exchanged	contracts	to	acquire	The	Cube, 

123 Albion Street in Leeds, as highlighted above

•	 We	have	completed	the	acquisition	of	a	property	on		
  Chiswick High Road in London for £1.6m. The property  
  comprises a long-standing florist in the ground floor retail 
  unit with two 2-bed apartments above. The net initial yield is  
  4.6% with ERV opportunity to get to above 5%

•	 We	have	completed	the	acquisition	of	a	retail	unit	on	Gordon		
  Street, Glasgow, let to Mountain Warehouse. This unit is  
  adjacent to our Buchanan Street ownership in this extremely  
  popular part of the city. At a purchase price of £2.4m this unit  
  will deliver a 5.25% net initial yield

These purchases fulfil the dual purpose of continuing to build 
and diversify the portfolio, whilst also creating new sources of 
income which will enable future sales of more mature assets 
within our current portfolio without impacting historic income 
levels. We continue to critically review our portfolio with the aim 
of recycling assets where we believe we have maximised our 
return. The cash raised from the Merrion House financing has 
enabled this more proactive portfolio management.

In addition to these purchases, and as highlighted earlier we 
have made good progress with our development pipeline 
with the completion of Merrion House, Leeds, the on-going 
construction of the residential building Burlington House, 
Manchester, and the appointment as joint venture partner with 
Leeds City Council for the George Street, Leeds apart-hotel 
development.

These ongoing changes reflect our continuing strategy to 
reposition and rebalance the portfolio, in particular given the 
challenges being seen in certain parts of the retail environment. 
The changes already delivered have seen the proportion of the 
portfolio represented by retail and leisure reduce from 70% to 
55% in the last two years.

We remain, where appropriate, committed to investing in retail 
property, and the strength, for example, of our retail assets in 
Glasgow and Milngavie, are testament to the capital and income 
returns that can be derived from good quality retail assets. 

Nonetheless the retail environment is challenging and changing 
and therefore we are clear about our strategy in relation to our 
portfolio, specifically by:

•	 Ensuring	we	create	retail	and	leisure	destinations

•	 Broadening	our	portfolio,	increasing	the	proportion	of	leisure,		
  offices and residential

•	 Having	a	predominantly	regional	focus,	but	continuing	our		
  approach of targeted investments in suburban London

Growing our development pipeline 
Over many years we have built up a development pipeline of 
significant quality and value. This pipeline gives the business a 
clear and significant opportunity to grow over time. The quality 
of the pipeline is reflected in the on-going increases in its 
valuation recognised by our valuers, with a 33.9% increase in value 
this past year. 

The current pipeline has an estimated Gross Development 
Value (‘GDV’) on completion of £588m, with the majority of 
the developments already being part of the relevant local 
government approved Strategic Planning Frameworks or 
actually in possession of detailed planning permission.

The key components of the pipeline include:

•	 Piccadilly	Basin,	Manchester.	Mixed	residential,	commercial,		
  and car-parking with a total estimated GDV of over £300m

•	 Whitehall	Road,	Leeds.	Office,	car-parking,	and	potentially		 	
leisure provision with a total estimated GDV of over £150m

•	 Merrion,	Leeds.	Office	and	residential	towers	with	a	total		
  estimated GDV of over £90m

•	 George	Street,	Leeds.	Apart	hotel	with	an	estimated	GDV	of	£10m

Unlocking these opportunities over time will require capital 
and we continue to explore how we might fund these future 
developments.

CitiPark continues to grow revenue and profits 
Our car parking business goes from strength to strength and 
has seen income grow by 5% and profitability grow by 3.7% 
despite increases in business rates. We continue to innovate in 
technology including advances in the year in online booking, 
new car park management systems, and Automatic Number 
Plate Recognition barrier-less and cashless systems. 
EV charging is available in all branches and we continue to 
increase our provision in this area. We are in the process of 
installing a DC Rapid Charger in the Merrion Centre car park 
which can provide a full charge in 20 minutes, the first of its type 
in Leeds City Centre.

Crucially for the wider business, CitiPark represents a powerful 
way to generate income from our property development 
portfolio which would otherwise be sitting idle. Of the £4m 
operating profit (before revaluation) reported c40% was 
generated from the development sites.

We continue to work closely with Yourparkingspace.co.uk, 
the online parking service that matches available spaces with 
drivers. We now own a 15% stake in the business with options 
to extend this, and our close working partnership benefits both 
businesses. We continue to be a strategic partner in the start 
up’s growth and expansion plans.

08

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
	
	
 
	
 
 
Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement

Recruitment and Succession Planning 
Recent years have seen a significant amount of well planned 
and seamlessly executed change around the Board table. 
I have been in discussion with our Property Director Richard 
Lewis for some time regarding his desire to retire. Richard has 
been with the Company for 18 years and joined the Board in 
2001. His contribution has been outstanding, beginning with the 
construction and sale of No1 Whitehall Riverside in Leeds, the 
continued development of Piccadilly Basin in Manchester, and 
most recently, the re-development of Merrion House in Leeds. 
We will miss Richard and wish him a long, happy, and healthy 
retirement.

With Richard’s decision to retire we have been fortunate enough 
to be able to appoint Lynda Shillaw as the new Property Director. 
Lynda joins Town Centre Securities from Manchester Airports 
Group (‘MAG’) where she has served as the Divisional Chief 
Executive Officer, Property since June 2014. Lynda is a member 
of the MAG Executive Committee, responsible for MAG’s £525m 
investment portfolio and 1,000-acre development land bank 
across its 4 UK airports, and also MAG’s interest in the £1bn 
Airport City Joint Venture. Prior to MAG, Lynda has been Director 
of Real Estate at Scottish Widows Investment Partnership, 
Managing Director and Global Head of Corporate Real Estate 
for Lloyds Banking Group, Managing Director of Co-Operative 
Estates, and Director of Property at BT Plc. Lynda holds Non-
Executive Director positions on the board of the Crown Estate 
and VIVID housing association. Lynda joins the Company and 
Board in November 2018.

We are very excited with Lynda’s appointment, and see this as 
another key component of the Company’s future growth plans.

Outlook 
The business has undergone considerable change 
in recent years as part of a strategy to reposition the 
portfolio, ensure a resilient income stream, and to 
unlock growth for the future. In the past two years we 
have reduced our exposure to retail and leisure from 
70% to 55% of the portfolio. We are very pleased with 
the progress made and feel confident about the future.

In those two years we have disposed of over 8% of the 
portfolio, during which time we have managed to hold 
EPRA profitability broadly flat and have increased NAV 
by 8%. Furthermore, we have strengthened the balance 
sheet, improved our banking facilities and lowered 
leverage. Our recent financing activity increased capital 
headroom, however we continue to explore new capital 
raising options in order to facilitate our significant 
development pipeline.

Edward Ziff OBE DL 
Chairman and Chief Executive

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

09

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement 
Creating Places in Leeds

Our properties in Leeds comprise 60% of our overall portfolio. 
As a city Leeds continues to go from strength to strength.

£21.3 billion
per annum
Estimated worth of the
Leeds economy

3 million

Combined population

5,665
jobs created by
overseas investors
in 2017 (+14% versus PY)

3 Major
universities
 (+1 University Technical College)
which welcome over
80,000 students
per annum.

511,000

Working age population (16 - 64)

Best UK city for
quality of life

£64.6 billion

Economic output

+11.5%

growth
of Leeds’ economy 2010 - 2015

4 Million
passengers per year
at Leeds Bradford Airport

120,000

Passengers transiting
through Leeds Station
per day.

(The busiest station in the north
of England and 3rd in the UK)

Major commercial property schemes
totalling £7 billion
are currently under construction and in the development pipeline in Leeds, while
£3.9 billion worth of projects have been completed over the last ten years

Companies with

more than 1,000  employees based in Leeds include...

Source - Leeds City Council

10

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
 
 
Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement 
Creating Places in Leeds

14

1

3

2

4

12

15

11

5

7

16

6

13

9

8

10

1

2

3

4

5

6

First Direct Arena

Merrion House

Merrion Centre

Town Hall

Vicar Lane

Corn Exchange

7

8

9

Trinity Shopping Centre

No. 1 Whitehall Riverside

Premier Inn 

10

CitiPark Whitehall Road Car Park

1313

14

15

16

11

12

Victoria Gate

Victoria Quarter

Leeds Station

The Cube

George Street (forthcoming)

Central Road

TCS Assets

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

11

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Leeds - The Arena Quarter and The Merrion Centre

The Merrion Centre has been transformed over the last 10 
years from a shopping centre to a true mixed-use destination 
property. With over £40m of capital invested by TCS in the last 
five years to ensure that the Centre is reinvented and remains 
relevant, we have seen valuations improve by over £62m, and 
ERV increase by 21% over that timeframe.

Retail Mall income now accounts for less than a quarter of the 
Centre’s income, with key drivers of the shift to a multi-use 
destination being:

•	 Re-development	of	Merrion	House	into	a	state-of-the-art	main		
  office for Leeds City Council, including the creation of three  
  new leisure units currently being marketed

•	 Opening	of	the	ibis	Styles	hotel	with	restaurant

•	 Creation	of	the	Arena	Quarter	leisure	front	to	serve	customers		
  visiting the Leeds First Direct Arena

•	 Extension	and	improvement	of	the	anchor	Morrisons		
  supermarket

•	 Modernisation	and	redesign	of	the	950	space	Merrion	Centre		
  Car Park

The combination of the Leeds Arena and a strong and growing 
student population makes the Merrion Centre an obvious 
destination, particularly in terms of the leisure offer. The popular 
supply of local restaurants including the long-standing 
Japanese institution Fuji Hiro, Bulgogi (the first Korean grill in 
Leeds) and My Thai which recently won “Best Restaurant in 
Leeds” in the British Restaurant Awards, provides a vibrant night 
time economy.

Occupancy levels in the Centre remain high at 97%, and the 
mall’s focus on convenience and discount retailing protects 
us from much of the disruption being seen on the high street. 
The one exception to that has been Poundworld going into 
administration. However, the strength of the unit in the Merrion 
Centre has meant that our store has been one of a small handful 
that have been sold to Iceland, with the lease being assigned 
with no change in terms.

Our ibis Styles hotel has now been open for over a year and 
has traded very strongly, beating expectations both in terms of 
rooms sold and room rate achieved. The restaurant has under-
performed against expectations, and we are in the process of 
re-launching the restaurant creating a more bespoke local offer. 
The success of surrounding independent restaurants gives us 
reassurance that the demand is there, but that our offer to date 
has not been right. Although there will be costs in the coming 
year to relaunch the restaurant we are confident that we will see 
a strong step up in performance.

Footfall continues to be strong and we welcomed 11.7m visitors 
in the year. With the full opening of Merrion House we expect all 
our tenants to benefit from over 2,000 council employees and 
the significant number of members of the public who will be 
visiting their customer hub. 

Overall like for like rent in the Merrion Centre was up 13.4%, albeit 
this includes the increase in Merrion House following the full 
occupation of the office. Excluding this LFL rent was up 2.0%.

By Sector

SQ FT 000
‘000

PASSING RENT
%
£m

ERV
£m

MALL RETAIL 

MORRISONS

LEISURE

HOTEL

OFFICE

CAR PARKING

134 

60

179

80 

283

271 

2.7

1.2

2.2

0.6

3.3

1.6

23

10

19

5

29

14

2.8

1.2

1.8

1.0

3.3

1.8

TOTAL

1,007 

11.6

100

11.9

There remains considerable latent opportunity within the 
Merrion Centre which we believe provides a platform for future 
growth, and we are currently working on plans for the first stage 
of the next 10-year plan. These opportunities include:

•	 Building	a	16-20	storey	office	tower	above	the	currently		
  unused old Merrion Cinema

•	 Redeveloping	the	existing	Wade	House	office,	potentially	in	a		
  manner similar to Merrion House

•	 Building	an	office/residential	tower	on	the 
	 Merrion	Street/Woodhouse	Lane	corner	of	the	Centre

We are at an early stage with these developments but are in the 
process of developing detailed architects plans for the Cinema 
Tower in conjunction with town planners and potential tenants.

12

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

	
	
Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Leeds - The Arena Quarter and The Merrion Centre

7

2

5

6

4

8

3

1

1

2

3

4

First Direct Arena

Town Centre House

CitiPark Merrion Centre & 
Arena Car Park

ibis Styles Leeds City Centre 
Arena Hotel

5

6

7

8

Merrion House

Wade House

Merrion Centre

The Cube (forthcoming)

TCS Assets

Non TCS Assets

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

13

 
Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Leeds - The Arena Quarter and The Merrion Centre

14

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Merrion House

The completion, occupation and refinancing of Merrion House marks a significant moment for the Company, and it is worthy of 
a summary of the journey we have been on:

-  Originally a deteriorating 1970’s office building occupied by Leeds City Council (‘LCC’) and valued at £20m at the beginning 
  of the project, producing £1.4m pa rental income

-  In October 2013 TCS and LCC enter into a joint venture to redevelop the building

-  Plans agreed to update and extend the building adding 50,000 additional square feet to create a 170,000 square feet state 
  of the art principal office for LCC

-  With a sale of a 50% share of the building to LCC and a modest c£5m cash investment by TCS, the input of cash from LCC  
  enabled the work to get underway in March 2016

-  The £33m capital project was delivered on time and on budget with practical completion effected in January 2018

-  During the full period of the build TCS continued to receive £0.7m pa rental income from the council under the terms of the    
  existing lease

-  At completion LCC entered into a new 25-year lease with capped RPI increases, and through the Joint Venture TCS began to    

receive £1.7m pa as its share of rental income from the new lease

-  Following completion and occupation the new building is valued at June 2018 at £69.4m of which half consolidates into TCS

-  In July 2018 TCS completed a refinancing agreement with LCC effectively monetising the base rental streams of the 25 year    

lease, providing TCS with £26.4m of net cash after costs

In addition, as part of the build TCS has also created three leisure units on the ground floor totalling 9,000 sq ft, with an 
ERV of £0.2m. These units are currently being marketed with an expectation that Pizza Express will occupy one of the units.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

15

 
 
 
Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Merrion House

Edward Ziff OBE DL and Councillor Judith Blake CBE officially 
open Merrion House, 10 July 2018

Merrion House pre-development

16

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Leeds Retail

George
Street

We own three properties in the retail centre of Leeds. Consistent 
with the strategy elsewhere in our portfolio wherever possible we look 
to	develop	ground	floor	retail/leisure	units	with	residential	above.

We announced last year the acquisition of the remaining 50% 
of Buckley House on Vicar Lane, with the company now owning 
the entire island site immediately outside the Victoria Gate 
shopping centre and the Leeds City Market. This is a prime site 
and early scoping suggests a significant opportunity for income 
and capital value improvement. Currently this is a multi-tenanted 
property and therefore development is likely to take some time, 
however the longer-term growth opportunity is clear.

Intensive asset management continues to be a key element 
of our strategy, and recent changes highlight the value that 
can be created. For example, in our Central Road property a 
development in the basement has allowed our tenant, The 
Travelling Man, to expand the size of his shop floor, increasing 
rental income for TCS by £24k. Similarly, as previously 
announced we have also developed the basement of our Vicar 
Lane property allowing Michelin starred chef Michael O’Hare 
to re-site and increase in size his “The Man Behind the Curtain” 
restaurant, increasing rental income by £75k.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

17

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Leeds Retail

Sitting close to our existing properties is the site on George Street where we have been selected by Leeds City Council as their joint 
venture partner to undertake an exciting new development. This site is part of the Leeds City Market, and under the terms of the 
agreement we will jointly develop a 126 room Apart-Hotel with 9 units on the ground floor. This property sits alongside the Victoria Gate 
shopping centre and forms the key next step in the regeneration of this historic part of the city. TCS will acquire a 50% stake in the 
building and we expect a yield of c6.5% on our £9m contribution. The application for planning permission is at an advanced stage and 
the legal partnership agreement is being drawn up. We expect work to commence in early 2019.

Current

Proposed

18

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Leeds Commercial

Our latest acquisition, The Cube, 
123 Albion Street, Leeds is a strategic 
addition to our commercial offering in 
the City. Contracts were exchanged in 
August 2018 with completion planned 
for 1 October 2018. The Cube is located 
opposite the Merrion Centre, TCS’s 
largest asset. It is a refurbished and 
extended former 1960’s office building, 
comprising 22,000 sq ft of ground floor 
leisure units with leases to Hard Rock 
Café and Mecca Bingo, together with 
50,000 sq ft of offices over three floors 
let to Capita and the Government. 
It also includes the freehold for 84 
apartments which are leased to 
Persimmon Homes at a peppercorn 
rent. The acquisition is consistent with 
our focus on true mixed-use assets 
and lowering our exposure to retail, 
which has helped ensure we have been 
protected from the worst of the turmoil 
on the high street. 

The purchase price of £12m represents 
an initial yield of over 12.5% on the 
passing income. With lease expiries in 
2019 and 2020 the yield will reduce to 
around 9%, a strong and sustainable 
return for a city-centre asset. This 
acquisition gives the Company 
flexibility to consider further asset 
disposals from the portfolio.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

19

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Leeds Commercial

2

1

4

3

5

6

1

2

3

7 Whitehall Road. Strategic plan for 67k sq ft building

CitiPark MSCP. Planning in place for 500 spaces

3 Whitehall Road. Strategic plan for 93k sq ft Office

4

5

6

2 Whitehall Road. Strategic plan for 167k sq ft Office

TCS Assets

Premier Inn. Completed and kept in 2017

Non TCS Assets

Whitehall Riverside 1. Completed and sold in 2007

Whitehall Riverside and Whitehall Road form the West End 
commercial heart of the city. In 2017 we completed development 
of a new Premier Inn on Whitehall Road. This property with a 
25-year lease, and annual rent of £680k with RPI uplifts is a highly 
sought-after asset. We have seen its valuation increase by 8% in 
the past year to £15.3m reflecting the strength of the asset and its 
covenant.

The hotel sits on the corner of our Whitehall Riverside development 
site, with the remainder currently trading as a successful 460-space 
surface car park. This 4.35 acre site represents a significant 
future growth opportunity for the company. This part of the city, 
close to Leeds railway station, has seen substantial commercial 
development and is now the premier office location and soon to 
be home to the new 378,000 sq ft Government Property Unit hub, 
for some 6,000 civil servants. The supply of space for new office 
developments is now very limited which continues to strengthen 
our development asset. We are in conversation with a number of 
businesses with regards to new office requirements.

Specifically, the development masterplan for our site currently 
includes:

•	 No.2	Whitehall	Riverside	–	180,000	sq	ft	office	scheme	with		
  detailed planning permission

•	 500	space	multi-storey	car	park	–	detailed	planning	permission		
  granted

•	 No.3	WR	–	c90,000	sq	ft	office	building

•	 No.7	WR	–	c70,000	sq	ft	office	building	

20

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Leeds Commercial

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

21

 
 
Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Creating Places in Manchester

Our properties in Manchester comprise 15% of our overall portfolio, although a large proportion of this value is in 
development land, and therefore we expect this percentage to substantially increase over time as we continue to build 
out the developments. 

Manchester is the jewel in the crown of northern cities, with significant growth and development already achieved and 
much more promised. We remain very excited about the role we have to play in the continued future success of the City, 
and with the relationship we have with the City Council.

£8.1 billion
Economic impact
to Greater Manchester 

(1)

15.1%

forecasted population increase
2016-2036  (6)

25,000
Expected bedroom
count by the end of 2018  (1)

£12 billion
Annual expected
income
generated by SME’s by 2020  (2)

28 Million

Approximate number of

Manchester Airport
passengers in 2017  (3)

2.6 million

Manchester population.
Second largest
economic hub after London  (4)

Highest

rental yields in the UK – 7-8%  (4)

Established

as the UK’s second financial capital  (4)

1.38 million

international visitors to
Greater Manchester in 2016  (1)

36% rise

in the number of active small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
since 2010  (2)

324,000
employees working
in Greater Manchester  (7)

10

metropolitan
boroughs

of Greater Manchester
(the largest city region economy
outside London)  (8)

99,000
students across 4 universities  (5)

Source - (1) Marketing Manchester | (2) National Insurance 
and Guarantee Corporation - NIG | (3) Transport for 
Manchester | (4) Alliance Manchester | (5) Invest in 
Manchester | (6) Recruitment Entrepreneur | (7) New 
Economy Manchester | (8) Centre for Cities 2018

Companies with base  in Manchester...

s

22

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Creating Places in Manchester

13

11

3

12

6

Urban Exchange

CitiPark Tariff Street. Multi-storey Car Park

Dakota Deluxe Hotel Development

5

4

10

7

8

9

Jacksons Warehouse

CitiPark Port Street Car Park

AVRO (formerly Brownsfield Mill)

2

1

7

8

9

CitiPark Dale Street Car Park

10

Burlington House Development Site

Carvers Warehouse

Ducie House

TCS Assets

11

12

13

BDP Office

Planned location of Eider House

Piccadilly Station

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

23

1

2

3

4

5

6

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Introducing Piccadilly Basin

Our Piccadilly Basin site is c13 acres in size and comprises retail, office, residential and car parking. 

Being a stone’s throw from Manchester’s main Piccadilly train station which will be the terminus for HS2, Piccadilly Basin is a very 
central and historic part of the city. The excellent transport links into Piccadilly and the popularity of the creative Northern Quarter 
neighbourhood make this a highly sought-after location and a valuable source of future growth for the business.

Piccadilly Basin is the Company’s largest development asset, with potential to create significant value. At this time, it comprises:

24

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Introducing Piccadilly Basin

Retail 
Urban Exchange is a 160,000 sq ft 3 storey 
building developed in 2006. It is let to Aldi, 
Marks & Spencer, Go Outdoors, and Pure 
Gym with 190 car parking spaces and 
generates an annual rental income of £1.1m pa.

Offices 
Carvers Warehouse is a multi-let 22,000 
sq ft listed office which we converted 
in 2007, and over 4 floors is home to 
architects, engineers and planners. We 
continue to see high demand for this type 
of space in the Basin, which has driven 
rental growth.

In addition, we recently announced the 
acquisition of Ducie House, further 
extending our ownership in Piccadilly 
Basin. Ducie House is a 33,000 sq ft 
contemporary conversion providing 
highly flexible work space solutions for 
businesses of varying size. Previously a 
petticoat factory, it now provides 64 office 
and studio spaces ranging in size from 82 
to 3,900 sq ft. These spaces have been 
occupied by iconic Manchester bands 
such as 808 State and Simply Red, as well 
as ANS, UK Fast, Ask Developments and 
Ear to the Ground. There are approximately 
50 tenants based in the building at present, 
with a number of unique units available 
to let with the majority of units let on an 
all-inclusive flexible lease basis producing 
a gross annual income of £675,000.

The building also has a 63-space surface 
car park which has future development 
potential.

Car Parking 
The car parking facility in the Basin 
provides c625 spaces, of which 232 are 
provided by a dedicated multi-storey 
car park. The remaining spaces are on 
development land, where the car parking 
business provides valuable income ahead 
of developing out the sites. Operating 
profit from these car parking operations 
total £1.1m pa.

As detailed below the future development 
plans for the Basin include a 500 space 
multi-storey car park to supplement the 
existing Tariff Street multi-storey and 
replace those lost to redevelopment.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

25

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Introducing Piccadilly Basin

Current build stage of Burlington House, September 2018

CGI of proposed Burlington House

26

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Introducing Piccadilly Basin

Residential 
Piccadilly Basin represents a unique residential development opportunity for the company and we are pleased to be making good 
progress with the first such development, Burlington House.

On completion in May 2019 Burlington House will be an iconic 91 apartment building which TCS will hold and manage in joint venture 
as	a	Private	Rental	Sector	investment	asset.	We	are	in	50/50	joint	venture	with	Highgrove	Group,	with	the	construction	of	the	building	
being undertaken on a fixed price basis. Construction is on time and budget. TCS has invested £4.9m into the joint venture, alongside 
Highgrove Group with a total of £13m in development funding provided by the Greater Manchester Housing Fund. On completion we 
anticipate net rental income to be c£1.2m pa in total for the joint venture.

This iconic building will help further create appeal and demand for the Basin.

In addition, we announced last year the sale of Brownsfield Mill, the former AVRO aircraft factory, to urban regeneration specialist Urban 
Splash. TCS received an initial £1m in consideration for the sale, plus 12.5% of the gross sales proceeds from the 31 apartments to be 
created and sold. Progress on the conversion by Urban Splash is going well, with almost half already under offer. In our accounts for the 
year we have recognised £1.5m of proceeds, £1.0m from the initial sale to Urban Splash, and £0.5m based on unit sales agreed at the 
time of our year-end. In total we expect to receive in excess of £1.5m on top of the initial £1m received once all the apartments are sold.

AVRO, formerly Brownsfield Mill

AVRO, formerly Brownsfield Mill

Jacksons Warehouse

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

27

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Future Plans for Piccadilly Basin

6

28

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Future Plans for Piccadilly Basin

1

2

3

4

5

7

It is pleasing to have made good progress in 
Piccadilly Basin in the last year, and we look 
forward to moving onto the next residential 
scheme, once Burlington House (4) is near to 
completion. The next phase of development in 
Piccadilly Basin will be:

5. Eider House – a 128 unit residential unit, with 
an estimated Gross Development Value (‘GDV’) 
of £40m. Detailed planning consent is already 
in place

In addition, an agreed Strategic Framework is in 
place for:

1. Residential Tower A – estimated 255 
apartments, with an estimated GDV of £82m

2. Residential Tower B – estimated 173 
apartments, with an estimated GDV of £56m

3. Residential Block D – estimated 82 
apartments, with an estimated GDV of £28m

6. Commercial Block – 177,000 sq ft of mixed 
use commercial space, with an estimated GDV 
of £76m

6. Multi-Storey Car Park – 524 space car park, 
with an estimated GDV of £12m

7. Ducie House – scheme on the car park. 
Plans currently being developed, but not part 
of Strategic Framework

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

29

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Creating Places in Scotland

The Company has a long and proud history in Scotland, and we continue to be firmly committed to investment in the country. 
Our investment has focused on Edinburgh and Glasgow and their surrounding communities. However, in recent years we have 
undertaken a considerable amount of asset recycling in Scotland. We have long applied the strategy that when we believe we have 
maximised the return and growth we can deliver from an asset then the time is right to dispose and reinvest where we see more 
opportunity for us to add value.

In the last two years to the year-end we have disposed of six properties in Scotland for a total consideration of £28m, all above valuation 
and with an average sales yield of 5.9%. Since the year-end we have also sold a further small retail unit on Shandwick place, Edinburgh 
for £0.8m in line with valuation.

Waitrose, Milngavie

Gordon Street, Glasgow

Gordon	Street,	Glasgow	–	retail	unit	let	to	Mountain	Warehouse,		
purchased following the year-end and not included in the balance 
sheet valuation

30

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Creating Places in Scotland

In addition to the asset recycling activity, we are in the process of sub-dividing and improving our retail asset on Main Street in Milngavie, 
an upmarket commuter town outside of Glasgow. This asset was previously let to Homebase who gave notice last year to exit following 
an on-going strategic review of their business. Whilst this has put pressure on income in the year, it has given us the opportunity to 
improve the site for the long term. We are in the process of sub-dividing the main building into two units and have agreed terms with 
both Aldi and Home Bargains to occupy these units, with total income ahead of the Homebase rent. In addition, the site gives us the 
potential to create a third retail unit which we will develop once the main two units are completed and occupied. On completion of this 
first phase we expect valuation to rise significantly above its current and previous levels.

As an indication of our continued commitment to investing in Scotland we have completed the purchase of an additional retail unit on 
Gordon Street in Glasgow. This unit forms part of a block on the corner of Gordon Street and the popular Buchanan Street where we 
already own 3 retail units. At a purchase price of £2.4m this new unit, let to Mountain Warehouse will deliver a 5.25% net initial yield.

Byers	Road,	Glasgow	–	retail	unit	let	to	Waitrose

Buchanan	Street,	Glasgow	–	retail	unit	let	to	Dune

Buchanan	Street	/	Gordon	Street,	Glasgow	–	two	retail	units	let	to		
Timpsons and an independent newsagent

Bath	Street,	Glasgow	–	ground	floor	retail	unit	let	to	a	wedding		
dress retailer, with 20 residential units above

Main	Street,	Milngavie,	Glasgow	–	single	retail	unit	previously	let	to	
Homebase now being converted

Shandwick	Place,	Edinburgh	–	three	retail	units	let	to	Amplifon,	
Morrisons and a local restaurant

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

31

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Creating Places in Suburban London

Whilst TCS is, and will remain, a primarily regional property investor, we have in recent years built up and small and valuable suburban 
London portfolio. At the year end and including Car Parks this represented 8% of the portfolio at a value of £32.2m.

Car Parks

Ilford	–	a	640	space	long	lease	carpark.

Rickmansworth	–	a	140	space	freehold	car	park	next	to	
Rickmansworth train station.

In addition, we have the following occupational leasehold car 
parks in London and surrounding areas with leases between 
21 and 32 years:

Watford	–	three	car	parks	totalling	1688	spaces,	where	CitiPark	
has leases to run the Council Car Parks.

Clipstone Street	–	a	200	space	car	park	in	Central	London.

Bell Street	–	a	200	space	car	park	in	Central	London.

Offices

6 Duke Street, Marylebone	–	a	converted	London	townhouse	
purchased in 2014, and consisting of our London Office, a 
ground floor retail unit and upper floor offices for an upmarket 
watch retailer.

Retail & Residential

9-13 Cheapside, Wood Green	–	comprising	four	ground	floor	
retail units, and twelve upper floor residential let apartments.

106A Kilburn High Road	–	comprising	ground	floor	retail,	and	
three upper floor residential let apartments. 

448 Holloway Road	–	a	retail	unit	let,	with	opportunity	to	
create two upper floor apartments. 

Duke Street, London

Chiswick High Street	–	a	ground	floor	retail	unit	and	two	
upper floor residential let apartments. Purchased for £1.6m 
in July 2018 (not included in the year end portfolio).

Our strategy in London is simple and complementary to 
the Company as a whole. We will look to invest in specific 
investment opportunities in London as follows:

•	
In	suburban	London	communities	where	values	and	tenant		
  demand have long proven to be resilient. Most likely to be    
  ground floor retail units with residential upper floors

•	 Where	we	see	high	return	car	parking	opportunities	that		
  build on the existing CitiPark portfolio. We will seek  

freeholds if we also see a potential future  

  development opportunity

•	 As	a	moderate	value	and	income	hedge	to	any	potential		
  weakness in our core regional markets

CitiPark Rickmansworth Car Park

32

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

	
 
 
 
 
	
Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Creating Places in Suburban London

Chiswick High Street

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

33

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
In control of our future - our Development Plan

As described earlier in this report, we have the benefit of 
owning a very significant development pipeline, with all of 
the opportunity within our ownership, and much of it already 
benefiting from either strategic or detailed planning approval.

As the pipeline is significant, so is the capital required to develop 
it out, and as such this forms part of a longer-term strategic 
plan that will, in some form, require new capital. The Company 
continues to explore options in relation to capital raising. 

The table below identifies the development pipeline as it 
currently stands with an estimated gross development value 
(‘GDV’), and an estimated income level assuming a blanket 5% 
yield. Clearly this is illustrative, but importantly highlights the 
material scale of the opportunity with a total GDV of £588m.

DEVELOPMENT TYPE

STATUS

ESTIMATED GDV

INCOME

BURLINGTON HOUSE (JV AT 50%)

RESIDENTIAL

UNDERWAY

GEORGE STREET (JV AT 50%)

LEISURE

DETAILED PLANNING

EIDER HOUSE

LEEDS CAR PARK

MERRION CINEMA TOWER

WHITEHALL ROAD No.2

RESIDENTIAL

DETAILED PLANNING

CAR PARK

OFFICES

OFFICES

DETAILED PLANNING

DETAILED SCOPING

DETAILED PLANNING

LEEDS VICAR LANE

RETAIL & LEISURE

HIGH LEVEL SCOPING

WHITEHALL ROAD No.3

OFFICES

STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK

WHITEHALL ROAD No.7

OFFICES/LEISURE

STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK

MANCHESTER RESIDENTIAL TOWER A

RESIDENTIAL

STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK

MANCHESTER RESIDENTIAL TOWER B

RESIDENTIAL

STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK

MANCHESTER RESIDENTIAL D

RESIDENTIAL

STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK

DUCIE HOUSE

RESIDENTIAL

UNSCOPED

MANCHESTER COMMERCIAL

MANCHESTER CAR PARK

MIXED USE

CAR PARK

STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK

STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK

RICKMANSWORTH

RESIDENTIAL

UNSCOPED

MERRION CORNER TOWER

RESIDENTIAL/MIXED USE

UNSCOPED

£13m

£10m

£40m

£12m

£42m

£71m

£9m

£40m

£28m

£82m

£55m

£28m

£15m

£76m

£12m

£5m

£50m

£588m

£0.6m

£0.5m

£2.0m

£0.6m

£2.1m

£3.5m

£0.4m

£2.0m

£1.4m

£4.1m

£2.7m

£1.4m

£0.8m

£3.8m

£0.6m

£0.2m

£2.5m

£29.2m

Eider House Development, Manchester Piccadilly Basin

34

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Detailed Portfolio Performance

The overall market 
has been resilient, 
with sentiments 
of a peak having 
been reached 
proving premature. 
That said, there 
is considerable 
variation by sector 
and by region in 
the market place. 
Our continued 
approach of capital 
recycling, combined 

Richard Lewis 
Property Director

with intensive asset management has meant that we have 
seen a 3.2% LFL increase in the value of the portfolio (2017: 
unchanged).

Overall the portfolio has increased in value by 3.3% year on 
year, with the effect of the acquisition of Ducie House for 
£9.5m including costs, broadly being offset by the sale of three 
properties in Scotland in the year. 

Looking at the component parts of the portfolio our investment 
properties have increased in value by 0.5% LFL (2017: 1.4% 
decrease), car parks have increased in value by 4.3% LFL (2017: 
6.3%), and our development assets have increased in value by 
33.9% LFL (2017: 20.1%).

Our investment properties are delivering an initial yield of 5.7% 
(2017: 5.6%) and we continue to demonstrate a good level of 
reversionary potential in the portfolio.

As shown in the below table TCS has also seen the variations 
in performance by sector, and it has been of no surprise to us 
to find that retail properties, particularly ‘high street’ and ‘out of 
town’ have come under yield pressure. Within the investment 
property portfolio our investments seeing the biggest falls in 
valuation are our retail park in Rochdale, and some of our central 
Leeds retail units.

Conversely the most material increases in value have been seen 
in our Hotels, our prime real estate in Glasgow, and where we 
have added value through development (Merrion House, Leeds 
and also our two Leeds hotels which were both developed last year).

Our development portfolio has seen another large increase 
in valuation. Both our holding in Piccadilly Basin, Manchester 
and Whitehall Road, Leeds have seen strong improvements. 
These rises in value are directly driven by our improving the 
quality of the development rather than a market led increase. 
In Manchester, values have been driven by starting the build 
of Burlington House, alongside achieving detailed planning 
permission for Eider House residential scheme, and further 
clarifying the Strategic Framework surrounding the Basin. In 
Leeds achieving detailed planning permission for a 180,000 sq ft 
office building and a 500 space multi-storey car park has had 
the same effect.

We have always been very proud of our industry leading 
occupancy levels, historically delivering 98-99% occupancy. 
In the year just completed we are reporting a drop in occupancy 
levels to 95% (2017: 99%). On first sight, whilst still high, this 
would seem disappointing given our history. However, there 
are two key drivers of this reduction. This first being the exit 
from our Milngavie property of Homebase at the end of 
2017. As described earlier in this report we are taking this as 
an opportunity to subdivide the unit with the intention of 
increasing income and value. We have secured pre-lets to both 
Aldi and Home Bargains and anticipate these units trading 
again by Q2 2019. Secondly the occupancy percentage 
includes the effect of three empty leisure units that we have 
created as part of the Merrion House development. We are in 
detailed discussions with tenants for this new space including 
being in the final stages of agreeing a lease with Pizza Express 
for one of these units.

Portfolio Analysis

RETAIL & LEISURE

MERRION CENTRE (EX OFFICES)

OFFICES

HOTELS

OUT OF TOWN RETAIL

DISTRIBUTION

RESIDENTIAL

DEVELOPMENT PROPERTY

OTHER CAR PARKS

LET PORTFOLIO

PASSING
RENT

ERV
£m

VALUE
£m

% OF
PORTFOLIO

VALUATION
+/-%

INITIAL
YIELD

REVERSIONARY
YIELD

3.6

7.4

3.9

1.2

2.9

0.4

0.6

20.0

2.0

1.4

23.4

4.1

7.9

4.3

1.6

3.6

0.4

0.6

22.6

2.0

1.4

26.0

67.6

97.7

70.1

27.2

52.1

5.8

10.9

331.3

36.7

26.0

17%

25%

18%

7%

13%

1%

3%

84%

9%

7%

394.0

100%

-3.9%

-0.8%

7.3%

10.5%

-3.8%

2.8%

1.5%

0.5%

33.9%

4.3%

3.3%

5.1%

7.1%

5.3%

4.1%

5.3%

6.4%

5.2%

5.7%

5.8%

7.6%

5.8%

5.7%

6.6%

6.3%

5.4%

6.4%

Note: The above table includes Merrion House within Offices and therefore differs to the table in Note 12 of the Accounts

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

35

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Detailed Portfolio Performance

TOP TEN TENANTS

£1m+

LEEDS CITY COUNCIL
MORRISONS
WAITROSE

£500k-£1m

PREMIER INN
PURE GYM
MATALAN 

£250k-£500k

STEP CHANGE 
DUNE
GO OUTDOORS
ALDI

We have a diverse and low risk portfolio. Our top 
ten tenants constitute 42% of our Gross Property 
Income.

Whilst we have not been immune to the turbulence 
in retail we believe that the quality of our portfolio 
and our low dependency on single tenants have 
given us a level of protection. Impacts in the last 
year are:

•	 Homebase	strategic	review	–	impact	on	income			

in the year, but has unlocked opportunity  
for income and capital growth at Milngavie

•	 Poundworld	administration	–	quality	of	Merrion		 	
  Centre store has meant that the lease will  
  be assigned to Iceland with no change to terms

•	 Mothercare	CVA	–	revised	terms	proposed	a		
  c30% reduction in rent, however we are instead   

re-letting and have offers at the original  
rental levels from retailers with good covenants

Portfolio Analysis

By Location: 
Total Value: £394m

60% LEEDS

15% MANCHESTER

13% SCOTLAND

8% LONDON

4% OTHER

By Sector: 
Total Value: £394m

55% RETAIL/LEISURE

7% HOTELS

18% OFFICE

7% CAR PARKING

1% DISTRIBUTION

3% RESIDENTIAL

9% DEVELOPMENT

By Lease Expiries: 
TPR: £20m

48% 0-5 YEARS

22% 5-10 YEARS

30% 10+ YEARS

Bath Street, Scotland

36

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Financial Review

TCS aims to deliver strong and reliable returns consistently and for the long-term. As such a 
conservative approach to portfolio management and associated financing is key. In the past 
year the Company has disposed of mature assets, continued to invest in the development 
programme for long term growth, strengthened the balance sheet with new bank facilities, 
and in July 2018 completed on an innovative financing arrangement with Leeds City Council. 
During the period TCS has delivered this on-going change programme whilst holding EPRA 
profit almost flat and increasing Accounting Profit before Revaluation from £6.1m in FY17 to 
£8.6m in FY18.

Mark Dilley  
Group Finance Director

As the below summary table demonstrates TCS has made solid progress financially in the last 
12 months:

GROSS REVENUE £m

EPRA PROFIT £m

STATUTORY PROFIT BEFORE REVALUATION £m

STATUTORY PROFIT AFTER REVALUATION £m

NAV PER SHARE

TOTAL PROPERTY RETURN

TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN

LOAN TO VALUE

GEARING

2014

22.6

7.6

7.6

27.4

308

14.1%

49.3%

49.6%

96.1%

2015

22.7

6.5

4.0

24.0

344

12.2%

19.1%

49.7%

95.5%

2016

26.3

6.6

7.7

11.9

357

7.8%

-3.9%

49.2%

95.0%

2017

27.5

7.0

7.3

6.7

359

6.0%

9.6%

49.3%

96.5%

2018

30.2

6.9

8.6

18.4

384

9.6%

3.2%

47.5%

92.1%

Note: LTV and Gearing for 2018 quoted before Merrion House Financing. Post this financing LTV improves to 45.3% and Gearing to 81.7%.

Income Statement 
EPRA profit for the year ended 30 June 2018 was £6.9m, down 
slightly on the prior year profit of £7.0m. As the table below 
demonstrates this decrease was all driven by the Property part 
of the business as a result of the timing of strategic disposals in 
the year, and the exit in Scotland of Homebase midway through 
the year. Profit in the Car Parking business was up year on year 
by 3.7%.

£000’s

2018

2017

GROSS REVENUE

30,178

27,540

YOY

9.6%

PROPERTY EXPENSES

(10,896)

(8,148)

33.7%

NET REVENUE

19,282

19,392

(0.6%)

OTHER INCOME / JV PROFIT

2,084

1,578

32.1%

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

(6,574)

(6,295)

OPERATING PROFIT

14,792

14,675

FINANCE COSTS

(7,887)

(7,639)

4.4%

0.8%

3.2%

EPRA PROFIT

6,905

7,036

(1.9%)

SEGMENTAL £000’S

2018

2017

YOY

PROPERTY

NET REVENUE

13,850

14,675

OPERATING PROFIT

10,307

10,788

CitiPark

NET REVENUE

OPERATING PROFIT

IBIS STYLES HOTEL

NET REVENUE

OPERATING PROFIT

4,979

4,032

453

453

4,717

3,887

-

-

(5.6%)

(4.5%)

5.6%

3.7%

N/A

N/A

Gross Revenue 
Gross revenue was up 9.6% year on year, with key drivers being:

-  Ibis Styles hotel income for the first full year of £2.8m.  
  Excluding this gross revenue was down 0.5% year on year

-  Organic growth of 5.0% in CitiPark

-  Property revenues were down 4.1% due to the timing effect  
  of properties being sold, and the exit in Milngavie of  
  Homebase half way through the year

Property Expense 
At a total company level property expenses were up 33.7% 
year on year. This is driven by the fact that this now includes 
the running costs of the ibis Styles hotel for the first full year. 
Excluding this Property Expenses were up 5.3%. Key drivers 
of this underlying increase are:

-	 Property	–	empty	property	business	rates	for	six	months 
in the old Homebase unit account for a 1.3% increase

-	 CitiPark	–	further	increases	in	business	rates	account	for 
  a 2.0% increase

Other / JV Income 
Total	Other/	JV	income	was	up	32%	year	on	year.	This	is	
explained by two key items:

-  Income from joint ventures was up £0.3m year on year  
  driven by the increased income from Merrion House  
following completion in January and the start of the  

  new lease with Leeds City Council

-  We received £0.3m of income from Homebase as a result 
  of dilapidations charges following their vacating our property  

in Milngavie

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

37

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Financial Review

Merrion House, Leeds

Administrative Expenses 
These costs were up 4.4% year on year. The primary driver of this increase is as a result of higher levels of consulting and professional fees 
incurred in the year. The activities driving this spend include:

-  Corporate Finance advice and Tax advice which ultimately led to the Merrion House financing transaction

-  One off IT infrastructure and security audit

-  Legal costs associated with moving charged properties to different bank facilities in order to maximise borrowing headroom

-  Engaging Link Company Matters as Company Secretary

-  Engaging Edison and RMS to assist with equity research and investor relations respectively

Finance Costs 
Finance costs were 3.2% or £0.25m higher year on year. Underlying interest costs are actually broadly flat year on year with the increase 
in costs being driven by £0.4m of interest capitalised last year.

Balance Sheet 
Our total non-current assets (including JVs) of £407.2m (2017: £385.1m) include £376.1m of investment properties (2017: £354.6m) and 
£29.6m of non-current car parking assets (2017: £28.5m). The Merrion Centre car park is included in the investment property asset. The 
car parking assets include £4m (2017: £4m) of leasehold car parks which are accounted for under IFRS as goodwill. There are two such 
car parks with operating leases of 21 and 31 years.

We have continued to invest in our properties with a total of £6.5m of capital expenditure this year (majority being on Merrion House 
through the joint venture). We also invested £3.9m into our Burlington House Joint Venture. Capital recycling comprised £10.1m of sales 
and £10.6m of purchases. Along with other cash movements this resulted in an increase in borrowings from £188.8m to £192.6m.

The property and car parking balances reflect valuation gains of £5.9m in respect of the investment and development properties, gains 
of £2.6m in respect of joint ventures and gains of £1.0m in respect of car parks (which includes a loss of £0.4m which is shown in the 
Statement of Changes in Equity as other comprehensive income).

38

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Financial Review

Borrowings 
We have undertaken a significant amount of refinancing activity in 
the past year which consisted of:

Lloyds: This £35m facility was due to end on 31 December 2018, 
with the option to extend for a further year. Instead a new three-
year facility with two one-year extension options has been put in 
place as at the end of June 2018. Margins have remained consistent 
with the previous facility, with an updating and improving of 
contract terms.

Handelsbanken: This three-year £35m facility was due to end on 
30 November 2018. Effective from the end of June 2018 this facility 
has been renewed for a five-year term with a small (20bps) increase 
in margin. Terms have been updated and improved including 
adding the ability to charge car parks and development assets.

RBS: This facility was due to end on 29 April 2020, however the 
Company has exercised an option to extend this by a further 
year to 2021 at the same price. In addition, the facility has been 
amended to allow the charging of car park and development 
assets.

The Company has certainty over its debt position for the next 
three to five years, along with improved and more flexible terms. 
Alongside the 2031 £106m debenture which expires in November 
2031, the company is securely financed, and remains committed 
to lowering debt levels over time. On a weighted average basis 
our debt maturity at the end of June was 8.6 years compared 
to 8.2 years last year.

In addition, we announced in July 2018 an innovative financing 
arrangement with Leeds City Council in relation to Merrion House. 
As described earlier in this report a significant amount of value 
was created by the redevelopment of this building, however as 
the building sits in a Joint Venture raising traditional bank financing 
against the asset was unconventional. Instead a facility, similar to a 
Credit Tenant Loan, has been finalised.

As a result, Merrion House LLP (‘MH LLP’), the joint venture vehicle 
reached agreement for LCC to advance all base rent due from 
1 October 2018 until the lease end on 11 February 2043, discounted 
at an annual equivalent rate of 3.5% plus costs.

Following this, TCS received £26.4 million in cash. This is net of 
estimated costs. From an accounting perspective this transaction 
will be treated as a financing arrangement within MH LLP. On that 
basis MH LLP will continue to recognise quarterly rent (£0.8 million 
per quarter) offset by an interest charge calculated on an effective 
interest rate basis. TCS 50% share of the accounting net income 
will continue to be recognised in its income statement. 

The balance sheet of the LLP will reflect the full market value of 
the building, less the deferred income balance, which will reduce 
quarterly to zero at the lease end. Half of the net asset value of the 
entity is then consolidated into TCS.

The lease allows for capped RPI increases every five years. 
These will continue to apply and will flow as normal rental 
payments through MH LLP.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

39

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Financial Review

Going concern and headroom 
One of the most critical judgements for the Board is the headroom in the Group’s bank facilities. This is calculated as the maximum 
amount that could be borrowed taking into account the properties secured to the funders and the facilities in place. The total headroom 
at the end of June 2018 was £10.6m (2017: £12.2m) Following the Merrion House financing deal and receipt of the cash, and the 
completion of the Ducie House purchase, headroom at the end of July 2018 stood at over £30m and is considered to be sufficient 
to support our going concern conclusion.

Total shareholder return and total property return 
Total shareholder return of 3.2% (2017: 9.6%) is calculated as the total of dividends paid during the financial year of 11.50p (2017: 11.15p) 
and the movement in the share price between 30 June 2017 (290p) and 30 June 2018 (288p), and assumed dividends are reinvested. 
This compares with the FTSE All Share REIT index at 9.8% (2017: 9.2%) for the same period.

Although behind the market in the last 12 months TCS has strong outperformance in Total Shareholder Return on both a 5-year and 
10-year basis.

Total shareholder returns % (CAGR)

Total property returns

TCS

FTSE All Share REIT Index

14.1

9.8

10.2

9.1

TCS

MSCI Quarterly Index

3.2

4.9

4.5

4.1

11.2

9.8

9.4

9.3

7.8

5.5

1.3

-1.1

6.3

2.0

1 YEAR

5 YEARS

10 YEARS

RETAIL

RETAIL
WAREHOUSE

SHOPPING
CENTRES

REST OF 
ENGLAND 
OFFICES

STANDARD
RETAIL

ALL
PROPERTY

12 months ending June 2018

Total	Property	Return	is	calculated	as	the	net	operating	profit	and	gains	/	losses	from	property	sales	and	valuations	as	a	percentage 
of the opening investment properties.

Total	Property	Return	for	the	business	for	the	reported	12	months	is	9.4%	(2016:	6.0%).	This	compared	to	the	MSCI/IPD	market	return 
of 9.3% (2016: 5.5%).

Risk 
The Directors have carried out a robust assessment of the principal risks facing the Group, including those that would threaten the 
business model, future performance, solvency and liquidity. The risk review is detailed in the Corporate Governance section of this 
report.

Mark Dilley 
Group Finance Director

40

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Key Performance Indicators

2017

2018

01

DELIVERING RETURNS 
TO SHAREHOLDERS

•
•
•
•

NAV per share 359p up 0.6%

TSR over 3 years 7.9% (market 6.1%)

Dividends	11.50p	–	57	years	unbroken	record

Dividend cover 1.2 times

•
•
•
•

NAV per share 384p up 6.9%

TSR over 3 years 2.8% (market 3.2%)

Dividends	11	.75p	–	58	years	unbroken	record

Dividend cover 1.1 times

02

CREATING VALUE 
THROUGH DEVELOPMENT

• 

Two hotel schemes completed on time and to 
budget

• 

Merrion House progressing to completion in January 
2018 on budget

•

Development schemes are expected to deliver £1.8m 
pa extra profit and £10.5m of additional net assets

Passing rent of portfolio at £22.3m and £25.8m of ERV

LFL Rent increased 2.3%

• 

Merrion House office completed and fully 
occupied on a 25-year lease by Leeds City 
Council

• 

Burlington House residential scheme under 
construction with completion expected in 
May 2019

•

New George Street, Leeds venture agreed 
with Leeds City Council

• 

Passing Rent of portfolio at £23.4m with ERV 
of £26.0m increasing YOY

• 

LFL Rent increased 4.1%

04

CAPITAL RECYCLING

• 

Sales of ex growth properties £19.5m exit yield 7% 
ahead of previous valuation

•

£23m re-invested in development schemes

• 

Sales of ex growth properties £10.1m all at or 
above valuation

•

Purchases £10.6m, including Ducie House in 
Manchester for £9m

•
• 

•
• 

•
• 

03

CREATING VALUE 
THROUGH ASSET 
MANAGEMENT

05

CAR PARKING

06

CONSERVATIVE 
FINANCING

Refurbishment and upgrade spend £4m

Profits from refurbished sites £0.5m effective yield 
on cost 12.5%

Growth in net revenue 10.3%

Engine Room fully operational handling 5,700 calls 
per month

•
•
•
•
•

Interest cover 1.9 times

56% of debt long term (14 yrs) fixed interest

Headroom £26m

Loan to value 49%

Average interest cost 3.9%

• 

Income up 5% YOY with Profit increased 3.7% 
YOY

• 

Technology improvements helping drive 
organic growth

• 

YPS investment increased to 15% share with 
opportunity to increase further

•
•
• 

Interest cover 1.9 times

55% of debt long term (13 yrs) fixed interest

Headroom £44.2m after Merrion House 
financing

• 

Loan to value 45% post Merrion House 
financing

•

Average interest cost 3.9%

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

41

 
 
 
 
Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
CitiPark

It has been a year of good organic 
growth for CitiPark with revenues up 
5.0% and profits up 3.7%. Furthermore, 
we have made significant progress 
with technological and electric 
charging developments which both 
improve efficiency and enhance the 
customer experience. 

Ben Ziff 
Managing Director, CitiPark

42

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
CitiPark

Financial 
We are pleased with our ability to continue to increase profitability 
within the CitiPark business. Despite a reduction in spaces at Ducie 
St, Manchester to allow for property development, significantly 
increased business rates, National Minimum Wage increases, and 
increased repairs and maintenance costs across the branches - we 
continue to deliver strong revenue and profit growth for CitiPark.

We have seen strong organic revenue growth in a number of 
branches in the year, with key drivers being:

-  The completion of Merrion House improving customer  
  utilisation at our Merrion Centre branch

-  The introduction of the CitiPark online pre-booking platform, in  
  which we developed our own software code to operate this to  
  best maximise revenues

-  Increased and improved marketing, online and social  
  campaigns to drive further awareness and customer  

interaction with CitiPark branches 

-  Continued third party development and investment in the 
  Whitehall Road riverside area driving further growth and  
  profitability at our 7 Whitehall Road branch

In addition, we continue to look for ways to supplement income 
in order to improve profitability. For example, we have in place a 
new agreement with a storage company at Clipstone St, London, 
utilising space not required for parking. 

We have worked closely with YourParkingSpace.co.uk (‘YPS’), 
where TCS now holds a 15% equity share, with the opportunity to 
increase this. This partnership has allowed us to improve revenue 
generation and branch occupancy through the YPS consolidation 
platform. We continue to work with YPS as they develop plans for 
their next phase of growth and expansion, and we remain very 
excited about this opportunity.

Technology 
We believe that technology can, and will be the key to continually 
improving the car parking customer experience, whilst at the same 
time improving operational efficiencies. We have demonstrated 
this in the past with our introduction of our Engine Room control 
centre. Electric vehicle charging is becoming more mainstream 
by the day, and is certainly here to stay. We believe that CitiPark 
can play an important role in serving the growing demands for 
electric vehicle charging. The below summarises some of the key 
improvements made in the last year:

-  Continued investment in improving our car park management  
	 systems	–	newly	installed	at	Leeds	Dock

-  Developed one of the first Skidata ANPR barrierless and cashless  
  solution in the UK for our Rickmansworth branch

-  Anytime pre-booking platform went live in December 2017 for  
  Merrion and the rest of the portfolio in March 2018 

-	 YPS	integration	now	live	with	our	pre-booking	platform	–		
  significantly reducing the workload in the Engine Room and    
  provides a seamless customer journey to YPS customers

-	 QR/Digital	Season	tickets	development	now	underway	–		

removal of all plastic season tickets with a significant cost saving  
to the business

-  EV charging infrastructure now available throughout  
	 CitiPark	portfolio	–	recent	installations	include	Whitehall	Road,		
  Rickmansworth and Church, Watford

-	 Live	occupancy	data	throughout	the	portfolio	–	the	online		
  platform developed in house

-  Investment in Leeds City Centre’s first EV Rapid Charger at  
  Merrion Centre

-  Investment in voltage optimisation hardware at Merrion Centre

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

43

 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
 
 
 
	
 
Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
CitiPark

Customer Service 
Clearly providing great customer service is an important point of 
difference for CitiPark and we continually look for opportunities to 
further improve our service:

- 
Investment in Zendesk and Zenchat for use in the Engine Room -  
  we actively track customer interaction and satisfaction with our  
  customer service staff. Allows us to set KPIs and regularly review  

the quality of our work

Going Green 
-  Micro-site is now live and utilised to highlight our green  
  credentials, commitment and achievements

-  Achieved ‘Go Ultra Low’ business status

-	 Finalist	for	‘Clean	Air	Initiative	of	the	year’	–	emissions	based 

tariff at Clipstone St, London

-  Development of eSeason tickets will significantly reduce our    

requirements for plastic cards and associated waste

Continued Investment in our assets 
-	 4	new	lifts	in	Watford	–	improving	customer	experience 
  and perception of the branches 

-  Entrance improvement works at Clipstone Street

-  Improvement works and installation of our new parking  
  management system (PMS) at Rickmansworth

Marketing/PR 
-  National coverage of our Clipstone emissions based tariff in July ‘17

-  Campaigns run throughout the year include: CitiFit, Blue  
  Monday, Ilford Discounted parking, Watford FC, Leeds Dock    
  discounted parking, pre-booking launch, Easter, April Fools,  
  Father’s Day, Royal Wedding, World Cup, Clean Air Day, Watford  
  discounted parking, London Pride

-  Significantly increased online engagement through social media  
	 platforms	–	Twitter,	Facebook,	Instagram:

Twitter 
-  Organic impressions increased by 65.6% 

-  The number of engagements increased by 245.8%

-  The number of organic impressions per Tweet increased by 42.1%

-  Total followers increased by 50.6%

44

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
CitiPark

Facebook  
-  The number of posts sent increased by 255%

-  Total impressions increased by 193.2%

-  Total engagements increased by 19.6%

-  Total fans increased by 28.4%

CitiPark website  
-  May YoY total traffic shows an increase of +40% and an increase  
  of +42% in “new users” to the site

-  MoM total traffic has increased by +21% there is also a +24%  

increase of “new users” to the site

-  Organic traffic showing an increase of +24% YoY and an increase  
  of +11% MoM

-  Direct showing a MoM increase of +49% and a YoY increase of  
  +111%

-  Referral MoM traffic showing an increase of +14% however we 
  do see a YoY increase of +10%

We look forward to identifying new and exciting opportunities 
over the next 12 months to increase our portfolio and grow the 
CitiPark brand.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

45

 
 
Corporate Social Responsibility

46

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Corporate Social Responsibility

We remain committed to the local community and charitable causes. 
Our designated CSR Coordinator, Charlotte Daisy Ziff, has continued 
to expand our grass roots involvement in local charitable and 
community organisations, and to encourage engagement amongst 
our staff in charitable activities through our employee involvement 
programme.

This year, we have continued to partner with a number of charities 
with which we have enjoyed longstanding relationships: including 
The British Legion, for which we raised £12,000 as part of the annual 
Poppy Appeal, LionHeart and The Leeds Jewish Welfare Board. 
We are also excited to have undertaken a number of new initiatives 
with established partners. For instance, we were very proud to 
donate a mini bus to East SILC John Jamieson School in conjunction 
with Variety, the Children’s Charity, to work with Autism Angels on 
a number of innovative fund and awareness raising efforts during 
Autism Awareness Month, and to partner with Candlelighters in 
raising £10,000 at our first autism friendly Santa’s Grotto.

This year, we have also begun a new partnership with Leeds Cares, 
formerly known as the Leeds Hospital Charitable Foundation, whose 
rebranding we helped to launch in the Merrion Centre in May. Our 
Chairman and Chief Executive, Edward Ziff, is Chairman and Trustee 
of the charity and we have been involved with a number of their 
fundraising efforts. Notably, Jacob Ziff, one of our members of staff, 
raised £30,000 for the charity when he ran the British 10k 2018 in July.

In addition to our partnerships we have supported a number of 
standalone initiatives: we were the main sponsor of the Physcap 
Three Peaks Challenge, we raised money for World Cancer Day and 
we hosted a number of events in the Merrion Centre and Urban 
Exchange in support of Leeds Pride.

In total, charitable donations by the company amounted to £144,500 
(£125,000 in 2016-17), around £28,500 of which we raised through 
events, collections and competitions in the Merrion Centre alone.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

47

Corporate Social Responsibility

A key element of our work in the local community remains our 
partnerships with local schools and children’s charities. As well 
as our continued support of Child Friendly Leeds, with which 
we ran a number of fun activities for children during the 
summer holidays, we worked with the social enterprise The 
Ahead Partnership on a project that asked school children to 
design an event in the Merrion Centre that would entice young 
people to visit. The winning school collected a cash prize.

It is our firm belief that by supporting children and young 
adults in the local community, we can ensure a brighter 
future for the city of Leeds. We are therefore actively seeking 
further partnerships and opportunities to further our work 
in this area and already have some exciting initiatives in the 
pipeline, including our sponsorship of First Give, a charity that 
encourages school children to give their time and energy to 
charitable and community projects.

As the promotion of renewable energy and clean technology 
has become an increasing focus for our business, we have 
also sought to develop our charity work in this area. This year, 
we marked World Clean Air Day by running a project with local 
schools. In partnership with Nissan, we asked school children to 
design a new electric vehicle with the winning designer being 
given the opportunity to take a market leading electric car for a spin.

Finally, although not the aim of our charity involvement and 
community participation, we are always delighted when the 
work of our people in this regard is recognised: in recognition 
not only of his achievements in business and his tireless 
charitable work, but in particular for his prominent role in local 
community life, Edward Ziff was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant 
for West Yorkshire.

48

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Corporate Social Responsibility

Human Rights 
We have a relatively small team in our Head Office and we pride 
ourselves on our treatment of our employees. However, we do 
not see a role for the company in affecting wider human rights.

Emissions 
The occupancy rate of our properties is 95% and therefore our 
tenants effectively control the emissions from our properties. 
We occupy a small part of the Merrion Centre and the top two 
floors of Duke Street, London for our own use and hence our 
emissions are not significant.

The CitiPark subsidiary business operates a fleet of electric 
hybrid vehicles for the management of its branch network. 
These	vehicles	emit	39g/km	of	CO2.

Health and Safety 
We are committed to achieving a safe and secure working 
environment both in our own office locations and in our 
properties, particularly those where we maintain an on-site 
management function such as the Merrion Centre. We have 
an established Group health and safety policy, which is 
approved at Board level annually, and we review health and 
safety issues and incidents at every Board meeting.

Our operational teams have clear health and safety objectives 
and review procedures regularly taking action where necessary.

Richard Lewis is the Board member with this responsibility and 
he is supported by specialist external advisers.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

49

Environmental Report

This sustainability report focuses on the Merrion Centre. As our 
largest and most complicated asset, the Merrion Centre requires 
TCS to drive and manage energy usage and sustainability in 
a way not required in the majority of the rest of our portfolio. 
However as covered in the CitiPark section of this report we are 
heavily focused on sustainable energy usage with key actions 
including:

•	 Taking	considerable	steps	forward	in	increasing	the	provision		
  of EV charging for customers electric vehicles

•	 Having	three	of	our	own	Solar	Photovoltaic	Farms	in	Leeds		
  and Manchester which in the previous year on their own  
  avoided over 500 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide

•	 CitiPark	being	awarded	“Go	Ultra	Low”	company	status	in		 	
  December 2017 recognising CitiPark’s commitment to EV    
  vehicles within their own fleet

•	 CitiPark	having	an	innovative	emission-based	parking	tariff			
  currently being trialled in one of our London branches

This Report does not include metrics related to the rest of the 
estate. The majority of our estate is let to third party tenants 
who are responsible for the generation of, and reporting on, 
their environmental footprint. Therefore, other than with the 
Merrion Centre, the residual footprint is not deemed to be 
material and is not included within this report.

The Merrion Centre:

Waste Initiative 
Further to the great work started last year on achieving zero 
waste to landfill, we are pleased to confirm this is now being 
achieved. Our close work with service partners and stakeholders 
has seen the waste strategy evolve into a tailor-made service 
that benefits all parties and 100% of our waste is either recycled 
or sent to an Energy Recovery Facility (ERF).

Instrumental to achieving our goals:

•	 Liaison	with	stakeholders	to	ensure	appropriate	segregation

•	

Introduction	of	Recycling	Points

•	 Reduction	of	General	Waste	Containers

•	 Migration	to	a	Service	Partner	with	greater	innovation	on		
  waste management

In summary, over the past 12 months the Merrion Centre has 
produced 552 tonnes of waste, 206 tonnes of that waste was 
recycled/recovered,	which	equates	to	88%.	However,	from 
April 2018 100% of waste was diverted from landfill. 

50

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Sustainability Projects 
We continue to improve the Merrion Centre’s sustainability 
by implementing a number of measures including:

•	 Roofing	upgrade	–	a	programme	is	in	place	to	install	a		
  Europolymers insulation system across all of our roofs  
  over the next five years. Currently we have upgraded five 
  of our existing roofs, the result being improvements  
  against both energy usage and meeting our EPC targets

•	 Power	distribution	–	a	scheme	is	being	developed	that 
  will assist in making the Centre’s power distribution more  
  aligned with the latest technology

•	 A	survey	of	the	current	network	has	determined	that		
  efficiencies could be achieved by replacing or reorganising  
	 how	we	deliver	power	around	the	Centre	–	new	initiatives		 	
  based around this scheme include the installation of a power  
factor corrector and the provision of supplies to introduce   
further EV charging

•	 As	part	of	our	ongoing	drive	towards	energy	saving	initiatives		
  we continue to install LED lighting, including large sections of  

the Centre lighting and Office common areas

•		 External	lighting	to	the	Service	Yard	has	been	upgraded	to			
  both LED and time sensitive lighting. This provides  
  savings on energy and has been installed with consideration  

to third parties

•	 Sustainable	Cleaning	System	–	a	review	of	the	Merrion		
  Centre cleaning protocols was undertaken and a number    
  of initiatives identified to improve our sustainable impact,    

including:

•	 Migrating	our	cleaning	system	onto	a	microfibre	system,		

reducing cleaning product usage

•		 A	cleaning	product	has	been	sourced	that	not	only	reduces		

the number of cleaning chemicals on site, but is a non-irritant,  

  non-hazardous and 100% biodegradable

•	 Procurement	-	greater	focus	has	been	applied	to	the	Merrion		
  Centre’s supply chain, with focus on consideration to  

the environment. A main consumable supplier has been  

  sourced based on their eco friendly product range, especially  
  materials from ethical and sustainable sources

•	 Toilet	refurbishment	programme	–	Our	toilet	upgrade 
  continues taking into account where we can introduce 
  sustainable initiatives. The next phase will include the  

installation of Encore Cisterns which draws two thirds of its 
  water supply from condensate pumps in the air conditioning 
  and thereby reducing our mains water consumption. The 
  system is BREEAM & LEED compliant. We continue to operate 
  an Ecocap system in the Town Centre House wc’s, which 
  saves water and money whilst protecting the environment 
  and is a fully biodegradable product. From using the Ecocap 
  system in Town Centre House, in the past year we have saved  
  approximately 373,220 litres of water

Utilities 
Through the introduction of our initiatives, last year the Merrion 
Centre was able to save £23,400, which equates to a 15% 
reduction on electrical consumption for our tenants compared 
with the previous year. Our gas and water consumption 
continue to be driven by our previous initiatives and will be 
further enhanced when we have completed the install of the 
new Encore Cisterns. 

 
	
	
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Locations of Property Portfolio

Edinburgh 
Shandwick Place

Glasgow City Region 
Bath Street 
Buchanan Street 
Byres Road 
King Street, Kilmarnock 
Tannochside Business Park, Uddingston 
Main Street, Milngavie 
Waitrose, Milngavie 
Gordon Street*

Ilford 
CitiPark: Clements Road

Leeds City Region 
CitiPark: Leeds Dock 
CitiPark: Merrion Centre 
CitiPark: Whitehall Road 
Thorntons Chambers, Leeds 
The Merrion Centre, Leeds 
TCS Head Office, Town Centre House 
Wade House 
Merrion House 
Central Road 
Vicar Lane 
Buckley House 
Waterside Business Park 
Premier Inn, Whitehall Road 
ibis Styles Hotel 
West Park, Harrogate 
The Cube, Albion Street *

London 
CitiPark: Bell Street 
CitiPark: Clipstone Street 
Cheapside, Wood Green 
Duke Street 
Holloway Road 
Kilburn High Road 
Chiswick High Road *

Manchester City Region 
CitiPark: Dale Street  
CitiPark: Ducie Street 
CitiPark: Port Street 
CitiPark: Tariff Street 
Dale Street 
Carver’s Warehouse 
Belgravia	Living	–	Burlington	House 
Abingdon Street Market, Blackpool 
Urban Exchange 
Ducie House 
Rochdale Retail Park

Rickmansworth 
CitiPark: Rickmansworth

Watford 
CitiPark: Church 
CitiPark: Gade 
CitiPark: Sutton

*

Properties acquired after 30 June 2018 and not 
on the balance sheet at 30 June 2018

Property Valuation Reconciliation

EXTERNALLY VALUED BY CB RICHARD ELLIS

EXTERNALLY VALUED BY JONES LANG LASALLE

ACQUISITIONS RECOGNISED AT COST

INVESTMENT PROPERTIES VALUED BY THE PROPERTY DIRECTOR

FINANCE LEASE OBLIGATIONS CAPITALISED

LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS

INVESTMENT
PROPERTIES
£000

FREEHOLD & LEASE
PROPERTIES
£000

199,375

126,060

9,483

251

1,142

-

336,311

-

16,300

-

-

3,302

3,822

23,424

The CBRE Valuation Report amalgamates valuations of investment properties and joint venture properties as follows:

INCLUDED WITHIN INVESTMENT PROPERTIES

INCLUDED WITHIN JOINT VENTURES

VALUATION PER VALUERS REPORT

199,375

34,700

234,075

TOTAL
£000

199,375

142,360

251

251

4,444

3,822

359,734

199,375

34,700

234,075

The Jones Lang Lasalle Valuation Report includes the valuation of a property sold before 30 June 2018 and therefore not in the 
Investment Property valuation at 30 June 2018 as follows:

INCLUDED IN YEAR END BALANCE SHEET

PRINCES STREET PROPERTY SOLD JUNE 2018

VALUATION PER VALUERS REPORT

142,360

3,300

145,660

142,360

3,300

145,660

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

51

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
The Board

Edward Ziff OBE DL (58) 
Chairman and Chief Executive

Richard Lewis (63) FRICS 
Property Director

Edward Ziff joined the Company in 1981 before being appointed 
to the Board in 1985, becoming Managing Director in 1983, Chief 
Executive in 2001 and succeeded his father and founder of the 
Company as Chairman in 2004. Edward is a life-long supporter 
of Leeds the city and plays an active role in the community.

A passionate family man, Edward brings a strong pastoral care 
aspect to the business, encouraging individual leadership and 
an active role in the community through local charities. He is 
Chair and Trustee of Leeds Cares formally the Leeds Hospital 
Charitable Foundation.

In 2013 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business 
Administration by Leeds Beckett University. Edward was 
awarded an OBE for services to the Leeds community and 
economy in the 2017 Queen’s birthday honours list and more 
recently, in July 2018 he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant 
for the County of West Yorkshire.

Richard joined TCS in April 2000 to rejuvenate the development 
side of the business and was appointed to the Board in 2001. 
Following a restructuring, he took over responsibility for the 
Group property portfolio becoming Property Director in 2008. 
Richard is a firm believer in the need to deliver quality and 
sustainable	schemes	and	is	an	advocate	of	public/private	
partnering. Richard is a Board member of CityCo, a company 
that strives to make Manchester city centre a better place 
to work, visit and live. Richard has been presented with the 
Lifetime Achievement Awards at the Yorkshire Property Awards 
due to his work on some of the biggest city schemes in Leeds.

Mark Dilley (46) ACMA 
Group Finance Director

Ben Ziff (31) 
Managing Director CitiPark and TCS Energy

Mark joined the Board on 10 July 2017 from Asda Stores Limited 
(part of Walmart) where he held a number of senior finance 
roles over fourteen years, including most recently as Vice 
President, Retail and Property Finance where he was responsible 
for all Asda stores and distribution centres as well as the new 
store acquisitions. Prior to Asda, Mark held senior finance 
positions at JP Morgan in London for six years, and began his 
career at Unilever. Mark is a graduate of the University of Oxford 
and is a qualified accountant.

Ben joined TCS in 2008, becoming CitiPark Managing Director 
in 2009. In September 2015, Ben was appointed to the 
Board of Directors. In 2013, he successfully led a team in the 
redevelopment of the Merrion Centre multi-storey car park, 
which turned a 1960’s structure into a state-of-the-art facility 
featuring cutting edge systems; Skidata, ApplePay, Contactless 
Payment and ANPR technologies. Since 2014, Ben has led the 
acquisitions programme which has doubled the size of the 
car park division. Ben’s personal interest in combining tech, 
renewable energy and Electric Vehicle Charging led to the 
development of TCS Energy in 2012 which pursues renewable 
energy production and storage. Ben has ensured the Group 
uses cutting edge technology to revolutionise and maximise 
its operations, including guiding the board’s financial investment 
of YourParkingSpace.co.uk. 

52

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
The Non-Executive Board

Michael Ziff (65) Hon DUniv (Brad) 
Nominations Committee

Dr Michael Ziff was appointed to the Board in July 2004. He is a 
Director of W Barratt & Co Ltd, Transworld Business Advisors UK 
Ltd and Mr Arkwrights Emporium Franchise Ltd. He is President 
of Maccabi GB and a member of the International Board of 
Trustees of Maccabi World Union. He is also President of UK 
Israel Business.

Ian Marcus (59) FRICS 
Remuneration Committee, Nominations Committee 
and Audit Committee

Ian Marcus was appointed to the Board on 1 January 2015. 
He spent over 32 years as an investment banker latterly at Credit 
Suisse. Ian is Trustee of The Princes Foundation, a Crown Estate 
Commissioner and a member of Redevco’s Advisory Board. 
Senior Advisor to Eastdil Secured and the Senior Independent 
Director for Secure Income REIT. He is a former chairman of 
the Bank of England Commercial Property Forum and a Past 
President of the British Property Federation.

Paul Huberman (57) FCA CTA 
Remuneration Committee, Nominations Committee 
and Audit Committee

Paul Huberman was appointed a Director on 1 January 2015. 
He brings over 30 years’ experience in the property and 
finance sector. Paul was previously Finance Director at 3 quoted 
companies. He is currently a Non-Executive Director of Galliard 
Homes Limited, a London housebuilder, a Non-Executive Director 
at GRIT Real Estate Income Group Ltd, a pan-African property 
investment company listed on the London, Johannesburg and 
Mauritian Stock Exchanges, a Non-Executive Director at LiFE At 
Ltd, a multi-branch London based residential estate agency and 
a Non-Executive Director at a privately-owned property group. 
Until its recent MBO, Paul was a Non-Executive Director at JCRA 
Group Ltd, the holding company of JC Rathbone Associates Ltd, 
the independent advisors on interest rate risk management, 
debt finance and foreign exchange exposure.

Jeremy Collins (58)

Jeremy was appointed to the Board on 1st February 2018 and 
has over 35 years’ experience in retail property development 
and management. In addition to his TCS responsibility Jeremy 
is Property Director and Executive Board member at Fenwick. 
Jeremy spent 15 years at John Lewis including as Property 
Director until 2018. Previous experience includes working for 
Lend Lease, MEPC and Grosvenor Square Properties. Jeremy’s 
first job was at Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council, which gave 
him an insight into the workings of local authorities and began 
his passion for urban regeneration. He graduated from the 
University of Reading, qualified as a chartered surveyor, and 
is a Past President of the British Council of Shopping Centres.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

53

Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Valuers Report

The Directors 
Town Centre Securities Plc 
Town Centre House 
The Merrion Centre 
Leeds 
LS2 8LY

30 June 2018

Dear Sirs

Town Centre Securities Plc – Property Portfolio Valuation – 30 June 2018

In accordance with your written instructions we have inspected and valued the various freehold and leasehold properties held 
by Town Centre Securities Plc and its various subsidiary companies, for year end accounts purposes as at 30 June 2018.

We	confirm	that	these	valuations	have	been	prepared	in	accordance	with	the	RICS	Valuation	–	Global	Standards	2017,	published	
by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the RICS Valuation - Professional Standards UK January 2014 (revised April 
2015) (the RICS Red Book) on the basis of Market Value. No allowances have been made for expenses of realisation or for taxation 
that might arise in the event of a disposal, deemed or otherwise. All rental and capital values stated are exclusive of Value Added 
Tax. Each property has been considered as if free and clear of all mortgages or other charges which may have been secured 
thereon. The interests have been valued subject to and with the benefit of any lettings which have been disclosed.

Having regard to the foregoing we are of the opinion that the aggregate Market Value of the freehold and leasehold interests 
owned by the Group and valued by JLL, as at 30 June 2018, subject to and with the benefit of the tenancies currently subsisting, 
is:

Freehold  

£100,810,000

Long leasehold   £44,850,000

Total  

£145,660,000

In accordance with our standard practice, we confirm that our valuations have been prepared for Town Centre Securities Plc 
and for the purpose to which this certificate refers. No responsibility is accepted to any third party in respect of the information 
or advice contained herein, except in circumstances where our prior written approval has been granted.

Yours faithfully

Richard W Longton MRICS 
Director 
For and on behalf of Jones Lang LaSalle Limited

54

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
 
Chairman and Chief Executive’s Statement
Valuers Report

The Directors 
Town Centre Securities Plc 
Town Centre House 
The Merrion Centre 
Leeds 
LS2 8LY

28 July 2018

Dear Sirs

Town Centre Securities Plc – 30 June 2018 valuations

In accordance with your written instructions we have inspected and valued the following properties held by 
Town Centre Securities Plc and its various subsidiary companies for accounts purposes as at 30 June 2018:

The Merrion Centre, Leeds; 
The Merrion Hotel, Leeds; 
Merrion House, Leeds; 
Homebase, Main Street, Milngavie; 
Waitrose, Milngavie; 
363-381 Byres Road and 9-19 Grosvenor Lane, Glasgow; 
Phases 1 and 2, Central Retail Park, Rochdale; 
6 Duke Street, London; 
106A Kilburn High Road, London; 
9 Cheapside, 9-10 Cheapside, and 12-13 Cheapside, Wood Green; 
448 Holloway Road, London.

The valuations have been prepared in accordance with the RICS Valuation - Global Standards 2017 - including the International 
Valuation Standards and the RICS Valuation - Professional Standards UK January 2014 (revised April 2015) (the Red Book) and 
should be read in conjunction with our Valuation Report as at 30 June 2018 on behalf of Town Centre Securities Plc.

The valuations have been prepared in our capacity as external valuers, on the basis of Fair Value. No allowance has been made for 
expenses of realisation or for taxation that might arise in the event of a disposal, deemed or otherwise and the capital value stated 
is exclusive of Value Added Tax.

The properties have been considered as if free and clear of all mortgages or other charges which may have been secured thereon. 
The properties have been valued subject to and with the benefit of any lettings which have been disclosed.

Having regard to the foregoing we are of the opinion that the Fair Value of the freehold interests in the above properties owned 
by the Group, as at 30 June 2018, subject to and with the benefit of the tenancies currently subsisting, is: 

£234,075,000 (TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY FOUR MILLION AND SEVENTY FIVE THOUSAND POUNDS)

In accordance with our standard practice, we confirm that our valuations have been prepared for Town Centre Securities Plc 
and for the purpose to which this certificate refers. No responsibility is accepted to any third party in respect of the information 
or advice contained herein, except in circumstances where our prior written approval has been granted.

Yours faithfully 

Yours faithfully

Max Field MRICS 
For and on behalf of CBRE Limited 
RICS approved valuer 
Director 

Michael Brodtman FRICS 
For and on behalf of CBRE Limited 
RICS approved valuer 
Executive Director

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

55

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Town Centre Securities Plc became 
a listed company 58 years ago and 
has throughout its history provided 
superior returns to shareholders. 
As Chairman, I take my responsibilities 
for ensuring strong corporate 
governance very seriously.

We have always had a strong independent presence of Non-
Executive Directors on our Board and those Directors have 
provided invaluable support and guidance for me and my fellow 
Executives having challenged and tested our decisions and 
strategies. Following the retirement of John Nettleton last year, 
I was pleased to announce the appointment of Jeremy Collins, 
formally of John Lewis, to the Board as an Independent Non-
Executive Director.

We try wherever possible to comply with the various rules 
which apply to our Corporate Governance.

Those rules are primarily focussed on much bigger companies 
than ours and sometimes we have to make pragmatic 
compromises because of our size and the nature of our 
shareholder base. Those compromises are always made 
using common sense and with due consideration of the best 
interests of all shareholders. That said, we recognise the need 
to keep up with required changes in the reporting around 
Corporate Governance, and we continue to increase our 
level of disclosure. With the appointment of Link Company 
Matters Limited as Company Secretary and the use of other 
external experts we have sought to strengthen our governance 
processes and reporting this year. This will be developed further 
during the year as the Board looks at how it will implement the 
new UK Corporate Governance Code.

With the continued evolution of our Board, both at the Executive 
and Non-Executive level I continue to believe that our Board is 
one of the most experienced in our sector and should provide 
investors with absolute confidence that their interests are in safe 
hands.

Edward Ziff OBE DL 
Chairman and Chief Executive

26 September 2018

Corporate Governance

56

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Corporate Governance

Board of Directors

Details of the Board of Directors are given on pages 52 to 53 
of this report. At the end of the year the Board comprised four 
Non-Executive Directors and four Executive Directors, including 
the Chairman and Chief Executive.

The key roles and responsibilities are as follows:

Chairman: 
Edward Ziff OBE DL 
Leadership of the Board and the Company 
Successful achievement of objectives and execution of strategy 
Responsible for identifying and recruiting Board members 
Ensure long-term business sustainability 
Management and implementation of Board decisions

Property Director:  
Richard Lewis 
Identify	and	propose	commercial	acquisitions	and/or	disposals 
Manage development programme 
Propose major projects or bids 
Manage commercial expenditure 
Manage marketing activity of the Company

Group Finance Director: 
Mark Dilley 
Provide advice and guidance on financial strategy 
Ensure the Group’s financial commitments, targets and 
obligations are met 
Budget setting and performance management 
Ensure compliance with statutory regulations 
Assist with shareholder communications 
Oversee all banking and debt facilities 
Board responsibility for IT and data security

Managing Director: 
Ben Ziff 
Provide advice and guidance on car parking strategy 
Implement agreed business plan for CitiPark 
Identify and recruit CitiPark senior management team 
Identify	and	propose	car	park	acquisitions	and/or	disposals 
Identify and lead relationship with Property and Car Park related 
technology investments

Our four Non-Executive Directors bring considerable experience 
and expertise to the work of the Board and provide a significant 
independent view to our deliberations. They regularly challenge 
and question the conclusions of the Executive and have a 
particular focus on the interests of the non-family shareholders.

Under the UK Corporate Governance Code, one of the 
Non-Executive Directors, Michael Ziff, is not considered to be 
independent, due to his shareholding and his close family ties. 
The Board consider that he brings extensive experience and 
expertise and provides an invaluable contribution to the work 
of the Board. The remaining three Non-Executive Directors are 
considered to be independent.

Additionally, under the Code, the Company is required to 
identify a Senior Independent Non-Executive Director. Ian 
Marcus and Paul Huberman were appointed on the same day 
and, while they have different skills and experience neither is 
senior to the other. Therefore, for the purpose of compliance 
with	the	Code,	the	position	will	alternate	on	an	annual	basis	–	
from the date of this report until the next, it will be Ian Marcus.

The full Board met eight times in the year and the record of 
Directors’ attendance at the Board meetings is set out overleaf. 
Additionally, the Board meets once a year to review the strategic 
direction of the Group. The Board manages overall control of 
the Group’s affairs by the schedule of matters reserved for its 
decision. These include the approval of Financial Statements, 
business plans, all major acquisitions and disposals, risk 
management strategy and treasury decisions.

The Board has established two divisional Boards, the Property 
Review Board and CitiPark Board, which comprise Executive 
Directors and senior managers and each met ten times during 
the year. The Board has delegated responsibility to the divisional 
Boards for assisting the Executive Directors on measures 
relating to the Board’s strategies and policies, operational 
management and the implementation of the systems of internal 
control, within agreed parameters.

There is an agreed procedure for Directors to take independent 
professional advice at the Company’s expense, if necessary, in 
the performance of their duties. This is in addition to the access 
which every Director has to the Company Secretary. The Group 
maintains liability insurance on behalf of Directors and Officers 
of the Company.

On appointment, the Directors are provided with information 
about the Group’s operations, the role of the Board, the 
Group’s corporate governance policies and the latest financial 
information. Additionally, upon appointment, Directors are 
provided with induction including training in respect of all their 
responsibilities in accordance with the UK regulatory regime. 
Subsequent training is also undertaken as appropriate.

The appointment and removal of Directors is governed by 
the Company’s Articles of Association, the UK Corporate 
Governance Code and the Companies Act 2006 and other 
related legislation. The Articles are available on application to 
the Company Secretary at the Company’s registered office.

The Chairman and Chief Executive meets with the Non-
Executive Directors at least once a year without the other 
Executive Directors present to discuss the performance of 
the Board and to appraise the Chairman and Chief Executive’s 
performance.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

57

Corporate Governance

Performance of the Board 
The effectiveness of the Board, its committees and Directors were reviewed 
during the year as part of the September Board proceedings. Given the size 
of the Board and nature of the business the Directors performed an internal 
board evaluation.

The evaluation of the Board and its committees, which did not highlight any 
areas of concern, considered:

•	 The	Directors’	understanding	of	the	roles	and	responsibilities	of	the	Board 
  and of its committees

•	 The	structure	of	the	Group,	including	succession	planning	in	keys	areas 
  of the business

•	 The	Board’s	understanding	of	the	Group’s	activities	and	the	appropriateness 
  of its strategic plan

•	 Whether	Board	meetings	effectively	monitor	and	evaluate	progress	towards		
  strategic goals

•	 Board	composition	and	the	involvement	of	each	Director	in	the	business 
  of the Group

•	 The	overall	effectiveness	of	the	Board	in	the	provision	of	the	necessary		
  experience required to direct the business efficiently; and

Committees of the Board

Nominations Committee

EDWARD ZIFF (CHAIR)

IAN MARCUS

PAUL HUBERMAN

JEREMY COLLINS

MICHAEL ZIFF

Audit Committee

PAUL HUBERMAN (CHAIR)

IAN MARCUS

JEREMY COLLINS

Remuneration Committee

IAN MARCUS (CHAIR)

PAUL HUBERMAN

JEREMY COLLINS

•	 The	effectiveness	of	the	Board	committees	in	performing	their	roles

Attendance at Board Meetings

The evaluation of the performance of individual Directors was undertaken by 
the Chairman and Chief Executive and the performance of the Chairman and 
Chief Executive was evaluated by the Non-Executive Directors led by the Senior 
Non-Executive Director, taking into account the views of the Executive Directors.

EDWARD ZIFF

MARK DILLEY

RICHARD LEWIS

BEN ZIFF

DUNCAN SYERS

MICHAEL ZIFF

IAN MARCUS

PAUL HUBERMAN

JEREMY COLLINS

JOHN NETTLETON

8/8

8/8

8/8

8/8

1/1

8/8

8/8

8/8

5/5

3/3

Attendance at Audit Committee Meetings

PAUL HUBERMAN

IAN MARCUS

JEREMY COLLINS

JOHN NETTLETON

2/2

2/2

1/1

1/1

Premier Inn, Whitehall Road, Leeds

58

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

	
	
Corporate Governance

Statement of compliance with the UK Corporate 
Governance Code

The UK Corporate Governance Code (‘the Code’) can be 
found on the FRC’s website: www.frc.org.uk. Under the Code, 
the Board is required to make a number of statements. These 
statements are set out below:

1.  Compliance with the Code 
As a Company listed on the London Stock Exchange TCS Plc is 
subject to the requirements of the Code. The Board is required 
to comply with the Code and, where it does not, explain the 
reasons for non-compliance.

Statement of compliance with the Code 
The Board has considered the principles and provisions of the 
Code, published by the Financial Reporting Council (‘FRC’). 
The Code contains five main principles: leadership, 
effectiveness, accountability, remuneration and relations with 
shareholders. The Board of Directors has complied with the 
Code throughout the year except for the following matters:

Explanation of departures from the Code

Provision A.2.1 
The roles of the Chairman and Chief Executive should not 
be exercised by the same individual. EM Ziff became Chief 
Executive in 2001 and succeeded his father and founder of 
the Company as Chairman in 2004. The Board unanimously 
agreed that, for cost efficiency, that taking on both roles would 
be in the Company’s best interests. The Board is focused on 
the commercial success of the Company and believes that 
continuing the combined position of Chairman and Chief 
Executive is the best way to achieve this.

EM Ziff was offered for reappointment at the 2016 Annual 
General Meeting (‘2016 AGM’), with his appointment being 
approved by 91% of shareholders.

Provision B.7.1 
All Directors of FTSE 350 companies should be subject to 
annual election by shareholders. Although the Company is 
outside the FTSE 350, the Chairman and Chief Executive 
and the Executive Directors voluntarily offer themselves for 
retirement by rotation at the AGM. Details of the re-election 
proposed are provided in the Notice of AGM on pages 119 to 120.

Provision D.1.5 
Notice or contract periods should be set at one year or less. 
The Chairman and Chief Executive has a service contract with 
a notice period greater than one year.

Given the long term knowledge and experience of the 
Chairman and Chief Executive, the Board believes the longer 
notice period continues to be appropriate.

2. Going Concern 
The Board is required to confirm that the Group has adequate 
resources to continue in operation for at least 12 months.

The Directors are satisfied that the Group has adequate 
resources to continue to be operational as a going concern 
for the foreseeable future and therefore have adopted the 
going concern basis in preparing the Group’s 2018 financial 
statements. More details can be found in the Risk Report on 
page 64 and the Director’s Report on page 79.

3. Viability Statement 
The Board is required to assess the viability of the Company 
taking into account the current position and the potential 
impact of the principal risks and uncertainties facing the 
business.

The Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group 
will be able to continue in operation and meet its liabilities as 
they fall due over the next three years. Our Viability Statement 
can be found in the Risk Report on page 70.

4. Principal Risks facing the Group 
The Board is required to confirm that a robust assessment of 
the principal risks facing the Company has been carried out 
and should describe those risks and explain how they are being 
managed or mitigated.

A robust assessment of the principal risks facing the Company 
was undertaken during the year, including those that would 
threaten its business model, future performance, solvency 
or liquidity. These risks and how they are being managed or 
mitigated can be found in the Risk Report starting on page 64.

5. Risk Management and Internal Control 
The Board is required to monitor the Company’s risk 
management and internal control systems and, at least annually, 
carry out a review of their effectiveness.

The Board conducted a review of the effectiveness of the 
systems of risk management and internal control during the 
year, and considers that there is a sound system in place. More 
detail can be found in the Audit Committee Report on page 62.

6. Fair, balanced and understandable 
The Board should confirm that it considers the Annual Report, 
taken as a whole, to be fair, balanced and understandable and 
provides the information necessary for shareholders to assess 
the Company’s position and performance, business model and 
strategy.

The Directors consider, to the best of each person’s knowledge 
and belief, that the Annual Report, taken as a whole is fair, 
balanced and understandable and provides the information 
necessary for shareholders to assess the Company’s position 
and performance, business model and strategy. This is 
considered in the Audit Committee Report on page 62 and the 
Statement of Director’s Responsibilities on page 80.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

59

Corporate Governance

Relations with Shareholders 
The Board is committed to maintaining good communications with shareholders. The Chairman and Chief Executive and Finance 
Director maintain a dialogue with institutional shareholders and analysts immediately after the announcement of the half year and 
full year results. Their views are reported to the Board as appropriate. The Company also encourages communications with private 
shareholders throughout the year and welcomes their participation at shareholder meetings.

The principal communication with private shareholders is through the Annual Report and Accounts, the Half Year report and the 
Annual General Meeting (AGM). The Notice of AGM and related papers are communicated to shareholders at least 20 working days 
before the meeting to give shareholders sufficient time to consider the business of the meeting. All Directors attend the AGM and 
shareholders are given the opportunity to ask questions of the Board and meet all the Directors informally after the meeting.

Separate resolutions are proposed for each item of business and the proxy votes for, against and withheld are announced. 
An announcement confirming resolutions passed at the AGM is made through the London Stock Exchange immediately after 
the meeting. The Senior Independent Director is available to shareholders at all times if they have concerns they wish to raise.

The Group has a comprehensive website on which up to date information is available to all shareholders and potential investors 
(www.tcs-plc.co.uk).

Merrion House, Leeds

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Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Corporate Governance
Nominations Committee Report

Dear Shareholder, 

Following the retirement from 
the Board of John Nettleton, 
I am pleased to have taken 
over as Chairman of the 
Nominations Committee. In 
addition to my appointment our 
newest Non-Executive Director, 
Jeremy Collins has joined the 
Committee. Therefore, together 
with Ian Marcus and Paul 
Huberman, the Committee has 

three independent members plus myself and Michael Ziff.

The Committee meets when circumstances require it to do so.

Responsibilities of the Nominations Committee 
The Committee is responsible for the regular review of the structure, 
size and composition (including the skills, knowledge, independence 
and experience) of the Board and it makes recommendations to the 
Board with regard to any changes.

The Committee also considers succession planning for the Executive 
Board in the course of its work, taking into account the challenges and 
opportunities being faced and the skills and expertise required. 

Work of the Committee during the year 
The Committee undertook two main activities in the year. Firstly, the 
appointment of Jeremy Collins as an independent Non-Executive 
Director. Secondly, the appointment of Lynda Shillaw as Property 
Director to succeed Richard Lewis who had informed the Board of 
his intention to retire.

Jeremy formally joined the Board in February 2018, and his knowledge 
of the retail environment has already been invaluable to the Board. 
The Board recognised the benefits to the Company of additional retail 
experience. With Jeremy, and his experience, already known to some 
members of the Board, no external consultancy firm was used. He 
spent time with all members of the Board and his appointment was 
subsequently approved. In replacement of Richard Lewis a detailed 
search process was undertaken with support of Thomas Cole Kinder 
the executive search firm. Thomas Cole Kinder had previously been 
used in the appointment of Mark Dilley as Group Finance Director. 
We were delighted as a Board to appoint someone of Lynda’s 
experience and look forward to welcoming her to the Company.

Diversity 
The Board embraces the supporting principles on diversity in its 
broadest sense enshrined in the UK Corporate Governance Code.

The Board is committed to ensuring an appropriate balance of skills, 
knowledge and experience on its board. Diversity is a vital part of the 
continued assessment and enhancement of board composition, and 
the Board recognises the benefits of diversity amongst its members, 
and the senior team.

All Board appointments are made on merit and we are pleased that 
the appointment of Lynda Shillaw as Property Director broadens the 
Board from the perspective of diversity in addition to the significant 
experience that Lynda brings to the Company.

With Lynda’s appointment, the Board will consist of seven men and 
one woman. At the Senior Management level within the business, 
below the Board, there are five men and one woman.

Edward Ziff OBE DL 
Chairman of Nominations Committee

Carvers Warehouse, Manchester

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

61

Corporate Governance
Audit Committee Report

Dear Shareholder, 

As Chairman of the Audit 
Committee (‘the Committee’) I 
am pleased to present the report 
of the Committee for the year 
ended 30 June 2018.

The Audit Committee consists 
of three of the Board’s 
Independent Non-Executive 
Directors. As Chairman of the 
Audit Committee I am a qualified 
Chartered Accountant and 

Paul Huberman 
Chairman, Audit Committee

experienced senior finance executive having been Finance 
Director of three different listed companies, and more recently 
as a Non-Executive Director at Galliard Homes and Grit Real 
Estate Income Group. Ian Marcus has a breadth of experience 
in Investment Banking, and as a Non-Executive Director with 
past Audit Committee responsibilities. Jeremy Collins joined 
the Committee upon his appointment to the Board earlier this 
year. Jeremy was, until recently, Property Director at John Lewis. 
Executive Directors, including Edward Ziff and Mark Dilley, join 
Committee meetings by invitation. The Committee meets alone with 
the External Auditor without Executives present at least twice a year.

The Audit Committee carries out an annual review of its Terms 
of Reference following which it recommended to the Board that 
the Terms of Reference were amended in order to reflect best 
practice. This is available to view on the TCS website.

Responsibilities 
The Committee’s role includes assisting the Board to 
discharge its responsibilities and duties for financial reporting, 
internal control, management of risk and the appointment, 
reappointment and remuneration of an independent external 
Auditor. The Committee is responsible for reviewing the scope, 
terms of engagement and results of the audit work and the 
effectiveness of the Auditor. The Committee is responsible 
for monitoring the integrity of the financial statements, 
announcements and judgements, as well as reviewing the 
Company’s internal financial controls. The Committee also 
satisfies itself of the Auditor’s independence and objectivity, 
reviews and approves the level of non-audit services, and the 
Group’s arrangements on whistleblowing. Any matter the Committee 
considers needs action or improvement is reported to the Board.

Report on the Committee’s activities during the year 
During the year, the Committee met two times and discharged 
its responsibilities by:

•	 Reviewing	the	Group’s	draft	annual	report	and	financial		
  statements and its interim results statement prior to  
  discussion and approval by the Board

•	 Reviewing	the	continuing	appropriateness	of	the	Group’s		 	
  accounting policies

•	 Reviewing	BDO’s	plan	for	the	2018	Group	audit	and	approving		

their terms of engagement and proposed fees

•	 Reviewing	reports	prepared	by	management	on	internal		
  control issues as necessary

•	 Considering	the	effectiveness,	objectivity	and	independence		
  of BDO as external Auditor and recommending to the Board  

their reappointment

•	 Reviewing	management’s	biannual	risk	review	report	and		 	
the effectiveness of the material financial, operational and   

  compliance controls that help mitigate the key risks

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TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

•  Reviewing the effectiveness of the Group’s whistleblowing   
  policy

•  Monitored the level of non-audit fees and the scope of 
  non-audit services provided in the year by the Auditor

•  Reviewing the IT audit undertaken to review IT  

infrastructure and security

•  Considering management’s approach to the Viability  
  Statement in the 2018 Annual Report

•  Reviewing and updating the terms of reference of the 
  Audit Committee

•  Carrying out an annual performance evaluation exercise and  
  noting the satisfactory operation of the Committee

Significant issues considered in relation to the financial 
statements 
During the year, the Committee considered key accounting 
matters and judgements in respect of the financial statements 
relating to:

• 

Investment Property Valuation - The Committee reviewed 
the Reports of the Independent Valuers JLL and CBRE

•  Treatment of property sales and acquisitions in the year  

including the sales of 1-23 Shandwick Place and   
  Princes Street, and the acquisition of Ducie House - 
  The Committee agreed with the approach of these  

transactions being recognised in the reported year given    

  contracts have been exchanged and were binding,  
  even where completion had not occurred

•  The additional investment in YourParkingSpace, and the  
likely future accounting treatment required to meet  
fair value requirements - The Committee agreed that the  
  current valuation reflects fair value, although this needs to 
  be kept under regular review

•  Going concern and covenant compliance - The Committee  

reviewed and approved the Going Concern analysis 

•  Viability Statement and appropriateness of the period of the  
  statement - The Committee reviewed and agreed the longer  

term viability analysis and recommended timeframe

• 

Income recognition accounting treatment relating to  
the disposal of Brownsfield Mill - The Committee reviewed 
the options considered by management for income  
recognition and approved the approach of recognising  
income based on a risk weighted assessment of units  

  sold and units under offer

•  Accounting treatment in relation to Merrion House Financing -  
  The Committee reviewed the analysis provided by management  
  with the advice of third parties, and approved the approach of  
treating the transaction as a loan for accounting purposes

Fair, balanced and understandable 
In its review the Audit Committee has determined that the 
2018 Annual Report, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and 
understandable and provides shareholders with the necessary 
information to assess the Company’s position and performance, 
business model and strategy.

Risk Management and Internal Controls 
Provision C.2.3 of the UK Corporate Governance Code 
provides that the Directors should monitor the company’s risk 
management and internal control systems and, at least annually, 

	
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate Governance
Audit Committee Report

carry out a review of their effectiveness and should report to 
shareholders in the Annual Report.

The monitoring and review should cover all material controls, 
including financial, operational and compliance controls. The 
Board recognises that effective risk management is critical to 
the achievement of the Group’s strategic objectives, and the 
Audit Committee plays a key role in reviewing identified risks 
and assessing the effectiveness of mitigation plans. 

The principal risks and uncertainties identified by the Board and 
the processes in place to manage and mitigate such risks are 
summarised in the Risk Management section.

The system is designed to give the Board confidence that 
the risks are being managed or mitigated as far as possible. 
However, it should be noted that no system can eliminate the 
risk of failure to achieve the Group’s objectives entirely and can 
only provide reasonable but not absolute assurance against 
material misstatement or loss. 

The key elements of the internal control framework are as 
follows:

•  A comprehensive system of financial budgeting and  

forecasting based on an annual budget in line with strategic  

  objectives. Performance is monitored and action is taken  

throughout the year based on variances to budget  

  and forecast

•  Rolling eighteen month cash flow forecasting that is 

reviewed by the Board on a monthly basis

•  An organisational structure with clearly defined roles,  
  separation of duties, and authority limits

•  Close involvement of the Executive Directors in day to  
  day operations, and regular formal meetings with senior  
  management to review the business

•  Monthly meetings of the Executive, the Property Review  
  Group, the CitiPark Board, and quarterly meetings of the 

IT and Data Governance Committee

•  A documented appraisal and approval process for all  
  significant capital expenditure 

•  Approval by the Board for all material acquisitions, 
  disposals and capital expenditure

•  The maintenance of a risk register, and a formal review 
  of significant business risks twice a year

•  A formal whistleblowing policy and anti-bribery policy

The Board has delegated responsibility for reviewing the 
effectiveness of the risk management framework and 
internal control to the Audit Committee.

Oversight of the external Auditor 
BDO were appointed as the Company’s auditors following 
a	formal	tender	process	in	2015/16.

Current UK regulations require rotation of the lead audit partner 
every five years, a formal tender of the auditor every ten years 
and a change of auditor every twenty years. The 2018 audit was 
the third audit by Russell Field and we anticipate him continuing 
in role in 2019.

BDO presented their audit plan for the year end to the Board, 
where the key audit risks and areas of judgement were 
highlighted and the level of audit materiality agreed. 

BDO presented detailed reports of their findings to the 
Committee before the Interim and Full Year results. The 
Committee questioned and challenged the work undertaken 
and the key assumptions made in reaching their conclusions. 

The Committee recognises the importance of auditor 
objectivity and independence and understands that this 
can be compromised by the provision of non-audit work. 
All taxation advice is provided separately by PwC. However, 
there may be certain circumstances where, due to BDO’s 
expertise and knowledge of the Company, it’s appropriate for 
them to under-take non-audit work. In the last year two main 
topics have been deemed appropriate, namely the accounting 
for the Merrion House financing arrangement and the detailed 
audit of IT Infrastructure and Security. BDO have confirmed to 
the Audit Committee that they remain independent and have 
maintained internal safeguards to ensure the objectivity of the 
engagement partner and audit staff is not impaired.

Audit fees for the year are broken down as follows:

Audit of Year End Consolidated Financial Statements

Audit of Company subsidiaries pursuant to legislation

Interim review of half year results

Review of accounting for Merrion House financing

Total Audit Services

IT Audit

Other non-audit services

Total Auditor’s remuneration

£000’s

82

10

14

4

110

35

4

149

Internal Audit 
The Group does not have a dedicated stand-alone internal audit 
function. This decision is made taking into account the size and 
complexity of the Group. Where appropriate reviews are either 
carried out by staff members, or where appropriate by third 
party experts.

The need for an internal audit function is considered by the 
Audit Committee annually.

Whistleblowing 
The Group has in place a whistleblowing policy which encourages 
employees to report any malpractice or illegal acts or omissions 
or matters of similar concern by other employees or former 
employees, contractors, suppliers or advisors. The policy 
provides a mechanism to report any ethical wrongdoing or 
malpractice or suspicion thereof. The Committee review this 
policy annually.

Committee Evaluation 
As part of the Board and Committee self-evaluation process 
it was felt that the Committee continues to operate at a high 
standard and was effective in its support to the Board during 
the year.

Paul Huberman 
Chairman of Audit Committee

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

63

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate Governance
Risk Management

We take Risk Management very seriously within the business, such that reference to, and consideration of, key risks form part of the day 
to day workings of the Company. Whilst we recognise that a level of risk taking is inherent within the running of a commercial enterprise, 
we work to ensure that risk assessment and mitigation is central to business planning and decision making.

The business has a number of formal meetings during the year where Risk Assessment is an essential element of the agenda. They 
include but are not limited to:

Annual Strategy Review	–	begins	with	a	review	of	key	risks	facing	the	business	and	a	review	of	how	the	strategy	will	best	mitigate	those	risks.

Bi-annual Audit Committee	–	undertakes	a	formal	review	of	the	risk	register	and	mitigating	action	plans.

Quarterly IT and Data Governance Committee	–	Chaired	by	the	Group	Finance	Director,	this	committee	of	senior	management	
reviews IT and data specific risks and ensures that key risks are understood and managed. Includes a review of adherence to the new 
GDPR regulations.

Monthly Board Meetings	–	Each	meeting	includes	a	review	of	financial	performance,	debt	levels	and	banking	covenants,	an	IT	update,	
and a review of the papers and actions from the Property Review Group (see below).

Monthly Property Review Group	–	A	meeting	of	the	Executive	Board	and	senior	Property	and	Finance	management,	tasked	at	
undertaking a review of the Property Portfolio. This includes occupancy levels, tenancy changes, adherence to payment terms and bad 
debt levels, and Health and Safety and IT related matters.

Monthly CitiPark Board Meeting	–	a	meeting	of	the	Executive	Board	and	senior	CitiPark,	Property,	and	Finance	management,	tasked 
at reviewing the performance of the CitiPark business, including key risks and areas such as IT and Health and Safety. 

Joint Venture Board Meetings	–	Formal	Board	structures	and	quarterly	Board	meetings	are	in	place	for	the	Company’s	two	main	joint	
venture companies; Merrion House LLP and Belgravia Living Group Ltd.

YourParkingSpace.co.uk (‘YPS’)	–	Following	investment	in	YPS,	TCS	Board	Directors	sit	on	the	Board	of	YPS,	which	meets	formally 
on a quarterly basis.

Our Principal Risk Register is summarised as follows:

Risk

Likelihood

Impact

Change YOY

Macro Economic

Economic and Political Outlook

High

Medium

No Change

Corporate

Strategy

People

Systems, Process and Financial Management

GDPR

Regulatory and Tax Framework

Major	Incident	/	Business	Disruption

Property

Investment Risk

Development Risk

Valuation Risk

Tenant and Sector Risk

Financing

Capital and Financial Risk

Cost of Debt

Low

Low

Low

Low

Low

Low

Medium

Low

Low

Medium

Low

High

High

High

High

High

High

High

Low

High

Medium

Medium

No Change

No Change

Improving

Improving

Improving

No Change

Improving

No Change

Improving

Worsening

High

No Change

Medium

Improving

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TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

65

Corporate Governance
Risk Management

MACRO-ECONOMIC RISKS

Economic and Political Outlook

CORPORATE RISKS

Strategy

The Risk: 
A broad economic downturn, potentially as a result of Brexit, 
or broader cyclical reasons.

The Risk: 
The Company’s strategy is inappropriate for the current stage of 
the property cycle and the economic climate.

Likelihood: 
High. 

Likelihood: 
Low.

Impact: 
Medium. Impact could be seen in tenant failures, falling asset 
values, rising debt costs, or less debt availability.

Impact: 
High. Impact would be in the ultimate form of lower profits and 
therefore a pressure on dividend and shareholder return.

Mitigation: 
An economic downturn at some point in the cycle is inevitable, 
with the risk accentuated as a result of Brexit. TCS would not 
escape the impact of an economic downturn, however specific 
mitigating factors for TCS include:

-  Rents paid in advance, and with a steady and predictable    
  property income stream, we should be better protected from  
  sudden shifts in the economy

-  We have a market leading level of occupancy and a long  
  history of ensuring payment on time from tenants

-  We do not generally undertake speculative developments,   

therefore minimising risk in that part of the business

-  The CitiPark business is more susceptible to quicker changes  
in income and would need closer management. However,   
  with a concentrated portfolio of Car Parks in highly sought-  
  after locations we believe demand is unlikely to swing  
  dramatically

-  With new bank agreements in place ranging from 3 to 5 years  
in length, and the long-term debenture accounting for c60%  

  of our debt we are well protected from changes in the  

lending markets

Movement in year: 
No change.

Mitigation: 
The Board undertakes regular reviews of the Strategy and 
believe the following help mitigate risk:

-  All key decisions are reviewed and approved at Board level

-  The strategy of developing diverse multi-use sites and  
lowering exposure to retail helps to mitigate the risk

-  The experience and expertise of the team, particularly in  
relation to the property markets of Leeds and Manchester 
is a key strength

-  The presence of the Ziff Concert Party ensures a strong  
  alignment of management and shareholder aims

Movement in year: 
No change.

People

The Risk: 
The inability to attract and retain high calibre staff.

Likelihood: 
Low.

Impact: 
High. The ongoing success of the company is reliant upon the 
delivery and engagement of management and staff.

Mitigation. 
The company benefits from the long service of a number of 
key individuals, including family members of the Concert Party 
which helps guarantee stability. In addition:

-  Base salary packages are kept competitive within the market

-  The Remuneration Committee reviews succession plans and  
  pay levels annually

-  New recent appointments, including at Board level  
  demonstrate the attractiveness of the business to  
  new recruits at all levels

-  Continued financial success of the business combined with  
the development opportunities the company has makes the  

  Company attractive to new recruits

Movement in year: 
No change.

Wade House, Leeds

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Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate Governance
Risk Management

Systems, Processes and Financial Management

Regulatory and Tax Framework

The Risk: 
Weak controls putting at risk the protection of the Company’s 
assets and ability to deliver on its strategy.

Likelihood: 
Low.

Impact: 
High. Risk of financial loss, fraud, and suboptimal returns.

Mitigation: 
The company has a strong culture of safe-guarding assets, 
being conservative in its approach, and using professional 
experts to ensure risk levels are low:

-  IT systems are supported in house, and are updated as  
  necessary

-  A new property and accounting IT solution has been  

implemented in the last few years to ensure we remain 

  well controlled in this respect

-  A recent IT review highlighted opportunities to go  

further and actions are being taken to ensure we remain  
robust in this respect

-  Financial processes relating to cash are tight, robust, and    

regularly reviewed. Clear and separated authorisation  

  processes are in place and robustly adhered to

-  Insurance policies are fully in place to safe guard assets

-  Staff are trained in all aspects of cyber security and  
  penetration and phishing tests are carried out to test for  
  weaknesses

-  A summary of the internal financial control review 
  processes can be found in the Audit Committee report

Movement in year: 
Improving following audit and GDPR related actions.

GDPR

The Risk: 
Financial and reputational risk arising from a breach of GDPR regulations.

Likelihood: 
Low.

Impact: 
High. Potential fines and impact of customer trust are both 
significant.

Mitigation: 
Given the nature of the business we do not hold significant 
amounts of customer data, with the CitiPark business our 
highest risk area. That said, the company has taken seriously 
the requirements of the new legislation and have implemented 
a detailed action plan that has been reviewed at Board level. 
Key aspects include:

-  Updating all Privacy related statements and policies

-  Training all staff on theirs and the company’s responsibilities

-  Instigating an IT & Data Governance Committee to oversee all  
  aspects of GDPR and wider cyber security

-  Commissioned DLA to review the company’s plan and ensure  

it is fit for purpose

Movement in year: 
Improved following higher requirements of GDPR.

The Risk: 
Non-compliance with tax, legal, or regulatory obligations.

Likelihood: 
Low.

Impact: 
High. Risk of financial penalties, reputational damage, and 
incurring higher levels of cost than required.

Mitigation: 
The Company takes its legal responsibilities seriously. Matters 
are reviewed regularly at Board and Audit Committee level, and 
the company makes use of third party professional services to 
ensure compliance. Actions include:

-  Link Company Matters engaged as formal Company  
  Secretary for the business, with full Board attendance and in  
the giving of advice and recommendations to the Company

-  PwC are engaged as the Company’s tax advisors and are    
tasked with ensuring we remain compliant in all aspects of Tax

Movement in year: 
Improved following appointment of Link as Company Secretary.

Major Incident / Business Disruption

The Risk: 
The cost and business down-time as a result of a major incident.

Likelihood: 
Low.

Impact: 
High. Primarily the risk associated with disruption at the Merrion 
Centre, partly due to the proportion it makes up of the portfolio 
and partly as it houses the Company’s head office.

Mitigation: 
The provision of insurance across the portfolio is the main 
mitigation to this risk, with policies in place to protect income 
as a result of disruption. In terms of disruption to the head office 
the following actions are in place:

-  Key personnel have laptops to enable remote working

-  Back up procedures are in place to ensure minimal loss of   
  data in the event of damage to IT hardware

-  IT audit has recommended further protections which we  
  are in the process of putting in place

Movement in year: 
No Change.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

67

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate Governance
Risk Management

PROPERTY RISKS

Investment Risk

The Risk: 
New investment opportunities cannot be sourced at economic 
prices.

Likelihood: 
Medium.

Development Risk

The Risk: 
The potential risks arising from Development projects including 
keeping to cost estimates and renting newly developed 
properties.

Likelihood: 
Low.

Impact: 
Low. Although we are seeing signs of this within the market 
place, our strategy and mitigating actions minimise the impact.

Mitigation: 
The company has clear plans in place to minimise the impact 
of this risk. This includes:

-  For the majority of investment targets the Company is looking  

to position itself seeking assets of higher value than the  
  majority of individual investors, but lower than many of the  
larger property or overseas investors. (eg recent Chiswick    

  High Street purchase)

Impact: 
High. Scale of such projects inevitability means they are of 
material size to the Company.

Mitigation: 
The company has numerous actions in place to mitigate such 
risks including:

-  Build projects are generally contracted with third parties on 
  a fixed cost basis (eg recent Merrion House development)

-  Where possible the company will only undertake a  
  development where there is a significant level of pre-let  
  commitments

-  The Company looks to build strong relationships with other  
  Partners with the aim of generating opportunities that can   
  be exploited together. For example, our Belgravia Living PRS  
  venture, and our partnership with Leeds City Council to  
  develop George Street in Leeds

-  Where that is not possible (eg PRS residential investments) 
  a detailed market analysis will be undertaken, and the  
  Company will ensure that locations are in high demand and  
that target rental levels are achievable (eg Piccadilly Basin,   

  Manchester)

-  In addition, the existing portfolio has more than enough  
  development opportunity to ensure that the company has   

the opportunity to grow even if asset purchase prices  

  continue to rise

-  When in Joint Venture, formal Board structures are created  
  with at least quarterly meetings to review progress  
  and performance and to ensure that all development risks 
  are being appropriately managed

Movement in year: 
Improving following recent partnerships.

Piccadilly Basin, Manchester
Piccadilly Basin, Manchester

68

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Movement in year: 
No change.

Valuation Risk

The Risk: 
The impact on the business of a material devaluation in assets.

Likelihood: 
Low.

Impact: 
Medium.

Mitigation: 
The key mitigation to this risk is ensuring there is enough 
headroom in terms of uncharged assets of undrawn, charged 
facilities. Key actions include:

-  All three bank facilities renewed or extended in the June ’18,  
  extending the life of the facilities to between 3 and 5 years

-  All three facilities now able to take development and car park  
  assets, maximising our drawdown ability

-  In addition, Lloyds facility has removed any cap on such assets.

-  The long-term debenture provides protection specifically in  

the fact that asset cover can drop from the required 
1.67x to 1.5x without triggering a covenant break

-  The implementation of the Merrion House financing  
  agreement will further lower borrowing levels and gearing

Movement in year: 
Improving position given increased facility headroom.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate Governance
Risk Management

Tenant and Sector Risk

Cost of Debt

The Risk: Risk of individual tenant failures, or exposure to a 
specific sector.

The Risk: 
The financial impact of rising debt costs.

Likelihood: 
Medium.

Impact: 
Medium.

Likelihood: 
High.

Impact: 
Medium.

Mitigation: 
The following actions help mitigate the risk to the Company:

-  Fixed long term debenture borrowing in place to 2031  
  accounts for over 50% of debt

-  Having renewed or extended all three bank facilities in  

June ’18, bank margins are locked in for 3-5 years

-  Covenant testing highlights the significant amount of income  

to interest headroom the company has

-  Moving Libor rates will impact the Company’s P&L and the   
  Board takes this into account when considering   
  3-year budgets and affordability

Movement in year: 
Improved following bank re-financings.

GOING CONCERN

The Directors confirm that they have a reasonable expectation 
that the Company has adequate resources to continue in 
operational existence for at least 12 months from the signing 
of these financial statements. This confirmation is made having 
taken into account the Company’s latest rolling forecast, in 
particular the cash flows, borrowings and undrawn facilities. 
Furthermore, the Directors consider headroom under the 
Company’s financial covenants, and its options for recycling 
capital. The Board also consider the principal risks that could 
impact on the Company’s liquidity and solvency over the next 
12 months.

Based on the above, the Directors continue to adopt the going 
concern basis in preparing the accounts for the year ended 
30 June 2018.

Mitigation: 
Despite the recognised difficulties in Retail the risk remains low 
for the Company for the following reasons:

-  In the last 5 years the Company has significantly reduced    

its exposure to Retail from 78% to 58% of income at  

  December ’18

-  The Merrion Centre shift to a mixed-use asset, now only  
  depends upon Mall Retail for 24% of its income

-  We have a broad and diversified range of tenants with limited  
  exposure to individual tenants with our top tenants being    
  Leeds City Council, Waitrose, Morrisons and Pure Gym

-  CitiPark income helps further mitigate the reliance on specific  
  property tenants

Movement in year: 
Worsening given challenges in Retail market.

FINANCING RISKS

Capital and Financial Risk

The Risk: 
Company	has	insufficient	funds	/	lines	of	credit.

Likelihood: 
Low.

Impact: 
High.

Mitigation: 
The majority of mitigating actions are contained with the 
Valuation Risk category above. In addition:

-  The Board reviews cash balances, forecast cash flow,  
  borrowing levels and headroom on a monthly basis

-  The Company has long standing relationships with it’s banks,  
  and demonstrated during the last down turn the strength of  

its conservative approach and strong bank relationships

Movement in year: 
No change.

Urban Exchange, Manchester

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

69

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate Governance
Risk Management

VIABILITY STATEMENT

In accordance with the requirements of the UK Corporate Governance Code, the Board have assessed the prospects of the Company 
and future viability over a three-year period, longer than the 12 months required by the Going Concern provision. The Board conducted 
this review taking into account the Company’s long-term strategy, principle risks, attitude to risk, and the current health of the company’s 
finances, and future plans.

The Board conducted this review considering a three-year future period, consistent with the three-year budgeting process than the 
company undertakes annually. The three-year period allows the business to review cash flows, dividend cover, borrowing headroom 
and other key financial ratios. It also considers alternative scenarios, and it requires the business to have clarity on its approach to bank 
financing over a longer period.

In reviewing this longer term view the Board considers the risks covered in this Risk Management review. In particular the key risks 
identified are:

-  Changes in the Macro-economic environment effecting rental income levels and property values

-  Changes in level of Tenant and Sector risk effecting occupancy levels and lettings

-  Changes in availability of Capital effecting committed expenditure and investment transactions

The Board have also taken into consideration the strong current financial position and the secure, newly updated debt facilities. 

Based on the results of their review, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company will be able to continue in operation 
and meet its liabilities as they fall due over the three-year period of their assessment.

Man Behind the Curtain, Vicar Lane, Leeds (image courtesy of MBTC)

70

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Corporate Governance
Directors Remuneraton Report

Dear Shareholders, 

On behalf of the Board I am 
pleased to present the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report of the 
Remuneration Committee (the 
‘Committee’). The report is divided 
into three sections:

•	This	annual	statement	for	the	 	
  year ended 30 June 2018,  
  which summarises remuneration  
  outcomes and how the  
  Remuneration Policy will operate  
  for the year ending 30 June 2019

•	The	Remuneration	Policy		

Ian Marcus  
Chairman, Remuneration 
Committee

  Report, which details the Group’s policy on the remuneration  
  of Executive and Non-Executive Directors which was approved  
  by shareholders at the 2017 AGM

•	 The	Annual	Report	on	Remuneration	which	explains	how		 	

the Remuneration Policy was implemented in the year  
  ended 30 June 2018, and how the Remuneration Policy 
  will be implemented for the year ended 30 June 2019

As no changes are being proposed to the Remuneration Policy 
which was approved by shareholders last year, only the Annual 
Statement and Annual Report on Remuneration will be subject 
to a vote at the forthcoming 2018 AGM.

As the Remuneration Policy will not be subject to a vote at the 
2018 AGM, the Remuneration Policy report remains unchanged 
from 2017, with the addition of scenario charts which were 
disclosed in the Annual Report on Remuneration last year. 
This policy was approved at the 28 November 2017 AGM. 

Following the retirement of John Nettleton, I have taken over as 
Chairman of the Committee, which also includes Paul Huberman 
and Jeremy Collins. We formally met twice during the year.

Pay and performance during 2018 
In determining the bonus award levels for the year ended 
30 June 2018 the Remuneration Committee have taken full 
account of the progress made by the Company in the past year. 
Continued strong profit delivery and resultant dividend levels, 
combined with the material repositioning and strengthening of 
the portfolio, have made for a very successful year of change for 
the Company.

Bonus award for year ended 30 June 2018 
The maximum bonus for the Executive Directors was 
unchanged from 2017 at 60% of base salary. The Committee 
has	approved	actual	awards	in	the	region	of	40%	–	45%	of	base	
salary for 2018. 

The financial performance assessment considered the following 
achievements:

•	 EPRA	profit	broadly	maintained	year	on	year	(‘YOY’)	despite		
  significant portfolio change and improvement

•	 Profit	before	revaluation	of	£8.6m,	up	16.9%	YOY

•	 CitiPark	operating	profit	up	3.7%	YOY

•	 NAV	per	share	up	6.8%	YOY	at	384p

In addition to financial performance, the strength and security 
of the Group has been materially improved in the last year, with 
key factors being:

•	 Completion	and	refinancing	of	Merrion	House

•	 Reduction	in	exposure	to	Retail	to	55%	of	the	portfolio	from		
  70% in two years

•	 Complete	refinancing,	extension	and	terms	improvements 
  of all the bank facilities in the year

•	 Further	improving	the	quality	and	opportunity	of	the		
  development pipeline with the purchase of Ducie House,    
  Manchester, the partnership with Leeds City Council  
  on George Street, Leeds, and the advanced stage of  
  construction of Burlington House, Manchester

•	 Gains	from	asset	sales	above	valuation

•	 Net	increase	in	asset	valuation.	Although	this	is	often		
  market driven we suggest this improvement in valuation  

is largely as a result of management actions including the    
  strong management of assets such as the Merrion Centre,   
the achievement of detailed planning permissions within 
the development pipeline, and the increase in valuation of   

  more recently completely assets such as the two hotels

•	 Successful	recruitment	and	effective	induction	and		
integration of a new Group Finance Director, and  

  Non-Executive Director, and beginning the process of  

recruiting a new Property Director

Other activities and key decisions of the Committee during 
the year  
In accordance with its terms of reference, the Committee 
continues to review the remuneration policy periodically to 
seek to ensure a clear linkage between Executive Directors 
pay and Group performance. In reviewing the policy, the 
Committee not only assesses the alignment between policy, 
strategy and shareholder interests, but also the extent to which 
remuneration is sufficiently competitive to recruit, motivate and 
retain key talent. As part of this year’s review, the Committee 
commissioned Willis Towers Watson to undertake a market 
benchmarking exercise for sector peers of a similar size. Willis 
Towers Watson have no previous connection with the Company. 

As a result of this review the Committee has come to a number 
of conclusions;

•	 Overall	Maximum	Potential	Remuneration	(‘MPR’)	for		
  Executive Directors is low in comparison to the Company’s  
  property sector peers. Whilst base salaries are competitive,  
  maximum bonus opportunity is significantly lower than that  
  of peers

•	 Actual	remuneration	is	also	low	relative	to	peers,	with	an		
  average bonus pay-out of 18% of base salary over the last 5  
  years

•	 The	lack	of	a	Long-Term	Incentive	Plan	(‘LTIP’)	contributes 
to lower overall pay levels and means that remuneration  
  does not actively assist to align Executives to longer-term    
  shareholder interests

•	 Loan	to	Value,	after	Merrion	House	financing	down	to	45.3%		

from 49.3% last year

As a result of these conclusions the Committee has made the 
following decisions:

•	 Dividend	proposed	at	11.75p,	being	the	58th	year	without		

reduction, with the dividend being fully covered

•	 A	more	detailed	review	of	the	remuneration	policy	is	required		
to focus on reviewing the bonus opportunity and targets, and  
the potential introduction of an LTIP

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

71

 
 
	
 
 
 
	
 
	
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
 
 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate Governance
Directors Remuneraton Report

In	order	for	the	Committee	to	give	the	matter	due		

•	
  consideration, it is the Committee’s intention to continue 

this	review	during	the	2018/19	financial	year	with	a	view	to			

  setting forth proposals for our shareholders to consider at 

the 2019 AGM or before if appropriate

Implementation of the remuneration policy in 2019

•	 From	October	2018	salaries	will	increase	by	5%	for	Edward			
  Ziff, 5% for Mark Dilley, and 20% for Ben Ziff. These  
  award levels have been informed by the total remuneration  
  benchmarking exercise undertaken for the Remuneration    
  Committee

•	 The	annual	bonus	opportunity	will	remain	at	a	maximum	of		
  60% of salary. The bonus will be based on similar measures  

to 2018. The weightings, measures and targets will be  
  disclosed retrospectively in our subsequent report, owing 

to commercial sensitivity

•	 Pension	and	benefits	will	operate	as	per	2018	

Building on work carried out in 2018, we are continuing to 
improve the level of disclosure provided in the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report for the benefit of our shareholders. 

Board changes 
As aforementioned in this report, following Richard Lewis’ 
decision to retire, the Committee has undertaken a significant 
market exercise to appoint a replacement capable of continuing 
the excellent work undertaken by Richard to reposition the 
portfolio. As of 21 August 2018 we were delighted to announce 
the appointment of Lynda Shillaw as Property Director.

Lynda Shillaw will join the Company on a Salary of £395,000 pa, 
with benefits, pension contributions and bonus schemes to 
match Executive Directors Mark Dilley and Ben Ziff. This package 
was agreed following negotiation with Lynda and input from 
the executive search firm Thomas Cole Kinder to ensure an 
appropriate position was reached that benefited both Lynda 
and the Company. Lynda Shillaw will not receive any one-off 
awards nor share incentive or bonus buy-outs.

This report has been approved by the Board.

Ian Marcus 
Chairman of Remuneration Committee

72

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

REMUNERATION POLICY REPORT

Policy Report 
The Remuneration Committee implements the Group’s policy, 
which is to provide remuneration packages with fixed and 
variable elements that fairly award the Executive Directors for 
their contribution to the business. It seeks to ensure that the 
packages are sufficiently competitive to attract, retain and 
motivate the Directors to manage the Group successfully, 
without making excessive payments. The policy seeks to 
achieve the Group’s strategic and financial objectives by 
aligning the interests of the Directors and shareholders.

Fixed remuneration 
The fixed element of Directors’ remuneration comprises base 
salary, benefits and pension (see below for the pension). 
This element seeks to ensure that the Group attracts and retains 
appropriately talented individuals and provides a framework 
for them to save for retirement. The Committee considers the 
overall balance between the elements. Salaries are determined 
with regard to individual and Group performance and to market 
rates and comparable roles at comparable companies. Benefits 
principally comprise company cars or a salary alternative, 
permanent health and medical insurance premiums. 
The Chairman and Chief Executive receives re-imbursement 
of the costs of maintaining a flat in London which is regularly 
used for company meetings. The value of the benefits are not 
pensionable.

Edward Ziff and Richard Lewis receive no pension contributions.

The Group makes payments to a defined contribution scheme 
for Mark Dilley of 13% of salary and for Ben Ziff of 13% of salary.

Variable remuneration 
The Group operates an annual bonus plan under which 
awards are discretionary and the Committee considers the 
performance of each individual Director and of the Group in 
assessing the level of payments under the plan. In particular 
profit and growth in shareholder value (measured by the 
increase in net asset value per share and dividends paid as well 
as any increase in share value) were carefully considered by the 
Remuneration Committee in awarding the bonus reported when 
such increases were the result of Directors’ input. The maximum 
award is up to 60% of salary. This bonus is not pensionable. It is 
Group policy to reward exceptional growth or performance.

The Directors participate annually in the Share Incentive Plan (All 
Employee Incentive Plan) which was approved by shareholders 
in December 2003. The current investment limit is £1,800 per 
annum with a share matching element equal to 100% of the 
investment made subject to forfeiture should the individual 
cease to be employed during the first three years of the plan.

	
	
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate Governance
Directors Remuneraton Report

Service agreements and external appointments 
The Chairman and Chief Executive has a service contract that is subject to not less than 2 years notice. Richard Lewis has no service 
contract; Mark Dilley and Ben Ziff have service contracts with one years’ notice. The contracts provide for retirement at 65. The Group 
can discharge any obligation in relation to the unexpired portion of their notice period or any notice required to be given under their 
service	contracts	by	making	a	payment	in	lieu	thereof.	If	the	Group	terminates	the	contract	without	giving	notice	and/or	makes	a	
payment in lieu of any damages to which the Executive may be entitled the payment is to be calculated in accordance with common 
law principles including those relating to mitigation of loss and accelerated receipt. Executive Directors are permitted to accept 
Non-Executive appointments by prior arrangement and approval and provided there is no conflict with the Group’s objectives. 
All Non-Executive positions are listed in the Director’s biographies; none of the Executive Directors receive any remuneration for those activities.

Non-Executive Director Remuneration 
The Non-Executive Directors do not have service contracts. They are appointed for an initial three-year period and this may be renewed 
on expiry of that period. The Non-Executive Directors are not entitled to participate in bonus, or share based payments schemes or any 
other benefits.

Remuneration of other employees 
Remuneration of other employees is set at a level to attract, motivate and retain talented individuals. This may include a company car 
or car allowance as appropriate. Remuneration levels are recommended by the Executive Directors and noted by the Remuneration 
Committee. 

Employees are eligible to participate in the Group bonus scheme and the SIP scheme. The Group makes pension contributions for 
eligible employees at rates which vary depending on seniority. 

Consideration of shareholder views 
The Group welcomes comments on its remuneration from shareholders, although no such comments have been received during the 
year. These comments are reviewed by the Remuneration Committee who consider the comments particularly with a view to overall 
levels of remuneration.

Board Remuneration including theoretical maximum bonuses

Year ended 30 June 2018. £’000s

EM Ziff OBE DL

585

94

235

118

Salary (100%)

M Dilley

RA Lewis

CBA Ziff

313

326

159

45

128

64

25

131

66

35

76

25

Benefits including pension 
and SIP shares (100%)

Bonus (Paid)

Bonus (Unpaid)

£000

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1100

Note: The unpaid element of the bonus represents the difference between the maximum possible bonus award of 60% of salary 
and the actual amount awarded. 

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

73

Corporate Governance
Directors Remuneraton Report

ANNUAL REPORT ON REMUNERATION

Single Total Figure of Remuneration for each Director

The following table sets out the total single figure of remuneration for each Director for the years ended 30 June 2018 and 30 June 2017. 

Directors Remuneration

EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN 
AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE

SALARIES & FEES

BONUSES

TAXABLE BENEFITS

SIP SHARES

PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS

TOTAL

2018
£000

2017
£000

2018
£000

2017
£000

2018
£000

2017
£000

2018
£000

2017
£000

2018
£000

2017
£000

2018
£000

2017
£000

E M ZIFF OBE DL

585

571

235

115

92

121

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

M DILLEY

R A LEWIS

C B A ZIFF

D S SYERS

 NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

M A ZIFF 

P HUBERMAN

I MARCUS

J COLLINS

J A NETTLETON

Notes:

313

326

159

37

-

319

123

223

128

131

76

-

-

64

33

-

4

25

12

9

-

24

11

20

1,420

1,236

571

212

142

176

47

49

49

31

19

47

47

47

-

47

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

195

188

1,615

1,424

0

571

0

212

-

-

-

-

-

0

8

-

-

-

-

8

142

184

2

-

-

2

-

4

-

-

-

-

-

0

4

2

-

2

2

-

6

-

-

-

-

-

0

6

-

41

-

21

4

66

-

-

-

-

-

0

66

-

-

-

16

22

38

-

-

-

-

-

0

38

914

809

486

-

482

409

270

50

185

265

2,203

1,668

47

49

49

31

19

55

47

47

0

47

195

196

2,398

1,864

1. Taxable benefits include cash and non-cash benefits principally company cars or a cash alternative, permanent health and medical  
insurance premiums. The Chairman and Chief Executive receive re-imbursement of the costs of maintaining a flat in London which is  
regularly used for Company meetings. The value of the benefits are not pensionable. 

2. No long-term incentive plan was in operation for the relevant years although Directors were awarded shares under the Company SIP. 

3. EM Ziff and RA Lewis received no pension contribution. The Group makes payments to a Defined Contribution scheme for M Dilley  
(13% base salary) and C B A Ziff (13% base salary). 

4. Jeremy Collins joined the Board in February 2018. Duncan Syers and John Nettleton retired from the Board in September and  
November 2017 respectively.

Notes to the single figure table - Annual bonus targets and outcomes for 2018 

The current AGM approved bonus scheme allows for a maximum pay-out of 60% of base salary. 

For the year ended 30 June 2018, the Executive Directors received bonus pay-outs of 40-45% of salary (67-75% of the maximum).

The table below sets out the performance measures, targets and outcomes for the 2018 annual bonus:

WEIGHTING

TARGET
50% OF MAX

ACHIEVED

PAYOUT LEVEL
(% OF MAX)

EPRA Profit

Profit before Revaluation

NAV per share

Total Shareholder Return

Personal Targets

25%

20%

20%

10%

25%

7.2

7.2

368

5.0%

6.9

8.6

384

3.2%

WEIGHTED PAYOUT LEVEL

BONUS AS % SALARY

49%

82%

68%

32%

85%

67%

40%

The Committee has approved a cash bonus award of 40% of salary for Edward Ziff, Mark Dilley, and Richard Lewis, and 45% of salary for 
Ben Ziff. Actual pay-outs over the previous five years have averaged 18% of salary.

74

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
Corporate Governance
Directors Remuneraton Report

NON FINANCIAL TARGETS

The below identifies the key non financial targets that the 
Executive Board had as KPI metrics:

Chairman and Chief Executive 
•	 Continued	strong	dividends 
•	 Successful	succession	planning	for	Richard	Lewis 
•	

Improved	Investor	Relations	profile

Group Finance Director 
•	 Bank	re-financings	and	Merrion	House	financing	delivered 
•	 Successful	first	year	in	the	business	with	seamless	continuity 
•	

Improved	Investor	Relations	Profile

Property Director 
•	 Continued	asset	recycling	and	reduction	in	Retail	Exposure 
•	 Merrion	House	development	and	financing	completed 
•	 Next	phase	of	Development	Pipeline	unlocked

Managing Director, CitiPark 
•	
Improved	revenue	and	operating	profit	year	on	year 
•	 YPS	supported	and	challenged	to	prepare	for	next		

investment phase 
Identify	future	growth	opportunities	for	CitiPark	business 
•	
•	 Continue	to	participate	more	broadly	in	the	core	aspects 
  of the TCS business

Scheme interests awarded during the financial year 
Town Centre Securities Plc does not currently operate a long-
term incentive plan. It does operate an All Employee Share 
Incentive Plan, approved by shareholders in December 2003. 
The investment limit is £1,800 per annum with a share matching 
element equal to 100% of the investment made subject to 
forfeiture should the individual cease to be employed during 
the first three years of the plan.

In May 2018 Edward Ziff, Ben Ziff and Mark Dilley accepted an 
invitation to participate in the SIP by each agreeing to purchase 
shares to the value of £1,800, paid between June 2018 and 
November 2018. They will be eligible to receive “matching” 
shares on a one for one basis. The number of shares will be 
determined at the end of November 2018. For illustration, based 
on the share price as at 30 June 2018, this would equate to each 
Director receiving 625 partnership shares and 625 matching 
shares. In November 2017 Edward Ziff and Ben Ziff received 666 
partnership shares and 666 matching shares in respect of the 
2017 Share Incentive Plan. The total number of partnership and 
matching SIP shares beneficially held at 30 June 2017 is shown 
below.

EXECUTIVE

EDWARD ZIFF

MARK DILLEY

RICHARD LEWIS

BEN ZIFF

HOLDING OF PARTNERSHIP AND MATCHING
SIP SHARES ( 30 JUNE 2018)

6,514

0

5,182

6,514

Payments to past Directors/payments for loss of office 
There were no payments to past Directors or payments for loss 
of office during the financial year. 

Director’s Shareholdings 
The table below sets out the shares held by the Directors as at 
30 June 2018: 

EXECUTIVE

EDWARD ZIFF

RICHARD LEWIS

BEN ZIFF

MICHAEL ZIFF

BENEFICIAL

NON-BENEFICIAL

5,481,984

17,174,747

325,937

172,399

0

0

2,609,513

10,605,892

The non-beneficial interest disclosures include the 1,069,278 
ordinary shares over which a power of attorney has been 
granted by Mrs ME Ziff jointly to Edward and Michael Ziff for 
personal estate management reasons and 6,133,932 ordinary 
shares over which a power of attorney has been granted by 
AL Manning to Edward Ziff for personal estate management 
reasons. Non-beneficial holdings include shares held in trust 
and under powers of attorney.

The above non-beneficial shareholding for Michael Ziff reduced 
on 10 August 2018 to 9,324,033 as a result of him no longer 
being trustee for a holding of 1,281,859 ordinary shares, as 
announced on that date. 

Edward Ziff, Richard Lewis and Mark Dilley are Directors of TCS 
Trustees Limited, Trustee for the shares that are required for 
the All Employee Share Incentive Plan. At 30 June 2018, TCS 
Trustees Limited held 9,782 ordinary shares (2017: 24,490) 
on behalf of all participants including those share awards of 
Executive Directors shown above.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

75

	
 
Corporate Governance
Directors Remuneraton Report

Performance graph and table 
The following graph shows the Company’s Total Shareholder Return (‘TSR’) performance compared to the FTSE All Share REIT Index, 
over the nine years ended 30 June 2018. This index has been chosen because the Directors consider it the most appropriate comparison 
and TCS is a constituent of this list. This chart illustrates the movement in value of a hypothetical investment of £100 in TCS and the FTSE 
All Share REIT index.

Town Centre Securities

FTSE All Share REIT Index

£400

£350

£300

£250

£200

£150

£100

£50

£0

Jun 09

Jun 10

Jun 10

Jun 12

Jun 13

Jun 14

Jun 15

Jun 16

Jun 17

Jun 18

Source: DataStream (Thomson Reuters)

Over the long-term TCS has outperformed FTSE All Share REIT companies. On a 5-year basis TCS TSR was 14.1% versus the FTSE All 
Share REIT at 10.2%. On a 10-year basis TCS TSR was 9.1% versus the FTSE All Share REIT at 4.9%.

The table below sets out the total remuneration and incentive plan pay-outs for the Executive Chairman and CEO over a nine-year 
period. 

YEAR

2017-18

2016-17

2015-16

2014-15

2013-14

2012-13

2011-12

2010-11

2009-10

SINGLE TOTAL FIGURE 
OF REMUNERATION
(000’S)

ANNUAL BONUS 
PAY-OUT
(% OF MAXIMUM)

914

809

718

782

784

604

672

669

1,498

40%

20%

10%

30%

33%

0%

13%

23%

0%

76

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Corporate Governance
Directors Remuneraton Report

Percentage change in remuneration of Executive Chairman 
and Chief Executive Officer

The table below sets out a comparison of the percentage 
change in base salary, benefits and bonus of the Executive 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer versus the total employee 
population from 2017 to 2018. 

YEAR

EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN 
AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE 
OFFICER (%)

AVERAGE PAY FOR 
EMPLOYEES1

SALARY % CHANGE

TAXABLE BENEFITS % CHANGE

ANNUAL BONUS % CHANGE

2.5%

(24.0%)

104.3%

5.4%

23.0%

216%

1Average pay for employees is calculated on a like for like basis 
for comparison purposes.

Relative importance of spend on pay

The table below shows how expenditure on total pay compares 
to other financial outgoings.

2017
(£000)

4,622

5,928

2018 
(£000)

% 
CHANGE

4,711

6,114

1.9%

3.1%

STAFF REMUNERATION COSTS

DIVIDENDS TO SHAREHOLDERS

External appointments 

None of the Executive Directors have other external 
appointments for which they are paid. Edward Ziff is the unpaid 
Chair and Trustee of Leeds Cares. 

Implementation of the remuneration policy for 2019

The following table outlines how TCS intends to implement the remuneration policy in the year ending 30 June 2019. 

Component

Implementation for 2019

Base Salary

The Committee has approved the following increases effective from 1 October 2018: 

•	 5%	increase	for	EM	Ziff	and	M	Dilley

•	 20%	increase	for	CBA	Ziff	based	on	the	strong	performance	of	CitiPark,	contribution	to	the	business	as	a		
  whole, and bench marking

•	 RA	Lewis	is	retiring	therefore	will	receive	no	increase

Benefits 

Benefits provisions will be as per 2018, to include cash and non-cash benefits principally company cars or a cash 
alternative, permanent health and medical insurance premiums. The Chairman and Chief Executive receive 
re-imbursement of the costs of maintaining a flat in London which is regularly used for company meetings.

Pension 

EM Ziff does not receive a contribution. The Group makes payments to a Defined Contribution scheme 
for M Dilley (13% base salary) and CBA Ziff (13% base salary).

Annual Bonus 

Maximum opportunity 60% base salary (unchanged) 
The measures and weightings applying to the 2019 bonus will be similar to those used in 2018 and will be 
disclosed in next year’s report owing to commercial sensitivity.

SIP

Executive Directors will continue to participate in the SIP.

NED Fees

A 5% increase in fees for Non-Executive Directors has been agreed. This is the first inflationary increases to 
NED fees since 2011.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

77

 
 
 
	
Corporate Governance
Directors Remuneraton Report

Consideration by the Directors of matters relating to 
Directors’ remuneration 

The Remuneration Committee formally met twice during the 
year and following Directors were members of the Committee 
during 2018: 

•	

Ian	Marcus

•	 Paul	Huberman

•	 Jeremy	Collins	

The key activities of the Committee during the year were: 

•	 Approving	the	bonus	outcome	for	2017

•	 Approving	the	salary	increases	for	2018

•	 Setting	the	bonus	targets	for	2018

•	 Following	the	end	of	the	financial	year	appointing	Willis		
  Towers Watson to advise on pay benchmarking, corporate   
  governance and remuneration reporting, and LTIP schemes

•	 Updating	the	Terms	of	Reference	

Statement of voting in relation to the 2017 AGM 

REMUNERATION 
POLICY

ANNUAL REPORT ON
REMUNERATION

VOTES FOR

VOTES AGAINST

94%

6%

91%

9%

This report was approved by the Board on 26 September 2018.

Ian Marcus 
Chairman Remuneration Committee

78

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

	
Corporate Governance
Report of the Directors

The Directors present their report for the year ended 30 June 2018.

Principal Activities 
The principal activities of the Group during the financial year 
remained those of property investment, development and 
trading and the provision of car parking.

Company Status 
Town Centre Securities Plc is a public limited liability company 
incorporated under the laws of England and Wales. It has 
premium listing on the London Stock Exchange main market 
for listed securities (LON: TOWN).

Results for the year and dividends 
The results for the year are set out in the Consolidated Income 
Statement on page 86.

An interim dividend of 3.25p per share was paid on 22 June 
2018 as a PID. The Directors now propose a payment of a 
final dividend of 8.50p per share as a PID for approval of the 
shareholders at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting 
(‘AGM’). The proposed final dividend will be paid on 4 January 
2019 to ordinary shareholders on the register at the close of 
business on 7 December 2018.

Political Donations 
The Group made no political contributions in the financial year 
(2017: nil).

Taxation 
The Company is not a close company.

Directors and Directors’ Interests 
The Directors of the Company and their biographical details 
are shown on page 52. None of the Directors have any 
contracts of significance with the Company. Details of the 
Executive Directors’ service contracts are given in the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report on page 73.

Beneficial and non-beneficial interests of the Directors in the 
shares of the Company as at 30 June 2018 are disclosed in 
the Directors’ Remuneration Report on page 75. Details of the 
interests of the Directors in share options and awards of shares 
can be found within the same report.

In accordance with the Company’s Articles of Association 
CBA Ziff and P Huberman will retire by rotation at the Company’s 
AGM on 20 November 2018. CBA Ziff and P Huberman will offer 
themselves for re-election.

A summary of the Corporate and financial risk management 
assessment and policies is reviewed in the Risk Management 
section of this report beginning on Page 64.

Service agreements of Executive Directors and terms of 
conditions of Non-Executive Directors are available for 
inspection at Company’s registered office.

Non-current assets 
Details of movements in non-current assets are set out in Note 
12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Investment properties are held at fair value and were revalued 
by Jones Lang LaSalle and CBRE as at 30 June 2018, on the 
basis of open market value, or were revalued by the Directors. 
The key assumptions are set out in Note 12 to the Consolidated 
Financial Statements. In arriving at the valuation, each property 
has been valued individually.

Share Capital 
There were no changes in the Company’s issued share capital 
during the year as set out in Note 23 to the Consolidated 
Accounts. At 30 June 2018, there were 53,161,950 Ordinary 
shares of 25p per share in issue and fully paid. The Company 
does not hold any Ordinary shares in treasury. Further details 
relating to share capital are set out in Note 23 to the financial 
statements.

Purchase of own shares 
The Company did not purchase any of its own shares during 
the year.

At the forthcoming AGM the Company will be seeking to 
renew its authority to purchase up to 15% of the ordinary shares 
in issue, assuming the remaining authority is fully utilised. 
Shares will only be purchased if the Board believes it can take 
advantage of stock market conditions to enhance returns for 
the remaining shareholders.

Shareholder Voting Rights 
The Company has only one type of Ordinary share class in issue 
and all shares have equal entitlement to voting rights 
and dividend distributions.

The Company has no share option schemes in current 
operation and there are no unexercised options outstanding 
at 30 June 2018.

Power of Directors 
The Directors manage the business of the Company under the 
powers set out in the Company’s Articles of Association (the 
‘Articles’) and those contained within relevant UK legislation.

Directors’ indemnity insurance 
In accordance with the Company’s Articles of Association, the 
Company has provided to all the Directors an indemnity (to the 
extent permitted by the Companies Act 2006) in respect of 
liabilities incurred as a result of their office and the Company 
has taken out an insurance policy in respect of those liabilities. 
Neither the indemnity nor insurance provide cover in the 
event that the Director is proven to have acted dishonestly or 
fraudulently. The Company has appropriate Directors’ & Officers’ 
Liability insurance cover in respect of potential legal actions 
against the Directors.

2018 Annual General Meeting 
A Notice of Meeting can be found on pages 119 to 120 
explaining the business to be considered at the AGM on 20 
November 2018 at 10.00am. This will include renewal of the 
Company’s authority to purchase, in the market, its own shares 
and allot shares for cash other than on a pre-emptive basis to 
existing shareholders.

Going Concern 
After consideration of future trading activities and making 
appropriate enquiries, including a review of forecasts, budgets 
and banking facilities, the Directors can confirm that they are 
satisfied that the Company and the Group have adequate 
resources to continue in operational existence for the 
foreseeable future. The Directors also considered principal 
risks and uncertainties in the business and the market. For this 
reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in 
preparing the Financial Statements.

Independent Auditors 
The auditors, BDO LLP, have indicated their willingness to 
continue in office, and a resolution that they be re-appointed 
will be proposed at the AGM.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

79

Corporate Governance
Report of the Directors and Statement of the Directors’ Responsibilities

Relationship Agreements 
In accordance with the UK Listing Rules, the Company has 
entered into an agreement with the Ziff family Concert Party 
which, as it controls more than 30% of the Group’s total issued 
share capital, is deemed a controlling Shareholder. The relationship 
agreement is intended to ensure the controlling Shareholder 
complies with the independence provisions in Listing Rule 
9.2.2A.

Under the terms of the relationship agreement, the Principal 
Concert Party Shareholders (Mr E Ziff and Mr M Ziff) have 
agreed to procure the compliance of other individual members 
of the Ziff family Concert Party who are treated as controlling 
shareholders with independence obligations in the relationship 
agreement. The Ziff family concert party, as controlling 
shareholders of the Company, have a combined aggregate 
holding of approximately 52% of the Company’s voting rights.

The Board confirms that, since the entry into the relationship 
agreement until 26 September 2018, being the latest practicable 
date prior to the publication of this annual report and accounts:

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities 
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual 
Report, the Directors’ Remuneration Report and the Financial 
Statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare Financial 
Statements for each financial year. Under that law the Directors 
have prepared the Group Financial Statements in accordance 
with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as 
adopted by the European Union, and the Parent Company 
Financial Statements in accordance with United Kingdom 
Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom 
Accounting Standards and applicable law). 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 the 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

•	 The	Company	has	complied	with	the	independence		
  provisions included in the relationship agreement

•	 Make	judgements	and	accounting	estimates	that	are		

reasonable and prudent

•	 So	far	as	the	Company	is	aware,	the	independence	provisions		
included in the relationship agreement have been complied  
  with by the Ziff family concert party and their associates; and

•	 So	far	as	the	company	is	aware,	the	procurement	obligation		
included in the relationship agreement has been complied  

  with by the Principal Concert Party Shareholders

Substantial Shareholdings 
As at 26 September 2018, being the last practicable date, the 
Company had been notified, in accordance with the UK Listing 
Authority’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, that 
the shareholders in the table below held, or were beneficially 
interested in, 3% or more of the voting rights in the Company’s 
issued share capital:

NUMBER OF 
SHARES

% OF ISSUED 
CAPITAL

ZIFF CONCERT PARTY

27,520,474

51.77%

NEW FORTRESS FINANCE HOLDINGS LTD

3,736,000

7.03%

Post-Balance Sheet Events 
Details of events which have occurred since 30 June 2018 and 
up to the date of this report are disclosed in note 24 to the 
consolidated financial statements on page 107.

The Directors’ Report was approved by the Board on 
26 September 2018.

By order of the Board.

Link Company Matters Limited 
Company Secretary 
26 September 2018

80

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

•	 State	whether	IFRS	as	adopted	by	the	European	Union	and		
  applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed,    
  subject to any material departures disclosed and explained  
in the Group and Parent Company Financial Statements  
respectively; and

•	 Prepare	the	financial	statements	on	a	going	concern	basis			
  unless it is inappropriate to assume that the 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 the Group and 
enable them to ensure that the Financial Statements and the 
Directors’ Remuneration Report comply with the Companies 
Act 2006 and, as regards the Group Financial Statements, 
Article 4 of the IAS Regulation. The Directors are also responsible 
for safeguarding the assets of the Company and the Group 
and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and 
detection of fraud and other irregularities.

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

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and 
integrity	of	the	Company’s	website	https://tcs-plc.co.uk/.	
Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation 
and dissemination of Financial Statements may differ from 
legislation in other jurisdictions.

Each of the Directors, whose names and functions are listed 
on page 52, confirms that, to the best of their knowledge:

•	 The	financial	statements,	prepared	in	accordance	with	the			
  applicable set of accounting standards, give a true and fair  
  view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or   

loss of the Company taken as a whole; and

•	 The	Strategic	Report	include	a	fair	review	of	the	development		
  and performance of the business and position of the  
  Company, together with a description of the principal  

risks and uncertainties that it faces

	
 
 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate Governance
Statement of the Directors’ Responsibilities

Vicar Lane, Leeds

The Directors consider the Annual Report and Accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable and the information 
provided to the shareholders is sufficient to allow them to assess the Company’s performance, business model and strategy.

This responsibility statement for the year ended 30 June 2018 was approved by the Board on 26 September 2018.

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

This Strategic Report was approved by order of the Board on 26 September 2018.

Edward Ziff OBE DL 
Chairman and Chief Executive

26 September 2018

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

81

•	 The	Directors’	statement	set	out	on	page	79	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;

•	 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	70	in	the	annual		
report 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. These matters included 
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.

Independent Auditor’s Report

Opinion 
We have audited the financial statements of Town Centre 
Securities Plc (the ‘parent company’) and its subsidiaries (the 
‘Group’) for the year ended 30 June 2018 which comprise the 
consolidated income statement, the consolidated statement 
of comprehensive income, the consolidated and company 
balance sheets, the consolidated and company statements 
of changes in equity, the consolidated cash flow statement 
and the 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 including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The 
Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic 
of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting 
Practice).

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 2018 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	set	out	on	page	64	that		
  describe the principal risks and explain how they are being  
  managed or mitigated

•	 The	Directors’	confirmation	set	out	on	page	79	in	the	annual		
report 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; 

82

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Independent Auditor’s Report

Valuation of the Group’s property interests

Risk

Response

The valuation of the Group’s property interests (pages 54 to 55) 
is the key driver of the Group’s net asset value and underpins 
the results for the year.

These interests, totalling £399.5m (2017: £377.1m) consist of 
investment and development properties, car park fixed assets, 
and interests in joint ventures; being the Group’s share of the 
fair value of investment and development properties within 
these entities. 

All interests in property as listed above are subject to 
independent revaluation to open market value at each 
reporting date by third party valuation experts.

Due to the diverse nature of the Group’s property portfolio, 
incorporating a range of geographical areas and industry 
sectors, there are a number of different assumptions made by 
the Group’s external valuers in determining fair value.

The valuation of the Group’s interests, including those held 
in joint ventures, depends on the individual nature of each 
property, including its location, and the rental income it 
generates. The assumptions on which the valuations are based 
are further influenced by quality of tenant, prevailing market 
yields and comparable market transactions.

Development properties are valued using the residual appraisal 
method, which estimates the fair value of the completed 
project, including a suitable developers profit and deductions 
for expected costs to complete.

Both of these valuation methods require significant judgement 
and estimations to be applied by management and the 
external valuers increasing the inherent risk in this area.

We consider this to be a significant risk area as small 
percentage changes in each key assumption could materially 
affect the carrying value of the assets concerned.

Our audit approach to this area included an 
assessment of the external valuation experts and 
their objectivity, independence and qualifications to 
undertake this work.

We confirmed that valuations had been performed 
on bases consistent with practices approved by 
the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (“RICS”) 
and the requirements of IFRS and United Kingdom 
Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

We tested a sample of the key inputs used in the 
valuation calculations by agreeing underlying 
data used to internal tenancy schedules, capital 
expenditure details and lease terms, which 
were agreed back to appropriate supporting 
documentation. This indicated no difference in 
internal data used to that used within the valuation 
calculations.

We attended meetings with the experts to further 
understand the methodology applied and challenge 
them on any key assumptions made. In doing 
this we considered movements in yield that were 
outside of a tolerable range based on our own and 
wider market expectations. From these discussions 
and comparison to other market data available 
there were no indications of any bias on the part of 
the valuation experts and all key movements were 
appropriately justified.

For development properties we agreed that the 
costs to complete incorporated into the residual 
value calculations were consistent with the actual 
development plans in place. We considered the 
accuracy of the development project forecasts by 
considering historic estimates of costs to complete.

Our application of materiality 
We apply the concept of materiality both in planning and performing our audit, and in evaluating the effect of misstatements. For 
planning, we consider materiality to be the magnitude by which misstatements, individually or in aggregate and 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 £4,000,000 (2017: £3,900,000) and for the parent company 
£3,500,000 (2017: £3,300,000). This was determined with reference to a benchmark of total non-current assets (of which it represents 
1 per cent (2017: 1 per cent)), which we consider to be one of the principal considerations for members of the company in assessing 
the financial performance of a property investment Group.

International Standards on Auditing (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 for the Group of £350,000 (2017: £440,000) to apply to all classes of transactions and balances excluding non-
current assets, any property revaluation movements, gains or losses on disposal of properties and changes in the fair value of financial 
instruments. For the parent company financial statements this was set at £300,000. This lower level of materiality was set with reference 
to	a	benchmark	of	profit	after	taxation	excluding	investment	and	development	property	revaluations,	gains/losses	on	investing	and	
trading property disposals and changes in the fair value of financial instruments (of which it represents 5%) which we consider to be 
a key consideration in assessing the financial performance of the business.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

83

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	59	–		 	

the statement by the Directors that they consider the  

  annual report and financial statements taken as a whole is   

fair, balanced and understandable and provides the  
information necessary for shareholders to assess the  
  Group’s performance, business model and strategy,  

is materially inconsistent with our knowledge obtained in the  

  audit; or

•	 Audit committee reporting	set	out	on	page	62	–	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	59	–	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 those reports have been prepared in accordance with   
  applicable legal requirements

•	 The	information	about	internal	control	and	risk	management		
  systems in relation to financial reporting processes and about  
  share capital structures, given in compliance with rules 7.2.5  
  and 7.2.6 in the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules  
  sourcebook made by the Financial Conduct Authority  

(the FCA Rules), is consistent with the financial statements   
  and has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal  

requirements; and

Information	about	the	company’s	corporate	governance		

•	
  code and practices and about its administrative,   
  management and supervisory bodies and their committees  
  complies with rules 7.2.2, 7.2.3 and 7.2.7 of the FCA Rules 

Independent Auditor’s Report

Performance materiality was set at 65% of the above materiality 
levels which we have determined by reference to the number 
of components, the errors identified in prior years and our 
accumulated knowledge of the business.

The Group operates through a number of legal entities, which 
form reporting components. Audits have been performed 
over all components of the Group by the group audit team. 
Significant components were defined as those reporting 
components contributing more than 15% towards group 
assets, turnover or profits. Component materiality on those 
significant components was set at levels between £170,000 
and £1,770,000 (2017: £140,000 and £1,804,000) with specific 
materiality being set between £100,000 and £270,000 
(2017: £139,000 and £394,000).

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report 
to the committee all individual audit differences in excess of 
£20,000 (2017: £50,000). We also agreed to report differences 
below this threshold 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, and assessing the risks of material 
misstatement in the financial statements. We also addressed 
the risk of management override of internal controls, including 
assessing whether there was evidence of bias by the Directors 
that may have represented a risk of material misstatement due 
to fraud.

The Group operates solely in the United Kingdom and the 
financial information relating to the parent company and all 
other material components of the Group were subject to full 
scope audit by the Group audit team.

Other information 
The other information comprises the information included 
in the annual report set out on pages 6 to 81, including the 
Strategic Report, the Directors’ Report, the Chairman and Chief 
Executive’s Statement, the Corporate Social Responsibility 
Statement, the Sustainability Report, the Valuers’ Reports, the 
Corporate Governance Report and the Directors’ Remuneration 
Report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s 
report thereon. The Directors are responsible for the other 
information. 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.

84

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
Independent 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 the 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;	or

•	 The	information	about	internal	control	and	risk	management		
  systems in relation to financial reporting processes and about  
  share capital structures, given in compliance with rules 7.2.5  
  and 7.2.6 of the FCA Rules

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; or

•	 A	corporate	governance	statement	has	not	been	prepared 
  by the parent company

Responsibilities of Directors 
As explained more fully in the Directors’ responsibilities 
statement set out on page 80, 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.

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.

Other matters which we are required to address 
Following a recommendation of the Audit Committee we were 
reappointed by the shareholders on 28 November 2017 to audit 
the financial statements for the year ending 30 June 2018. 

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

26 September 2018

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

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

85

 
 
Financial Statements 
Consolidated income statement

For the year ended 30 June 2018

Gross revenue

Property expenses

NET REVENUE

Administrative expenses

Other income

Valuation movement on investment properties

Reversal of impairment of car parking assets

Profit on disposal of investment properties

Share of post tax profits from joint ventures

OPERATING PROFIT

Finance costs

PROFIT BEFORE TAXATION

Taxation

PROFIT FOR THE YEAR ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF THE PARENT

EARNINGS PER SHARE 

Basic and diluted

EPRA (non-GAAP measure)

DIVIDENDS PER SHARE 

Paid during the year

Proposed

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

For the year ended 30 June 2018

Profit for the year

ITEMS THAT MAY BE SUBSEQUENTLY RECLASSIFIED TO PROFIT OR LOSS

Revaluation	(losses)/gains	on	car	parking	assets

Revaluation gains on other investments

Total other comprehensive income

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR

Notes

2018
£000

2017
£000

3

3

4

7

14

8

9

11

11

10

10

 30,178

 27,540

(10,896)

(8,148)

19,282

19,392

(6,574)

(6,295)

888

707

5,932

(2,085)

1,300

1,000

1,677

3,757

303

1,342

26,262

14,364

(7,887)

(7,639)

18,375

6,725

-

-

18,375

6,725

34.6p

13.0p

11.50p

8.5p

12.7p

13.2p

11.15p

8.25p

2018
£000

2017 
£000

18,375

6,725

(350)

1,136

786

100

324

424

19,161

7,149

All profit and total comprehensive income for the year is attributable to owners of the Parent. The Notes on pages 90 to 108 are an integral part 
of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

86

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
 
 
 
Financial Statements 
Consolidated balance sheet

For the year ended 30 June 2018

NON-CURRENT ASSETS

PROPERTY RENTAL

Investment properties

Investments in joint ventures

CAR PARK ACTIVITIES

Freehold and leasehold properties

Goodwill

Investments

Fixtures, equipment and motor vehicles

TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS

Investments

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

TOTAL ASSETS

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Trade and other payables

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

Financial liabilities

TOTAL LIABILITIES

NET ASSETS

EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE OWNERS OF THE PARENT

Called up share capital

Share premium account

Capital redemption reserve

Revaluation reserve

Retained earnings

Total equity

Notes

2018
£000

2017
£000

12

14

12

13

15

12

15

16

336,311

326,771

39,742

27,852

 376,053 

354,623

 23,423 

22,495

 4,024 

 2,125 

4,024

1,950

 29,572 

28,469

 1,544 

1,972

 407,169 

385,064

 3,530 

2,394

 6,288 

 5,473 

3,311

3,124

15,291 

8,829

422,460 

393,893

17

(20,278)

(10,846)

(20,278)

(10,846)

18

(198,057)

(191,969)

(218,335)

(202,815)

204,125

191,078

23

 13,290 

13,290

 200 

 559 

 250 

200

559

600

 189,826 

176,429

 204,125 

191,078

NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE

21

384p

359p

The financial statements on pages 86 to 108 were approved by the Board of Directors on 26 September 2018 and signed on its behalf by:

E M ZIFF OBE 
Chairman and Chief Executive

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

87

Financial Statements 
Consolidated statement of changes in equity

For the year ended 30 June 2018

BALANCE AT 1 JULY 2016

13,290

 200

 559

500

 175,308

 189,857

Called up
share 
capital 
£000

Share 
premium 
account 
£000

Capital
redemption 
reserve 
£000

Revaluation 
reserve 
£000

Retained 
earnings 
£000

Total 
equity
£000

Comprehensive income for the year 

Profit

Other comprehensive income

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR

Contributions by and distributions to owners

Final dividend relating to the year ended 30 June 2016

Interim dividend relating to the year ended 30 June 2017

BALANCE AT 30 JUNE 2017

Comprehensive income for the year

Profit

Other comprehensive income

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR

Contributions by and distributions to owners

Final dividend relating to the year ended 30 June 2017

Interim dividend relating to the year ended 30 June 2018

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

100

100

-

-

6,725

324

7,049

6,725

424

7,149

(4,200)

(4,200)

(1,728)

(1,728)

13,290

200

559

600

176,429

191,078

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

18,375

18,375

(350)

 1,136 

786 

(350) 

 19,511 

 19,161 

-

-

(4,386)

(4,386)

(1,728)

(1,728)

BALANCE AT 30 JUNE 2018

13,290

200

559

 250 

 189,826 

 204,125 

88

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
Financial Statements 
Consolidated cash flow statement

For the year ended 30 June 2018

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Cash generated from operations

Interest paid

Net cash generated from operating activities

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES 

Purchase and construction of investment properties

Refurbishment of investment properties

Payments for leasehold property improvements

Purchases of fixtures, equipment and motor vehicles

Proceeds from sale of investment properties

Proceeds from sale of fixed assets

Payments for acquisition of non-listed investments

Investments in joint ventures

Distributions received from joint ventures

Net cash used in investing activities

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES 

Proceeds from non-current borrowings

Dividends paid to shareholders

Net	cash	generated	(used	in)/generated	from	financing	activities

NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF THE YEAR

Cash and cash equivalents at the year end are comprised of the following:  

Cash

The Consolidated Cash Flow Statement should be read in conjunction with Note 25.

2018

2017

Notes

£000

£000

£000

£000

25

 14,235

(7,595)

 18,159

(8,051)

6,640

10,108

(900)

(1,806)

(153)

(340)

7,534

-

(175)

(8,809)

676

5,796

(6,114)

(12,136)

(10,612)

(498)

(586)

21,574

61

(1,950)

(4,250)

1,031

(3,973)

(7,366)

7,197

(5,928)

(318)

2,349

3,124

5,473

5,473

5,473

1,269

4,011

(887)

3,124

3,124

3,124

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

89

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements 
Notes to the consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES 

The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of these Consolidated Financial Statements are set out below. These policies 
have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.
Town Centre Securities Plc (the Company) is a public limited company domiciled in the United Kingdom. Its shares are listed on the London 
Stock Exchange. The Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company for the year ended 30 June 2018 comprise the Company and its 
subsidiaries (together referred to as the Group). The address of its registered office is Town Centre House, The Merrion Centre, Leeds, LS2 8LY.
Basis of Preparation 
Statement of compliance 
The Consolidated Financial Statements of Town Centre Securities Plc have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union, IFRIC Interpretations and the Companies Act 2006. 
Income and cash flow statements 
The Group presents its Income Statement by nature of expense. The Group reports cash flows from operating activities using the indirect 
method. The acquisitions of investment properties are disclosed as cash flows from investing activities because this most appropriately 
reflects the Group’s business activities. Cash flows from investing and financing activities are determined using the direct method. 
Preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements 
The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention as modified by the revaluation of the Group’s 
property interests and other investments. 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires 
management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies. Changes in assumptions may have 
a significant impact on the financial statements in the period the assumptions are changed. Management believes that the underlying 
assumptions are appropriate. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates 
are significant to the Consolidated Financial Statements, are disclosed in Note 2.
Changes in accounting policy and disclosure 
a) Standards, amendments to published standards and interpretations effective for the period ended 30 June 2018 
There are no IFRSs or IFRIC interpretations that are effective for the first time for the period ended 30 June 2018 that have had a material 
effect on the Group.
b) New standards, amendments to published standards and interpretations issued but not effective for the period ended 30 June 2018 
and not early adopted
The effect of IFRS 15 is still being assessed by the Directors but is not expected to have a material impact on the Group.
The effect of IFRS 9 is still being assessed by the Directors and may impact the classification of assets currently held as available for sale.
The effect of IFRS 16 is still being assessed by the Directors and is not expected to have a material impact on net asset value but is expected 
to result in a significant increase in the value of both assets and liabilities.
Going concern 
The Directors have reviewed the cash flow forecasts of the Group and the underlying assumptions on which they are based. The Consolidated 
Financial Statements include details of bank and debenture facilities and of investment properties at open market value. The Group uses 
external valuers to determine the value of properties and these values are used in the assessment of loan to value covenants, compliance 
with which is reviewed on a regular basis.
The Group’s business activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future development, are set out in the Chairman and Chief 
Executive’s Statement. In addition, the Directors considered the accounting polices note which includes the Group’s objectives, policies 
and processes for managing its capital, its financial risk management objectives, details of its financial instruments and hedging activities 
and its exposure to credit and liquidity risk. 
The Board considers that it has adequate financial resources (as set out in Note 18), tenants with appropriate leases and covenants, and 
properties of sufficient quality to enable it to conclude that it is well placed to manage its business risks in the current economic climate. 
The Directors have therefore concluded that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable 
future and continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the Consolidated Financial Statements. 
Consolidation 
a) Subsidiaries 
Where the company has control over an investee, it is classified as a subsidiary. The company controls an investee if all three of the following 
elements are present: power over the investee, exposure to variable returns from the investee, and the ability of the investor to use its power 
to affect those variable returns. Control is reassessed whenever facts and circumstances indicate that there may be a change in any of these 
elements of control.
De-facto control exists in situations where the company has the practical ability to direct the relevant activities of the investee without holding 
the majority of the voting rights. In determining whether de-facto control exists the company considers all relevant facts and circumstances, 
including:
- The size of the company’s voting rights relative to both the size and dispersion of other parties who hold voting rights
- Substantive potential voting rights held by the company and by other parties
- Other contractual arrangements
- Historic patterns in voting attendance.
The consolidated financial statements present the results of the company and its subsidiaries (“the Group”) as if they formed a single entity. 
Intercompany transactions and balances between Group companies are therefore eliminated in full.
The consolidated financial statements incorporate the results of business combinations using the acquisition method. In the statement 
of financial position, the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities are initially recognised at their fair values at the 
acquisition date. The results of acquired operations are included in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income from the date 
on which control is obtained. They are deconsolidated from the date on which control ceases.

90

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
Financial Statements 
Notes to the consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued 

(b) Joint Arrangements 
A joint arrangement is a contractual arrangement whereby the Group and other parties undertake an economic activity that is subject to 
joint control.
Investments in joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method of accounting and are initially recognised at cost.
The Group’s share of its joint ventures post-acquisition profits or losses is recognised in the Income Statement. Investments in joint ventures 
are carried in the balance sheet at cost as adjusted by post-acquisition changes in the Group’s share of net assets of the joint ventures less 
any impairment in the value of the investment.
Unrealised gains on transactions between the Group and its joint ventures are eliminated to the extent of the Group’s interest in the joint 
venture. Accounting policies of joint ventures have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by 
the Group.
Segmental Reporting 
An operating segment is a group of assets and operations engaged in providing products or services that are subject to risks and returns 
that are different from those of other business segments.
The Group operates in three business segments comprising property rental, car park operations and hotel operations. The Group’s 
operations are performed wholly in the United Kingdom.
The chief operating decision-maker has been identified as the Board. The Board reviews the Group’s internal reporting in order to assess 
performance and allocate resources. Management has determined the operating segments based on these reports.
Non-Current Assets 
a) Investment properties 
Investment property comprises freehold land and buildings and long-leasehold buildings. This comprises mainly retail units, offices and 
operational car parks, and is measured initially at cost, including related transaction costs. These are held as investments to earn rental 
income and for capital appreciation and are stated at fair value at the balance sheet date.
The acquisition or disposal of investment property is recognised at the point of unconditional exchange.
Investment properties held under finance leases are initially valued at the present value of minimum lease payments payable over the term 
of the lease.
After initial recognition investment property is carried at fair value, based on market values. It is then determined twice annually by 
independent external valuers or held at Directors’ valuation if appropriate. The gains or losses arising from these valuations are included 
in the Consolidated Income Statement. When an existing investment property is redeveloped for continued future use as an investment 
property, it remains an investment property whilst in development.
The fair value of investment property reflects, among other things, rental income from current leases and assumptions about rental income 
from future leases in light of current market conditions.
Subsequent expenditure is added to the asset’s carrying amount only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the 
item will flow to the Group and the cost of the item can be measured reliably. All other repairs and maintenance costs are charged to the 
Consolidated Income Statement during the financial period in which they are incurred.
Borrowing costs associated with direct expenditure on properties undergoing major refurbishment are capitalised. The amount is calculated 
using the Group’s weighted average cost of borrowing.
Property that is being constructed or developed for future use as an investment property is also classified as investment property under the 
sub-heading development property and is stated at fair value.
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of investment properties is determined as the difference between the net sale proceeds and the 
carrying value of the asset at the beginning of the period and is recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement of the period during 
which the sale becomes unconditional. In circumstances where the conditional exchange of contracts and the completion of the disposal 
fall on either side of the balance sheet date, the asset is re-classified as a current asset in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Freehold land held for development is not depreciated.
(b) Freehold and leasehold properties 
Freehold and leasehold properties are initially recognised at cost and are subsequently carried at fair value, based on periodic valuations 
by a professionally qualified valuer. These revaluations are made with sufficient regularity to ensure that the carrying amount does not differ 
materially from that which would be determined using fair value at the end of the reporting period. Changes in fair value are recognised in 
other comprehensive income and accumulated in the revaluation reserve except to the extent that any decrease in value in excess of the 
credit balance on the revaluation reserve, or reversal of such a transaction, is recognised in profit or loss. Freehold land is not depreciated. 
Properties held under finance leases are initially valued at the present value of minimum lease payments payable over the term of the lease. 
Depreciation on assets under construction does not commence until they are complete and available for use. Depreciation is provided on 
all other items within this category so as to write off their carrying value over their expected useful economic lives.
At the date of revaluation, the accumulated depreciation on the revalued freehold property is eliminated against the gross carrying amount 
of the asset and the net amount is restated to the revalued amount of the asset. On disposal of the asset the balance of the revaluation 
reserve is transferred to retained earnings.
(c) Fixtures, equipment and motor vehicles 
Fixtures, equipment and motor vehicles are shown at historical cost less depreciation and provision for impairment. Historic cost includes 
expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the items. Depreciation is calculated on a straight line basis at rates appropriate 
to write off individual assets over their estimated useful lives of between three and ten years.
The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed and adjusted, if appropriate, at each balance sheet date. An asset’s carrying amount 
is written down immediately to its recoverable amount if the asset’s carrying amount is greater than its estimated recoverable amount.
Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing the disposal proceeds with the carrying amount and are included in the 
Consolidated Income Statement.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

91

Financial Statements 
Notes to the consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued 

Fair Value 
Fair value estimation under IFRS 13 requires the Group to classify for disclosure purposes fair value measurements using a fair value hierarchy 
that reflects the significance of the inputs used in making the measurements on its financial assets. The fair value hierarchy has the following 
levels:-
- Level (1) quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
- Level (2) inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (that is, as prices)  
 or indirectly (that is, derived from prices); and
- Level (3) inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs).
The fair value of assets held for sale, other financial assets and investment property are determined by using valuation techniques. See note 2 
for further details of the judgements and assumptions made in relation to investment properties.
Goodwill Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of a business combination over the Group’s interest in the fair value of identifiable assets, 
liabilities and contingent liabilities acquired. Cost comprises the fair value of assets given, liabilities assumed and equity instruments issued. 
Direct costs of acquisition are recognised immediately as an expense. Goodwill is capitalised as an intangible asset with any impairment 
in carrying value being charged to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. Where the fair value of identifiable assets, 
liabilities and contingent liabilities exceed the fair value of consideration paid, the excess is credited in full to the Consolidated Statement of 
Comprehensive Income on the acquisition date.
Impairment of assets 
Assets other than investment properties are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the 
carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds 
its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of any asset’s fair value less costs to sell and value in use. For the purposes of 
assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash flows (cash-generating units).
Investments 
The Group classifies its listed and unlisted investments as available for sale financial assets.
Available for sale financial assets are non-derivatives that are either designated in this category or not classified in any of the other categories 
of financial assets.
Purchases and sales of investments are recognised on the trade date, which is the date the Group commits to purchase or sell the asset. 
Investments are initially recognised at fair value plus transaction costs. Investments are derecognised when the rights to receive cash flows 
from the investments have expired or have been transferred and the Group has transferred substantially all risks and rewards of ownership. 
Available for sale financial assets are subsequently carried at fair value. The fair values of listed investments are based on current bid prices. 
Unrealised gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value of securities classified as available for sale are recognised in equity. When 
securities classified as available for sale are sold, the accumulated fair value adjustments are included in the Income Statement as gains and 
losses from investment securities.
Dividends on available for sale equity instruments are recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement when the Group’s right to receive 
payment is established.
The Group assesses at each balance sheet date whether there is objective evidence that a financial asset or a group of financial assets is 
impaired. In the case of equity securities classified as available for sale, a significant or prolonged decline in the fair value of the security below 
its cost is considered in determining whether the securities are impaired. If any such evidence exists for available for sale financial assets, the 
cumulative	loss	–	measured	as	the	difference	between	the	acquisition	cost	and	the	current	fair	value,	less	any	impairment	loss	on	that	financial	
asset	previously	recognised	in	profit	or	loss	–	is	removed	from	equity	and	recognised	in	the	Consolidated	Income	Statement.
Investments in equity instruments that do not have a quoted price in an active market and whose fair value cannot be reliably measured due 
to the range of reasonable fair value measurements obtained being significant are measured at cost.
Operating leases
(a) A Group company is the lessee 
Leases where the lessor retains a significant portion of the risks and rewards of ownership are classified as operating leases. Payments made 
under operating leases (net of any incentives received from the lessor) are charged to the Consolidated Income Statement on a straight line 
basis over the period of the lease.
(b) A Group company is the lessor 
Properties leased to third parties under operating leases are included in investment property in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The leases 
in our portfolio have a wide variety of term and tenures and there is no standard. 
Unamortised tenant lease incentives 
Leasehold incentives given to tenants on entering property leases are recognised as unamortised lease incentives. The operating lease 
incentives are spread over the non-cancellable life of the lease. Where this ends with a clean break clause the incentives are spread to this 
date unless management is reasonably certain that the break will not be exercised.
Trade receivables 
Trade receivables are recognised initially at fair value and are subsequently measured at cost less provision for impairment. A provision 
for impairment of trade receivables is established when there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to collect all amounts 
due according to the original terms of the receivables concerned. The amount of the provision is recognised in the Consolidated Income 
Statement.
Held for sale assets 
Held for sale assets are investment properties which are designated as available for sale and not recognised in any of the categories above.
Held for sale assets are held at fair value and are derecognised when the Group has transferred substantially all the risks and rewards of 
ownership.

92

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Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
Financial Statements 
Notes to the consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued 

Cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents are carried in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at cost. Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash in hand, deposits 
held at call with banks, other short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less and bank overdrafts. Bank 
overdrafts are included within borrowings in current liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Where there is a formal legal arrangement 
with a right to offset the net position of the individual accounts will be presented in cash or current liabilities as appropriate.
Share capital 
Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options are shown in equity as a 
deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds.
Borrowings 
Borrowings are recognised net of transaction costs incurred. Debt finance costs are amortised based on the effective interest rate.
Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the Group has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least twelve 
months after the balance sheet date.
Leased assets 
Where substantially all of the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of a leased asset have been transferred to the Group (a “finance lease”), 
the asset is treated as if it had been purchased outright. The amount initially recognised as an asset is the lower of the fair value of the leased 
property and the present value of the minimum lease payments payable over the term of the lease. The corresponding lease commitment 
is shown as a liability. Lease payments are analysed between capital and interest. The interest element is charged to the consolidated 
statement of comprehensive income over the period of the lease and is calculated so that it represents a constant proportion of the lease 
liability. The capital element reduces the balance owed to the lessor. Where substantially all of the risks and rewards incidental to ownership 
are not transferred to the Group (an “operating lease”), the total rentals payable under the lease are charged to the consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The aggregate benefit of lease incentives is recognised as a reduction of 
the rental expense over the lease term on a straight-line basis.
Cash flow hedges 
Where a derivative is designated as a hedge of the variability of a highly probable forecast transaction, e.g. an interest payment, the element 
of the gain or loss on the derivative that is an effective hedge is recognised directly in equity. When the forecast transaction subsequently 
results in the recognition of a financial asset or a financial liability, the associated gains or losses that were recognised directly in equity are 
reclassified into the Consolidated Income Statement in the same period or periods during which the asset acquired or liability assumed affects 
the Consolidated Income Statement, i.e. when interest income or expense is recognised.
Taxation 
The tax charge in the Consolidated Income Statement comprises tax currently payable.
Town Centre Securities Plc elected for Group Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) status with effect from 2 October 2007. As a result the Group 
no longer pays United Kingdom corporation tax on the profits and gains from its qualifying rental business in the United Kingdom provided it 
meets certain conditions. Non-qualifying profits and gains of the Group continue to be subject to corporation tax as normal. On entering the 
REIT regime an entry charge equal to 2% of the aggregate market value of the properties associated with the qualifying rental business was 
payable. Deferred tax accrued at the date of conversion in respect of the assets and liabilities of the qualifying rental business was released 
to the Income Statement as the relevant temporary differences are no longer taxable on reversal. 
In respect of non-qualifying activities and related profits, gains and losses:
(a) Deferred income tax 
Deferred income tax is provided in full, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and 
liabilities and their carrying amounts in the Consolidated Financial Statements. However, no provision for deferred tax is made for temporary 
differences arising on the initial recognition of assets or liabilities that affect neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss. Deferred tax is 
determined using tax rates (and laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date and are expected to apply 
when the related deferred income tax asset is realised or the deferred income tax liability is settled.
Deferred income tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the 
temporary differences can be utilised. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation 
authority and the Group is entitled to settle its current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis.
(b) Current tax 
The charge for current tax is based on the results for the period as adjusted for items which are non-assessable or disallowed. It is calculated 
using rates of tax that have been enacted by the balance sheet date.
Employee benefits 
The Group operates defined contribution arrangements for all eligible Directors and employees. A defined contribution plan is a pension plan 
under which the Group pays contributions into a private or publicly administered pension insurance plan. Pension costs are charged to the 
Consolidated Income Statement in the period when they fall due. Pre-paid contributions are recognised as an asset to the extent that a cash 
refund or a reduction in future payments is available.
Revenue recognition 
(a) Rental income 
Revenue includes the fair value of rental income and management charges from properties (net of Value Added Tax).
This income is recognised as it falls due, in accordance with the lease to which it relates. Any lease incentives are spread evenly across the 
period of the lease.
This income is recognised as follows:
i) rental income is recognised on an accrual basis on a straight line basis over the term of the lease;
ii) turnover rents are based on underlying turnover and are recognised in the period to which the turnover relates; and 
iii) rent reviews are recognised with effect from the review date.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

93

 
Financial Statements 
Notes to the consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued 

(b) Car park income 
Contract car park income is recognised as revenue as it falls due, in accordance with the contract to which it relates. Daily car park income is 
recognised when received.
(c) Hotel income 
Room revenue is recognised on a daily basis in accordance with the date of the overnight stay. Food and beverage revenue is recognised at 
the point of sale.
(d) Interest income 
Interest income on any short-term deposits is recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement as it accrues.
(e) Other income 
Other income includes dividend income, which is recognised when the right to payment is established and surrender premiums or lease 
assignments received from outgoing tenants prior to the termination of their lease.
(f) Service charge income 
Service charge income receivable from tenants relating to management fees is credited to gross income in the Consolidated Income 
Statement and recognised in line with the underlying contractual arrangement, i.e. when the service is provided. 
Dividend distribution 
Dividend distributions to the Company’s shareholders are recognised in the Consolidated Financial Statements in the period in which the 
dividends are approved by the Company’s shareholders.
Reserves 
Reserves are analysed in the following categories:
- Share capital represents the nominal value of issued share capital.
- Share premium represents any consideration received in excess of nominal value of the shares issued.
- Capital redemption reserve represents the nominal value of the Company’s own shares that have been repurchased and cancelled.
- Revaluation reserve represents the surplus valuation movement upon revaluation of freehold and leasehold property relating to car park activities.
- Retained earnings represents the cumulative profit or loss position less dividend distributions.
Financial risk management 
The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: credit risk, liquidity risk, cash flow and fair value interest rate risk, capital risk and 
price risk.
(a) Credit risk 
The Group has no significant concentrations of credit risk. It has policies in place to ensure that rental contracts are made with customers 
with an appropriate credit history. The Group has policies that limit the amount of credit exposure to any financial institution. The Group has no 
significant concentration of credit risk as exposure is spread over a large number of counterparties and tenants.
(b) Liquidity risk 
Prudent liquidity risk management implies maintaining sufficient cash and marketable securities, the availability of funding through an 
adequate amount of committed credit facilities and the ability to close out market positions. Due to the dynamic nature of the underlying 
businesses, Group treasury policy aims to maintain flexibility in funding by keeping committed credit lines available.
(c) Cash flow and fair value interest rate risk 
The Group has no significant interest bearing assets. Borrowings issued at variable rates expose the Group to cash flow interest rate risk.
The Group takes on exposure to the effects of fluctuations in the prevailing levels of market interest rates on its financial position and cash 
flows. Interest costs may increase as a result of such changes. They may reduce profits or create losses in the event that unexpected 
movements arise.
The Group continually reviews interest rates and interest rate risk and has a policy of monitoring the costs and benefits of interest rate fixing 
instruments with a view to hedging exposure to interest rate risk on a regular basis.
At 30 June 2018, 54.5% (2017: 56.4%) of the Group’s borrowings were under long term fixed rate agreements and therefore were protected 
against future interest rate volatility. 
(d) Capital risk 
The Group’s objective in managing capital is to maintain a strong capital base to support current operations and planned growth and to 
provide for an appropriate level of dividend payments to shareholders. 
The Group is not subject to external regulatory capital requirements. 
(e) Price risk 
Current asset investments are subject to price risk as a result of fluctuations in the market. The Group limits the amount of exposure by 
continually assessing the performance of these investments.
(f) Compliance with covenants 
The Group’s bank facilities and the mortgage debenture stock include a number of covenants principally relating to income and capital cover. 
The Directors monitor performance against these covenants on a regular basis.

94

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
Financial Statements 
Notes to the consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

2. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS 
The Group makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the 
related actual results. The only estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying value 
amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are the Group’s property investments. The basis of valuation is set out in Note 12.

3. SEGMENTAL INFORMATION 
The chief operating decision-maker has been identified as the Board. The Board reviews the Group’s internal reporting in order to assess 
performance and allocate resources. Management has determined the operating segments based on these reports.

(A) SEGMENT ASSETS 

Property rental

Car park activities

Hotel operations

2018
£000

2017
£000

 379,901

 364,120

30,659

29,773

11,900

-

422,460

393,893 

(B) SEGMENTAL RESULTS

2018

2017

Gross revenue

Service charge income

Service charge expenses

Property expenses

NET REVENUE

Administrative expenses

Other income

Share of post-tax profits from joint ventures

Property 
rental
£000

Car park 
activities
£000

Hotel 
operations
£000

Total 
£000

Property 
rental
£000

Car park 
activities
£000

Total
£000

 15,891

 11,516

 2,771

 30,178

16,571

 10,969

 27,540

2,556

(3,387)

-

-

-

-

2,556

2,346

(3,387)

(3,284)

-

-

2,346

(3,284)

(1,210)

(6,537)

(2,318)

(10,065)

(958)

(6,252)

(7,210)

13,850

(5,627)

888

1,196

4,979

(947)

-

-

453

19,282

14,675

4,717

19,392

-

-

-

(6,574)

(5,465)

(830)

(6,295)

888

1,196

707

871

-

-

707

871

OPERATING PROFIT BEFORE VALUATION MOVEMENTS

10,307

4,032

453

14,792

10,788

3,887

14,675

Valuation movement on investment properties

5,932

-

Reversal of impairment of car parking assets

-

1,300

Profit on disposal of investment properties

Valuation movement on joint venture properties

1,677

2,561

-

-

-

-

-

-

5,932

(2,085)

-

(2,085)

1,300

1,677

2,561

-

1,000

1,000

303

471

-

-

303

471

OPERATING PROFIT

Finance costs

PROFIT BEFORE TAXATION

Taxation

PROFIT FOR THE YEAR

20,477

5,332

453

26,262

9,477

4,887

14,364

(7,887)

18,375

-

18,375

(7,639)

6,725

-

6,725

All results are derived from activities conducted in the United Kingdom.

Hotel operations commenced in April 2017, however for the year ended 30 June 2017 the results were not material and have therefore been 
included in the result of the property rental business.

The results for the car park activities include the car park at the Merrion Centre. As the value of the car park cannot be separated from the 
value of the Merrion Centre as a whole, the full value of the Merrion Centre is included within the assets of the property rental business.

The car park results also include car park income from sites that are held for future development. The value of these sites has been determined 
based on their development value and therefore the total value of these assets has been included within the assets of the property rental business.

The net revenue at the Merrion Centre and development sites for the year ended 30 June 2018, arising from car park operations, was 
£3,658,000. After allowing for an allocation of administrative expenses, the operating profit at these sites was £2,962,000.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

95

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements 
Notes to the consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

4. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

Employee benefits

Depreciation

Charitable donations

Other

5. SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE GROUP’S EXTERNAL AUDITORS

During the year the Group obtained the following services from the Group’s auditors at costs as detailed below:

Audit services:

–	Fees	payable	to	the	Group	auditors’	for	the	audit	of	the	Consolidated	Financial	Statements

–	Audit	of	the	Company’s	subsidiaries	pursuant	to	legislation

–	Other	audit	related	services

Total audit services

Non-audit services:

–	IT	consultancy

–	Financial	due	diligence

–	Other	non-audit	services

Total other services

TOTAL AUDITORS’ REMUNERATION

6. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Wages and salaries (including Directors’ emoluments)

Social security costs

Other pension costs

2018 
£000

2017 
£000

 3,919 

3,844

 339 

 116 

 2,200 

 6,574 

318

78

2,055

6,295

2018 
£000

2017 
£000

 82 

 10 

 18 

110

35

 - 

 4 

39

149

 60

10

20

90

-

25

4

29

119

2018 
£000

2017 
£000

 4,700 

 4,002

 575 

 90 

527

93

5,365 

4,622

Employee benefits detailed above are charged to the Consolidated Income Statement through administrative expenses and property 
expenses.

Disclosures required by the Companies Act 2006 on Directors’ remuneration, including salaries, share options, pension contributions and 
pension entitlement are included on pages 71 to 78 in the Directors’ Remuneration Report and form part of these Consolidated Financial 
Statements.

The average monthly number of staff employed during the year was 140 (2017: 116).

The Group operates pension arrangements for the benefit of all eligible Directors and employees, which are defined contribution 
arrangements. The assets of the arrangements are held separately from those of the Group in independently administered funds. 
All of the pension costs in the table above relate to define contribution schemes.

96

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Financial Statements 
Notes to the consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

7. OTHER INCOME

Commission received

Dividends received

Management fees receivable

Dilapidations receipts and income relating to lease premiums

Other

8. FINANCE COSTS

Interest payable on debenture loan stock

Interest payable on bank borrowings

Amortisation of arrangement fees

Interest capitalised 

TOTAL FINANCE COSTS

9. TAXATION 

2018 
£000

 142

29

198

438

81

 888 

2018
£000

5,698

1,879

310

-

2017 
£000

169

27

241

195

75

707

2017
£000

5,698

1,896

456

(411)

 7,887 

7,639

Taxation for the year is lower (2017: lower) than the standard rate of corporation tax in the United Kingdom of 19% (2017: 20%). 

The differences are explained below:

Profit before taxation

Profit on ordinary activities multiplied by rate of corporation tax in the United Kingdom of 19% (2017: 20%)

Effects of:

–	United	Kingdom	REIT	tax	exemption	on	net	income	before	revaluations

–	United	Kingdom	REIT	tax	exemption	on	revaluations

–	Profit	on	joint	ventures	already	taxed

TOTAL TAXATION

2018
£000

 18,375

3,491

2017
£000

 6,725

1,345

(1,630)

(1,556)

(1,861)

 - 

-

217

(6)

-

FACTORS AFFECTING CURRENT AND FUTURE TAX CHARGES

Town Centre Securities Plc elected for Group REIT status with effect from 2 October 2007. As a result the Group no longer pays United 
Kingdom corporation tax on the profits and gains from its qualifying rental business in the United Kingdom provided it meets certain 
conditions. Non-qualifying profits and gains of the Group continue to be subject to corporation tax as normal.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

97

 
 
 
Financial Statements 
Notes to the consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

10. DIVIDENDS

2016 final paid: 7.90p per share

2017 interim paid: 3.25p per share 

2017 final paid: 8.25p per share

2018 interim paid: 3.25p per share 

2018 
£000

-

-

4,386

1,728

2017 
£000

4,200

1,728

-

-

 6,114 

5,928

An interim dividend in respect of the year ended 30 June 2018 of 3.25p per share was paid to shareholders on 22 June 2018. This dividend was 
paid entirely as a Property Income Distribution (PID).

A final dividend in respect of the year ended 30 June 2018 of 8.5p per share is proposed. This dividend, based on the shares in issue at 26 
September 2018, amounts to £4.5m which has not been reflected in these accounts and will be paid on 4 January 2019 to shareholders on 
the register on 7 December 2018. This entire dividend will be paid as a PID.

11. EARNINGS PER SHARE

The calculation of basic earnings per share has been based on the profit for the year, divided by the weighted average number of shares in 
issue. The weighted average number of shares in issue during the year was 53,161,950 (2017: 53,161,950).

Profit for the year and earnings per share

Valuation movement on investment properties

Reversal of impairment of car parking assets

Valuation movement on properties held in joint ventures

Profit on disposal of investment and development properties

EPRA EARNINGS AND EARNINGS PER SHARE

2018

2017

Earnings
£000

18,375

(5,932)

(1,300)

(2,561)

(1,677)

6,905

Earnings 
per share
p

Earnings 
£000

Earnings 
per share 
p

34.6

(11.2)

(2.4)

(4.8)

(3.2)

13.0

6,725

2,085

(1,000)

(471)

(303)

7,036

12.7

3.9

(1.9)

(0.9)

(0.6)

13.2

There is no difference between basic and diluted earnings per share and EPRA earnings per share.

12. NON-CURRENT ASSETS

(A) INVESTMENT PROPERTIES

Valuation at 30 June 2016

Additions at cost

Other capital expenditure

Interest capitalised

Disposals

(Deficit)/surplus	on	revaluation

Transfers

Movement in tenant lease incentives

Valuation at 30 June 2017

Additions at cost

Other capital expenditure

Disposals

(Deficit)/surplus	on	revaluation

Transfers

Movement in tenant lease incentives

VALUATION AT 30 JUNE 2018

98

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Freehold 
£000

Long 
leasehold 
£000

Development 
£000

Total 
£000

273,010

22,701

29,602

325,313

4,074

12,174

176

(18,596)

(6,444)

12,612

(145)

-

40

-

-

(132)

-

-

8,260

235

(2,675)

4,491

(12,612)

-

4,074

20,474

411

(21,271)

(2,085)

-

(145)

276,861

22,609

27,301

326,771

9,483

1,656

(9,507)

(3,326)

900

1,851

-

-

(15)

(2)

(900)

-

-

140

-

9,260

-

-

9,483

1,796

(9,522)

5,932

-

1,851

277,918

21,692

36,701

336,311

 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements 
Notes to the consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

(B) FREEHOLD AND LEASEHOLD PROPERTIES - CAR PARK ACTIVITIES

Valuation at 1 July 2016

Additions

Depreciation

Surplus on revaluation

Reversal of impairment

Valuation at 30 June 2017 

Additions

Depreciation

Deficit on revaluation

Reversal of impairment

Freehold 
£000

Long 
leasehold 
£000

2,000

19,075

-

-

-

-

2,000

-

-

-

1,000

498

(178)

100

1,000

20,495

153

(175)

(350)

300

Total 
£000

21,075

498

(178)

100

1,000

22,495

153

(175)

(350)

1,300

VALUATION AT 30 JUNE 2018

 3,000 

 20,423 

 23,423 

The historical cost of freehold and leasehold properties relating to car park activities is £22,425,000 (2017: £22,245,000).

The Company occupies an office suite in part of the Merrion Centre and also at 6 Duke Street in London. The Directors do not consider this 
element to be material.

The fair value of the Group’s investment and development properties has been determined principally by independent, appropriately qualified 
external valuers CBRE and Jones Lang LaSalle. The remainder of the portfolio has been valued by the Property Director.

Valuations are performed bi-annually and are performed consistently across the Group’s whole portfolio of properties. At each reporting date 
appropriately qualified employees verify all significant inputs and review computational outputs. The external valuers submit and present 
summary reports to the Property Director and the Board on the outcome of each valuation round.

Valuations take into account tenure, lease terms and structural condition. The inputs underlying the valuations include market rents or business 
profitability, incentives offered to tenants, forecast growth rates, market yields and discount rates and selling costs including stamp duty.

The development properties principally comprise land in Leeds and Manchester. These have also been valued by appropriately qualified 
external valuers Jones Lang LaSalle, taking into account the income from car parking and an assessment of their realisable value in their 
existing state and condition based on market evidence of comparable transactions.

Property income, values and yields have been set out by category in the table below.

Retail and Leisure

Merrion Centre (excluding offices)

Offices

Hotels

Out of town retail

Distribution

Residential

Development Property

Car Parks

Finance lease adjustments

Passing Rent 
£000

3,646

7,366

2,235

1,180

2,919

392

596

ERV 
£000

 4,127

7,867

2,648

1,630

Value 
£000

 67,610

97,700

35,442

27,150

3,611

52,050

386

621

5,750

10,865

Initial
Yield
%

5.1%

7.1%

6.0%

4.1%

5.3%

6.4%

5.2%

18,334

20,890

296,567

5.8%

Reversionary
Yield
%

5.8%

7.6%

7.1%

5.7%

6.6%

6.3%

5.4%

6.7%

36,701

22,022

4,444

359,734

The effect on the valuation of applying a different yield and a different ERV would be as follows:

Valuation in the Consolidated Financial Statements at an initial yield of 6.8% - £316.4m, Valuation at 4.8% - £420.9m.

Valuation in the Consolidated Financial Statements at a reversionary yield of 7.7% - £321.0m, Valuation at 5.7% - £412.1m.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

99

 
 
 
 
Financial Statements 
Notes to the consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

Property valuations can be reconciled to the carrying value of the properties in the balance sheet as follows:

Externally valued by CBRE

Externally valued by Jones Lang LaSalle

Acquisitions recognised at cost

Investment properties valued by the Property Director

Finance lease obligations capitalised

Leasehold improvements

Investment 
Properties 
£000

Freehold 
and Leasehold 
Properties 
£000

Total 
£000

199,375

126,060

9,483

251

1,142

-

-

199,375

16,300

142,360

-

-

3,302

3,821

9,483

251

4,444

3,821

336,311

23,423

359,734

Leasehold improvements primarily relate to expenditure incurred on the refurbishment of three car parks in Watford that are held under 
operating leases.

All investment properties measured at fair value in the consolidated balance sheet are categorised as level 3 in the fair value hierarchy as 
defined in IFRS13 as one or more inputs to the valuation are partly based on unobservable market data. In arriving at their valuation for each 
property (as in prior years) both the independent valuers and the Property Director have used the actual rent passing and have also formed 
an opinion as to the two significant unobservable inputs being the market rental for that property and the yield (i.e. the discount rate) which 
a potential purchaser would apply in arriving at the market value. Both these inputs are arrived at using market comparables for the type, 
location and condition of the property.

(C) FIXTURES, EQUIPMENT AND MOTOR VEHICLES

At 1 July 2016

Additions

Disposals

Depreciation

At 30 June 2017

Net book value at 30 June 2017

At 1 July 2017

Additions

Disposals

Depreciation

AT 30 JUNE 2018

NET BOOK VALUE AT 30 JUNE 2018

13. GOODWILL

AT THE START AND END OF THE YEAR

Cost
£000

4,373

586

(140)

-

4,819

 4,819 

 339 

(1,526)

-

 3,632 

Accumulated
depreciation
£000

2,222

-

(103)

728

2,847

1,972

 2,847 

-

(1,517)

758

2,088 

1,544

2018 
£000

2017 
£000

4,024

4,024

Goodwill represents the difference between the fair value of the consideration paid on the acquisitions of car park businesses and the fair 
value of the assets and liabilities acquired as part of these business combinations. These transactions relate to businesses that held car parks 
under operating leases with a net asset value of £nil. Goodwill therefore represents the full consideration of these acquisitions.

A review of the year end carrying value has been performed to identify any potential impairment. This has been based on the discounted 
future cash flows that are expected to be generated by the assets acquired. The cash generating units are the individual car parks acquired. 
The key assumptions used in preparing these cash flow forecasts are an underlying revenue growth rate of 1% (2017: 1%) and a discount rate 
of 8% (2017: 8%). The assumptions used in the cash flow are based on historical experience of the sector.

As the discounted future cash flows are in excess of the year end carrying value, no impairment of the carrying value is required.

100

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Financial Statements 
Notes to the consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

14. INVESTMENTS IN JOINT VENTURES

At the start of the year

Investments in joint ventures

Disposal of joint venture interest

Dividends and other distributions received in the year

Share of profits after tax

AT THE END OF THE YEAR

2018 
£000

2017 
£000

27,852

8,809

-

(676)

3,757

39,742

25,093

4,250

(1,800)

(1,033)

1,342

27,852

Investments in joint ventures primarily relate to the Group’s interest in Merrion House LLP and Belgravia Living Group Limited. 
Merrion House LLP owns a long leasehold interest over a property that is let to the Group’s joint venture partner, Leeds City Council (‘LCC’). 
The interest in the joint venture for each partner is an equal 50% share, regardless of the level of overall contributions from each partner. 
The investment property held within this partnership has been externally valued by CBRE at each reporting date.
The net assets of Merrion House LLP for the current and previous year are as stated below:

Non-current assets

Current assets

Current liabilities

NET ASSETS

The profits of Merrion House LLP for the current and previous year are as stated below:

Revenue

Expenses

Valuation movement on investment properties

NET PROFIT

Belgravia Living Group Limited owns a leasehold interest in some development land at Piccadilly Basin, Manchester and is currently 
constructing a block of residential apartments. The Group’s financial interest in this joint venture is primarily in the form of a loan with 
a value as at 30 June 2018 of £5.1m (2017: £1.0m). 
The net assets of Belgravia Living Group for the current and previous year are as stated below:

2018 
£000

Non-current assets

Current assets

Current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

NET LIABILITIES

The profits of Belgravia Living Group Limited for the current and previous year are as stated below:

Expenses

NET PROFIT

10,466

363

(9,745)

(1,129)

(45)

2018 
£000

(31)

(31)

2018 
£000

2017 
£000

69,400

53,860

1,754

(1,374)

69,780

2018
£000

2,134

(92)

2,042

5,691

7,733

431

(1,839)

52,452

2017
£000

1,400

(109)

1,291

941

2,232

2017 
£000

3,876

-

(3,890)

-

(14)

2017 
£000

(14)

(14)

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

101

Financial Statements 
Notes to the consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

The Group’s interest in other joint ventures are not considered to be material.
The joint ventures have no significant contingent liabilities to which the Group is exposed nor has the Group any significant contingent 
liabilities in relation to its interest in the joint ventures.
A full list of the Group’s joint ventures, which are all registered in England and operate in the United Kingdom, is set out as follows:

Merrion House LLP

Belgravia Living Group Limited

Bay Sentry Limited

15. INVESTMENTS

Current asset investments

At the start of the year

Increase in value of investments

AT THE END OF THE YEAR

Beneficial 
Interest %

Activity

50

50

50

Property investment

Property investment

Software Development

2018 
£000

2,394

1,136

3,530

2017 
£000

2,070

324

2,394

Current asset investments relate to an equity shareholding in a company listed on the London Stock Exchange. This is stated at market value in 
the table above and has a historic cost of £889,130 (2017: £889,130).
Current asset investments are measured at fair value in the consolidated balance sheet and are categorised as level 1 in the fair value hierarchy 
as defined in IFRS13 as the inputs to the valuation are based on quoted market prices.
The maximum risk exposure at the reporting date is the fair value of the current asset investments.

Non-current asset investments

Equity investments

Loans

2018
£000

590

1,535

2,125

2017
£000

415

1,535

1,950

Non-current asset investments primarily relate to an equity shareholding and loans advanced to YourParkingSpace Limited, a privately owned 
company incorporated in the United Kingdom.

The investment is valued at cost on the basis the fair value cannot be reliably measured.

16. TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

Trade receivables

Less: provision for impairment of receivables

Other receivables and prepayments

2018 
£000

1,539

(458)

1,081

5,207

6,288

2017 
£000

1,810

(435)

1,375

1,936

3,311

The Directors consider that the carrying amount of net trade receivables approximates their fair value. The credit risk in respect of trade 
receivables is not concentrated as the Group has many tenants spread across a number of industry sectors. In addition, the tenants’ rents 
are payable in advance.

102

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Financial Statements 
Notes to the consolidated Financial Statements

As at 30 June 2018, trade receivables which had not been impaired can be analysed as follows:

2018

2017

Total
£000

 1,081

1,375

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

At the start of the year

Provision for receivables impairment

Receivables written off as uncollectible

Provision held within acquired subsidiaries

Unused amounts reversed

AT THE END OF THE YEAR

The ageing of the provision is as follows:

2018

2017

Outside credit terms

Within credit 
terms
£000

Less than
one month
£000

One to two
months
£000

Older than
two months
£000

1,006

1,050

11 

 226 

7 

63 

2018 
£000

435

211

(160)

-

(28)

458

57 

36

2017 
£000

 380

48

(16)

30

(7)

435

Total
£000

 458 

435

Less than
one month
£000

One to two
months
£000

Older than
two months
£000

141

8

33

27

284

400

Other receivables do not contain impaired assets. The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the carrying value of trade 
receivables as mentioned above.
The Group does not hold any material collateral as security.
In assessing whether trade receivables are impaired, each debt is considered on an individual basis and provision is made based on specific 
knowledge of each tenant, together with the consideration of appropriate economic market indicators.

17. TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES

Trade payables

Social security and other taxes

Other payables and accruals

2018
£000

140

816

19,322

20,278

2017
£000

 35

449

10,362

10,846

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

103

 
Financial Statements 
Notes to the consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

18. FINANCIAL LIABILITIES - BORROWINGS

All the Group’s borrowings are either at floating or fixed rates of interest. The Group takes on exposure to fluctuations in interest rates on its 
financial position and its cash flows. Interest costs may increase or decrease as a result of such changes.

Non-current 

Bank borrowings

Finance leases

5.375% First mortgage debenture stock

TOTAL BORROWINGS

The movement in financial liabilities during the year can be summarised as follows:

Balance at 30 June 2017

Cash Items

Borrowings drawn down

Arrangement fees paid

Total Cash Items

Non-Cash Items

Amortisation of arrangement fees

Movement in finance leases

Total Non-Cash Items

BALANCE AT 30 JUNE 2018

2018
£000

2017 
£000

87,759

4,444

81,663

4,462

105,854

105,844

198,057

191,969

£000

191,969

6,500

(704)

5,796

310

(18)

292

198,057

The debenture, bank loans and overdrafts are secured by fixed charges on properties, valued at £339,485,000 (2017: £340,065,000) owned 
by the Company and its subsidiary undertakings.

The Group has an overdraft pooling facility in place with Lloyds Bank. This facility includes the right to offset, therefore the net position of all 
accounts that fall under this facility have been presented as the Group’s cash balance at year end.

The gross cash and overdraft balances on the individual accounts are summarised as follows:

Cash balances

Overdrawn balances

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

2018
£000

2017 
£000

 23,149

17,984

(17,676)

(14,860)

5,473

3,124

104

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
 
 
 
Financial Statements 
Notes to the consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

The Group’s remaining contractual non-discounted cashflows for financial liabilities is set out below:

2018

2017

Trade and  
other creditors 
£000

Bank 
borrowings 
£000

Debenture 
stock 
£000

Finance 
leases 
£000

Total
£000

Trade and 
other creditors 
£000

Bank 
borrowings 
£000

Debenture 
stock 
£000

Finance 
leases 
£000

Total
£000

In one year or less or on demand

20,278

2,130

5,698

211

28,317

6,553

1,654

5,698

212

14,117

In more than one year but not 

more than five years

In more than five years

-

-

93,919

22,790

830

117,539

-

153,860

17,785

171,645

-

-

83,419

22,790

836

107,045

-

159,159

18,008

177,167

20,278

96,049

182,348

18,826

317,501

6,553

85,073

187,647

19,056

298,329

The debenture issue premium is net of issue costs and is amortised over the life of the debt agreement.

The numbers disclosed in the maturity profile above have been calculated to include notional interest payments, using the interest rates 
prevailing at the balance sheet date. The calculation is based on the assumption that the level of borrowings remains unchanged until maturity.

The Group had undrawn committed floating rate bank facilities as follows:

Expiring in one year or less

Expiring in more than one year

19. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

2018
£000

-

2017
£000

-

14,500

26,000

14,500

26,000

The Group finances its operations through a combination of retained cash flows, debentures, finance leases and bank borrowings. Procedures 
are in place to monitor interest rate risk as considered appropriate by management. Numerical financial instruments disclosures are set out 
below. Additional disclosures are set out in the accounting policies relating to financial risk management. The carrying value of short-term 
receivables and payables approximate to their fair values. All financial liabilities are denominated in Sterling.

Interest rate risk 
The interest rate risk of the Group’s financial liabilities is as follows:

Debenture stock

Bank floating rate liabilities

Finance leases

As at 30 June 2018

As at 30 June 2017

Nominal 
value 
£000

Weighted 
average 
rate 
%

Weighted 
average 
period 
Years

106,001

5.375

88,500

4,444

198,945

2.41

5.0

13

3

119

Nominal 
value 
£000

106,001

82,000

4,462

192,463

Weighted 
average 
rate 
%

Weighted 
average 
period 
Years

5.375

2.03

5.0

14

2

120

Floating rate financial liabilities bear interest at rates for term loans based on LIBOR plus an average margin of 1.72% and for the overdraft of 
2.00% above base rate.

Facilities provided by banks and other investors are a mixture of fixed rates and floating charge funding. Floating rate borrowings are exposed 
to the risk of rising interest rates which the Group manages where necessary by the use of appropriate financial hedging instruments, primarily 
interest rate swaps.

An increase in LIBOR by one percentage point would have reduced profit for the year by approximately £803,000 (2017: £839,000).

Financial instruments held for trading purposes 
It is, and has been throughout the year under review, the Group’s policy not to trade in financial instruments.

Foreign currency exposure 
The Group has no exposure to foreign currency as it has no overseas operations and all sales and purchases are made in Sterling.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

105

Financial Statements 
Notes to the consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

Effective interest rates 
The effective interest rates at the balance sheet date are set out below:

Bank overdraft facility

Bank borrowings

Debenture loan

Finance leases

Fair value of current borrowings

The fair value of bank borrowings and overdrafts approximate to their carrying value.

Fair value of non-current borrowings

Debenture stock

Non-current borrowings

2018

2.50%

2.41%

2017

2.25%

2.03%

5.375%

5.375%

5.0%

5.0%

2018

2017

Book value 
£000

Fair value 
£000

Book value 
£000

Fair value 
£000

105,854

111,347

87,759

87,759

105,844

81,663

110,176

81,663

The above debenture stock has been valued as at 30 June 2018 by J C Rathbone Associates on the basis of open market value. The fair 
valuation of debenture stock is catagorised as level 3 in the fair value hierarchy as defined in IFRS13 as one or more inputs to the valuation 
are partly based on unobservable market data.

All financing liabilities are held at amortised cost.

Capital management 
The Group manages its capital to ensure that entities in the Group will each be able to continue to operate as a going concern while maximising 
the return to stakeholders through the optimisation of debt and equity. The capital structure of the Group consists of financial liabilities per note 
18 and equity per the consolidated statement of changes in equity. The Group’s capital structure is reviewed regularly by the Directors.

The Group is not subject to externally imposed capital requirements.

20. FINANCE LEASES

The Group has a long leasehold interest in two properties that are classified as finance leases.

Future lease payments are as follows:

In one year or less on demand

In more than one year but not more than five years

In more than five years 

Minimum 
lease 
payments 
£000

211

836

2018

Interest 
£000

211

836

17,785

13,341

18,832

14,388

Present 
value 
£000

-

-

4,444

4,444

Minimum 
lease 
payments 
£000

212

836

18,008

19,056

2017

Interest 
£000

212

836

13,546

14,594

Present 
value 
£000

-

-

4,462

4,462

21. EPRA NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE

The Basic and EPRA net asset values are the same, as set out in the table below.

Net assets at 30 June

Shares in issue (000)

Basic and EPRA net asset value per share

106

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

2018 
£000

2017 
£000

 204,125

 191,078

53,162

384p

53,162

359p

Financial Statements 
Notes to the consolidated Financial Statements

Continued

22. COMMITMENTS

The Group has no capital commitments (2017: £nil) in respect of capital expenditure contracted for at the balance sheet date but not yet 
incurred, for investment and development property.

MINIMUM TOTAL FUTURE LEASE PAYMENTS RECEIVABLE:

Within one year 

One to five years

In more than five years

2018
£000

2017
£000

14,224

15,838

45,444

69,086

88,591

91,496

The Group has a wide range of leases in place with tenants across a broad range of properties, sectors, tenures and rental values.

MINIMUM TOTAL FUTURE LEASE PAYMENTS PAYABLE:

Within one year 

One to five years

In more than five years

2018
£000

1,411

5,643

26,922

2017
£000

1,370

5,482

27,619

Future lease commitments relate to five car parks operated under lease agreements. The annual rent for these car parks ranges from £175,000 
to £400,000 and the remaining term on the leases are all less than 35 years.

The expense recognised in relation to operating lease agreements for the year ended 30 June 2018 was £1,400,000 (2017: £1,379,000).

23. CALLED UP SHARE CAPITAL 

Authorised

The authorised share capital of the company is 164,879,000 (2017: 164,879,000) ordinary shares of 25p each. 
The nominal value of authorised share capital is £41,219,750 (2017: £41,219,750). 

Issued and fully paid up

AT 30 JUNE 2017 AND 30 JUNE 2018

Number of 
shares 
000

Nominal 
value
£000

53,162

13,290

The Company has only one type of ordinary share class in issue. All shares have equal entitlement to voting rights and dividend distributions.

24. POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS

On 23 July 2018, one of the Group’s joint ventures, Merrion House LLP, received an advance rent payment of £54.6m from a tenant. This cash 
was distributed evenly between the joint venture partners and the Group therefore received £27.3m in cash (excluding costs) on the same day. 
This cash has been used to pay down debt on the Revolving Credit Facilities.

On 13 July 2018 the Group purchased a property on Chiswick High Road in London for £1.6m plus costs.

On 28 August 2018, the Group announced the acquisition of The Cube, 123 Albion Street, Leeds for £12m plus costs. Contracts have been 
exchanged and the completion of the purchase is set for 1 October 2018.

On 31 August the Group purchased a property on Gordon Street in Glasgow for £2.4m plus costs.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

107

Financial Statements 
Notes to the consolidated Financial Statements

For the year ended 30 June 2018

25. CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

Profit for the financial year

Adjustments for:

Depreciation

Profit on disposal of fixed assets

Profit on disposal of investment properties

Finance costs

Share of post tax profits from joint ventures

Movement in valuation of investment and development properties

Movement in lease incentives

Reversal of impairment of car parking assets

Decrease in receivables

Increase/(decrease)	in	payables

CASH GENERATED FROM OPERATIONS

2018 
£000

2017 
£000

18,375

6,725

933

-

(1,677)

7,887

(3,757)

(5,932)

(1,851)

(1,300)

144

1,413

14,235

905

(23)

(303)

7,639

(1,342)

2,085

145

(1,000)

4,192

(864)

18,159

26. REMUNERATION OF KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL

The remuneration of the Directors, who are the key management personnel of the Group, is set out below in aggregate for each of the 
applicable categories specified in IAS 24 ‘Related Party Disclosures’. Further information about the remuneration of individual Directors is 
provided in the audited part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report on page 74.

Short-term employee benefits

Post-employment benefits

2018 
£000

12,332

66

2,398

2017 
£000

1,826

38

1,864

108 TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 

Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Financial Statements 
Company Balance Sheet

As of 30 June 2018

FIXED ASSETS 

Investment properties

Property, plant and equipment

Investments

CURRENT ASSETS 

Investments

Debtors

Cash

CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 

Financial	liabilities	–	borrowings

Other creditors

NET CURRENT LIABILITIES

TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES

Financial	liabilities	–	borrowings

NET ASSETS

EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE OWNERS OF THE PARENT 

Called up share capital

Share premium account

Capital redemption reserve

Other reserves

Profit and loss account

TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS’ FUNDS

COMPANY NUMBER: 623364

Notes

2018
£000

2017 
£000

4

4

5

6

7

9

8

92,984

79,061

457

698

255,909

250,643

349,350

330,402

3,530

2,394

121,520

114,855

20

-

125,070

117,249

(16,270)

(13,057)

(131,709)

(119,251)

(147,979)

(132,308)

(22,909)

(15,059)

326,441

315,343

9

(193,613)

(187,507)

132,828

127,836

10

13,290

13,290

200

559

200

559

80,057

80,057

38,722

33,730

132,828

127,836

As permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the Parent Company’s Profit and Loss Account has not been included in these 
financial statements. The profit shown in the financial statements of the Parent Company was £11,106,000 (2017: £6,500,000).

The financial statements on pages 111 to 118 were approved by the Board of Directors on 26 September 2018 and signed on its behalf by:

E M ZIFF OBE DL 

Chairman and Chief Executive

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

109

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial Statements 
Statement of changes in equity

For the year ended 30 June 2018

BALANCE AT 1 JULY 2016

13,290

 200

 559

80,057

 33,158

 127,264

Called up
share 
capital 
£000

Share 
premium 
account 
£000

Capital
redemption 
reserve 
£000

Other 
reserve 
£000

Retained 
earnings 
£000

Total 
equity
£000

Comprehensive income for the year 

Profit

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR

Contributions by and distributions to owners

Final dividend relating to the year ended 30 June 2016

Interim dividend relating to the year ended 30 June 2017

BALANCE AT 30 JUNE 2017

Comprehensive income for the year

Profit

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR

Contributions by and distributions to owners

Final dividend relating to the year ended 30 June 2017

Interim dividend relating to the year ended 30 June 2018

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

6,500

6,500

6,500

6,500

(4,200)

(4,200)

(1,728)

(1,728)

13,290

200

559

80,057

33,730

127,836

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

11,106

11,106

11,106

11,106

(4,386)

(4,386)

(1,728)

(1,728)

BALANCE AT 30 JUNE 2018

13,290

200

559

80,057

38,722

132,828

110 TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 

Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
Financial Statements 
Notes to the Company Financial Statements

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of Preparation 
The Company Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102, (The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in 
the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland), the going concern basis, the historical cost convention as modified by the revaluation of 
investment properties and certain investments and in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 and applicable law.
The preparation of financial statements in compliance with FRS 102 requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires 
management to exercise judgement in applying the Company’s accounting policies (see note 2). The principal accounting policies, which 
have been applied consistently, are as set out below:
Financial reporting standard 102 - reduced disclosure exemptions
The company has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemptions in preparing these financial statements, as permitted by the FRS 
102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland”:
•	the	requirements	of	Section	4	Statement	of	Financial	Position	paragraph	4.12(a)(iv);
•	the	requirements	of	Section	7	Statement	of	Cash	Flows;
•	the	requirements	of	Section	3	Financial	Statement	Presentation	paragraph	3.17(d);
•	the	requirements	of	Section	11	Financial	Instruments	paragraphs	11.41(b),	11.41(c),	11.41(e),	11.41(f),	11.42,	11.44	to	11.45,	11.47,	11.48(a)(iii),	11.48(a)		
 (iv), 11.48(b) and 11.48(c);
•	the	requirements	of	Section	12	Other	Financial	Instruments	paragraphs	12.26	to	12.27,	12.29(a),	12.29(b)	and	12.29A;
•	the	requirements	of	Section	33	Related	Party	Disclosures	paragraph	33.7.
This information is included in the consolidated financial statements of Town Centre Securities Plc as at 30 June 2018 and these financial 
statements may be obtained from Companies House, Cardiff CF4 3UZ.
Deferred Taxation 
Town Centre Securities Plc elected for Group REIT status with effect from 2 October 2007. As a result the Company no longer pays United 
Kingdom corporation tax on the profits and gains from qualifying rental business in the United Kingdom provided it meets certain conditions. 
Non-qualifying profits and gains of the Company continue to be subject to corporation tax as normal. On entering the REIT regime an entry 
charge equal to 2% of the aggregate market value of the properties associated with the qualifying rental business was payable. Deferred 
tax accrued at the date of conversion in respect of the assets and liabilities of the qualifying rental business was released to the income 
statement as the relevant temporary differences are no longer taxable on reversal. From 17 July 2012 there is no REIT entry charge payable 
where the Company makes acquisitions of companies owning qualifying properties.
Deferred tax is recognised in respect of all timing differences that have originated but not reversed at the balance sheet date, where 
transactions or events that result in an obligation to pay more tax in the future or a right to pay less tax in the future have occurred at the 
balance sheet date.
Deferred tax is measured at the average tax rates that are expected to apply in the periods in which the timing differences are expected to 
reverse, based on tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date. Deferred tax is measured 
on an undiscounted basis.
Investment Properties 
Investment properties are included in the accounts at open market values based on an independent external valuation, as at 30 June each 
year, or held at Directors’ valuation. Movements in fair value are taken through the income statement.
Investments 
The Company classifies its listed and unlisted investments as available for sale financial assets.
Available for sale financial assets are non-derivatives that are either designated in this category or not classified in any of the other categories 
of financial assets.
Purchases and sales of investments are recognised on the trade date, which is the date the Company commits to purchase or sell the 
asset. Investments are initially recognised at fair value plus transaction costs. Investments are derecognised when the rights to receive cash 
flows from the investments have expired or have been transferred and the Company has transferred substantially all risks and rewards of 
ownership. Available for sale financial assets are subsequently carried at fair value. The fair values of listed investments are based on current 
bid prices. Unrealised gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value of securities classified as available for sale are recognised 
in equity. When securities classified as available for sale are sold, the accumulated fair value adjustments are as gains and losses from 
investment securities.
The Company assesses at each balance sheet date whether there is objective evidence that a financial asset or a group of financial assets 
is impaired. In the case of equity securities classified as available for sale, a significant or prolonged decline in the fair value of the security 
below its cost is considered in determining whether the securities are impaired. 
Investments in equity instruments that do not have a quoted price in an active market and whose fair value cannot be reliably measured 
due to the range of reasonable fair value measurements obtained being significant are measured at cost.
Investment Income 
Income from investments is accounted for on the payment date of the dividends.
Investments in Subsidiary Undertakings 
Investments in subsidiary undertakings are stated in the balance sheet of the Company at cost less impairment.
Trade Receivables 
Trade receivables are recognised initially at fair value and are subsequently measured at cost less provision for impairment. A provision 
for impairment of trade receivables is established when there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to collect all amounts 
due according to the original terms of the receivables concerned. The amount of the provision is recognised in the Consolidated Income 
Statement.
Cash and cash receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents are carried in the Balance Sheet at cost. Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash in hand, deposits held at call 
with banks, other short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts 
are included within borrowings in current liabilities on the Balance Sheet. Where there is a formal legal arrangement with a right to offset 
the net position of the individual accounts will be presented in cash or current liabilities as appropriate.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

111

Financial Statements 
Notes to the Company Financial Statements

Continued

Joint Ventures 
A joint venture is a contractual arrangement whereby the Company and other parties undertake an economic activity that is subject to joint 
control.
Investments in jointly controlled entities are valued at cost less impairment.

Turnover 
Turnover, which excludes value added tax, represents the invoiced value of rent and services supplied to customers. Rental income is 
accounted for as it falls due in accordance with the lease to which it relates.
Unamortised tenant lease incentives 
Leasehold incentives given to tenants on entering property leases are recognised as unamortised lease incentives. The operating lease 
incentives are spread over the non-cancellable life of the lease. Where this ends with a clean break clause the incentives are spread to this 
date unless management is reasonably certain that the break will not be exercised.
Derivative financial instruments (derivatives) and hedge accounting 
The Company occasionally uses interest rate swaps to help manage its interest rate risk. In accordance with its treasury policy, the Company 
does not hold or issue derivatives for trading purposes.
The Company documents at the inception of the transaction the relationship between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its 
risk management objectives and strategy for undertaking various hedging transactions. The Company 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 value or cash flows of hedged items.
All derivatives are initially recognised at fair value at the date the derivative is entered into and are subsequently re-measured at fair value. 
The fair value of interest rate swaps is based on broker quotes.
The method of recognising the resulting gain or loss depends on whether the derivative is designated as a hedging instrument.
Cash flow hedges 
Where a derivative is designated as a hedge of the variability of a highly probable forecast transaction, e.g. an interest payment, the element 
of the gain or loss on the derivative that is an effective hedge is recognised directly in equity. When the forecast transaction subsequently 
results in the recognition of a financial asset or a financial liability, the associated gains or losses that were recognised directly in equity are 
reclassified into the Income Statement in the same period or periods during which the asset acquired or liability assumed affects the Income 
Statement, i.e. when interest income or expense is recognised.
Reserves 
Reserves are analysed in the following categories:
- Share capital represents the nominal value of issued share capital
- Share premium represents any consideration received in excess of nominal value of the shares issued
- Capital redemption reserve represents the nominal value of the Company’s own shares that have been repurchased and cancelled
- Other reserves relates to the revaluation of the company’s investments
- Retained earnings represents the cumulative profit or loss position less dividend distributions

2. JUDGEMENTS IN APPLYING ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND KEY SOURCES OF ESTIMATION UNCERTAINTY
The Company makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal 
the related actual results. The only estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying 
value amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are investment properties (Note 4).

3. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Wages and salaries (including Directors’ emoluments)

Social security costs

Other pension costs

2018
£000

2,693

452

58

3,203

2017
£000

2,663

450

69

3,182

Employee benefits are charged to the Profit and Loss account through administrative expenses.

All of the pension costs in the table above relate to define contribution schemes.

The aggregate remuneration of the Directors of the Company was £2,398,000 (2017: £1,864,000).

The average monthly number of staff employed during the year was 56 (2017: 70). Disclosures required by the Companies Act 2006 on 
Directors’ remuneration, including salaries, share options, pension contributions and pension entitlement, are included on page 74 in the 
Remuneration Report and form part of the Consolidated Financial Statements. The remuneration paid to the Parent Company auditors in 
respect of the audit of the Parent Company Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2018 is included in note 5 to the Consolidated 
Financial Statements.

112 TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 

Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Financial Statements 
Notes to the Company Financial Statements

Continued

4. TANGIBLE ASSETS 

INVESTMENT PROPERTIES

Valuation at 1 July 2017

Additions

Disposals

Valuation movement

Movement in tenant lease incentives

VALUATION AT 30 JUNE 2018

Freehold
£000

46,971

9,598

(7,190)

254

(139)

Long 
leasehold
£000

Development
£000

Total
£000

7,340

24,750

79,061

-

-

-

-

140

9,738

-

(7,190)

11,260

-

11,514

(139)

49,494

7,340

36,150

92,984

The above freehold and long leasehold properties have been valued as at 30 June 2018 on the basis of open market value by Jones Lang 
LaSalle and CBRE in accordance with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Appraisal and Investment Manual.

FIXTURES, EQUIPMENT AND MOTOR VEHICLES

Balance at 1 July 2017

Additions

Disposals

Depreciation

BALANCE AT 30 JUNE 2018

NET BOOK VALUE AT 30 JUNE 2018

Net book value at 30 June 2017

TOTAL TANGIBLE ASSETS

AT 30 JUNE 2018

At 30 June 2017

Cost
£000

2,987

23

(1,526)

-

1,484

Accumulated 
depreciation
£000

2,289

-

(1,517)

255

1,027

457

698

93,441

79,759

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

113

 
Financial Statements 
Notes to the Company Financial Statements

Continued

5. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS

SHARES IN GROUP UNDERTAKINGS

At 1 July

Additions

AT 30 JUNE

OTHER INVESTMENTS

At 1 July

Additions

AT 30 JUNE

INTEREST IN JOINT VENTURES

At 1 July

Loans advanced

Share of profits after tax

Dividends received

Transferred to shares in group undertakings

AT 30 JUNE

TOTAL FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS

2018
£000

2017
£000

248,693

245,092

-

3,601

248,693

248,693

1,950

175

2,125

-

1,950

1,950

-

1,800

4,985

106

-

-

5,091

-

129

(129)

(1,800)

-

255,909

250,643

As permitted by Section 615 of the Companies Act 2006, where the relief afforded under Section 612 of the Companies Act 2006 applies, cost 
is the aggregate of the nominal value of shares issued plus the fair value of any other consideration given to acquire the share capital of the 
subsidiary undertakings.

6. LISTED INVESTMENTS

At 1 July

Increase in value of investments

AT 30 JUNE

2018
£000

2,394

1,136

3,530

2017
£000

2,070

324

2,394

Listed investments, all of which are listed on a recognised stock exchange, are stated at market value in the table above and have a historic cost 
of £889,130 (2017: £889,130).

7. DEBTORS

Trade debtors

Less: provision for impairment of debtors

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings

Other debtors and prepayments

2018
£000

169

(68)

101

2017 
£000

229

(30)

199

120,988

109,161

431

5,495

121,520

114,855

The expense recognised in relation to the impairment of debtors for the year ended 30 June 2018 was £1,000 (2017: £22,000).

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings are unsecured, interest free and repayable on demand.

114

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Financial Statements 
Notes to the Company Financial Statements

Continued

8. OTHER CREDITORS

Trade payables

Taxation and social security

Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings

Other payables and accruals

2018
£000

35

22

120,242

11,410

131,709

2017
£000

23

358

115,791

3,079

119,251

Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings are unsecured, interest free and repayable on demand.

9. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Company’s borrowings are at both floating and fixed rates of interest. The Company takes on exposure to fluctuations in interest rates on 
its financial position and cash flows. Interest costs may increase or decrease as a result of such changes.

Non-current

Bank borrowings

5.375% First mortgage debenture stock

Current

Bank borrowings

TOTAL BORROWINGS

2018
£000

2017
£000

87,759

81,663

105,854

105,844

193,613

187,507

16,270

13,057

209,883

200,564

The debenture, bank loans and overdrafts are secured by fixed charges on properties, valued at 339,485,000 (2017: £340,065,000) owned by 
the Company and its subsidiary undertakings.

The debenture issue premium is net of issue costs and is amortised over the life of the debt agreement.

The Company had undrawn committed floating rate bank facilities as set out below:

Expiring in one year or less

Expiring in more than one year

2018
£000

-

2017
£000

-

14,500

26,000

14,500

26,000

Included within facilities expiring in one year or less are overdraft facilities subject to annual review. There are net cash balances of £21,743,000 
held by other Group companies which offset the Company’s overdraft on consolidation. The total overdraft facility is based on the Group’s 
right of set off. Other facilities are available to provide funding for future investments.

The Company finances its operations through a combination of retained cash flows, debentures and bank borrowings. Procedures are in place 
to monitor interest rate risk as considered appropriate by management. Numerical financial instruments disclosures are set out overleaf.

All financial liabilities are denominated in Sterling.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

115

Financial Statements 
Notes to the Company Financial Statements

Continued

INTEREST RATE RISK

The interest rate risk of the Company’s financial liabilities is as follows:

Debenture stock

Bank floating rate liabilities

As at 30 June 2018

As at 30 June 2017

Weighted 
average 
rate
%

Weighted 
average 
period 
Years

5.375

2.41

13

3

Nominal 
value 
£000

106,001

104,750

210,751

Nominal 
value 
£000

106,001

95,057

201,058

Weighted 
average 
rate
%

5.375

2.03

Weighted 
average 
period 
Years

14

2

Floating rate financial liabilities bear interest at rates for term loans based on LIBOR plus an average margin of 1.72% and for the overdraft of 
2.00% above base rate.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS HELD FOR TRADING PURPOSES 
It is, and has been throughout the year under review, the Company’s policy not to trade in financial instruments.

FOREIGN CURRENCY EXPOSURE 
The Group has no exposure to foreign currency as it has no overseas operations and all sales and purchases are made in Sterling.

EFFECTIVE INTEREST RATES 
The effective interest rates at the balance sheet date were as follows:

Bank overdraft facility

Bank borrowings

Debenture loan

2018

2017

2.50%

2.41%

2.25%

2.03%

5.375%

5.375%

FAIR VALUES OF CURRENT BORROWINGS

Where market values are not available, fair values of financial assets and liabilities have been calculated by discounting expected future cash 
flows at prevailing interest rates and by applying year end exchange rates. The carrying amounts of short-term borrowings approximate to 
book value.

FAIR VALUE OF NON-CURRENT BORROWINGS

Debenture stock

Long-term bank borrowings

10. CALLED UP SHARE CAPITAL 

AUTHORISED

164,879,000 (2017: 164,879,000) ordinary shares of 25p each. 

ISSUED AND FULLY PAID

AT 30 JUNE 2017 AND 30 JUNE 2018

2018

2017

Book 
value
£000

Fair 
value
£000

Book 
value
£000

105,854

111,347

105,844

87,759

87,759

81,663

Fair 
value
£000

110.176

81,663

Number of 
shares 
000

Nominal 
value
£000

53,162

13,290

The company has only one type of ordinary share class in issue. All shares have equal entitlement to voting rights and dividend distributions.

116

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
 
Financial Statements 
Notes to the Company Financial Statements

Continued

11. SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES 

The Company’s wholly owned active subsidiary undertakings at 30 June 2018, registered in England or Scotland and operating in the United 
Kingdom, are as follows:

Company No.

Activity

Held directly 
TCS Holdings Limited
Dundonald Property Investments Limited
Buckley Properties (Leeds) Limited
CitiPark Plc
TCS Development Management (Merrion) Limited
TCS (Residential Conversions) Limited
TCS (Property Management) Limited*
TCS Trustees Limited*
TCS Properties Limited*
TCS (Whitehall Plaza) Limited
TCS (9 Cheapside) Limited
TCS (Tariff Street) Limited
TCS (Brownsfield Mill) Limited
TCS (Merrion Hotel) Limited
Apperley Bridge Limited
TCS Park Row Limited
CitiPark UK Limited
TCS (Merrion House JVC02) Limited
Tassgander Limited
Blackpool Markets Limited
Emett Exhibitions Limited
Milngavie East Limited
No 29 Management Co (Eastgate) Limited
T Herbert Kaye’s Estates Limited
TCS (Bolton) Limited
TCS Piccadilly Limited
TCS Whitehall Riverside Limited
TCS (Rochdale JV) Limited
TCS (Rochdale Management) Limited
TCS Car Parks Limited
TCS Eastgate Limited
TCS Finance Limited
TCS Trading Limited
The Merrion Centre Limited
Town Centre Enterprises Limited
Town Centre Securities (Developments) Limited
Town Centre Securities (Manchester) Limited
Town Centre Securities (Scotland) Limited
Town Centre Services Limited
TCS Plc
TCS (EX TCCP) Plc

2271353
3672365
647309
8837214
8696141
3946495
5281225
3112923
2831154
9922032
10139127
09929851
10291290
10380988
6879596
8077103
8837203
8561356
4077297
2740190
1544918
SC464805
3873683
0226678
4104688
4317396
4329860
7712764
7712123
4847697
6554827
3108777
3060862
0814845
0221003
3946549
0129485
0748937
2285764
4329979
3385312

Property investment
Property investment
Property investment
Car park operations
Property investment
Property investment
Management company
Trustee for employee benefit plans
Property investment
Property investment
Property investment
Property investment
Property investment
Hotel operator
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

117

 
Financial Statements 
Notes to the Company Financial Statements

Continued

Held indirectly 
TCS Freehold Investments Limited
TCS Leasehold Investments Limited
Town Centre Car Parks Limited
TCCP (Clarence Dock) Limited
TCS (Milngavie) Limited
TCS (Merrion House JVC01) Limited
Dundonald (Cumbernauld) Limited
TCS (Bothwell Street) Limited
Dundonald Property Developments Limited
Riverside (Leeds) Limited
TCS (Greenhithe) Limited
TCS (Isleworth) Limited
TCS (Parliament Street 1) Limited
TCS (Parliament Street 2) Limited
TCS Energy Limited
TCS (Mill Hill) Limited
TCS (Residential) Limited
TCS Solar Limited

Company No.

Activity

3684812
3684827
5494592
6219875
6391627
8561354
5983938
4240551
6430444
4569350
4413344
4413343
4768830
4768845
4414144
4413341
4249007
5113915

Property investment
Property investment
Car park operations
Car park operations
Property investment
Property investment
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant

*The subsidiaries marked with an asterix above are exempt from preparing audited statutory accounts under section 479a of the Companies 
Act 2006.

The registered office of all subsidiaries is at the following address:

Town Centre House 
The Merrion Centre 
Leeds 
LS2 8LY

The Company’s directly owned joint ventures, which are all registered in England and operate in the United Kingdom, are as follows:

Proportion of ordinary shares held %

Activity

50

50

Property investment

Software Development

Belgravia Living Group Limited

Bay Sentry Limited

The registered offices of joint ventures are as follows:

Belgravia Living Group Limited 
Middleton House 
Westland Road 
Leeds 
LS11 5UH

Bay Sentry Limited 
Town Centre House 
The Merrion Centre 
Leeds 
LS2 8LY

The company also has an indirect 50% interest in Merrion House LLP, which has the same registered office as the company.

118 TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 

Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
Notice of Annual General Meeting 

Notice is hereby given that the 2018 annual general meeting (the “Meeting”) of Town Centre Securities Plc (the “Company”) will be held at Rudding 
Park Hotel, Rudding Lane, Follifoot, Harrogate, HG3 1JH on Tuesday, 20 November 2018 at 10.00am.

You will be asked to consider and, if thought fit, to pass the resolutions below. Resolutions 1 to 11 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions. For an 
ordinary resolution to be passed, a simple majority of the votes cast must vote in favour of the resolution. Resolutions 12 to 15 will be proposed as 
special resolutions. For a special resolution to be passed, at least 75% of the votes cast must vote in favour of the resolution. 

ORDINARY RESOLUTIONS:

Resolution 1: Annual Financial Statements and Directors’ Report 
1. To receive the Company’s annual financial statements (together with the Directors’ Report and the auditors’ report) for the financial year ended 
30 June 2018.

Resolution 2: Directors’ Remuneration Report 
2. To approve the Directors’ Remuneration Report set out on pages 71 to 79 of the Company’s 2018 Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2018 
(excluding the Directors’ Remuneration Policy included in the report). 

Resolution 3: Final Dividend 
3. To declare a final cash dividend recommended by the Board for the year ended 30 June 2018 of 8.50 pence per ordinary share, to be paid on 
4 January 2019, to shareholders whose names appear on the register at close of business on 7 December 2018

Resolution 4 to 7: Election and Re-election of Directors 
4. To re-elect Paul Huberman, serving as a Non-Executive Director of the Company who retires by rotation.

5. To elect Jeremy Collins as a Non-Executive Director of the Company.

6. To re-elect Benjamin Ziff serving as an executive Director of the Company who retires by rotation.

7. To elect Lynda Shillaw as a Director of the Company.

Resolution 8: Re-appointment of Auditors 
8. To re-appoint BDO LLP as the auditors of the Company, to hold office from the conclusion of this Meeting until the conclusion of the next general 
meeting at which annual financial statements are laid before the Company’s shareholders.

Resolution 9: Remuneration of Auditors 
9. To authorise the Directors to determine the remuneration of the Company’s auditors.

Resolution 10: Authority to Make Political Donations  
10. To authorise, in accordance with Part 14 of the UK Companies Act 2006 (the “Act”), the Company and all companies that are subsidiaries of 
the Company at the date on which this resolution is passed, or at any time when this resolution has effect to: 

(a)	make	political	donations	to	political	parties	and/or	independent	election	candidates; 
(b) make political donations to political organisations other than political parties; and 
(c) incur political expenditure,

(as such terms are defined in the Act), up to an aggregate amount of £50 000, and the amount authorised under each of paragraphs (a) to (c) above 
shall also be limited to such amount, during the period beginning on the date of the passing of this resolution and ending at the conclusion of the 
next annual general meeting of the Company to be held in 2019. Upon the passing of this resolution, all existing authorisations and approvals relating 
to political donations or expenditure under Part 14 of the Act shall be revoked without prejudice to any donation made, or expenditure incurred, prior 
to the passing of this resolution pursuant to such authorisation or approval. For the purpose of this resolution, the terms “political donation”, “political 
parties”, “independent election candidates”, “political organisation” and “political expenditure” shall have the meanings given by sections 363 to 365 
of the Act.

Resolution 11: Authority to Allot Ordinary Shares  
11. To generally and unconditionally authorise the Board, in substitution for any existing authority, but without prejudice to the exercise of any such 
authority prior to the date of the passing of this resolution, pursuant to and in accordance with section 551 of the Act to exercise all the powers of the 
Company to allot shares in the Company or grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares in the Company:

(a) up to an aggregate nominal amount of £4,430,162.50 (representing 17,720,650 ordinary shares) (such amount to be reduced by any allotments 
or grants made under paragraph (b) below in excess of such sum); and 
(b) comprising equity securities (as defined in the Act) up to a nominal amount of £8,860,325 (representing 35,441,300 ordinary shares) (such amount 
to be reduced by any allotments or grants made under paragraph (a) above) in connection with an offer by way of a rights issue:

    (i) to ordinary shareholders in proportion (as nearly as may be practicable) to their existing holdings; and 
    (ii) to holders of other equity securities as required by the rights of those securities or as the Board otherwise considers necessary, 

    and so that the Board may impose any limits or restrictions and make any arrangements which it considers necessary, expedient or appropriate  
    to deal with treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates, legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or under the laws of, any territory or 
    any other matter,

provided that this authority shall expire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company, to be held in 2019, or 20 February 
2020, whichever is earlier, save that the Company may, before such expiry, make an offer or enter into an agreement which would or might require 
shares to be allotted, or rights to subscribe for or to convert securities into shares to be granted, after such expiry; and the Board may allot shares or 
grant such rights in pursuance of such an offer or agreement as if the authority conferred hereby had not expired.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

119

 
Notice of Annual General Meeting

Continued
Continued

Special Resolutions  
Resolution 12: Authority to Disapply Pre-emption Rights  
12. That, if resolution 11 above is passed, the Board be given power to allot equity securities (as defined in the Act) for cash under the authority given 
by	that	resolution	and/or	to	sell	ordinary	shares	held	by	the	Company	as	treasury	shares	for	cash	as	if	section	561	of	the	Act	did	not	apply	to	any	such	
allotment or sale, such power to be limited:

(a) to the allotment of equity securities and sale of treasury shares in connection with an offer of, or invitation to apply for, equity securities (but in the 
case of the authority granted under paragraph (b) of resolution 11, by way of a rights issue only):

(i) to ordinary shareholders in proportion (as nearly as may be practicable) to their existing holdings; and 
(ii) to holders of other equity securities, as required by the rights of those securities, or as the Board otherwise considers necessary,

and so that the Board may impose any limits or restrictions and make any arrangements which it considers necessary or appropriate to deal with 
treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates, legal, regulatory or practical problems in, or under the laws of, any territory or any other matter; 
and

(b)	in	the	case	of	the	authority	granted	under	paragraph	(a)	of	resolution	12	and/or	in	the	case	of	any	sale	of	treasury	shares,	to	the	allotment	of	equity	
securities or sale of treasury shares (otherwise than under paragraph (a) above) up to a nominal amount of £664,524.25,

such power to apply until the end of the next annual general meeting to be held in 2019, or 20 February 2020, whichever is earlier, but, in each 
case, during this period the Company may make offers and enter into agreements, which would, or might, require equity securities to be allotted 
(and treasury shares to be sold) after the power ends and the Board may allot equity securities (and sell treasury shares) under any such offer or 
agreement as if the power had not ended.

Resolution 13: Additional Authority to Disapply Pre-emption Rights for Purposes of Acquisitions or Capital Investments  
13. That, if resolution 11 above is passed, the Board be given the power, in addition to any power granted under resolution 12 above, to allot equity 
securities	(as	defined	in	the	Act)	for	cash	under	the	authority	granted	under	paragraph	(a)	of	resolution	11	and/or	to	sell	ordinary	shares	held	by	the	
Company as treasury shares for cash as if section 561 of the Act did not apply to any such allotment or sale, such power to be:

(a) limited to the allotment of equity securities or sale of treasury shares up to a nominal amount of £664,524.25; and 
(b) used only for the purposes of financing a transaction which the Board determines to be an acquisition or other capital investment of a kind 
contemplated by the Statement of Principles on Disapplying Pre-Emption Rights most recently published by the Pre-Emption Group prior to the date 
of this notice, or for the purposes of refinancing such a transaction within six months of it taking place,

such power to apply until the end of the next annual general meeting to be held in 2019, or 20 February 2020, whichever is earlier, but, in each 
case, during this period the Company may make offers and enter into agreements, which would, or might, require equity securities to be allotted 
(and treasury shares to be sold) after the power ends and the Board may allot equity securities (and sell treasury shares) under any such offer or 
agreement as if the power had not ended.

Resolution 14: Authority to purchase Company’s own shares  
14. That the Company be generally and unconditionally authorised for the purpose of Section 701 of the Act to make market purchases (within the 
meaning of Section 693(4) of the Act) of Ordinary Shares of £0.25 each in the capital of the Company, provided that:

(a) the maximum number of Ordinary Shares which may be purchased is 7,974,292; 
(b) the minimum price, exclusive of any expenses, which may be paid for each Ordinary Share is £0.25; 
(c) the maximum price, exclusive of any expenses, which may be paid for each Ordinary Share is an amount equal to the higher of:

(i) 105% of the average mid-market value of an Ordinary Share, as derived from the London Stock Exchange Daily Official List for the five business 
days prior to the day on which the purchase is made; and 
(ii) an amount equal to the higher of the price of the last independent trade of an Ordinary Share and the highest current independent bid for an 
Ordinary Share.

(d) this authority shall expire on the date of the next annual general meeting of the Company or on 20February 2020 whichever is the earlier, but, in 
each case, provided that the Company may, before such expiry, enter into a contract or contracts to purchase shares which will or may be executed 
wholly or partly after the expiry of such authority and the Company may make a purchase of shares under such contract or contracts as if the 
authority had not expired.

Resolution 15: Notice of General Meetings, other than Annual General Meetings  
15. That a general meeting (other than an annual general meeting) of the Company may be called on not less than 14 clear days’ notice.

By order of the Board.

Link Company Matters Limited 
Company Secretary 
26 September 2018

Registered Office: 
Town Centre House, The Merrion Centre, Leeds LS2 8LY 
Registered in England and Wales No. 00623364

120 TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 

Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Notice of Annual General Meeting 
Explanatory Notes

Continued

EXPLANATORY NOTES:

Ordinary Resolutions

Resolution 1: To receive the Annual Financial Statements and Directors’ Report 
Under the Company’s Act 2006, the Directors are required to present the strategic report, Directors’ report, auditor’s report and annual financial 
statements of the Company to the Meeting. These are contained in the Company’s 2018 Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year 
ended 30 June 2018 (the “Annual Report”), which was circulated at the time of this Notice and is also available on the Company’s website at 
www.tcs-plc.co.uk

Resolution 2: Directors’ Remuneration Report (excluding the Directors’ Remuneration Policy) for the year ended 30 June 2018 
Under the Companies Act 2006 (the “Act”), the Directors must prepare an Annual Report detailing the remuneration of the Directors and a statement 
by the chairman of the Remuneration Committee (together, the “Directors’ Remuneration Report”). The Act also requires that a resolution be put to 
shareholders each year for their approval of that report. The Directors’ Remuneration Report can be found on pages 71 to 78 of the Annual Report. 
Resolution 2 is an advisory vote only and the Directors’ entitlement to remuneration is not conditional on it. No changes are proposed to 
the remuneration policy approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting held in 2017.

Resolution 3: Final Dividend 
The Board proposes a final dividend of 8.50 pence per share in respect of the year ended 30 June 2018. If approved, the recommended final 
dividend will be paid on 4 January 2019 to all ordinary shareholders who are on the register of members on 7 December 2018. 

Resolution 4-7: Election and Re-election of Directors 
The Company’s Articles of Association require that at the annual general meeting of the Company, one-third of the Directors for the time being 
or, if their number is not three or a multiple of three, the nearest number to but not exceeding one-third shall retire from office. Accordingly, Paul 
Huberman and Ben Ziff will retire by rotation, whilst Jeremy Collins and Lynda Shillaw will be seeking election following their appointments to the 
Board since the last Annual General Meeting.

The Board believes that each Director seeking election and re-election continues to have the requisite skills and experience, and demonstrates 
the necessary commitment, to contribute effectively to the Board. The biographical details of the Directors seeking election and re-election at the 
Meeting are set out on page 52 of the Annual Report with the exception of Lynda Shillaw who was appointed with effect from 5 November 2018. 
Lynda’s biography is therefore set out below.

Lynda served on the Board of Manchester Airports Group (‘MAG’) as the Divisional Chief Executive Officer, Property from June 2014 and was a 
member of the MAG Executive Committee, responsible for MAG’s £525m Investment portfolio, its1,000 acre development land bank across its 
UK airports and its interest in the £1bn Airport City Joint Venture. Prior to MAG, Lynda was Director of Real Estate at Scottish Widows Investment 
Partnership, Managing Director and Global Head of Corporate Real Estate for Lloyds Banking Group, Managing Director of Co-Operative Estates, 
and Director of Property at BT Plc. Lynda also holds Non-Executive Director positions on the boards of the Crown Estate and VIVID housing association.

None of the Non-Executive Directors seeking election or re-election at the Meeting has any existing or previous relationship, transaction or 
arrangement with the Company, nor with any controlling shareholder of the Company or any associate of a controlling shareholder of the Company, 
within the meaning of Listing Rule 13.8.17R(1). In considering the independence of the Non-Executive Directors, the Board has taken into account 
guidance from the UK Corporate Governance Code.

Resolution 8: Re-appointment of Auditor 
At each general meeting at which the Company’s annual financial statements are presented to its members, the Company is required to appoint an 
auditor to serve until the next such meeting. The Board, on the recommendation of the Audit Committee, recommends the re-appointment of BDO 
LLP as auditors of the Company.

Resolution 9: Remuneration of Auditor 
The remuneration of the Company’s auditor must be fixed by the Company in a general meeting or in such manner as the Company may determine 
in a general meeting. This resolution gives authority to the Directors to approve the terms of engagement and determine the remuneration of the 
Company’s auditors.

Resolution 10: Authority to make political donations  
Under the Act, political donations to any political parties, independent election candidates or political organisations other than political parties, 
or the incurring of political expenditure, are prohibited unless authorised by shareholders in advance.

As the legislation is capable of wide interpretation, the terms “political donation”, a “political party”, a “political organisation” or “political expenditure” 
are not easy to define. For example, sponsorship, subscriptions, payment of expenses, paid leave for employees fulfilling public duties, and support 
for bodies representing the business community in policy review or reform, may fall within the scope of these matters.

Therefore, notwithstanding that the Company has not made a political donation in the past, and has no intention, either now or in the future, of 
making any political donation or incurring any political expenditure, the Board has decided to propose Resolution 10 to avoid running the risk of 
the Company or its subsidiaries inadvertently breaching the Act through the undertaking of routine activities.

As permitted under the Act, this resolution also covers any political donations made or political expenditure incurred by any subsidiaries of the 
Company. This resolution caps the amount of all forms of political donations and expenditure that the company and its subsidiaries would be 
permitted to make at an aggregate of £50,000.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

121

Notice of Annual General Meeting 
Explanatory Notes

Continued

Resolution 11: Authority to Allot Ordinary Shares 
The purpose of this resolution is to give the Directors authority to allot shares in place of the existing authority approved at the annual general 
meeting of the Company held on 28 November 2017, which expires at the end of the 2018 annual general meeting.

The authority in paragraph (a) of the resolution will allow the Directors to allot new shares and grant rights to subscribe for, or convert other securities 
into, shares up to a nominal value of £4,430,162.50 (representing 17,720,650 ordinary shares), which is equivalent to approximately one third of the 
total issued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 26 September 2018, which is the latest practicable date prior to publication of this Notice.

In accordance with institutional guidelines issued by the Investment Association, paragraph (b) of Resolution 11 will allow Directors to allot, including 
the Ordinary shares referred to in paragraph (a) of Resolution 11, further of the Company’s Ordinary shares in connection with a pre-emptive offer by 
way of a rights issue to ordinary shareholders up to a maximum nominal amount of £8,860,325, representing approximately two thirds (66.67%) of the 
Company’s existing issued ordinary share capital and calculated as at 26 September 2018 (being the latest practicable date prior to publication of this 
document).

The Company does not currently hold any shares in treasury.

The Board believes it is in the best interests of the Company to have these authorities so that the Board can allot securities at short notice and without 
the need to hold a general meeting if the need arises.

The authorities sought in paragraphs (a) and (b) of resolution 11 are without prejudice to previous allotments made under such existing authorities.

The authorities will only be valid until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company to be held in 2019 or 20 February 2020, 
whichever is earlier.

Resolution 12: Authority to Dis-apply Pre-emption Rights 
At the annual general meeting held on 28 November 2017, the Directors were given the authority to issue equity securities of the Company and sell 
treasury shares in exchange for cash until the 2018 annual general meeting. Resolution 12 renews this authority allowing Directors to issue equity 
securities and to sell treasury shares for cash on a non pre-emptive basis: (i) to ordinary shareholders in proportion to their existing shareholdings 
and to holders of other equity securities as required by the rights of those securities, or as the Directors consider necessary, and to deal with, among 
other things, treasury shares, fractional entitlements and legal and practical problems in any territory, for example, in the case of a rights issue or 
other similar share issue; and (ii) otherwise, up to an aggregate nominal amount of £664,524.25 (representing 2,658,097 ordinary shares). This number 
represents approximately 5% of the issued share capital as at 26 September 2018, the latest practicable date prior to publication of this Notice.

The Directors believe that this resolution will assist them in taking advantage of business opportunities as they arise.

The Company does not currently hold any shares in treasury.

These authorities are without prejudice to allotments made under previous authorities and will only be valid until the conclusion of the next annual 
general meeting to be held in 2019 or 20 February 2020, whichever is earlier.

Resolution 13: Additional Authority to Disapply Pre-emption Rights for Purposes of Acquisitions or Capital Investments 
On 5 May 2016, the Pre-Emption Group published a monitoring report on the implementation of its 2015 Statement of Principles for Disapplying 
Pre-emption Rights and a recommended template resolution for disapplying pre-emption rights. The template recommends companies request 
authority to disapply pre-emption rights in respect of the additional 5% to be used when the Board considers the use to be for an acquisition or 
specified capital investment in accordance with the 2015 Statement of Principles as a separate resolution to the disapplication to issue shares 
on an unrestricted basis.

Resolution 13 seeks this separate authority. Where the authority granted under resolution 13 is used, the Company will disclose this in the 
announcement regarding the issue, the circumstances that have led to its use and the consultation process undertaken.

In accordance with the section of the Statement of Principles regarding cumulative usage of authorities within a rolling three-year period, the 
Directors also confirm their intention that (except in relation to an issue pursuant to resolution 13 in respect of the additional 5% referred to above) 
no more than 7.5% of the issued ordinary share capital will be issued for cash on a non pre-emptive basis during any rolling three-year period, 
without prior consultation with shareholders.

The Directors believe that this resolution will assist them in taking advantage of business opportunities as they arise.

These authorities are without prejudice to allotments made under previous authorities and will only be valid until the conclusion of the next annual 
general meeting to be held in 2019, or 20 February 2020, whichever is earlier.

Resolution 14: Authority to Purchase Company’s Own shares 
Resolution 14 is a special resolution that will grant the Company authority to make market purchases of up to 7,974,292 ordinary shares, representing 
15% of the ordinary shares in issue as at the date of the Notice.

The Directors have no present intention to exercise the authority granted by this resolution, but the authority provides the flexibility to allow them 
to do so in future. The Directors would not exercise the authority unless they believed that the expected effect would promote the success of the 
Company for the benefit of its shareholders as a whole. Any shares bought back will either be cancelled or placed into treasury at the determination 
of the Directors.

122

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Notice of Annual General Meeting 
Explanatory Notes

Continued

The maximum price which may be paid for each ordinary share must not be more than the higher of (i) 105% above the average of the mid-market 
values of the ordinary shares for the five business days before the purchase is made or (ii) the higher of the price of the last independent trade and 
the highest current independent bid for the ordinary shares. The minimum price which may be paid for each ordinary share is £0.25.

This authority shall expire at the annual general meeting to be held in 2019 or on 20 February 2020, whichever is the earlier, when a resolution to 
renew the authority will be proposed.

Resolution 15: Notice of general meetings other than Annual General Meetings  
Under the Act, the notice period required for all general meetings of the Company is 21 clear days. Annual General Meetings will always be held on 
at least 21 clear days’ notice but shareholders can approve a shorter notice period for other general meetings. At last year’s Annual General Meeting 
shareholders authorised the calling of general meetings (other than an Annual General Meeting) on not less than 14 clear days’ notice, and it is 
proposed that this authority be renewed.

Resolutions and Important Notes  
The formal notice convening the Meeting (“the Notice”) is set out on pages 119 to 125 of this document and includes explanatory notes to each of the 
resolutions to be proposed at the Meeting. There will be an opportunity for you to raise questions at the Meeting about the resolutions set out in the 
Notice and about the business of the Company.

Attendance and Voting in Person or by Proxy  
All resolutions for consideration at the Meeting will be voted on by way of a show of hands. The proxy votes will be taken into account where 
necessary or appropriate.

If you are entitled to, but unable to attend and vote at the Meeting, you may appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf. Please take careful note of the 
provisions included in the Notice set out on pages 124 to 125 regarding the actions required by shareholders. If you are in any doubt as to the action 
you	should	take,	please	consult	your	stockbroker,	solicitor/attorney,	accountant,	CSDP,	banker	or	other	independent	professional	adviser	immediately.	

Further Information  
Further information relating to the Company and its financial information can be found in the Company’s Annual Report and Financial Statements 
for the year ended 30 June 2018, which was circulated at the same time as this Notice and is also available on the Company’s website at 
www.tcs-plc.co.uk

Recommendation  
The Board considers that Resolutions 1 to 15 are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders as a whole and recommends that you 
vote in favour of such resolutions, as the Directors intend to do in respect of their own beneficial holdings.

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

123

Notice of Annual General Meeting 
Important Notes

Continued

IMPORTANT NOTES 
The following notes explain your general rights as a shareholder and your right to attend and vote at this Annual General Meeting or to appoint 
someone else to vote on your behalf.

1. The right to vote at the meeting is determined by reference to the register of members. Only those shareholders registered in the register of 
members of the Company as at close of business on Friday, 16 November 2018 (or, in the event that the meeting is adjourned, in the register of 
members at close of business on the date which is two days before the date of any adjourned meeting) shall be entitled to attend or vote at the 
meeting in respect of the number of shares registered in their name at that time. Changes to entries in the register of members after that time shall 
be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend or vote (and the number of votes they may cast) at the meeting.

2. In order to gain admittance to the meeting, members may be required to produce their attendance card which is attached to the Form of Proxy 
enclosed with this document, or otherwise prove their identity.

3. A shareholder is entitled to appoint one or more persons as proxies to exercise all or any of his or her rights to attend, speak and vote at the 
meeting. A proxy need not be a shareholder of the Company. A shareholder may appoint more than one proxy in relation to the meeting provided 
that	each	proxy	is	appointed	to	exercise	the	rights	attached	to	a	different	share	or	shares	held	by	him/her.	To	appoint	more	than	one	proxy,	you	will
need to complete a separate Form of Proxy in relation to each appointment. Additional proxy forms may be obtained by contacting the Company’s 
registrar at Link Asset Services, PXS, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU or you may photocopy the proxy form. You will need to state 
clearly on each proxy form the number of shares in relation to which the proxy is appointed. A failure to specify the number of shares each proxy 
appointment relates to or specifying a number which when taken together with the number of shares set out in the other proxy appointments is in 
excess of the number of shares held by the shareholder may result in the proxy appointment being invalid. You can only appoint a proxy using the 
procedures set out in these notes and the notes to the proxy form. 

The appointment of a proxy will not preclude a member from attending and voting in person at the meeting if he or she so wishes.

4. A Form of Proxy is enclosed. To be valid, it must be completed, signed and sent to the offices of the Company’s registrars, Link Asset Services, PXS, 
34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU, so as to arrive no later than 10.00am on Friday 16 November 2018 (or, in the event that the meeting 
is adjourned, no later than 48 hours (excluding any part of a day that is not a working day) before the time of any adjourned meeting).

5. As an alternative to completing the hard copy Form of Proxy, a shareholder can appoint proxies electronically by logging onto www.signalshares.com 
where full instructions are given. For an electronic proxy appointment to be valid, the appointment must be received by the Company’s registrar by 
no later than 10.00am on Friday 16h November 2018 (or in the event that the meeting is adjourned, no later than 48 hours (excluding any part of a day 
that is not a working day) before the time of any adjourned meeting).

Any electronic communication sent by a member to the Company or the Company’s registrar which is found to contain a virus will not be accepted 
by the Company but every effort will be made by the Company to inform said member of the rejected communication.

6. A shareholder or shareholders having a right to vote at the meeting and holding at least 5 per cent of the total voting rights of the Company (see 
Note 8 below), or at least 100 shareholders having a right to vote at the meeting and holding, on average, at least £100 of paid share capital, may 
require the Company to publish on its website a statement setting out any matter that such shareholder(s) propose to raise at the meeting relating 
to either the audit of the Company’s accounts (including the auditor’s report and the conduct of the audit) that are to be laid before the meeting 
or any circumstances connected with an auditor of the Company ceasing to hold office since the last Annual General Meeting of the Company in 
accordance with Section 527 of the Act.

Any such request must:

6.1 identify the statement to which it relates, by either setting out the statement in full or, if supporting a statement requested by another shareholder, 
clearly identifying the statement which is being supported; 
6.2 comply with the requirements set out in Note 7 below; and 
6.3 be received by the Company at least one week before the meeting.

Where the Company is required to publish such a statement on its website:

6.4 it may not require the shareholder(s) making the request to pay any expenses incurred by the Company in complying with the request;

6.5 it must forward the statement to the Company’s auditors no later than the time when it makes the statement available on the website; and 
6.6 the statement may be dealt with as part of the business of the meeting.

7. Any request by a shareholder or shareholders to require the Company to publish audit concerns as set out in Note 6 above:

7.1 may be made either: 
7.1.1 in hard copy, by sending it to the Company Secretary, Town Centre House, The Merrion Centre, Leeds LS2 8LY; or 
7.1.2 in electronic form, by sending it to 0113 234 0442, marked for the attention of the Company Secretary, or to info@tcs-plc.co.uk (please state 
“TCS: AGM” in the subject line of the email); 
7.2 must state the full name(s) and address(es) of the shareholder(s); and 
7.3 (where the request is made in hard copy from or by fax) must be signed by the shareholder(s).

124

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

	
Notice of Annual General Meeting 
Important Notes

Continued

8. As at 26 September 2018 (being the last practicable date prior to the publication of this notice) the Company’s issued share capital consists of 
53,161,950 ordinary shares of 25p each, carrying one vote each. The Company does not hold any ordinary shares in treasury. Therefore, the total 
voting rights in the Company as at 26 September 2018 are 53,161,950.

9. Shareholders have the right to ask questions at the meeting relating to the business being dealt with at the meeting in accordance with Section 
319A of the Act. The Company must answer any such questions unless:

9.1 to do so would interfere unduly with the preparation for the meeting or would involve the disclosure of confidential information; 
9.2 the answer has already been given on a website in the form of an answer to a question; or 
9.3 it is undesirable in the interests of the Company or the good order of the meeting that the question be answered.

10. Where a copy of this notice is being received by a person who has been nominated to enjoy information rights under Section 146 of the Act 
(“Nominee”):

10.1 the	Nominee	may	have	a	right	under	an	agreement	between	the	Nominee	and	the	shareholder	by	whom	he/she	was	appointed,	to	be	
appointed, or to have someone else appointed, as a proxy for the meeting; or 
10.2 if the Nominee does not have any such right or does not wish to exercise such right, the Nominee may have a right under any such agreement 
to give instructions to the shareholder as to the exercise of voting rights.

The statement of the rights of shareholders in relation to the appointment of proxies in Notes 3 to 5 above does not apply to a Nominee. The rights 
described in such notes can only be exercised by shareholders of the Company.

11. Biographical details of all those Directors who are offering themselves for appointment or re appointment at the meeting are set out on page 52 to 
53 and page 121 of the Annual Report and Accounts.

12. A shareholder which is a corporation may authorise one or more persons to act as its representative(s) at the meeting. Each such representative 
may exercise (on behalf of the corporation) the same powers as the corporation could exercise if it were an individual shareholder, provided that 
(where there is more than one representative and the vote is otherwise than on a show of hands) they do not do so in relation to the same shares.

13. The following documents will be available for inspection during normal business hours at the registered office of the Company from the date 
of this notice until the time of the meeting. They will also be available for inspection at the place of the meeting from at least 15 minutes before the 
meeting until it ends:

13.1 copies of the service contracts of the Executive Directors; and 
13.2 copies of the letters of appointment of the Non executive Directors.

14. The information required by Section 311A of the Act to be published in advance of the meeting, which includes the matters set out in this 
notice and information relating to the voting rights of shareholders is available at www.tcs-plc.co.uk

TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 
Annual Report and Accounts 2018

125

Investor Information

Registrar
All general enquiries concerning shareholdings in Town Centre Securities Plc should be addressed to:

Link Asset Services
The Registry
34 Beckenham Road
Beckenham
Kent BR3 4TU

Telephone:  

Telephone outside
United Kingdom: 

Email:  

Website:    

Dividends
Interim dividend: 

Final dividend: 

0871 664 0300
(Calls cost 12p per minute plus network extras.
Lines are open from 9.00am - 5.30pm,
Monday to Friday.)

+44 (0) 371 664 0300

shareholderenquiries@linkgroup.co.uk

www.linkassetservices.com

3.25p per share paid on 22 June 2018 to
shareholders on the register on 25 May 2018

8.50p per share to be paid on 4 January 2019
to shareholders on the register on 7 December 2018

Payment of dividends
Shareholders whose dividends are not currently paid to mandated accounts may wish to consider having their dividends paid 
directly into their bank or building society account. This has a number of advantages, including the crediting of cleared funds into the 
nominated account on the dividend payment date. If shareholders would like their future dividends to be paid in this way, they should 
complete a mandate instruction available from the registrars. Under this arrangement tax vouchers are sent to the shareholder’s 
registered address.

ADVISORS

CONTACT INFORMATION

Independent auditor 
BDO LLP

Brokers 
Liberum

Bankers 
Lloyds Banking Group Plc 
The Royal Bank of Scotland Plc 
Svenska Handelsbanken AB (Publ)

Solicitors 
DLA Piper UK LLP 
Bond Dickinson LLP 
Leslie Wolfson

Principal Valuers 
Jones Lang LaSalle 
CBRE

Registered office 
Town Centre House 
The Merrion Centre 
Leeds LS2 8LY

Registered number 
623364 England

Email 
info@tcs-plc.co.uk

Website 
www.tcs-plc.co.uk

Company Secretary 
Link Company Matters 
6th Floor 
65 Gresham Street 
London EC2V 7NQ 

Corporate public relations 
MHP Communications

Registrar and transfer office 
Link Asset Services

Trustees to mortgage debenture holders 
Link Market Services Trustees 
6th Floor 
65 Gresham Street 
London EC2V 7NQ

126 TOWN CENTRE SECURITIES PLC 

Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proud to be making a difference

Annual Report &

Accounts 2018

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Town Centre House
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+44 (0)113 222 1234

6 Duke Street
Marylebone
London W1U 3EN
+44 (0)20 3370 0080

info@tcs-plc.co.uk  |  tcs-plc.co.uk  |

Proud to

be making

a difference