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FY2019 Annual Report · TowneBank
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Annual Report and Accounts 2019

Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019

Contents

Strategic Report 

At a glance 

Why invest in  
Town Centre Securities? 

Chairman and 
Chief Executive’s statement 

Business model 

Strategy & KPIs 

Strategy in action 

Portfolio review 

Divisional reviews 

Operating responsibly  

Financial review 

Risk report 

Corporate Governance 

Introduction from Chairman  

Board of Directors 

Nomination Committee report 

Audit Committee report 

Directors' remuneration report 

Directors' report 

Statement of Directors’  
responsibilities 

Town Centre House, office interior 

Cover: Burlington House, Manchester

01

02

04

06

12

14

16

20

29

46

54

60

66

68

70

78

80

84

93

Financial Statements 

Independent Auditor’s report 

96

98

Consolidated income statement 

104

Consolidated statement 
of comprehensive income 

Consolidated balance sheet 

Consolidated statement  
of changes in equity 

Consolidated cash  
flow statement 

Notes to the consolidated  
financial statements 

Company balance sheet 

Statement of changes in equity 

Notes to the company  
financial statements 

Shareholder Information 

104

105

106

107

108

131

132

133

142

Notice of Annual General Meeting  142

95

Investor information 

152

Town Centre 
Securities (TCS) is a 
property investment 
and development 
company with assets 
of over £394 million.

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Operating principally in Leeds, 
Manchester, Glasgow and suburban 
London, our portfolio comprises  
office, retail and leisure, residential  
and car parking assets.

Our purpose

Through the acquisition and active management of property  
in sustainable locations, we create quality spaces for our tenants, 
help communities to thrive and generate value for shareholders  
over the long-term.

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01

Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
 
At a glance

Founded in 1959, TCS is a UK real estate investment trust 
operating a diversified, mixed use portfolio focused on 
regional centres, primarily in Leeds and Manchester.

Highlights

Total dividends  
per share

Statutory profit 
before tax

EPRA net assets 
per share

EPRA earnings  
before tax

11.75p

(£12.5m)

354p

£6.4m

2019

2018

2017

11.75p

11.75p

11.50p

(£12.5m)

2019

2018

£18.4m

2017

£6.7m

2019

2018

2017

354p

384p

359p

2019

2018

2017

£6.4m

£6.9m

£7.0m

Total property 
return

1.3%

Statutory earnings 
per share

Total shareholder  
return

EPRA earnings 
per share

(23.4p)

(25.0%)

12.0p

What we do

We actively manage our portfolio for income and capital growth. We invest in locations likely to  
demonstrate sustainable growth, work closely with tenants to improve our properties to meet their  
needs, and dispose of properties that no longer meet our stringent criteria for future performance.

Offices

We own over 360,000 sq ft 
of prime office space, let to 
longstanding tenants including 
Leeds City Council. 

Retail & Leisure
Our retail and leisure assets 
are let to high quality tenants 
operating in resilient segments 
of the retail sector with a focus 
on supermarkets, discount and 
convenience. We have a growing 
leisure portfolio which includes 
restaurants, coffee shops, gyms  
and a tenpin bowling facility.

Hotels

Following the completion of 
developments in 2017, we now 
own two hotels in Leeds, one let to 
and operated by Premier Inn, and 
one managed by TCS under the 
ibis brand.

20% of portfolio value

50% of portfolio value

7% of portfolio value

2019

1.3%

(23.5p)

9.4%

2019

2018

34.6p

6.0%

2017

12.7p

2018

2017

Our Locations

02

(25.0%)

2019

2018

3.2%

2017

9.6%

2019

2018

2017

12.0p

13.0p

13.2p

Leeds
60%

of portfolio value

Manchester
17%

of portfolio value

Residential

Car Parks

Developments

Having long owned residential 
units, primarily above retail 
property, we recently completed 
our first purpose-built private 
rental sector project and have 
plans to develop more residential 
properties, both standalone and/or 
as part of mixed use developments.

Our CitiPark division delivers and 
manages first class car parks in 
key locations in Leeds, London, 
Manchester and Watford.

Our development portfolio of  
over £600m GDV principally 
comprises large city centre sites 
at Piccadilly Basin in Manchester 
and Whitehall Road in Leeds, both 
of which centre on office and 
residential assets.

6% of portfolio value

7% of portfolio value

9% of portfolio value

Read more on pages 43–45

Read more on 42

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03

Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019

Why invest in 
Town Centre Securities?
We have created value for stakeholders for almost  
60 years through active asset management  
and conservative financing of our diversified  
regional portfolio.

Diversified regional portfolio

Active asset management

Multi-sector approach, 
with 77% of assets in 
Leeds and Manchester

We have a strong  
record of creating  
value through income 
and capital growth

Read more on pages 29 and 35

Read more on pages 17 and 19

Strong tenant base

Attractive growth opportunities

Diverse, high quality 
tenants including Leeds 
City Council, Morrisons 
and Waitrose

Development pipeline 
with potential GDV of  
over £600m

Read more on page 24

Read more on page 42

Reliable returns

Long-term stewardship

Unbroken record of 
maintained or increased 
dividend over almost  
60 years

Close alignment between 
management and 
shareholders given 52% 
Ziff family ownership

Read more on page 10

Read more on page 94

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04

Whitehall Riverside, Leeds (CGI)

05

Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Chairman and 
Chief Executive’s statement

We remain committed to pursuing our 
strategy for long-term value creation, 
despite market fluctuations.

Delivering in an uncertain market

Against a challenging retail sector 
context and ongoing economic 
uncertainty, we have delivered a 
robust underlying performance, 
whilst importantly continuing to 
re-position the portfolio for the 
long-term, and maintaining our 
long-standing dividend record. 

Overall occupancy reached 96% 
(2018: 95%), and like-for-like 
passing rent increased by 2.6% 
relative to a year ago. The value 
of our portfolio stands at £394m, 
with less than 50% of the portfolio 
comprising Retail and Leisure 
assets, which compares to 55% 
a year ago, and 70% three years 
ago. To have generated these 
results against such a backdrop is 
testament to the hard work of the 
TCS team.

The like-for-like valuation of 
our portfolio reduced by 3.8% 
in the year (FY18: up 3.2%). 
This reduction has been driven 
by the continued pressure on 
retail valuations. However, in 
comparison to some of our  

peers, we believe the combination 
of the quality of our assets 
alongside the reducing proportion 
of retail assets in our portfolio has 
played an important role in limiting 
the level of devaluation. (See page 
22 for more detail on the valuation 
of the portfolio.)

EPRA earnings in the year were 
£6.4m (FY18: £6.9m) resulting in 
EPRA EPS of 12.0p (FY18: 13.0p). 
As discussed in more detail in 
the Finance section (page 54) 
the year on year reduction was 
driven by a number of factors 
including the effect of Retail CVAs 
and administrations, legal and 
professional fees, and a one-off 
dilapidation credit in the prior year.

We report a statutory loss for the 
year of £12.5m (FY18: Profit of 
£18.4m), which is as a result  
of the unrealised devaluation  
of our investment properties  
of £18.3m.

Proportion of retail and leisure

2019

2018

2016

50%

55%

70%

  on pages 9 and 21

06

Against a challenging retail context 
and ongoing economic uncertainty, 
we have delivered robust underlying 
performance, whilst importantly 
continuing to improve the portfolio 
for the long-term, and maintaining 
our long-standing dividend record.

Dr. Edward Ziff OBE DL

Chairman & Chief Executive

£394m

Portfolio value

Dividend maintained

2019

2018

2017

11.75p

11.75p

11.50p

Read more on page 10

Burlington House, Manchester

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07

Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Chairman and 
Chief Executive’s statement continued

We continue to benefit from 
a secure mix of debt funding, 
which was strengthened last year 
following the renewal or extension 
of our bank facilities, and further 
improved at the beginning of this 
financial year by the completion 
of the innovative Merrion House 
financing arrangement with Leeds 
City Council. Following a number 
of years of reporting reducing 
levels of leverage, we have this 
year seen our Loan to Value level 
increase to 49.3% (FY18: 47.5%). 
However, this is completely driven 
by the reduction in value of our 
like-for-like investment portfolio, 
and we have seen absolute 
borrowing levels drop to £182m 
(FY18: £193m).

In tough times such as these it 
is important that we stick to our 
strategy and ethos of focusing on 
long-term income and capital gain, 
even if this means riding out short-
term challenges:

•  Actively managing our assets 
to optimise income and capital 
growth;

•  Maximising available capital 
by selling sites that no longer 
meet our growth criteria and 
maintaining conservative 
financing, with the aim of 
reducing gearing over the 
longer term;

•  Investing in our development 
pipeline, continuing to unlock 
existing opportunities and 
create new ones;

•  Acquiring investment assets to 
diversify our portfolio across 
sectors, with a focus on Leeds 
and Manchester.

Actively managing our assets

The travails of the retail sector 
are well documented, with long 
established household names 
struggling for survival and 
Company Voluntary Arrangements 
(CVAs) increasingly common as 
a means of reducing retailers’ 
rental liabilities. Although we have 
not been immune to the surge of 
retail CVAs, our agile approach 
to intensive asset management 
has mitigated their ongoing 
impact. During the financial year, 
eight of our tenants entered into 
administration or CVAs. By June 
four units had been re-let to 

new tenants and a further three 
have seen the incumbent retailer 
remain, such that, on average, we 
have generated rents of at least 
the previous level. The remaining 
unit represents only 0.4% of the 
total rent roll.

An example of this is the former 
Mothercare site on the Holloway 
Road in north London, where 
the terms of the CVA resulted in 
a rent reduction to 30% of the 
contracted amount. We gave notice 
to Mothercare, re-let the outlet 
to The Works and are converting 
the upper storey to residential 
use, such that the total rent for 
the property will be 24% greater 
than it was with our former tenant. 
Similarly, when Poundworld, one of 
our Merrion Centre tenants, went 
into administration we re-let the 
site to Iceland, at the same rent as 
part of a new, 10-year lease. These 
cases underline our strongly held 
belief that retail assets acquired in 
the right locations at the right price 
have a valuable role in our portfolio, 
although we monitor tenant 
performance and outlook to ensure 
we act swiftly to manage risk. 

New schemes to generate growth 
have been identified at The 
Cube and Vicar Lane in Leeds 
and Ducie House in Manchester. 
Again, further detail of our active 
asset management approach, 
including lease restructures and 
rent reviews, is provided in our 
Portfolio Review on page 20.

We completed our  
first purpose built  
PRS development 
– Burlington House, 
Manchester, in June 2019

Burlington House, Manchester

08

Maximising available capital

A conservative capital structure, 
with a mix of short- and long-
term secure financing, has always 
underpinned our approach. 
During the year we completed 
the innovative financing of the 
Merrion House office complex, 
following the most recent part of 
the last decade’s redevelopment 
and letting to Leeds City Council. 
Under the agreement, the 
Council paid all of the base rent 
due for the term of the 25-year 
lease. The resulting net cash 
injection of £26.4 million allowed 
us to complete the acquisition 
of The Cube, an office, leisure 
and residential property in 
Leeds, ahead of selling our 
Rochdale Retail Park asset, 
thereby protecting income. In 
addition to the financial flexibility 
Merrion House has given us, it is 
gratifying to have turned a tired, 
1970s office block into a vibrant, 
successful building occupied by a 
long-term tenant with more than 
2,200 employees.

We continue to proactively dispose 
of ex-growth assets in order to 
provide capital to invest in future 
growth. Since FY14 we have sold 
over £101m of assets representing 
almost a third of our current 
investment property portfolio, 
including most recently Rochdale 
Retail Park for £13.2m.

Investing in our  
development pipeline

Over the years we have 
established a high quality pipeline 
of development opportunities, 
reflected in ongoing increases in 
valuation. Centred on Piccadilly 
Basin in Manchester and Whitehall 
Road and Merrion in Leeds, our 
pipeline has an estimated Gross 
Development Value of over £600m 
and comprises predominantly 
office and residential assets  
(see page 42).

Most of the developments 
are part of local authority 
approved Strategic Planning 
Frameworks or have detailed 
planning permission. We have an 
abundance of opportunity within 
our development pipeline, but 
with the economic environment 
as challenging and unsettled as 
it currently is, it is important that 
we take our time and ensure we 
take the most appropriate next 
steps. Following the appointment 
of Lynda Shillaw as Group Property 
Director in November, we have 
been reviewing our development 
assets to evaluate the scope to 
create even more value than 
the current plans deliver. As a 
result, we are in the process of 
reviewing the prioritisation of the 
development pipeline.

We recognise that further capital is 
required to unlock the latent value 
in the development pipeline and 
we continue to look at all options, 
but this is not a time to hurry  
and we will proceed when the time 
is right to create long-term value  
for shareholders. 

Acquiring investment assets 
to diversify our portfolio

Although it is important to 
differentiate between segments of 
the retail sector, the overall market 
context validates our strategy to 
diversify our portfolio to maximise 
returns. Retail and Leisure now 
accounts for 50% of our portfolio 
value, down from 70% in 2016. 
Capital recycling has been key 
to this strategic repositioning, 
with divestment of ex-growth 
assets, targeted acquisitions and 
the ongoing unlocking of our 
development pipeline all playing 
a part. 

Half of the value of our retail 
portfolio relates to the Merrion 
Centre, our longest held and 
largest single asset that continues 
to generate attractive income 
following a £70m investment 
programme over the last decade. 
This year we celebrated the 
Merrion Centre’s 55th year  
(see page 26), its longevity and 
success a testament of the 
long-term focus and vision of 
the Company. In the last year 
occupancy was 96% and we 
collected record levels of rent. 
Around 50% of rental income from 
this one million square foot mixed 
use site relates to retail and leisure. 
Of this, Morrisons accounts for 
half, and the majority of our other 
retail tenants operate in discount 
and convenience, the more 
resilient segments of the market. 

Other assets acquired and 
developed during the year 
enhanced our position in non-
retail sectors, with our network 
of contacts and entrepreneurial 
mindset allowing us to capitalise 
on attractive opportunities as they 
have arisen. The completion of 
Burlington House in May signals 
our first material participation in 
the purpose built, private rented 
sector, and this is now fully let. We 
are advancing other residential 
projects, with Eider House being 
the likely next phase of our 
Piccadilly Basin development to 
commence, and our development 
pipeline is skewed towards office 
and residential uses. More detail 
is available in the Portfolio Review 
from page 20. Our car parking 
activities are also a core part  
of our diversification strategy.  
They are discussed in a dedicated 
section below and in more  
detail from page 43.

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Looking ahead
We have delivered a robust underlying performance, whilst continuing 
to re-position the portfolio for the long-term and maintaining our 59-
year dividend record despite a challenging retail sector context and 
ongoing economic uncertainty. 

Short-term fluctuations in valuations do not shake our confidence  
in our business model and conservative management approach.  
The strength of our portfolio and the quality of our development 
pipeline substantiate the potential for long-term growth. Although 
we see an ongoing role for the type of retail assets that we own in 
the areas we know intimately, we continue to increase our exposure 
to non-retail sectors.

Given the current sector challenges and the growing gap between 
our share price and the underlying value of the business, we 
continue to look at our potential strategic options. We believe it is 
appropriate to accelerate the disposal of ex-growth retail properties, 
which despite the potential short-term impact to income, will de-risk 
the portfolio and free up capital to re-invest. We are in the process 
of reviewing priorities within our development pipeline where we 
see latent value, whilst the opportunity for an earnings and NAV 
enhancing share buy-back given our deeply discounted share price 
is also under consideration.

Dr. Edward Ziff OBE DL

Chairman & Chief Executive

Chairman and 
Chief Executive’s statement continued

We operate in geographical areas 
that have been less exposed 
to the more extreme swings of 
the property cycle seen in the 
South East. 77% of our portfolio 
is in Leeds and Manchester, both 
of which are thriving. In Leeds, 
the plans for Channel 4 to open 
offices and the consolidation of 
HMRC’s satellite tax offices into a 
building opposite one of our sites 
serve to drive up values in the city 
centre, as does the heightened 
interest from institutional investors 
looking beyond London. In the 
longer term, if both Northern 
Powerhouse Rail (HS3) and HS2 
go ahead, the economies of 
both Leeds and Manchester will 
benefit significantly. 

Growing CitiPark

This area of our business has 
continued to grow, with revenue 
up by 8.2% and profitability 
by 9.7%. Accounting for 28% 
of Group revenues and 31% of 
operating profits, CitiPark is an 
important source of value creation 
for TCS. Well invested branches 
with technological innovations 
to enhance the customer 
experience and our operational 
efficiency have been central to 
our growth strategy. Customers 
of our strategic branches 
benefit from online booking, and 
barrier and cash-less systems 
enabled by automatic number 
plate recognition. We recently 
launched a mobile app to further 
facilitate customer interaction, 
with strong early take-up. Electric 
vehicle charging is available in 
all branches, and we recently 
installed a 50kW rapid charger in 
the Merrion Centre, the first of its 
type in Leeds City Centre.

We also continue to work  
closely with Yourparkingspace.
co.uk, which matches drivers  
with available spaces across  
the country via its website and 

mobile app. We own a 15% stake 
in the business, which is in the 
process of undertaking a new 
round of fundraising to further 
its ambitions. 

Aside from our strategic car 
parking facilities, CitiPark has 
provided a valuable means of 
generating income from areas 
of our property development 
portfolio that otherwise would 
be unutilised as they await 
investment. 

Investing in ‘PropTech’

Sparked by our work with 
Yourparkingspace.co.uk, in 
recent years we have evaluated 
opportunities to invest in 
property-related technology 
companies. During the year 
we made a US$0.5m equity 
investment in WiredScore, a US 
based company that provides 
a commercial real estate rating 
system that empowers landlords 
to understand, improve, and 
promote their buildings' digital 
infrastructure. We also have a 
£25,000 investment in GetRntr, 
a start-up company that provides 
data-driven technology solutions 
to simplify property licensing in 
the PRS space.

Creating long-term value  
for shareholders

Our objective has always 
been to generate value for our 
shareholders, with a particular 
emphasis on income and 
dividend, and we are very proud 
of our unbroken, 59-year history 
of maintaining or increasing 
dividends. A source of frustration 
in recent times has been the 
disconnect between our share 
price and net asset value per 
share. We firmly believe that our 
long history of value creation 
combined with our material 
development pipeline should 
present an excellent investment 
opportunity for investors. 

£1,000 invested in TCS shares 
50 years ago would today be 
worth circa £580,700, on a total 
return basis, equivalent to a CAGR 
of 13.6% per annum (source: 
Datastream). Furthermore, again 
over the last 50 years, the TCS 
share price has increased in value 
by an average annual rate of 9.1%, 
compared to the FTSE All Share at 
7.0% (as at 9 August 2019).

Despite a tough year, the Board 
is pleased to recommend a final 
dividend of 8.50p per share. With 
the interim dividend of 3.25p per 
share, this gives a total of 11.75p 
per share (2018: 11.75p). Of the 
final dividend of 8.50p, 4.50p will 
be made up of a Property Income 
Distribution, and will be paid on 7 
January 2020 to shareholders on 
the register on 6 December 2019.

Operating responsibly

Contributing to our local areas 
through fundraising activities, 
volunteering and events has 
always been an important 
part of our ethos. We support 
a wide range of not-for-profit 
organisations, and helped raise a 
total of over £150,000 for charities 
in the past year. We are also proud 
of the role we play in developing 
attractive spaces for our tenants 
and creating thriving communities. 

We strive to minimise our impact 
on the environment. Our newly 
developed and refurbished 
properties are fitted to achieve 
efficient energy performance, we 
operate solar farms on three of 
our sites, and use electric hybrid 
vehicles in our fleet. Read more 
about our initiatives on page 46.

10

Merrion Centre, Leeds

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11

Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Business model

Our diversified regional portfolio, active asset 
management and conservative financing  
create value for stakeholders.

We create value through applying our key strengths to our active approach to portfolio  
management, creating reliable income streams that form the backbone of our activities

We share value with  
all of our stakeholders

We maximise value through...

Our key strengths

What we do 

 Experienced team with 
detailed knowledge of  
the communities in which 
we operate

 Long-term view, 
underpinned by  
family ownership

 Conservative financing, with 
a mix of short- and long-
term secure financing

 Entrepreneurial approach  
to identifying investment 
and development 
opportunities, and to 
monetising development 
land through car parking

 Operating responsibly 
and contributing to our 
communities are at the  
heart of our culture

Actively manage assets to optimise 
income and capital growth

  Refurbish and upgrade 
  Renew leases 
 Reduce voids

Maximise available capital by divesting 
ex-growth assets and refinancing to lower LTV

Invest in our 
development pipeline, 
continuing to unlock 
existing opportunities 
and create new ones

Acquire investment 
assets  
to diversify portfolio 
across sectors, with 
a focus on Leeds and 
Manchester

Create a long-term quality 
portfolio, primarily in 
Leeds and Manchester

Clear strategy

Read more on pages 14–19

Robust risk 
management

Read more on pages 60–65

Sound governance

Read more on pages 68–95

Portfolio value 
by sector

Our stakeholders

Investors 
  Stable dividend for the long-term 
  Long-term capital growth

10% Total Shareholder Return 
compound growth over 10 years

75% growth in NAV per share  
over 10 years

Office

Retail & Leisure

Residential

Hotel

Car Parking

Development

Other

20%

50%

6%

7%

7%

9%

2%

Portfolio value 
by location

Tenants 

 Attractive spaces that 
are fit for purpose

96% occupancy

Employees 
  Rewarding careers

82% employee retention

Communities 
  Thriving areas with high footfall

11 million annual footfall in  
Merrion Centre

 Active citizenship through 
volunteering and charitable work

£150k raised for charitable causes

Leeds

Manchester

Scotland

London

60%

17%

14%

8%

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategy and KPIs

We have clear plans to continue to diversify our portfolio 
to generate income and capital growth for the long-term.

Read more on about risk  
management on pages 60–65

What we do

Progress

KPIs

Priorities

Actively manage assets  
to optimise income and 
capital growth

 Refurbish and upgrade  
 Renew leases 
 Reduce voids

Maximise available  
capital by divesting 
ex-growth assets and 
refinancing to lower LTV

 Refurbishment activity included the conversion of the 
former Homebase store at Milngavie in Scotland, and 
continued investment in the Merrion Centre supports 
rental income.

 We signed new leases for The Cube in Leeds following  
its acquisition in October 2018, and increased the rent  
for Carvers Warehouse following new lease agreements.

 In London, we let the former Mothercare outlet to The 
Works and are converting the upper floors to residential, 
increasing the total rent.

 We sold two properties for a total of £14.0m during the  
year, including the £13.2m sale of Rochdale Retail Park.

 We completed the innovative refinancing of Merrion 
House, which generated upfront cash of £26.4m, net  
of costs, as a result of Leeds City Council advancing  
25 years of rent on Merrion House.

Invest in our development 
pipeline, continuing 
to unlock existing 
opportunities and  
create new ones

 We completed our first dedicated Private Rented Sector 
investment, the 91 unit Burlington House in Manchester.

 Planning permission was granted for a 17-storey office 
tower, 100MC, to be built above an existing section of the 
Merrion Centre. 

 Planning consent for No2 Whitehall Riverside and the 
associated multi-storey car park implemented.

Acquire investment 
assets to diversify 
portfolio across sectors, 
with a focus on Leeds 
and Manchester

 The proportion of our portfolio accounted for by retail and 
leisure has fallen to 50% of value (of which the Merrion 
Centre accounts for 23%), from 70% in 2016.

 We acquired three properties for £16.0m during 2019, the 
majority being office space at The Cube in Leeds.

 Our CitiPark division continues to grow and to stay at the 
forefront of technology. In 2019, we were pleased to enter 
into a car park management contract for the new John 
Lewis store in Cheltenham.

14

£3.7m CAPEX

2.6% LFL rent increase

96% occupancy rate

 Future growth opportunities have been created,  
with new schemes identified at The Cube and  
Vicar Lane in Leeds and Ducie House in Manchester. 

 In our CitiPark division, we will continue to  
pursue management agreements and roll out  
EV charging points. 

£14.0m generated 
from asset sales

49.4% loan to value 
(FY18: 47.5%)

£26.1m headroom

£2.1m invested in 
development projects  
building on the significant 
investment of the last  
few years

50% retail and leisure  
(FY18: 55%)

Reversionary Yield 6.8%  
(FY18: 6.4%)

 We will continue to review our portfolio to replace 
maturing assets, disposing of properties that no 
longer meet our criteria for future performance.

 Optimising our capital structure to reduce gearing 
is an on-going focus.

 We continue to add to the development pipeline.  
Most recently the Ducie House purchase in 
Manchester offers the opportunity of a development 
on its car park for which plans are being developed. 

 We are in the process of reviewing the sequence of  
the next phases of our development pipeline with 
options including Eider House, the next Piccadilly 
Basin PRS scheme, our Whitehall Road, Leeds office 
and car park scheme, and the 100MC Merrion Tower 
amongst others. We continue to consider alternative 
sources of capital to enable this.

 We continually review opportunities to acquire new 
investment asset across all sectors, and in particular 
in Leeds and Manchester.

 Sites with asset management and/or development 
opportunities being a particular focus.

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019

Strategy in action

Acquiring investment assets: The Cube

Actively managing assets: Milngavie

In October 2018 we acquired  
The Cube from Aviva for £12m,  
at a net initial yield of over 12.5%. 
Originally a 1960s office building, 
The Cube has been refurbished 
and extended, and now comprises 
22,000 sq ft of ground floor 
leisure units together with 50,000 
sq ft of offices over three floors.

This acquisition is a great example 
of our strategic approach to 
improving the portfolio by 
acquiring stock for growth in 
locations where we already have  
a strong presence.

•  Location: Leeds City Centre,  

in close proximity to the  
Merrion Centre

•  Yield: extremely attractive yield, 
primarily due to the office leases 
coming to an end by the end  
of 2019

•  Diversification: Largely office 
space, the acquisition helps 
reduce the Company’s exposure 
to Retail

•  Growth potential: With 

intensive asset management 
and possible capital investment, 
there is significant opportunity 
for long-term capital growth 
and maintenance of strong 
levels of income.

The Cube is typical of the assets 
that TCS looks to invest in, where 
the lot size and the building’s need 
for intensive asset management 

puts off larger buyers, giving 
TCS the opportunity to acquire 
attractive assets at a competitive 
price. At the purchase date, 
£1.25m (77% of the income) was 
generated through two leases to 
the Government and to Capita, 
with both leases due to expire in 
2019. It was clear that Capita, the 
largest tenant, would seek to leave 
by September 2019.

Consistent with our strategy of 
delivering for the long term, we 
expect income levels and value 
to dip whilst the tenant change 
and capital investment are 
delivered, with the aim of securing 
long term income and creating 
capital growth.

Actions so far:

We have now:

•  Replaced £180k of at-risk 

income with a renewed five-year 
lease with the Secretary of State 
for 10,000 sq ft

•  The second floor, third floor and 
half the first floor are currently 
being marketed, with strong 
interest.

To secure the final lettings and to 
optimise value from the asset,  
we are investing capital to:

•  Reconfigure and improve the 

remaining office space

• 

Improve communal and 
reception space.

We are also looking at 
opportunities to:

•  Repurpose some of the ground 

floor leisure space

•  Create flexible co-working space.

We believe that once the building 
is fully let, we will be ahead of 
our initial investment case. As we 
progress with the expected tenant 
changes and invest in the space, 
we do expect FY20 income to drop 
year on year.

£4.0m

improvement scheme 
commenced

16

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One of our properties in 
Milngavie, an upmarket 
commuter town outside of 
Glasgow, was previously let to 
Homebase, who exited having 
settled our dilapidations claim 
in December 2017.

Having sub-divided and improved 
this 36,500 sq ft unit, it was let 
to Aldi and Home Bargains. This 
change created a significant 
opportunity for TCS. Through 
actions aligned to our strategic 
drivers, we unlocked value through:

•  Intensive asset management: 

The change allowed for 
investment in the building and 
dividing it into two, improving 
rental levels and valuation

•  Diversification: Whilst the new 
tenants are also retailers, we 
have been able to significantly 
improve the covenants. In 
addition, the development will 
include two EV chargers in the 
car park as part of our CitiCharge 
initiative (see page 43)

•  Growth potential: The 
development work has 
also future-proofed the site 
infrastructure, enabling c. 9k sq 
ft of additional usable land which 
will be able to deliver further 
new rental income in the future.

Whilst impacting on income as a result of the building being vacant for  
c. 18 months, we have created significant value:
Before:

Expired poor covenant Homebase 
lease delivering c. £560k rent pa, 
valued at £7.8m.

After:

Two new high-quality leases to  
Aldi and Home Bargains, delivering 
8% more rent and valued at 
£11.1m, following a £1.5m net 
capital investment.

Looking forward: 

We have an option to purchase and 
develop a sizable site which sides 
adjacent to this unit giving future 
development opportunities for TCS.

23%

net increase in value

Strong covenants

Let to Aldi and Home Bargains.

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Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Strategy in action continued

Investing in our development pipeline and maximising 
available capital: Burlington House

•  Diversification: This investment 
in PRS seeks to benefit from the 
strong demand for residential 
property in Manchester, whilst 
helping to effectively reduce  
the proportion of retail within 
the portfolio.

Burlington House is our first 
dedicated Private Rented Sector 
(PRS) property. Located in our 
Piccadilly Basin development 
site in Manchester, the 91-unit 
property has now achieved 
practical completion, is being 
actively marketed and is expected 
to reach mature occupancy within 
a few months of completion.

Completion of Burlington House 
highlights the potential of TCS’s 
development pipeline and 
underlines how we continue to 
strategically unlock value from  
the pipeline:

•  Invest in development 
pipeline: The latest 
development under the 
Strategic Planning Framework 
at Piccadilly Basin, Burlington 
House is an iconic building that 
will form the centre of our PRS 
investment in Manchester

•  Maximise available capital: 

The investment was undertaken 
in 50/50 joint venture with 
Highgrove Group, with c. 
60% development finance 
being provided by the Greater 
Manchester Housing Fund, 
thereby minimising the capital 
required by TCS to unlock  
the scheme

Actively managing assets: Merrion Car Park

Over the past 10 years we have 
strategically invested in our 
CitiPark car parking business, 
now owning or managing over 
6,800 spaces across 15 branches, 
generating in excess of £12m of 
income a year. The Merrion Centre 
and First Direct Arena car park is 
our longest standing asset, and 
our investment and reinvention 
of this site over the past six years 
highlight our strategic intentions in 
this space:

•  Intensive asset management: 
We have invested £16m in the 
Merrion Car Park and Arena 
Quarter over the past six years, 
ensuring long term stability of 
parking income as well as new 
sources of income

•  Diversification: Ensures 
continued diversification  
of income from Car Parking 
representing over £2.5m  
of income

•  Growth potential: The 
investment enabled the 
creation of the ‘New Front’ 
leisure space directly opposite 
the Leeds Arena venue, 
creating eight completely 
new leisure units

•  Investing in technology: The 
branch has 13 standard EV 
charging points, and in May 
2019 we launched Leeds city 
centre’s first rapid charger 
under the CitiCharge brand.

The Merrion CitiPark branch is now 
a state-of-the-art car park with 950 
spaces generating over £2.5m of 
revenue annually. It is a destination 
for Leeds city centre car parking, 
in particular being the closest 
facility to the Leeds Arena. It 
plays an important role in creating 
footfall for the Merrion retail offer, 
and is an important service for 
Merrion Office tenants. 

Having a large and profitable 
car parking offer has been 
fundamental to facilitating the 
transition of the Merrion Centre 
to a diverse mixed-use property.

In detail:

•  91-unit luxury waterfront 

•  Belgravia Living branding 

established for further PRS 
rollout in Piccadilly Basin – the 
next planned PRS unit being 
Eider House, with the potential 
for 148 units.

PRS in Piccadilly Basin

The first 91 units of 730 in our 
strategic framework.

scheme designed by acclaimed 
architects SimpsonHaugh 
incorporates 29 one-bed, 56 
two-bed, and six three-bed 
apartments in the heart of 
Manchester

•  £22.7m asset created (100% of 

the asset), valued on a PRS basis 
(value for vacant sale estimated 
at over £26m, for the joint 
venture, for which TCS invested 
£5.3m including the value 
attributed to the land

•  Estimated mature net income of 
£1.1m yielding circa 5% return 
on cost, albeit TCS’s return 
on cash spent is significantly 
higher

•  Development finance in the 

process of being replaced with 
longer term secured financing

18

1st

rapid charger in  
Leeds City Centre

950

spaces opposite 
the Leeds Arena

Over

£2.5m

of income annually

100%

fully let by September 2019

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Portfolio review

We continually strive to enhance our high  
quality portfolio through active asset  
management and capital recycling.

With good quality assets and development 
land at the heart of two key regional  
cities, TCS’s portfolio is both resilient  
and adaptable to meet market conditions. 
The strategy to reposition the portfolio 
away from retail over the last few years  
has enabled us to diversify our income 
streams by adding more office, hotel  
and PRS assets. 

The Merrion Estate has been a key  
asset in our portfolio for 55 years  
and one that we continue to  
evolve, most recently securing  
planning permission for a new  
180,000 sq ft office tower.

Lynda Shillaw 

Group Property Director

20

We believe that our focus on the 
cities of Leeds and Manchester 
77% of our portfolio) creates a 
point of strategic difference. 
The economies of both cities go 
from strength to strength, and, 
from a property perspective, 
while northern regional cities 
don’t achieve the same highs, 
there is less volatility through 
the cycle than seen in London 
and the South East. Our existing 
portfolio, combined with the 
scale of opportunity within our 
development pipeline, gives TCS  
a significant strategic advantage. 

TCS prides itself on the active 
management of our property 
portfolio, and we have a long 
history of active property selling 
and buying in order to maintain 
returns. Whilst the Merrion Estate 
has long played a key role and 
material role in our portfolio, 
beyond Merrion we have made 
significant changes to the  
portfolio in recent years.

Since FY14 we have sold 
over £101m of the property 
portfolio, representing over 
30% of the property portfolio. 

This has resulted in a material 
diversification of assets in recent 
years, with the proportion of 
Retail & Leisure within the overall 
portfolio reducing to 50% from 
over 80% ten years ago.

In addition, whilst we are long-
term owners of the Merrion Centre, 
our continued investment in the 
asset has ensured it has moved 
with the times and remains as 
relevant today as it was when it 
opened 55 years ago. Page 26 
captures our celebration of the 
Merrion Centre’s 55th birthday this 
year and highlights its transition to 
a mixed-use investment asset.

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Sales and Purchases

It has been an important year in 
terms of sales and purchases.  
The most significant transactions 
were the acquisition of The Cube 
in Leeds for £12.0m in October 
2018 and the sale of Rochdale 
Retail Park for £13.2m in January 
2019. In addition, we disposed of 
a retail property on Shandwick 
Place in Edinburgh for £0.8m, and 
acquired two retail properties in 
London and Glasgow for £1.6m 
and £2.4m respectively.

As the table indicates, the 
combined acquisitions and sales 
of over £75m have substantially 
altered the mix of properties in  
our portfolio.

Rochdale Retail Park was sold to 
Rochdale Council for £13.2m. The 
park totalled 70,000 sq ft with 
current tenants Argos, Halfords, 
Matalan and Poundstretcher, 
all with relatively short leases. 
Through its prior ownership of 
the Rochdale Canal Company, 
TCS actively managed a number 
of developments around Central 
Retail Park. As a result, the park 
was strongly let at an average of 

£16.50 per sq ft, which was ahead 
of current market rents. At the time 
of sale, the property was valued on 
our balance sheet at £14.0m, but 
for TCS the asset was ex growth 
and the decision to sell was to 
avoid further declines in value.

Details on the acquisition of The 
Cube can be found in the Strategy 
in Action section on page 16.

FY17

FY18

FY19

Sales

Purchases 

£m 

22.3 

10.1 

14.0 

% Retail  
& Leisure

88%

95%

100%

46.4 

91%

£m 

4.0 

9.0

16.0 

29.0 

% Retail  
& Leisure

46%

0%

25%

20%

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
 
Portfolio review continued
Valuation

These are uncertain times for 
property investors, with valuations, 
particularly in the retail sphere, 
coming under significant pressure. 
As of the June 2019 year end 
our overall portfolio valuation 
decreased by 4.6%. The key 
drivers of this movement are:

•  A like-for-like decrease in the 
portfolio of 3.8% – this is all 
driven by devaluations of  
retail assets

•  A reduction in value of non 

like-for-like assets, mainly Ducie 
House in Manchester which 
had dropped by £2.0m at 
the half year, as the purchase 
price included the value of a 
right of light claim the building 
had over our Piccadilly Basin 
development site (see page 39).

TCS has a strategy of investing 
in core Leeds and Manchester, 
providing diversification into the 
portfolio through investments in 
Scotland and London and creating 
value through intensive asset 
management and development 
of assets. In a difficult market our 
performance has been steady. 
The fall in value across our 
portfolio has largely been driven 
by the stresses in the market on 
high street retail which, while part 
of our core asset base, accounts 
for 36% of our assets by value (our 
portfolio is 50% retail and leisure 
by value). The resilience of our 
portfolio in the current market 
comes from the mixed-use nature 
of the majority of our investments 
and our lack of exposure to 
brands such as Arcadia Group, 
BHS, Debenhams and House 
of Fraser and other high street 
fashion retailers.

Retail

Merrion Estate

The retail sector has had a 
turbulent 12 months. Major high 
street brands have experienced 
trading difficulties attributable 
largely to structural change in 
consumer trends, oversized 
portfolios and the impact of 
wider economic uncertainties 
such as the devalued pound and 
increased costs.

Pressure has been felt by landlords 
as tenants have gone into 
administration and entered into 
CVAs or opened up a dialogue on 
rent affordability in the current 
trading climate. Where rents have 
been rebased through CVAs for 
some tenants, others who have 
stronger balance sheets and 
have typically managed their real 
estate growth more effectively are 
beginning to seek some level of 
equilibrium in rents with their CVA 
competitors. This will stall rental 
growth/recovery over the short to 
medium term for all but the super 
prime retail stock.

Due to stresses in the trading 
environment the valuation of the 
retail elements of our portfolio 
deteriorated by 2.7% during 
the second half of the year and 
5.6% overall year on year. This 
relatively robust performance 
is largely down to the active 
asset management and targeted 
investment across the estate and 
the mixed-use nature of much of 
our portfolio where our strategy 
has been to invest in and develop 
assets which have diversity of 
uses. That said within our overall 
portfolio we have also seen 
some significant shifts in value 
on an asset by asset basis (see 
Challenges in the Retail sector 
page 27).

At the northern edge of Leeds 
city centre Merrion is the original 
mixed-use development and 
consists of retail and leisure, office 
and car parking assets. Adjacent 
to Leeds Arena and very much at 
the centre of a growing student 
community from both existing 
student developments and  
c. 3500 new student beds under 
construction around the centre.

The Merrion valuation (including 
the hotel) is down by £8.6m 
year on year, with the equivalent 
yield moving out from 7.79% to 
7.91%. While the fall in valuation 
continues to reflect the softening 
of retail yields much of the second 
half drop (£3.6m) is attributable 
to a reduction in the value of the 
hotel, reflecting the performance 
of the restaurant where it has 
taken us some time to find the 
correct format. 

The underlying performance 
of Merrion minus the hotel was 
reasonably stable compared to 
the market with a 5.9% (£7.0m) fall 
in value over the year reflecting 
yield shift rather than a decline in 
income. As with other landlords 
we experienced a number of CVAs 
and administrations over the year 
from tenants such as Poundworld, 
Crawshaws and Smoke BBQ, but 
we do not have any exposure 
to tenants such as Debenhams, 
Arcadia Group and House of Fraser 
where their CVA actions have 
had a major impact on shopping 
centres. The void rate in Merrion is 
currently 3.5% and where we have 
experienced vacancies we have re-
let much of what has come back to 
us at the same (or improved) rent 
levels to tenants such as Iceland 
and Ramshaws. 

22

The diversity of our offer has also 
been maintained as we continue to 
curate a good mix of independent 
and national food and beverage 
operators at the centre concluding 
lettings to PizzaExpress, Starbucks, 
Chatime and Blue Sakura – which 
has proved to be highly popular 
in particular with the surrounding 
student population. We have also 
continued to invest in Merrion with 
a redevelopment of the Wade Lane 
Mall, securing new leases from 
existing tenants and by securing a 
planning consent for 100 MC, a  
17 storey, 180,000 square foot 
office tower. 

TCS Retail Overview

Scotland – The cornerstones 
of our Scottish portfolio are the 
prime Glasgow retail assets and 
our investment in Milngavie. 
Yield shift and the Berkertex CVA 
at our Bath Street asset were 
the primary factors in declines 
in value. Where Bath Street is 
concerned the location of the 
asset is fundamentally strong 
and following the tenant CVA 
we moved quickly to refresh and 
market the asset and now have 
lettings in solicitors' hands in line 
with previous rent levels. Any 
declines in value in our Scottish 
portfolio have been more than 
offset by the redevelopment of the 
former Homebase in Milngavie and 
the conclusion of the lettings to 
Aldi and Home Bargains, adding 
£3.7m of value year on year.

In London, our investments 
(c £8.7m) are in good quality 
secondary high street locations 
and consist of primarily retail 
and residential mixed-use assets, 
providing geographical diversity 
into our portfolio through the 
cycle. However, yield shift 
particularly in the retail elements 

of these assets has driven some of 
the steepest declines in value year 
on year (-8% to -26%), coupled with 
lack of competition from retailers 
for sites at this point in the cycle 
we are seeing rents rebalancing to 
lower levels with a corresponding 
impact on valuation.

Leeds – The valuation of the 
Vicar Lane retail asset fell by 
c. 22% year on year (£2.45m) 
through a combination of yield 
shift and the remaining terms of 
the occupational leases / current 
voids. With an existing tenant 
wishing to expand their premises 
and three new lettings in solicitors’ 
hands, we anticipate some 
recovery in value in 2020. Situated 
in the heart of the new retail area 
of Leeds between Hammerson’s 
Victoria Gate development and 
Victoria Quarter investment this 
asset has strong development 
potential and we are working up a 
longer-term scheme to drive value.

In Harrogate, 8–10 West Park 
saw a 16.7% decline in value to 
£3m through a combination of 
yield shift and the timing of lease 
renewals to existing tenants.  
Once the current negotiations  
are concluded we expect the  
value to recover.

The value of our Urban Exchange 
asset in Manchester, fell by 2.6% 
year on year to £17.1m. All of this 
reduction was in the first half of 
the year and largely attributable 
to yield shift. No further outward 
yield movement was seen in 
the second half of the year due 
primarily to the opportunity for 
future rental growth driven by the 
significant amount of development 
activity in and around Piccadilly 
Basin, including the completion of 
our Burlington House scheme.

Offices

Our key office holdings are in 
Leeds and Manchester and are 
a mixture of new developments 
(Merrion House) and secondary 
assets, located close to our 
strategic sites with short-term 
asset management opportunities. 
Office values across our portfolio 
held steady year on year, largely 
underpinned by Merrion House 
at £34.7m. Carvers Warehouse 
in Manchester saw a 7% uplift in 
value reflecting that it is fully let 
and that we have successfully 
moved rents on. 

The office markets in both Leeds 
and Manchester are strong and 
there is a shortage of Grade A 
and good quality secondary stock 
in both cities with much of the 
development pipeline over the 
next 18 months pre-let. During the 
year we acquired Ducie House, 
adjacent to our Piccadilly Basin 
development and The Cube, 
adjacent to Merrion in the first  
half of the year. 

Our acquisitions are typical of 
where we see an opportunity 
to drive value. Both had known 
voids / voids pending and require 
investment to reposition them and 
drive rents on. We have seen dips 
in value against purchase price in 
both assets, reflecting tenant exits 
and have worked up investment 
schemes to reposition the asset. 
Both are delivering rents ahead of 
business plan and we are on site 
with the works to Ducie House 
and ready to go at The Cube 
once the exiting tenant hands 
the space back. Once our works 
and the new lettings complete, 
we expect to see the value of the 
assets increase in line with our 
investment case.

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Portfolio review continued
Valuation continued

Development

The market for both residential and 
commercial development in Leeds 
and Manchester remains robust 
with relatively strong growth 
forecast for both cities over the 
next five years fuelled by tech 
sector growth and north-shoring.

Our two main development 
sites are in prime central Leeds 
and Manchester and both have 
licences to operate as car parks 
in advance of development which 
is brought forward in phases for 
residential, or as we secure a pre-
let on a commercial element of  
the scheme.

Development site valuations 
were slightly up year on year at 
£36.45m, reflecting the execution 
of our masterplan in Piccadilly 
Basin and the increasingly prime 
nature of the Whitehall Riverside 
site as MEPC build out their 
adjacent scheme. 

We completed the development 
of Burlington House, a 91 unit 
residential scheme in joint venture 
with GMI during the second half 
of the year and our share in the 
joint venture is now held as an 
investment asset. 

Our top tenants

We believe we have a high quality tenant base, which has continued 
to play an important role in mitigating some of the current challenges, 
particularly in the Retail space. 

Key statistics include:
Our top 15 tenants represent 51% of total rental income

Top 15 tenants:

Leeds City Council

Waitrose

Wm Morrison

PureGym

Premier Inn

Aldi Stores

StepChange

Home Bargains

Dune

Go Outdoors

The Deltic Group

Flannels

First Secretary of State

Carphone Warehouse
The Works

Other

9%

7%

7%

4%

4%

4%

3%

3%

2%

2%

2%

1%

1%

1%
1%

49%

100%

Looking forward

Intensive asset management

We will continue to intensively 
manage our existing portfolio, 
looking to create additional value 
and income. In particular we 
are currently working through 
schemes for The Cube, the 
Merrion Centre and Vicar Lane in 
Leeds. We are already underway 
with improvements to Ducie  
House and Carvers Warehouse  
in Manchester.

We expect overall LFL income 
levels to reduce in FY20 as we 
invest in The Cube and Ducie 
House, ahead of reletting the 
improved space, driving future 
rental growth.

We work closely with our tenants 
to understand how we can help 
them get the most out of the 
space they rent from us, and how 
creating place and community in 
our key locations can add value  
for our tenants.

Asset sales 

We constantly review our portfolio 
with the aim of disposing of 
properties that become ex-growth. 
In the current retail climate this 
exercise is more important than 
ever, and we dedicate significant 
management time to reviewing our 
options in this space.

24

Investment purchases 

Development

We are continually looking 
for opportunities to create 
value through the purchase of 
investment assets, both retail and 
non-retail. In particular we look 
to purchase assets at competitive 
prices due to the need for 
tenant and asset management, 
and / or that have development 
opportunities. Examples include 
the recently acquired assets Ducie 
House and The Cube (see pages 16 
and 39).

Our development pipeline has 
substantial potential, with an 
estimated Gross Development 
Value of over £600m (see page 
42). There is a significant capital 
requirement to unlock this value, 
and we continue to evaluate 
funding options. With our focus on 
long-term value creation we are 
not under pressure to develop, and 
we manage our risk and exposure 
by ensuring that the timing is right 
to bring an asset forward.

Given the changing needs within 
the cities in which we operate, 
we are reviewing the planned 
timing for the next phase of 
developments including George 
Street, Eider House and 100MC 
and the scope for our Masterplans 
to be developed further and 
rephased to create more value  
for the business. 

Portfolio Overview:

Retail & Leisure

Merrion Centre (ex offices)

Offices

Hotels

Out of town retail

Distribution

Residential

Passing 
rent £m

ERV £m Value £m

% of 
portfolio

Valuation 
incr/(decr)

Initial  
yield

Reversionary 
yield

3.7

7.2

5.5

1.2

1.8

0.4

1.2

4.2

7.8

6.0

1.6

2.5

0.4

1.3

62.7

92.5

80.4

25.8

41.8

6.1

21.8

16%

23%

20%

7%

11%

2%

6%

20.9

23.8

331.0

84%

5.6%

7.3%

6.5%

4.3%

4.0%

6.3%

5.1%

6.0%

6.3%

7.9%

7.1%

6.0%

5.6%

6.6%

5.7%

6.8%

(13.0%)

(6.6%)

(3.7%)

(5.0%)

3.6%

6.8%

(4.0%)

(5.6%)

(0.1%)

3.8%

(4.6%)

Development property

Other car parks

Let portfolio

2.1

1.5

24.5

2.1

1.5

36.5

26.7

9%

7%

27.4

394.2

100%

Note: The above table includes Merrion House within Offices and Burlington House within Residential and therefore differs to the table in note 12 of the accounts.

Location

Leeds

Manchester

Scotland

London

Other

Value

%

Sector

Value

%

Lease Expiries

Value

%

236.9

60%

Retail/leisure

196.9

50%

0–5 years

68.2

56.4

31.2

1.6

17%

14%

8%

0%

Hotels

Office

Car parking

Distribution

394.2

100%

Residential

Development

25.8

7%

5–10 years

80.4

20%

Over 10 years

26.7

6.1

21.8

36.5

7%

2%

6%

9%

394.2

100%

11.2

3.4

6.3

54%

16%

30%

20.9 100%

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Portfolio review continued

Case study: Merrion's 55th Birthday
On the 26th May 2019 we celebrated the Merrion Centre’s 55th anniversary, unveiling an exhibition to 
showcase the legacy and history of the centre. The exhibition was opened by Dr Marjorie Ziff, who 
also originally opened the scheme in 1964. 

The Merrion Centre was the first of its kind when it initially opened its doors in 1964, as it introduced Leeds 
to the powerful combination of a destination for shopping by day with entertainment and attractions at night. 
Merrion changed the face of retail in Leeds and with over 11m visitors per year it is still one of the city’s most 
iconic and popular destinations to date.

Edward Ziff, Chairman and Chief Executive commented on the day; “I have no doubt that my late father would 
be extremely proud; the Merrion Centre has continually evolved to cater for a diverse range of consumers 
over the years, from our loyal customers who have shopped here for most of their lives, to the growing office 
population, students and commuters. As we continue to evolve as part of the city’s thriving Arena Quarter, I 
have no doubt that the Merrion Centre will continue to remain a key destination in the heart of Leeds for many 
years to come.”

Then: 1964

Now: 2019

26

Challenges in the Retail sector
Stories of retailers in distress 
have been rife and appear to 
be on-going, and TCS has not 
been immune from the effects 
of these challenges. CVAs seem 
now to be the retailers’ tool of 
choice to reduce their cost base 
and attempt to re-invent their 
customer and economic models 
in the face of the continued 
growth in internet retailing.

TCS does not have any exposure 
to the large retail names such 
as Debenhams, House of Fraser 
or Arcadia, and as a result have 
managed to avoid significant 
impact. In the year ended 30 
June 2019 TCS was impacted by 
tenant CVAs and Administrations 
by £228k. When the impact of the 
vacant ex-Homebase property 
in Milngavie, Scotland (see page 
17) is included this impact rises 
to £800k.

Property owners of retail units 
are facing their own commercial 
challenge as a result. TCS has a 
clear strategy to do all it can to 
mitigate this effect, focusing on 
three key elements:

1.  Continue to divest of weak  
retail assets and reinvest in  
more diversified assets

2.  Where we are confident in  

the quality of our retail assets, 
continue to invest and develop 
multi-use destinations

3.  Prioritise tenants that are largely 
convenience, discount, grocery, 
or high-volume leisure focused

In the year the Company 
experienced eight new tenants 
either going into administration or 
launching a CVA. Of those eight 
new impacts four have been re-let 
to new tenants and a further three 
have seen the incumbent retailer 
choose to remain, leaving one unit 
now void and in the process of 
being re-let.

Across those eight properties, 
once re-let or where occupancy 
has continued, we have actually 
seen a modest 1% increase in base 
rent. Clearly there is a cost to 
the Company in the form of void 
periods and new tenant incentives, 
however the continued speed with 

which we ensure that the units 
are occupied is a testament to  
the quality of our portfolio. 

Key examples are:

•  Despite Cotswold Outdoors 

(Harrogate) and Select 
(Merrion Centre) launching 
CVAs both retailers remain in 
occupation paying full rent and 
service charge

•  Following the administration 

of Berkertex, the bridal retailer, 
and their departure from our 
unit in Glasgow, we split and re-
let the unit to a successful local 
beautician and the Scotch Malt 
Whiskey Society, with total rent 
increasing 8%.

We have previously highlighted 
the success in the Merrion Centre 
where Poundworld went into 
administration and we successfully 
re-let the unit with only seven 
weeks' lost rent to Iceland on a 
new 10-year lease at the same level 
of rent as paid by Poundworld. This 
clearly reaffirms the strength of 
the footfall making the mixed-use 
Merrion Centre a destination for 
members of the public.

Examples of our successes in retail include

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vvTown Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019

6

1

15

2

13

3

5

7

4

17

10

8

9

11

12

Divisional reviews
Creating places in Leeds

Leeds represents 60% of the 
property portfolio.

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 Leeds Station

Offices:

1  Merrion House 
2  Wade House 
3  Town Centre House 
4  Town Hall 
5  The Cube

Retail & Leisure:

Trinity Shopping Centre 

First Direct Arena 

6 
7  Merrion Centre 
8 
9  Victoria Gate 
10  Central Road 
11  Vicar Lane

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14

18

Hotels:

12  Premier Inn 
13 

ibis Styles Leeds City Centre Arena Hotel

Car Parks:

14  CitiPark Whitehall Road Car Park 
15  CitiPark Merrion Centre & Arena Car Park 
16  Leeds Dock Carpark*

Developments:

17  George Street (Joint Venture) 
18  Whitehall Riverside

* Not pictured

TCS Ownership

Non-owned

29

28

Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Divisional reviews continued
Creating places in Leeds

Leeds is part of the fourth largest 
conurbation in the UK, with the city itself 
having a population of almost 770,000 
and a workforce of almost two million.

Passing Rent

£15.1m

Car Park Income

£5.8m

GDV of Development 
Opportunities

£287m

Value 
£m

18.1

54.1

49.2

25.2

10.3

%

8%

23%

21%

11%

4%

156.9

66%*

18.3

12.4

15.5

3.9

6.1

10.3

13.5

8%

5%

7%

2%

3%

4%

6%

236.9

100%

Leeds portfolio overview 

Merrion Morrisons

Merrion Offices

Merrion Retail & Leisure

Merrion Car Park

ibis Styles Hotel

Total Merrion

Other Leeds assets:

Retail & Leisure

Offices

Hotels

Residential

Industrial

Car Parks

Development

TOTAL LEEDS

* Total % rounded

Leeds as % of total

60%

30

George Street, Leeds

Market context

Leeds is part of the fourth largest 
conurbation in the UK, with the 
city itself having a population of 
almost 770,000, and a work force 
of almost two million. With three 
universities, a millennial population 
of close to 200,000 and 24% of 
employees educated to degree 
level or higher, the city is attracting 
investment, with more than 9,000 
professional jobs set to be added 
in the centre over the next decade 
and forecast economic growth of 
8.3% over the next five years (5.7% 
over the last five). The relocation 
of the Channel 4 headquarters has 
increased the profile of the city. 
Leeds is also recognised as the 
fourth best shopping destination in 
the UK, with over 660,000 people 
claiming the city as their primary 
shopping destination.

Vicar Lane, Leeds

Key achievements  
in the year 

•  Despite increased CVA 

activity we continued to 
re-let properties on average 
at or above previous rent 
levels. In the Merrion 
Centre, particular successes 
include the arrival of  
Iceland and Ramshaws  
(see Challenges in the  
Retail Sector on page 27).

•  The strong attraction of 

the Arena Quarter section 
of the Merrion Estate 
(facing the Leeds Arena) 
continued, with new lettings 
to a number of food and 
beverage tenants including 
PizzaExpress, Starbucks, 
Blue Sakura, and Union 
Square (see Case Study 
page 33).

•  We completed a 

refurbishment of our TCS 
office in Town Centre House 
(part of the Merrion Centre), 
allowing us to move to a 
single floor and release a 
floor that has been let to 
PureGym.

•  We acquired The Cube 

for £12m in October, and 
subsequently renewed the 
lease to the Secretary  
of State (as above).

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Divisional reviews continued
Creating places in Leeds

Demand for space

Opportunities for TCS

Private sector office-based 
employment within the region has 
grown by 15% over the last five 
years and is forecast to grow by a 
further 7.9% over the next five. The 
10-year average office take-up was 
exceeded in 2018 by 34%, with 
developments largely being pre-let 
or fully let prior to completion. 
Prime yields remain at 4.75%. 
Availability of office space in Leeds 
has been gradually falling since 
2015, with 2018 seeing a reduction 
of 31% in total office supply and 
a 9% decrease in Grade A space. 
Overall vacancy stood at 6.96%. 
Rents are expected to continue 
to grow through to 2020, with 
Leeds still offering the lowest rents 
among the big six regional cities.

As a fast-growing city Leeds has 
a supply shortfall in housing, 
particularly in the city centre. 
Typically, residential values are 
lower in Leeds than York and 
Harrogate, which has generally 
meant that regardless of a number 
of sites capable of delivering a 
total of in excess of 10,000 units, 
other property asset classes where 
there are also supply constraints 
drive better returns. 2019 has 
seen a shift, against a backdrop of 
strong demand rents, and capital 
values are forecast to grow by in 
excess of 3% per annum. The city 
currently has a 1300-unit pipeline 
under construction for investors 
such as with MODA Living, CEG, 
Legal & General and Aberdeen 
Asset Management.

Our development site at Whitehall 
Riverside is one of the last prime 
sites for office development in 
the city, sitting opposite Hermes/
MEPC’s Wellington Place at 
the heart of the new West End 
business district and five minutes 
away from the city’s train station 
and the rapidly developing South 
Bank. Whitehall Riverside will 
deliver a minimum of 340,000 sq 
ft of new grade A office space. The 
planning consent has already been 
implemented for the 180,000 sq 
ft No2 building and the 524 space 
multi storey car park, making the 
development one of the most 
immediately deliverable in the city.

Adjacent to the Merrion Estate 
significant development of student 
accommodation (3500+ beds) 
is underway, much of which 
is planned to be available for 
the September 2019 and 2020 
academic years. This will bring a 
fresh influx of students into the 
estate and create opportunities to 
enhance our retail and food and 
beverage offers and unlock the 
next phase of development. The 
estate’s immediate neighbours, 
the Universities and Leeds General 
Infirmary both have significant 
masterplans to bring forward 
a pipeline of c £750m GDV, 
including a new children’s hospital, 
commercial and residential 
buildings and the landmark new 
Nexus Development, providing 
rentable offices, research and 
innovation space. All of this 
will increase footfall to the 
area, further strengthening our 
existing offer and improving our 
development opportunities.

Source: Savills – UK Market in Minutes – Leeds Offices February 2019

CBRE – Tech Cities Research 2019

32

The Merrion Estate
With a total combined value of £157m the Merrion 
Estate is our largest single asset and has significant 
further development potential. 

Development of the Leeds Arena and the growth 
of the universities have already brought significant 
investment and regeneration to the Merrion Estate. We 
have invested significantly in recent years to develop 
the Arena Quarter, ibis Styles and Merrion House, and 
undertaken extensive refurbishment of the CitiPark car 
park and the retail mall. 

The Merrion Estate has been pivotal in providing new 
offerings and amenity to the city centre, supporting 
both the vibrant nightlife of the city and the growing 
commercial community. 

Our vision for the Merrion Estate is to continue to 
evolve what we offer, delivering greater choice and 
enhancing the mix of uses across the estate, and 
the recently approved planning proposal to develop 
a 17-storey office tower above the existing centre 
demonstrates this intention. 

Our continuing investment in the Merrion Centre has 
materially reinvented the whole of the asset creating a 
unique mixed-use property in the heart of Leeds that 
now includes:

•  283,000 sq ft of offices including Merrion House, 

the main public facing office for Leeds City Council

•  950 spaces of car parking

•  A strongly trading 60,000 sq ft Morrisons superstore 
with 20 years of their lease remaining, accounting 
for a third of the total retail rent in the Centre

•  A 134 bedroom ibis Styles hotel with restaurant.

Since 2012 we have invested £42m in the Centre, and 
despite recent retail valuation pressures valuation 
is still up £55m over the same period, and income 
up over 20%. Our most recent investment was the 
extension and improvement to the Wade Lane section 
of the retail mall. This comprised:

•  Capital spend of £0.7m

• 

Increasing chargeable space by 500 sq ft, and 
agreeing new leases with incumbent tenants

•  The new leases with higher rents, the new space 

added for existing tenants, and the refurbishment 
of a void unit combined to increase income by over 
£75,000 pa

•  With the investment ensuring the renewed 

commitment from quality tenants such as The Works 
and Max Spielman, the total amount of rent secured 
was £162,000 pa with a WAULT of 8.25 years.

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‑Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019

 Piccadilly Station

4

10

7

2

13

3

1

12

9

6

5

34

Divisional reviews
Creating places in Manchester

Manchester represents 17% of the 
property portfolio and is the source of 
significant development opportunity.

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Offices:

1   Carvers Warehouse 
2   Ducie House

Retail & Leisure:

3   Urban Exchange

Hotel:

4   Dakota Deluxe

Residential:

5   AVRO (Urban Splash development) 
6   Burlington House

Car Parks:

7   CitiPark Tariff Street. Multi-storey Car Park 
8  CitiPark Port Street Car Park 
9  CitiPark Dale Street Car Park

8

11

Developments:

10  Eider House 
11  Residential opportunity 
12  Commercial and Multi-storey Car Park opportunity 
13  Commercial opportunity

TCS Ownership

Non-owned

35

Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Divisional reviews continued
Creating places in Manchester

Manchester is part of the second  
largest conurbation in the UK, with  
over 7m people within one hour's  
drive of the city.

Manchester portfolio overview

Manchester Retail & Leisure

Manchester Offices

Manchester Residential

Manchester Car Parks

Manchester Development

TOTAL MANCHESTER

Manchester as % of total

17%

Value

17.1

13.1

11.3

3.8

23.0

68.2

%

25%

19%

17%

5%

34%

100%

Passing Rent

£2.5m

Car Park Income

£1.7m

GDV of Development 
Opportunities

£320m

Burlington House, Manchester

Key achievements  
in the year 

•  Carvers Warehouse 
– Through active 
management of the tenant 
base and continued 
investment in the asset we 
have been able to improve 
rental levels, with the most 
recent lease at £19 per sq 
ft, up from £14. The ERV 
of this asset improved by 
13% since commencing the 
improvement plan.

•  Ducie House – following last 
year’s acquisition of Ducie 
House, we commenced 
physical improvement of 
the asset, which will drive 
lettings and income. In 
addition, we are reviewing 
architect plans for the 
development of office 
space on the car park and 
are looking to progress to 
planning shortly – see case 
study on page 39.

•  Burlington House – we have 
now completed and fully let 
our first dedicated Private 
Rented Sector (PRS) asset 
– see Strategy in Action on 
page 18.

Market context

Manchester is part of the second 
largest conurbation in the UK, with 
over 7m people within one hour’s 
drive of the city and a primary 
retail catchment of 1.6m people. 
The centre has a population of 
over 550,000, and more than 
105,000 students attend the city’s 
five universities. As the leading 
professional and business service 
centre outside of London, the 
city has clusters of life sciences, 
manufacturing, creative, media 
and digital industries, with the BBC 
and ITV having a key presence. 
Around 50% of Manchester’s 
graduates stay in the city for work, 
a rate second only to London in the 
UK. There are plans to develop a 
minimum of 25,000 new homes in 
Manchester over the next 10 years.

Greater Manchester’s economy 
is forecast to grow at a rate of 
14% over the next five years, well 
ahead of the UK average of 11%, 
with 110,000 jobs expected to be 
created in the next five years. 

36

Carvers Warehouse, Manchester

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37

Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
with a mix of office, residential, 
retail and leisure accommodation. 
With the early developments 
soon to be complemented by 
Burlington House and the Dakota 
Hotel, and the next building 
Eider House (residential) having 
planning consent, Piccadilly Basin 
will cement itself as a destination 
and an area where a new 
community is rapidly establishing 
itself. This momentum puts TCS 
in a position ahead of much of 
the proximate competition as we 
continue to deliver the remainder 
of the masterplan. 

Divisional reviews continued
Creating places in Manchester

Demand for space

Opportunities for TCS

Vacancy rates for grade A office 
stock are relatively low, and 
rents have risen steadily over 
the last five years. With a lack 
of new build space, the city is 
also seeing significant growth 
in the Grade B refurbishment 
market, as these buildings offer 
an attractive alternative to new 
developments, evidenced by the 
narrowing gap between rents for 
top-class refurbishments and new 
build space. 

Manchester’s city centre 
residential market is set to 
expand significantly over the next 
couple of years to support the 
rapid growth of the city centre 
population. With more than 30 
schemes underway, there are 
some 12,000 units currently under 
construction to be delivered into 
the market over the next few 
years. Manchester has seen the 
perfect storm of increases in the 
pricing of new build residential 
property and increasing rents/ 
returns for investors as a relative 
lack of new development and 
an increase in city centre living 
have put pressure on available 
stock. It has become the go to city 
outside of London for investors 
in the Build To Rent sector, while 
also seeing a significant amount 
of stock built for sale. The wave 
of units coming onto the market 
during 2019/20 may see rental 
growth slow until the market has 
absorbed the supply. Beyond this 
the fundamentals look good for 
residential investment in the city.

Piccadilly Basin is well located 
to capitalise on the burgeoning 
demand for office space and 
city living residential homes. 
Our Carver’s Warehouse and 
Ducie House sites offer 55,000 
sq ft of office space, and our 
development masterplan includes 
a further 180,000 sq ft of Grade A 
space. It also includes over  
600 residential units. 

The area is positioned for 
investment and growth, with 
much of the land surrounding 
Piccadilly Railway Station the 
subject of Strategic Regeneration 
Frameworks (SRF), and the 
planned HS2 station integral to 
the Mayfield site. The schemes 
will bring in excess of 15,000 
homes into Piccadilly, East 
Manchester and the Northern 
Gateway. Mayfield and North 
Campus are expected to jointly 
deliver in excess of 2.5m sq 
ft of new commercial space, 
and Manchester City Council’s 
acquisition of Central Retail Park 
will bring forward a commercial 
led mixed use scheme and 
new car parking, immediately 
opposite TCS’s Piccadilly Basin 
development.

Piccadilly Basin is unique among 
the SRFs with its mix of heritage, 
water frontage and proximity to 
Manchester’s vibrant Northern 
Quarter and major transport hub. 
The Piccadilly Basin SRF gives TCS 
the opportunity to create a best in 
class city centre neighbourhood 

38

Ducie House
Ducie House is a 33,000 sq ft office converted from 
a former petticoat factory and is located on the 
boundary of TCS’s Piccadilly Basin site. The property 
is a multi-tenanted office, occupied predominantly 
by technology and creative industry companies. The 
variety of product provides a wide choice for tenants, 
as well as the flexibility for businesses to expand 
within the building as they grow.

TCS bought the site in July 2018 for £9.0m as 
a strategic acquisition, in part to eliminate the 
potential rights of light claim (valued at £1.5–£2m)  
on our Eider House development and also to 
increase land holdings around Piccadilly Basin. 
The acquisition produces income and has the 
opportunity to be grown organically. In addition, 
there is capacity for a future office development 
in the rear car park.

The current valuation is £7.5m, revalued from the 
purchase price as there is no longer a right of light 
claim as TCS owns the asset. Current income levels are 
below ERV primarily as a result of us having vacated 
tenants out of the areas identified for improvement and 
reconfiguration in advance of extensive refurbishment 
in order to better position the asset in the local office 
market place. We expect completion of this work to 
increase both income and value.

The development strategy for the Ducie House 
building is split into two phases including essential 
repairs, refurbishment of common parts and creating 
some larger office spaces. We have undertaken an 
initial feasibility exercise on the redevelopment of the 
car park to provide an interlinking seven storey office 
premises of 60,000 sq ft. An indicative appraisal has 
been prepared yielding a profit on cost of nearing 
25%, with an ERV of £1,340,000 and delivering an 
end value of £21,300,000. This further strengthens 
our development pipeline.

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39

Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Divisional reviews
Creating places in  
Scotland & London

22% of our portfolio is located  
outside of Leeds and Manchester.

Passing Rent

£3.9m

Scotland and London portfolio overview

We have had a long-standing presence in Scotland, however following 
disposals over the past couple of years we have sold the majority of 
our Edinburgh assets and now focus solely on Retail and Residential 
assets in Glasgow and its close commuter town of Milngavie.

Car Park Income

£4.6m

In London our investments are in good quality secondary high  
street locations and primarily consist of retail and residential  
mixed-use assets.

Our assets in Scotland and London offer a level of geographical 
diversity in our portfolio away from our Leeds and Manchester 
focus and provide balance through the cycle. Similar to Leeds and 
Manchester, London and Glasgow have strong local economies and 
growing populations.

Value

67.5

0.8

6.6

12.8

87.6

%

77%

1%

8%

15%

100%

Scotland & London Retail & Leisure

Scotland & London Offices

Scotland & London Residential

Scotland & London Car Parks

TOTAL SCOTLAND & LONDON

Scotland & London as % of total

22%

Duke Street, London

Key achievements in the year 

•  Bath Street, Glasgow – 

•  Holloway Road, London 

Following the CVA of bridal 
retailer Berkertex, we secured 
two lettings to replace them 
on both floors they occupied. 
The new tenants are the 
Scotch Malt Whiskey Society 
and a local beautician and 
income levels have been 
increased by 8% compared to 
previous levels.

•  Milngavie – Since the exit of 

Homebase in December 2018 
we have now completed the 
conversion of the unit into 
two, with both Aldi and Home 
Bargains now trading. As a 
result of this conversion we 
have seen valuation increase 
by a net 23% and income 
increase by 8% compared to 
the pre-Homebase exit levels. 
Read more about our Strategy 
in Action on page 17.

– Following the CVA from 
Mothercare which reduced 
rent by around one third, we 
re-let the lower floors to The 
Works and converted the 
upper floors to residential, 
giving a total increase in rent 
of 24% compared to the pre-
CVA Mothercare income.

In August 2018 we acquired a 
retail unit on Gordon Street, 
Glasgow, adjoining units we 
already own on Buchanan 
Street / Gordon Street. The 
purchase price was £2.4m 
with a Net Initial Yield (NIY)  
of 5.3%.

In July 2018 we acquired a 
retail and residential unit on 
Chiswick High Road, London 
for £1.6m with a Net Initial 
Yield of 4.7%.

• 

• 

40

Buchanan Street, Glasgow

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41

Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Divisional reviews continued
Building a strong development pipeline

Our substantial development pipeline gives us a 
clear path to grow over time, subject to financing.

We own a significant development 
pipeline, totalling an estimated 
gross development value (GDV) 
of over £600m. The pipeline 
comprises multi-sector assets 
in Leeds and Manchester, much 
of which have either strategic or 
detailed planning approval. We 
are in the process of reviewing our 
plans to ensure that we direct our 
resources in the optimal manner, 
but the most sizeable components 
of our pipeline are: 

•  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 £100m.

Maximising value from these 
opportunities will require capital, 
and we continue to explore 
how we might fund these future 
developments, including through 
joint ventures where appropriate.

Key achievements in the year

•  Burlington House – 91-unit 
PRS building in Manchester 
completed (see Strategy in 
Action page 18).

•  100 MC – in April 2019 we 

achieved planning approval 
for a 17-storey office tower 
above the Merrion Centre, 
replacing a cinema which had 
been empty for decades. 

•  Whitehall Riverside, Leeds – 

we are in detailed discussions 
with a number of potential 
tenants for our main No2 WHR 
167,000 sq ft office building 
with the aim of achieving a 
material pre-let commitment. 
In addition, we are in the 
process of reviewing the 
Strategic Planning Framework 
for this site to ensure we 
maximise value.

•  Ducie House, Manchester 
– we are in the process of 
reviewing the first set of 
designs for a new office 
block on the car park of our 
relatively newly acquired 
Ducie House at Piccadilly 
Basin (see page 39).

•  Brownsfield Mill, Manchester – 
this building has been sold for 
development to Urban Splash, 
with TCS set to receive 12.5% 
proceeds on all sales. The full 
year results for FY19 include 
£263k of income from the 
share of proceeds in the year.

•  Eider House, Manchester – 
our likely next PRS scheme 
in Piccadilly Basin. We have 
planning consent for a 128-
unit scheme and are reviewing 
options to increase expected 
value and returns. We are in 
the process of determining if 
a new planning approval will 
be required and with an eye 
on the volume of residential 
stock being delivered into 
the Manchester market and 
the success of our Burlington 
development, determining the 
right time to start on site.

Development type

Status

Estimated 
GDV

Estimated 
Income

Yield on 
cost

Leeds – George Street (at 50%)

Leisure

Detailed planning JV

Manchester – Eider House

Residential

Detailed planning

Leeds – Car Park

Leeds – Merrion Cinema Tower

Leeds – Whitehall Road No2

Leeds – Whitehall Road No3

Car Park

Detailed planning

Offices

Offices

Detailed planning

Detailed planning

Offices

Strategic Framework

Leeds – Whitehall Road No7

Offices / Leisure

Strategic Framework

Manchester – Residential Tower A

Residential

Strategic Framework

Manchester – Residential Tower B

Residential

Strategic Framework

Manchester – Residential D

Manchester – Ducie House

Manchester – Commercial

Manchester – Car Park

Residential

Strategic Framework

Offices

Unscoped

Mixed Use

Strategic Framework

Car Park

Strategic Framework

Leeds – Merrion Corner Tower

Residential/ Mixed Use

Unscoped

£11m

£46m

£14m

£62m

£82m

£40m

£28m

£82m

£55m

£28m

£21m

£76m

£12m

£50m

£0.6m

£2.5m

£1.2m

£4m

£5m

£2.8m

£2m

£3.5m

£2.4m

£1.1m

£1.3m

£5m

£0.8m

£3m

£607m

£35.2m

6.0%

6.5%

8.6%

7.1%

7.5%

8.6%

8.6%

5.2%

5.2%

4.9%

7.8%

7.9%

7.2%

6.4%

42

CitiPark, CitiCharge, and PropTech

CitiPark is delighted to have delivered another 
successful year of revenue and profit growth, 
whilst further accelerating our technological 
advancements and launching new sources of  
income generation.

Ben Ziff

Managing Director CitiPark & TCS Energy

CitiPark operates over 6,800  
spaces across 15 branches. 

Of those branches:

are freehold dedicated  
multi-storey car parks (MSCPs)

  are leasehold dedicated MSCPs 
with lease lengths ranging from  
21 years to over 100 years

  are property development sites 
being operated as car parks in 
order to monetise vacant land

is operated by CitiPark  
under a management  
contract arrangement 
(John Lewis Cheltenham)

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43

 Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Divisional reviews continued
CitiPark, CitiCharge,and PropTech

CitiPark performance continues to 
go from strength to strength, with 
net revenue of £5.4m, up 8.2% 
year on year, and operating profit 
of £4.4m, up 9.7% year on year. 

Three branches drove the vast 
majority of the improvement in 
both income and profit in the year. 
Those were:

•  Merrion Centre, Leeds – 

increased occupancy following 
the completion and occupation 
of Merrion House, combined 
with improvements in tariffs

•  Whitehall Road, Leeds – 

reduced competitor supply, 
in particular due to the 
development of the MEPC site 
directly opposite which had 
formally been run as a car park, 
drove occupancy and rate 
improvements

•  Clipstone Street London – 

improved occupancy levels 
combined with a sublet of 
part of the space to a storage 
company drove income.

Furthermore, the strong growth 
in revenue, combined with on-
going operational efficiency 
programmes, have allowed us to 
leverage our cost base, lowering 
costs as a proportion of income, 
and therefore driving profit growth 
ahead of revenue growth.

We continue to see technology 
as a point of difference for this 
part of the business, whether 
that be car parking, EV charging, 
energy production, or 'PropTech' 
investments. Key achievements in 
year include:

•  We launched CitiCharge, a new 
initiative looking to provide 
electric vehicle charging across 
our locations and beyond. The 
first example of this is in the 
form of a 50kW rapid charger 
at the Merrion Centre, the first 
of its kind in central Leeds. We 
are developing plans to offer EV 
charging capability as a B2B and 
B2C service in the parking, retail 
and commercial sectors

•  We have grown our internal EV 
network by 25% – new EV bay 
locations include 7 Whitehall 
Road, Leeds, Rickmansworth, 
and further increased our 
provision in Clipstone Street, 
London branch 

•  CitiPark launched its own 

mobile app available on both 
iOS and Android. Developed 
fully in house and directly 
integrated with our parking 
management systems 
throughout the portfolio, 
the app brings ease and 
convenience to our customers, 
allowing them to either pay 
for their parking or pre-book 
a space

•  We continue to invest in our 

pre-booking system, creating 
a new customer account 
portal, allowing customers 
to amend, cancel and refund 
their bookings all online, in real 
time, without the need for our 
customer service team to action 
this on their behalf, improving 
service and generating cost 
saving to the business

•  The commencement of the John 
Lewis car park management 
contract for the new 
Cheltenham store – read more 
on page 45

•  We continue to uphold the 

highest standards expected 
for our brand and parking 
standards by achieving 
Park Mark status for both 
Rickmansworth and the John 
Lewis, Cheltenham branches, 
meaning that all of our branches 
now have this status.

• 

Increased investment in 
PropTech:

 › We made a $500k equity 

investment in WiredScore, 
a US based company that 
provides a commercial real 
estate rating system that 
empowers landlords to 
understand, improve and 
promote their buildings’ 
digital infrastructure

 › We currently hold a 
15% equity stake in 
YourParkingSpace.co.uk, 
an internet and app-based 
business that matches 
customers to available car 
parking spaces across the 
UK. The company is in the 
process of a further round 
of fundraising that could see 
TCS convert an element of its 
debt funding to the business 
to new equity, increasing our 
share to over 20% (read more 
in the Financial Review on 
page 58).

•  We continue to look for 
innovative ways to be 
environmentally responsible 
and recently ran a programme 
in Leeds exchanging plastic 
bottles for recycling for parking 
discounts (see page 48).

44

John Lewis management contract
In October 2018, CitiPark partnered with leading UK 
retailer, John Lewis, to manage a fully renovated car 
park in Cheltenham serving their new flagship store. 

The CitiPark-run car park has 345 spaces, spread 
across five-storeys. As part of the renovations, the car 
park was fully rebranded with the CitiPark branding, 
which includes updated wayfinding, internal and 
external signage. There are 12 ‘Click and Collect’ 
parking bays which entitles John Lewis customers 
free parking to collect online orders. This is managed 
through our digital validation system, which is directly 
integrated with our parking management system. 

The car park employs the latest smart solutions such 
as ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) 
technology to ensure the customer journey is as quick 
and hassle-free as possible. Shoppers are also able to 
pre-book and pay for their parking at the Cheltenham 
branch via the CitiPark app, further improving 
customer satisfaction for both CitiPark and the retailer.

The branch boasts round-the-clock customer support, 
either on-site or remotely via our ‘Engine Room’ in 
Leeds. Other products and services offered include 
season tickets, YourParkingSpace.co.uk integration, 
permits and discounted partnership parking for 
JL&P staff.

This is a significant new venture for CitiPark and 
represents an excellent way to expand the CitiPark 
presence, offering the best of our technology 
innovation and management capability to retailers  
and other parties.

Whilst we manage the car park and employ the staff, 
all costs plus our management fee are recharged back 
to John Lewis. In addition, we have a revenue sharing 
agreement in place once the operation reaches set 
revenue thresholds. 

We see this as a significant opportunity for future growth 
and are currently pursuing other live opportunities.

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45

 Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating responsibly

Our Corporate and  
Social Responsibility Report

TCS is focused on the impact that our business has in the core 
communities that we operate and the impact that we have on the 
environment. We have an extensive CSR and sustainable energy 
programme and throughout the coming year we will develop a 
sustainability framework that is aligned to, and embedded in our 
corporate strategy. 

Our approach to sustainability is  
built around four focus areas  
which address the major  
social, economic and  
environmental trends  
that we can influence.

Page  
47

Page  
49

We strive to make  
a positive contribution  
locally and be considered  
an integral part of our  
local communities.

We strive to create  
a positive, fulfilling,  
and safe environment  
for our colleagues  
to work in.

Communities

Colleagues

Customers
We strive to create and curate  
places that support the  
productivity and wellbeing  
of our customers  
and occupiers.

Environment

We strive to operate  
responsibly and to  
minimise our  
environmental  
impact.

Page  
49

Page  
50

46

Operating responsibly: Communities

We contribute to a broad range of local causes, with charities focused on 
children and young adults particularly close to our hearts. We complement  
our support for longstanding partners with standalone initiatives.

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Tour de Yorkshire project

BusinessDesk Masters Awards

Coordinated by our Head of Corporate Social 
Responsibilities, Charlotte-Daisy Leeming, our work 
last year raised a total of over £150,000 in charitable 
donations (FY18 £145,000). In addition to our financial 
contributions, we gave the opportunity to our Head 
Office staff to support directly, by offering them time 
off to volunteer as part of our employee involvement 
programme. We also helped to raise awareness 
of specific causes throughout the year by lighting 
up CitiPark and Arnold’s Restaurant in a particular 
charity’s colours. Examples in the year included 
World Aids Day, Pancreatitis Awareness Day, Diabetes 
Awareness Day, Children’s Cancer Month, Mental 
Health Awareness Week and Autism Awareness Month.

Engaging young people

We firmly believe that supporting children and young 
adults ensures a brighter future for our communities, 
hence our work with local schools and children’s 
charities has always been at the heart of our 
philanthropic activity. 

During the year we continued our well established 
relationship with the Ahead Partnership social 
enterprise by hosting a competition for local school 
children. The children were asked to create an event 
to increase footfall in the Merrion Centre. The entrants 
were assessed on a range of skills, including their 
ability to stick to a budget, their creative advertising 
and their market research, by a panel of judges 
including our own Chairman. The winners were 
awarded money for their school.

Aside from our ongoing support of our core charities, 
we are proud to have helped bring the First Give 
programme to Yorkshire in our role as the main 
sponsor. First Give works with Year nine children 
to encourage them to give their time and energy 
to deserving local causes, helping them develop 
valuable skills in the process.

We sponsored the Young Fundraiser Award for 
Candlelighters, the Yorkshire-based charity that 
supports the families of children suffering from 
cancer. Along with MIND (a mental health charity), 
Candlelighters was the beneficiary of the money 
raised from our Tour de Yorkshire project that saw 
PureGym provide static bikes in the Merrion Centre 
for our employees and passers-by to use. In total we 
cycled 582 miles in one day. We also sponsored The 
Yorkshire Children of Courage Awards and the PhyCap 
Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge.

Our close connection to Leeds Cares continued 
with our agreement to provide sponsorship for the 
distribution of the children’s book ‘Cones’ to children 
in Leeds General Infirmary. We are also sponsoring the 
charity’s new owl mascot. Working with Child Friendly 
Leeds, we will be asking local school children to 
design and name the new mascot.

Supporting vulnerable adults 
During the year we launched a community service  
day for all Head Office staff to take part in. 

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47

Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019

Operating responsibly continued

Operating responsibly: Communities continued

Operating responsibly: Colleagues

Winner Sasha Gill (17) of Sock n Roll and from Leeds Grammar School

Celebrating Leeds Pride

We trialled the initiative with a number of senior staff 
members, who volunteered at St. George’s Crypt,  
a charity that supports the homeless and vulnerable  
of Leeds. 

Two of our team are actively involved in fundraising 
with the Yorkshire and North West Regional Boards 
of LandAid, a property charity which supports young 
homeless people.

We also began a relationship with Tempus Novo, a 
charity that helps former offenders to find work, the 
most influential factor in reducing rates of reoffending. 
We hosted the charity’s first annual dinner at Arnold’s 
and recruited two of their candidates. 

Encouraging sustainability

To complement the work we do to minimise the 
Company’s environmental impact (see pages 50 to 
52), last October we held The Merrion Centre Goes 
Green event to mark National Recycling Week. With 
different themes over five days (‘Reduce’, ‘Reuse’, 
‘Recycle’, ‘Rejuvenate’ and ‘Renew’), we invited in 
specialist external companies to raise awareness 
among tenants and visitors of how to improve rates 
of recycling. During the same month, our CitiPark 
customers were able to pay for their parking at our 
Merrion Centre branch using plastic bottles, with 
each bottle equivalent to 20p of parking value. The 
campaign was a great success and generated broad 
media coverage.

Half of the bottles we collected were used by St. 
George’s Crypt for their Poppy Appeal. The remainder 
were used by local school children, who were charged 
with designing a feature to discourage people from 
using single-use plastic. All of the entries were 
displayed in the Merrion Centre, and the winners won 
a voucher for their school, work experience at our 
head office and a personalised water bottle.

Recognised for contributing

Although not the reason for our community 
involvement and work with charities, it is gratifying 
to be recognised for our contributions. We were 
delighted to win the Yorkshire Business Master Awards 
for Contributing to the Community, and were thrilled 
that Charlotte-Daisy Leeming was highly commended 
in the British Property Federation’s BPF Futures 
Community Engagement Award.

Family events at the Merrion Centre

48

We have a relatively small team at our Head Office and pride ourselves on  
how we treat our employees.

Human rights 

Work environment

Although we do not have a separate Human Rights 
Policy, a respect for human rights is implicit in our 
employment practices and our engagement with  
third parties. 

Health and safety

We are committed to providing a safe and secure 
working environment, in our own offices and in our 
properties, particularly those – such as the Merrion 
Centre – where we maintain an on-site management 
function. We have an established Group health and 
safety policy, which is approved by the Board annually, 
and we review health and safety issues and incidents 
at every Board meeting. Lynda Shillaw is the Board 
member with this responsibility, and she is supported 
by specialist external advisers.

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

We continually look for opportunities to improve the 
work environment for our staff. In the past year we 
have renovated our Leeds head office to create of 
more modern and comfortable work environment, 
with live planting, living walls and break out areas.

In addition, we have improved benefits in the year 
for head office staff, improving Company pension 
contributions above statutory requirements, and 
introducing a health insurance policy.

We are committed to learning and development 
and are supporting colleagues through Chartered 
Surveyor and Chartered Accountant qualifications. 
We have also given work experience opportunities to 
local students.

Diversity is important in our business with a 70/30 
male to female split across the whole business and a 
52/48 split within the Property division.

Operating responsibly: Customers

We are focused on creating and maintaining great environments for our 
customers and occupiers across our office, retail and car parking assets.

From the curation of space in our shopping centres 
to continue to offer variety and special events, 
to the creation of vibrant new areas such as the 
Arena Quarter we strive to continually improve our 
offer. In an estate like ours there is inevitably some 
crossover between our Customer, Community and 
Environmental initiatives. Some examples of what we 
are delivering for our customers are:

• 

Investment in improving the look, feel, accessibility 
and security for users of our car parks

•  Roll out of the CitiPark app to enable customers to 
conveniently pre-book and pre-pay for their parking

•  Roll out of EV chargers across our car park estate

•  Curating the mix of local and small food and 

beverage operators alongside national names in 
the Arena Quarter, bringing variety and vibrancy 
to a previously quiet corner of the estate and 
providing a mix which appeals to the surrounding 
international student community

•  Working with tenants e.g. PureGym to bring 
wellbeing and fitness classes into Merrion

•  Running a programme of events throughout the 

year in Merrion for our customers.

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49

 
 
 
 
 
 
Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019

Operating responsibly continued

Operating responsibly: Environment
Operating responsibly: Environment

This section of the report outlines our approach to date on those aspects of 
This section of the report outlines our approach to date on those aspects of 
the environment that we can influence and some of the key initiatives that we 
the environment that we can influence and some of the key initiatives that we 
have delivered.
have delivered.

The Merrion Centre produced 538 tonnes of waste 
in total last year, which is a reduction of 3% over the 
previous 12 months. 23% of the total waste produced 
this year was recycled and 77% was sent to an ERF.

• 

Introduction of our first rapid charger at Merrion  
in Leeds

•  CitiPark plans to introduce an emission-based 
parking tariff. This is currently being trialled in  
one of our London branches.

And 

•  CitiPark were awarded 'Go Ultra Low' company 
status in December 2017 recognising CitiPark’s 
commitment to EV vehicles within its own fleet.

The Merrion Centre

Sustainability plays an important role in both the 
running and decision-making process within the 
Merrion Centre, and we strive to reduce our impact 
on the environment and on our carbon footprint. 
Initiatives include:

Waste Initiative

The Merrion Centre’s waste management strategy 
allows both tenants and customers the opportunity 
to reduce, reuse and recycle, as well as dispose of 
waste in a sustainable way. The great work with our 
stakeholders and service partners has continued 
this year, and for the first full year our bespoke 
service enabled 100% of the waste produced by the 
Merrion Centre to be diverted from landfill with the 
waste either being recycled or sent to a local Energy 
Recovery Facility (ERF). Using a local firm also cuts 
down on CO2 emissions from vehicles.

Sustainability Projects

We have had a busy year in Merrion and delivered  
a number of initiatives to improve sustainability.  
These include:

•  Roofing upgrade across the Centre – this continued 

over the past 12 months with the installation of 
600sq metres of Europolymers insulation system, 
which has improved energy usage and helped us to 
meet our EPC targets.

•  Power distribution – following last year’s power 

scheme development initiative we established an 
action plan that will see our distribution system 
upgraded in key areas, in line with our energy 
initiative directive. The plan includes:

 › The installation of an additional ISU for the 

purpose of EV charging

 › Removal and replacement programme of an 
aged distribution system that can be more 
efficiently managed

 › Removal of three aged metering systems, 

reconnected onto a new BEMCO

 › Replacement of the remaining car park lighting 

with LED options.

Electric car charging
Electric car charging

This report does not include metrics for the whole of 
This report does not include metrics for the whole of 
our estate, since the majority of it is let to third party 
our estate, since the majority of it is let to third party 
tenants who are responsible for the generation of,  
tenants who are responsible for the generation of,  
and reporting on, their environmental footprint.  
and reporting on, their environmental footprint.  
We have chosen to highlight our environmental  
We have chosen to highlight our environmental  
work on the Merrion Centre, our largest and most 
work on the Merrion Centre, our largest and most 
complicated asset. 
complicated asset. 

Our Approach
Our Approach

Across our business our key environmental focus to 
Across our business our key environmental focus to 
date has been on sustainable energy usage in three 
date has been on sustainable energy usage in three 
key areas:
key areas:

1)  Buildings
1)  Buildings

•  We aim to design and deliver buildings that:
•  We aim to design and deliver buildings that:

 › Are capable of achieving the WELL Building 
 › Are capable of achieving the WELL Building 
Standard, reflecting our commitment to the 
Standard, reflecting our commitment to the 
health, wellbeing and productivity of the spaces 
health, wellbeing and productivity of the spaces 
that we create
that we create

 ›
 ›

Integrate high standards of environmental 
Integrate high standards of environmental 
design so that the impact on the natural world 
design so that the impact on the natural world 
is minimised and wherever possible delivers 
is minimised and wherever possible delivers 
positive environmental benefits.
positive environmental benefits.

•  We target the BREEAM Excellent in our new  
•  We target the BREEAM Excellent in our new  

office developments and a minimum of BREEAM 
office developments and a minimum of BREEAM 
Good in office refurbishments.
Good in office refurbishments.

•  Sustainable materials, full lifecycle models and 
•  Sustainable materials, full lifecycle models and 

energy efficiency are part of our project evaluation 
energy efficiency are part of our project evaluation 
process for development and refurbishment works 
process for development and refurbishment works 
in our estate.
in our estate.

•  All of our buildings have had EPC assessments 
•  All of our buildings have had EPC assessments 

and we monitor and seek to improve EPC ratings 
and we monitor and seek to improve EPC ratings 
through the lifecycle of the building.
through the lifecycle of the building.

•  We aim to ensure that the construction process 
•  We aim to ensure that the construction process 

minimises disruption and nuisance to surrounding 
minimises disruption and nuisance to surrounding 
communities and occupiers by employing 
communities and occupiers by employing 
contractors who meet the standards of the 
contractors who meet the standards of the 
Considerate Constructors Scheme.
Considerate Constructors Scheme.

2)  Generation
2)  Generation

•  We have three of our own solar photovoltaic farms 
•  We have three of our own solar photovoltaic farms 
in Leeds and Manchester, which in FY19 avoided 
in Leeds and Manchester, which in FY19 avoided 
over 110 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
over 110 tonnes of carbon dioxide.

3)  Vehicles
3)  Vehicles

Through our CitiPark business we have a unique 
Through our CitiPark business we have a unique 
lens into the consumer’s use of electric vehicles and 
lens into the consumer’s use of electric vehicles and 
are taking considerable steps forward in increasing 
are taking considerable steps forward in increasing 
the provision of EV charging for customers’ electric 
the provision of EV charging for customers’ electric 
vehicles. Projects include:
vehicles. Projects include:

• 
• 

Installation of EV charging across our car park 
Installation of EV charging across our car park 
estate and as part of new developments
estate and as part of new developments

50

Ariel view of the Merrion Centre

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51

Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019

Operating responsibly continued

Operating responsibly: Environment continued

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions statement 

The Merrion Centre goes green initiative

•  This year saw the further refurbishment of areas of 
the Wade Lane and Merrion Street malls, including 
replacement of shop fronts and ceilings, and 
lighting being upgraded to LED. The plan for the 
coming year is to continue this upgrade further 
along the malls.

•  We continue to upgrade lighting to LED in the 

offices and common areas. 

•  Working in conjunction with CityConnect, we 

secured a grant towards the creation of additional 
secure bicycle facilities. Hydraulic cycle racks along 
with lockers and changing facilities are currently 
being installed. 

•  The toilet refurbishment programme continues,  
and we have introduced sustainable initiatives 
where possible:

 › We have installed Encore cisterns, which draw 

two thirds of their water supply from condensate 
pumps in the air conditioning, thereby reduce 
our mains water consumption. The system is 
BREEAM and LEED compliant

 › We continue to operate an Ecocap system in the 
Town Centre House toilets, which saves water 
and money whilst protecting the environment, 
being a fully biodegradable product. From using 
the Ecocap system in Town Centre House, in the 
past year we saved approximately 300,000 litres 
of water

 › We installed no touch infrared sensor taps, 
which are water efficient and more hygienic.

52

In accordance with the Companies Act 2006, Town Centre Securities is required to measure, monitor  
and report its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions profile. 

To achieve this, the GHG calculation and reporting methodology follows the Greenhouse Gas Protocol 
(‘operational approach’) and the DEFRA Environmental Reporting Guidelines (2013). The boundary for reporting 
includes emissions from all sources under direct control, grouped under: Scope 1 (direct) GHG emissions from 
owned assets; and Scope 2 (indirect) GHG emissions from supplied electricity and gas to office space over the 
reporting period (July 2018 to June 2019). 

This is the first year that TCS has disclosed its CO2 emissions profile. As a result, we will use 2018/19 data as  
the baseline from which to provide comparable year-on-year data in future reporting.

As a property investment company, emissions from sources such as company vehicles, production processes 
and combustion sources are minimal and therefore not deemed material (see description below). Emissions from 
properties leased to customers have been excluded as they do not fall within the scope of the GHG Protocol’s 
operational approach requirements. A full list of additional estimates and assumptions can be found in the 
descriptions below this table.

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•  The first Merrion Goes Green week was held in 
October 2018, a platform to promote all things 
sustainable and environmental. The themes were 
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rejuvenate and Renew, 
working with Merrion Centre stakeholders, tenants 
and local focus groups to raise awareness and 
reiterate our commitment. 

Utilities

Following further progression of our energy saving 
initiatives we delivered a 28% reduction on electrical 
consumption, notwithstanding the development of the 
centre, saving £23,691 which was passed back to our 
tenants. Through other initiatives we also achieved a 
15% saving on gas and water consumption at Merrion. 

Emissions type (kg of CO2e)

Absolute values

Scope 1 (direct)1

Scope 2 (indirect)2

TOTAL 

Carbon intensity 13 (kg of CO2 per m² area)

Scope 1 (direct)

Scope 2 (indirect)3

TOTAL

Carbon intensity 24 (kg of CO2 per full time-equivalent employee)

Scope 1 (direct)

Scope 2 (indirect)4

TOTAL

2018/19

–

59,007

59,007

–

34.97

34.97

–

6,003

6,003

1) 

2) 

3) 

 Although TCS does not combust fuels, we do own a small fleet of eight company vehicles. As the majority of these vehicles are either fully electric vehicles  
or petrol hybrids (six out of the eight), emissions from these sources are minimal and therefore not reported as part of our emissions profile. 

 Indirect (Scope 2) GHG emissions from supplied electricity and gas are based on actual energy consumption values. Estimates have been provided for the 
electricity usage during the last six months of the financial year for our Duke Street office, and the final month for our Town Centre House office.

 CO2 per m² area: Based on an office size of 8,311 m² across two owned offices. The downsizing of our Town Centre House office space from 8,800 m² to  
6,500 m² has been included within our calculations.

4) 

 CO2 per full time employee (FTE): Based on 35.7 FTEs in our Town Centre House office, Leeds and 4 FTEs in our Duke Street office, London. 

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53

Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Financial review

The Company has continued to strengthen  
its underlying financial position. 

We made progress towards our 
aim of reducing our exposure to 
the retail sector and unlocking 
future growth through our 
development pipeline. 

Mark Dilley

Group Finance Director

TCS has a proud history of 
focusing and delivering on long-
term shareholder return, and – 
consistent with this – the activity of 
the past year was undertaken with 
long-term value creation in mind.

EPRA earnings in the year were 
7.9% lower than last year. Despite 
that we continued to deliver a fully 
covered dividend, proud of our 
59-year history of maintaining or 
improving the dividend. This year 
we propose holding the dividend 
constant at 11.75 pence, delivering 
a 6.4% yield based on the share 
price as at 13 September 2019.

The table on page 55 highlights the 
key financial measures over the past 
five years. It is clear that 2019 was a 
challenging year for the Company 
financially driven by the unrealised 
devaluation of our retail assets. In 
addition, it is disappointing to see 
Total Shareholder Return at such a 
level for the year. This is all driven 
by the significant, and in our minds 
unfounded, deterioration in our 
share price. Our fully covered 
dividend, our well-funded balance 
sheet, our development pipeline, 
and the fact that we continue 
to invest in the long-term future 
of TCS are testament to the 
underlying strength of the business. 

54

Gross Revenue £m

EPRA Profit £m

Statutory Profit after Revaluation £m

NAV per Share p

Total Property Return

Total Shareholder Return

Loan to Value

Gearing

Absolute borrowing £m

Income Statement

2015

22.7

6.5

24.0

344

12.2%

19.1%

49.7%

95.5%

179.1

2016

26.3

6.6

11.9

357

7.8%

(3.9%)

49.2%

95.0%

185.8

2017

27.5

7.0

6.7

359

6.0%

9.6%

49.3%

96.5%

188.9

2018

30.2

6.9

18.4

384

9.4%

3.2%

47.5%

92.1%

192.6

EPRA Earnings for the year ended 30 June 2019 were £6.4m, down on the prior year profit of £6.9m. 

£’000s

Gross Revenue

Property Expenses

Net Revenue

Other Income / JV Profit

Administrative Expenses

Operating Profit

Finance Costs

EPRA Earnings

Segmental

Property

Net Revenue

Operating Profit

CitiPark

Net Revenue

Operating Profit

ibis Styles Hotel

Net Revenue

Operating Profit

2019

31.2

6.4

(12.5)

354

1.3%

(25.0%)

49.4%

92.5%

182.0

YOY 

3.4%

6.5%

1.6%

(20.9%)

4.3%

(2.8%)

1.7%

(7.9%)

FY19

31,189

FY18

30,178

(11,600)

(10,896)

19,589

1,649

(6,857)

14,382

(8,025)

6,356

19,282

2,084

(6,574)

14,792

(7,887)

6,905

FY19

FY18

YOY

13,970

9,725

5,387

4,425

231

231

13,850

10,307

4,979

4,032

453

453

0.9%

(5.6%)

8.2%

9.7%

(49.0%)

(49.0%)

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Financial review continued

 Income Statement continued

Gross Revenue:

There were six key drivers of the 
reduction in profit year on year:

•  Retail CVAs, administrations 
and bad debt write offs: 
£0.4m. During the year eight 
tenants entered into CVAs or 
administration. See page 27 
for details

• 

• 

Investing in our assets: £0.2m. 
During the year we saw a level 
of income reduction as we 
took the opportunity of leases 
coming to an end to invest in 
and improve our assets. In the 
short term this had the effect of 
reducing rental levels, but will 
create future value. Milngavie in 
Scotland is the most significant 
example (see page 17)

ibis Hotel and Restaurant: 
£0.2m. Whilst the hotel room 
performance was robust, we 
were disappointed by the 
performance of the rebranded 
restaurant. We have now 
launched a new more mass-
market offer, with a focus on  
the bar facilities

•  Admin expenses: £0.3m.  

On top of inflationary cost rises 
we experienced a number of 
one-off costs, primarily for 
professional services relating to 
financing costs and renewing 
old certificates of title for our 
development land

•  Other income: £0.4m. This was 
lower year on year due to a 
significant one-off dilapidation 
payment from Homebase in the 
prior year, and also the interest 
effect of the new Merrion House 
financing agreement, which is 
consolidated into our accounts 
within other income

•  LIBOR increase: £0.2m.

These reductions were partly 
offset by the timing benefit of 
purchasing The Cube ahead of 
selling Rochdale Retail Park.

Gross revenue was up £1.0m  
or 3.4% year on year, with key 
drivers being:

•  Acquisitions including The Cube 
in Leeds and Ducie House in 
Manchester, ahead of the sale of 
Rochdale Retail Park in January, 
gave a net benefit of £1.1m, 
accounting for 3.7% points of 
the increase

•  Organic growth of £0.6m or 
5.5% in CitiPark, accounting  
for 2.1% points of the increase

•  These increases were partly 
offset by the impact of CVAs 
and bad debt of £0.4m year  
on year

• 

In addition, the effect of the 
former Homebase property 
in Milngavie being vacant for 
almost the whole year further 
reduced income by £0.2m year 
on year.

Property Expense:

At a total Company level property 
expenses were up 6.5% or £0.7m 
year on year. Key drivers of this 
underlying increase were:

•  Property: our recent acquisition, 
Ducie House has a higher level 
of operating expense than the 
rest of our portfolio. Due to the 
nature of the property - most 
leases have historically been 
fully inclusive of costs with no 
service charge. This accounted 
for £0.3m or 3.0% points of  
the increase

•  CitiPark: greater operating 

expenses accounted for 2.2% 
points of the increase, although 
these rose below the level of 
revenue growth, improving 
cost leverage

• 

ibis Hotel: operating expenses 
were £0.1m higher year on year, 
driven primarily by the change 
in restaurant operation, part of 
which was a one-off payment to 
terminate our agreement with 

Marco Pierre White’s operating 
company. This accounted for 
0.7% points of the increase.

Other / JV Income:

Total Other / JV income was down 
20.9% or £0.4m year on year. This 
is explained by two key items:

• 

Income from joint ventures was 
down £0.1m year on year driven 
by the onset of the financing 
agreement in respect of Merrion 
House, where our share of 
income is reduced by the 
effective interest cost

•  Last year we received £0.3m 

of income from Homebase as a 
result of dilapidations charges 
following their vacating our 
property in Milngavie, which 
was understandably not 
repeated in FY19.

Administrative Expenses:

Administrative costs were up 
4.3% or £0.3m year on year. The 
increase was primarily driven by 
staff costs, where the combination 
of annual pay awards, the joining 
of our new Property Director and 
a provision release in the prior 
year drove costs up £0.4m year 
on year. This was partially offset by 
the halving of the bonus accrual to 
£0.25m as a result of performance.

In addition, professional costs 
were circa £0.1m higher year on 
year, driven primarily by additional 
legal work required to renew 
Certificates of Title for some of 
our development land, following 
last year’s renewal of our bank 
loan facilities.

Finance Costs:

Finance costs were 1.7% or £0.1m 
higher year on year. Despite 
the receipt of £26.4m following 
the Merrion House refinancing, 
the combination of purchasing 
The Cube ahead of selling our 
Rochdale Retail Park asset and the 
increase in LIBOR drove higher 
interest costs in the year.

56

Balance Sheet

Our total non-current assets 
(including JVs) of £370.2m (2018: 
£407.2m) include £337.9m of 
investment properties (2018: 
£376.1m) and £30.7m of non-
current car parking assets (2018: 
£29.6m). The Merrion Centre car 
park is included in the investment 
property asset value. The car 
parking assets include £4m  
(2018: £4m) of goodwill arising  
on business combinations.

It is worth noting that the largest 
single factor that reduced the 
value of our non-current assets 
was the financing of Merrion 
House. Previously the Investment 
in Joint Ventures value reflected 

the full value of our share of 
the Merrion House joint venture 
vehicle. The reduction in value of 
£27.3m is due to the distribution 
received from the joint venture 
following Leeds City Council’s 
forward payment of 25 years of 
discounted rent. 

We continued to invest in our 
properties with a total of £3.7m 
of capital expenditure during the 
year, including £1.3m into the 
Merrion Centre and £1.5m net 
into the redevelopment of our 
property in Milngavie. We also 
invested £0.4m into our Burlington 
House Joint Venture. Capital 
recycling comprised £14.0m of 
sales and £17.0m of purchases. 

Along with other cash movements 
this resulted in a decrease in 
borrowings from £192.6m to 
£181.9m.

The property and car parking 
balances reflect valuation losses 
of £18.3m in respect of the 
investment and development 
properties, no movement in 
respect of joint ventures and gains 
of £0.7m in respect of car parks 
(which includes a gain of £0.5m 
which is shown in the Statement 
of Changes in Equity as other 
comprehensive income).

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This positive timing resulted in a 
positive net revenue effect of over 
£0.6m in the year, as well as the 
disposal of an ex-growth asset 
and the purchase of a strategically 
important one.

Protecting income through flexibility 

Demonstrating: 

Innovative financing arrangement 
enabling portfolio flexibility.

Snap shot: 

TCS raised £26.4m leveraging 
Merrion House, enabling the 
acquisition of The Cube in Leeds 
ahead of selling Rochdale Retail 
Park, thereby protecting income in 
the year.

The background:

Following the completion of the 
redevelopment of Merrion House 
in Leeds, in joint venture with 
Leeds City Council (LCC), LCC 
took occupation of the building 
in early 2018, using the building 
as their main public facing office 
building on a new 25-year lease, 
with built in five-yearly CPI uplifts.

In order to leverage the asset 
TCS entered into an innovative 
financing arrangement with LCC 

where they effectively advanced 
25 years of discounted base rent 
in July 2018, providing TCS with 
£26.4m of working capital. The 
inflationary rental increases will 
still apply, providing TCS with 
further cash funds from year 
five onwards.

The problem to be solved:

TCS was keen to sell Rochdale 
Retail Park, a strongly rented but 
ex-growth asset where valuation 
was coming under pressure. 
However, yielding income of 
£1.15m per annum, the business 
wanted to ensure this income was 
suitably replaced, with little or no 
loss of income in the year.

The solution:

The working capital provided 
by the Merrion House financing 
allowed TCS to purchase The Cube 
for £12.0m (see Strategy in Action 
page 16) three months ahead of 
selling Rochdale for £13.2m.

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial review continued

Balance Sheet continued

Borrowings:

Future financial 
considerations

A number of commercial and 
accounting considerations are 
currently being assessed by the 
Company that are worthy of 
comment:

None of this affects the FY19 
accounts, but it is possible in the 
future that we will need to report 
on an adjusted EPRA Earnings 
figure to enable investors to 
understand performance of the 
underlying Company on a like-for-
like basis.

Yourparkingspace.co.uk (YPS)

IFRS16

The business currently owns a 
15% stake in YPS, and accounts 
for it as an investment. We hold 
no significant influence over the 
company at the reporting date. We 
review the value of our investment 
for balance sheet purposes, and 
from an income perspective look 
at dividends paid. To date, we have 
determined that the value of our 
investment remains consistent 
with our quantum invested, and 
with no dividends paid we have 
not reflected any income.

However, YPS is in the process 
of undergoing a potential further 
fundraising, and as part of our 
existing arrangement with YPS we 
have the ability to increase our 
equity stake on the basis of the 
original valuation. We also have the 
ability to convert part or potentially 
all of our loan to YPS into equity 
on the basis of the new fund raise 
valuation. These two possibilities 
may increase our equity share to 
more than 20%. This would require 
us to account for the investment 
on an equity basis. Should this 
fundraising be successful, we 
would envisage it having a positive 
effect on our balance sheet 
valuation given the expectation 
that the new fundraising exercise 
will highlight a significant increase 
in value of the Company. However, 
at the year end, this outcome 
remains uncertain and the current 
carrying value is management’s 
best estimate of fair value. We also 
however expect this accounting 
approach to depress EPRA 
Earnings in the near term as  
a result of the current loss- 
making status of this start up.  

We will have to apply IFRS16 
(lease accounting) for the year 
ended June 2020. We have a small 
number of leased operational car 
parks. We are in the process of 
finalising our review of the impact 
of IFRS16.

Future P&L events

As highlighted elsewhere 
in this report, we have not 
escaped the impact of CVAs and 
administrations from retail tenants, 
and, given the current climate, it 
is prudent to assume that this risk 
will continue. Our experience to 
date suggests that the strength 
and diversity of our assets will 
enable re-letting with minimal 
or no medium-term income 
loss, although we would expect 
continued short-term impacts to 
income and value (see page 27).

The situation with regards to 
the uncertainty around retail 
property reinforces our intention 
to continue to recycle retail 
assets and to identify the most 
appropriate use of the proceeds. 
Whilst we have been able to 
protect the income line this year 
with the purchase of The Cube 
ahead of the sale of our Rochdale 
Retail Park site, it is unlikely that we 
will be able to continue to repeat 
this, and therefore it is likely that 
we will see income impacted as we 
work our way through a continued 
sale of retail assets.

Going concern and headroom

One of the most critical 
judgements for the Board is the 
headroom in the Group’s bank 
facilities. 

As reported in last year’s Annual 
Report, we extended or renewed 
all of our banking facilities in 2018. 
There have been no changes since 
that point meaning that we remain 
with three RCF facilities as follows:

•  Lloyds: A £35m three-year 

facility with the opportunity for 
two one-year extensions, with 
the three-year element expiring 
in June 2021. We also have a 
£5m overdraft facility

•  NatWest/RBS: A £33m three-

year facility expiring in  
April 2021

•  Handelsbanken: A £35m  

five-year facility expiring in  
June 2023.

These facilities, combined with 
a £106m long-term debenture 
scheduled to expire in 2031, give 
the Company a good level of 
certainty over its funding over  
a long time frame.

In addition, again as reported 
in last year’s Annual Report, we 
finalised a funding arrangement 
with Leeds City Council whereby 
they paid upfront their 25 years of 
rental payments at a discount for 
their occupation of Merrion House. 
TCS received £26.4m in July 2018 
(see case study on page 57).

We have sought to lower our Loan 
to Value (LTV) levels in recent 
years, making good progress whilst 
still investing in our portfolio. It is 
disappointing to see LTV increase 
to 49.3% at the 30th June 2019. 
This was unfortunately fully due to 
the reduction in valuation of the 
portfolio seen in the last year. The 
like-for-like reduction in valuation of 
£13.8m in the year had a 3.7% point 
impact on LTV levels, which would 
otherwise have shown a continuing 
reduction in leverage. Looking 
at cash debt levels in the above 
summary table it can be seen that, 
at £182m, net borrowing levels 
were lower than in any of the past 
three years. 

58

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 2019 was £26.1m (2018: 
£10.6m), which was considered to be sufficient to support our going 
concern conclusion.

Total shareholder return and total property return

Total shareholder return of minus 25.0% (2018: +3.2%) was calculated as the 
total of dividends paid during the financial year of 11.75p (2018: 11.50p) and 
the movement in the share price between 30 June 2018 (288p) and 30 June 
2019 (205p), assuming reinvestment of dividends. This compares with the 
FTSE All Share REIT index at minus 5.2% (2018: +9.8%) for the same period.

Despite the long-term improvement in dividend payments, the material 
reduction in share price in the past 12 months has significantly impacted 
our reported total shareholder return in the year and in the five and 10 
year reported figure.

Total shareholder returns % (CAGR)

Total shareholder returns

1 Year

5 Years

10 Years

Town Centre Securities

FTSE All Share REIT index

(25.0%)

(0.6%)

(5.2%)

4.5%

9.9%

10.9%

Total property returns

Retail

Retail Warehouses

Shopping Centres

Offices

All Property

(12 months ending June 2018)

MSCI 
Quarterly 
index

(4.0)

(5.5)

(8.8)

4.6

3.1

TCS

(1.7)

5.6

(3.4)

3.1

1.3

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 was 
1.3% (2018: 9.4%). This compared to the MSCI/IPD market return of 3.1% 
(2018: 9.3%).

A key driver of the All Property MSCI index being higher that TCS is due  
to the strong market performance of Industrial property of which TCS  
has only a small amount of.

Mark Dilley

Group Finance Director

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Risk report

Protecting value by identifying and 
managing our principal and emerging 
risks is an integral part of our operations.

Risk management

We take risk management very 
seriously, 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 a core 
element of the agenda. We pay 
particular attention to new and 
emerging risks, in order to ensure 
we put in place actions which 
attempt to remove or reduce risk 
before it occurs. In recent years, 
in particular, we had identified 
the risk of retail tenant failures 
and the increase in CVAs and 
Administrations. We use our 
formal meeting structures to 
identify emerging risks, as well as 
highlighting existing risks. These 
meetings 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 & 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 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 bi-monthly basis.

60

Likelihood

Impact

Change  
from 2018

High

High

Improved

Medium

Medium

No Change

Low

Low

Worsening

Principal Risks and Uncertainties

Risk

Likelihood

Impact Mitigation

Movement

MACROECONOMIC RISKS

Economic and  
Political Outlook

A broad economic downturn, 
potentially as a result of 
Brexit, or broader cyclical 
reasons could result in tenant 
failures, falling asset values, 
rising debt costs, or less 
debt availability.

CORPORATE RISKS

Strategy

The Company’s strategy 
could be inappropriate for 
the current stage of the 
property cycle and the 
economic climate, resulting 
in lower profits and therefore 
a pressure on dividend and 
shareholder return.

People

The inability to attract and 
retain high calibre staff, 
affecting the ongoing 
success of the Company.

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

•  Market leading level of occupancy and a long history of ensuring 

on-time payment by tenants

•  Avoidance of speculative developments

•  Concentrated portfolio of car parks in highly sought-after 

locations

•  Bank agreements renewed or extended last year ranging  

from two to four years in length, and the long-term debenture 
accounting for c 60% of our debt.

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

•  The experience and expertise of the team, particularly in relation 

to the property markets of Leeds and Manchester

•  The presence of the Ziff Concert Party ensures a strong 

alignment of management and shareholder aims.

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 combined with the development 
opportunities of the business make the Company attractive to 
new recruits.

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Risk report continued

Principal Risks and Uncertainties continued

Likelihood

Impact

Change  
from 2018

High

High

Improved

Medium

Medium

No Change

Low

Low

Worsening

Risk

Likelihood

Impact Mitigation

Movement

Risk

Likelihood

Impact Mitigation

Movement

CORPORATE RISKS CONTINUED

Systems, 
Processes 
and Financial 
Management

Weak controls putting at 
risk the protection of the 
Company’s assets and ability 
to deliver on its strategy, 
resulting in financial loss, 
fraud, and suboptimal 
returns. Risk to data and 
systems as a result of  
cyber-attacks.

GDPR

Financial and reputational 
risk arising from a breach of 
GDPR regulations, potentially 
resulting in fines and damage 
to customer trust.

Regulatory and  
Tax Framework

Non-compliance with 
tax, legal, or regulatory 
obligations could result 
in financial penalties, 
reputational damage,  
and higher levels of cost.

The Company has a strong culture of safeguarding assets, being 
conservative in its approach, and using professional experts to 
ensure risk levels are low:

• 

IT systems are supported in house, and more services are  
being moved to the cloud

•  A new property and accounting IT solution has been 

implemented in the last few years to ensure we remain  
well controlled in this respect. This is in the process of  
being upgraded and moved into the cloud

•  Financial processes relating to cash are tight, robust,  

and reviewed regularly. Clear and separated authorisation 
processes are in place and robustly adhered to

• 

Insurance policies are fully in place to safeguard 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.

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 legislation and has implemented a detailed action plan that  
has been reviewed at Board level. Key aspects include:

•  Updated all Privacy related statements and policies

•  Trained all staff on theirs and the Company’s responsibilities

• 

IT and Data Governance Committee in place, meeting quarterly, 
to oversee all aspects of GDPR and wider cyber security.

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 
to provide advice and recommendations to the Company and 
attend Board meetings

•  PwC are engaged as the Company’s tax advisors and are tasked 

with ensuring we remain compliant in all aspects of tax

•  The Corporate and Criminal Offences legislation (CCO) is a key 

consideration and a workshop has been held to ensure risks and 
mitigating actions are clearly understood.

62

CORPORATE RISKS CONTINUED

Major Incident/
Business 
Disruption

Cost and business down-
time as a result of a major 
incident. This risk is primarily 
associated with the Merrion 
Centre, due to its importance 
to the portfolio and as the 
location of Company’s  
head office.

PROPERTY RISKS

Investment  
Risk

New investment 
opportunities cannot be 
sourced at economic prices.

Development 
Risk

Development projects may 
exceed cost estimates and/or 
newly developed properties 
may fail to rent. The scale of 
such projects means they 
are of material size to the 
Company.

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.

The Company has clear plans in place to minimise the impact of 
this risk, including:

•  The Company typically targets assets of higher value than 
sought by individual investors, but lower than many larger 
property or overseas investors

•  The Company looks to build strong relationships with partners  
to generate opportunities that can be exploited together.  
For example, our Belgravia Living PRS venture

•  The existing portfolio has enough development potential to 

provide growth opportunities even if asset purchase prices rise.

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

•  Where possible, the Company seeks to undertake a development 

where there is a significant level of pre-let commitments

•  Where that is not possible, (e.g. 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

•  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 managed appropriately.

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Risk report continued

Principal Risks and Uncertainties continued

Likelihood

Impact

Change  
from 2018

High

High

Improved

Medium

Medium

No Change

Low

Low

Worsening

Risk

Likelihood

Impact Mitigation

Movement

Viability Statement

PROPERTY RISKS CONTINUED

Valuation  
Risk

A material devaluation 
in assets.

Tenant and 
Sector Risk

Individual tenant failures, or 
exposure to a specific sector.

FINANCING RISKS

Capital and 
Financial Risk

The Company has insufficient 
funds /lines of credit.

Cost of Debt

Rising debt costs.

64

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 June 2018, 

extending the life of the facilities to between three and five years 
from that point

•  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

•  Asset cover in the long-term debenture can drop from the 
required 1.67x to 1.5x without triggering a covenant break

•  The Company recycles assets believed to be at greatest risk 

of devaluation

•  The Company recycles assets believed to be at greatest risk 

of devaluation.

There have been an increasing number of CVAs and administrations 
within the Retail sector. TCS are taking a number of actions:

•  Since 2016 the Company has significantly reduced its exposure 

to Retail from 70% to 50% of value at June 2019

•  Now a mixed-use asset, the Merrion Centre now depends upon 

Mall Retail for less than 25% of its income

•  We have a diversified tenant base, and limited exposure to 
individual tenants. Our top tenants are Leeds City Council, 
Waitrose, Morrisons and Pure Gym

•  CitiPark income helps further mitigate the reliance on 

specific property tenants.

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 demonstrated during the last downturn the 
strength of its conservative approach and longstanding 
relationships with its banks.

The following actions help mitigate the risk to the Company:

•  More than 50% of debt is in the form of fixed, long-term 

debenture borrowing in place to 2031

•  Having renewed or extended all three bank facilities in  
June 2018, bank margins are locked in for three to five  
years from that point

•  The Company has a significant amount of income to 

interest headroom

•  The Board takes moving Libor rates into account when 

considering three-year budgets and affordability.

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, principal risks, attitude to risk, and the current health of the Company’s 
finances, and future plans.

The Board’s review considered a three-year future period, consistent with the three-year budgeting 
process that the Company undertakes annually. The three-year perspective allows the business to 
review cash flows, dividend cover, borrowing headroom and other key financial ratios, and requires the 
business to have clarity on its approach to bank financing over a longer period. The review also considers 
alternative scenarios.

In taking this longer term perspective, the Board considers the risks covered in this Risk Management 
review. In particular the key risks identified are:

•  Changes in the macro-economic environment affecting rental income levels and property values

•  Changes in the level of Tenant and Sector risk affecting occupancy levels and lettings

•  Changes in availability of capital, affecting committed expenditure and investment transactions.

The Board has also taken into consideration the current financial position and the secure, recently 
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.

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 2019.

This Strategic Report and the information referred to herein was approved on behalf of  
the Board on 24 September 2019. 

Dr. Edward Ziff OBE DL

Chairman & Chief Executive

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Corporate governance

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Introduction from Chairman  

Board of Directors 

Nomination Committee report 

Audit Committee report 

Directors’ remuneration report 

Directors’ report 

Statement of Directors’  
responsibilities 

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Town Centre Securities PLC 
became a listed company  
59 years ago and has over  
that time provided strong  
returns to shareholders. 

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Image: Founder, Arnold Ziff

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
 
Corporate governance
Introduction from Chairman

As Chairman, I take my  
responsibilities for ensuring  
strong corporate governance  
very seriously and it has been 
an area of focus for the Board  
this year…

Dr. Edward Ziff OBE DL

Chairman & Chief Executive

68

As Chairman, I take my 
responsibilities for ensuring 
strong corporate governance 
very seriously and it has been 
an area of focus for the Board 
this year particularly following 
the introduction of the 2018 UK 
Corporate Governance Code 
(the ‘Code’).The Board has been 
looking on how it can best 
implement the Code given the 
Company’s particular structure. 

The Board has undertaken 
a review of its structure and 
composition. There are currently 
three independent Non-Executive 
Directors who, as well as 
contributing invaluable support 
and guidance, offer significant 
challenge to me and the other 
Executive Directors. The Board 
has focused on longer term 
strategy during the year and the 
Non-Executive Directors have 
provided robust challenge which 
has been particularly important 
given the difficulties of the market 
at present.

Following the retirement of 
Richard Lewis last year, the Board 
were delighted to welcome Lynda 
Shillaw, formally of Manchester 
Airports Group, to the Board as 
Group Property Director. Lynda is 
our first female Property Director 
and the Board recognises the 
benefits of having a diverse Board 
and intends to continue to address 
as opportunities arise to do so.

We try wherever possible to 
comply with the Principles set  
out in the UK Corporate 
Governance Code.

However, the Board takes a 
pragmatic approach and because 
of the size and nature of the 
Company, does not apply all the 
Code’s Principles. The Board keeps 
this under review and decisions 

on these matters are made by the 
Board bearing in mind the best 
interests of all shareholders.  
Last year, I reported that we 
recognised the need to keep 
up with required changes in 
the reporting around Corporate 
Governance, continuing to 
increase our level of disclosure. 
This year, we have taken a  
further step forward and with  
the support of Link Company 
Matters Limited as Company 
Secretary and the use of other 
external experts we continue 
to strengthen our governance 
processes and reporting.

As mentioned earlier, we have 
begun implementation of several 
changes following the introduction 
of the 2018 UK Code of Corporate 
Governance. Corporate 
Governance arrangements will 
continue to be a key focus for the 
Board going forward and regular 
reviews undertaken to ensure 
compliance to the fullest extent, 
where practicable. 

We report below in more detail 
why the Board continues to believe 
that it is appropriate for the roles of 
Chairman and Chief Executive to 
be combined. Clearly, the Board is 
aware that this is not in compliance 
with the Code and recognises 
that a number of shareholders 
will have concerns about this. It is 
a matter which the independent 
Non-Executives have discussed 
during the year and will continue to 
keep under review. The presence 
on the Board of key executive 
management provides the Non-
Executive Directors with direct 
access to these major functions 
rather than through the Chief 
Executive. In addition, the three 
independent Non-Executives are 
extremely rigorous in their review 
of my performance as Chairman 
focusing on ensuring the Chairman:

•  demonstrates objective 

judgement and promotes a 
culture of openness and debate

•  facilitates constructive Board 
relations and the effective 
contribution of all Non-
Executive Directors. 

The independent Directors are 
firmly of the view that my holding 
the combined role of Chairman 
and Chief Executive continues 
to be in the best interests of the 
Company. Whilst the combined 
role remains appropriate for 
the time being, with my being 
in a unique position – my father 
having founded the Company and 
the Ziff family being the largest 
shareholder overall – the Board will 
continue to review the situation on 
a regular basis.

I also wanted to take the 
opportunity to directly address 
the issue concerning the number 
of independent Non-Executive 
Directors. Currently less than 
at least half the Board are 
independent (as required by the 
Code). Again, this is a matter 
which the independent Directors 
have reviewed and concluded that 
given the size of the Company, 
three independent Directors is 
appropriate and that to change the 
composition of the Board would 
either impact Board effectiveness 
or add unnecessary cost. This is 
a matter that will be kept under 
review and is covered specifically 
in the Board evaluation exercise. 

Dr. Edward Ziff OBE DL

Chairman & Chief Executive

24 September 2019

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
 
Corporate governance continued
Board of Directors

Executive

Non-Executive

COMMITTEES

  Remuneration Committee  
  Nominations Committee  
  Audit Committee

Dr. Edward Ziff OBE DL
Chairman & 
Chief Executive

Lynda Shillaw ACMA
Group Property  
Director

Mark Dilley ACMA
Group Finance 
Director

Ben Ziff
Managing Director 
CitiPark & TCS Energy

Michael Ziff Hon DUniv 
(Brad)
Non-Executive Director 

Ian Marcus FRICS
Non-Executive  
Director   

Paul Huberman FCA CTA
Non-Executive  
Director   

Jeremy Collins
Non-Executive  
Director   

APPOINTED
03 / 1985

APPOINTED
11 / 2018

APPOINTED
07 / 2017

APPOINTED
09 / 2015

APPOINTED
07 / 2004

APPOINTED
12 / 2014

APPOINTED
12 / 2014

APPOINTED
02 / 2018

PROFILE
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.

Edward’s position as son of 
the founder of the TCS and his 
lifelong experience working at 
different levels in the business 
make him uniquely qualified to 
lead the Company. In addition, 
the wider role he plays in the 
Leeds community in particular, 
support leading this proudly 
Leeds based business.

PROFILE
Mark joined the Board in 
July 2017 from Asda Stores 
Limited (part of Walmart) 
where he held a number of 
senior finance roles over 14 
years, including latterly 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.

Mark’s chartered accounting 
qualification clearly underpins 
his ability to deliver in his role 
as Group Finance Director. In 
addition, his previous roles as 
a senior commercial finance 
business partner ensure he is 
able to guide and add value 
in the operational aspects of 
the business as well as having 
input in to the strategic 
direction the business takes.

PROFILE
Lynda joined the TCS 
Board in November 2018 
from Manchester Airports 
Group (MAG) where she 
had served as the Divisional 
Chief Executive Officer, 
Property from 2014. Lynda 
was a member of the MAG 
Executive Committee. 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’s broad property 
experience, and in particular 
her success in formulating 
and delivering large scale 
ventures, makes her a 
valuable member of the 
Executive Board. In addition, 
her time spent in Banking 
and her original accounting 
qualification further 
strengthen the value she  
adds.

PROFILE
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 

Ben’s long and close 
involvement with the business 
ensures he is always able to 
take the wider, cross business 
long-term view. In addition, his 
wide knowledge of the rapidly 
changing effects of technology 
ensures that we are able to 
take advantage of new ways of 
doing business across both the 
Property and Car Parking parts 
of the Company.

PROFILE
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 
London Business Franchise 
& Brokerage Ltd. He is 
President and a trustee of 
Maccabi GB and International 
Vice President of Maccabi 
World Union. He is also 
Hon President of UK Israel 
Business and Member of 
Council at the University of 
Bradford.

Michael’s lifelong involvement 
with the Company and his 
retail experience puts him in a 
unique position to understand 
TCS and give counsel based 
on the founding principles 
of the business and the 
importance of taking a long-
term strategic view.

PROFILE
Ian Marcus was appointed to 
the board in 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. He is Senior 
Advisor to Eastdil Secured, 
the Senior Independent 
Director for Secure Income 
REIT, the Senior Independent 
Director for Shurgard Self 
Storage SA, Senior Advisor 
to Elysian Residences, and 
Advisor to Work.Life. Ian is 
also President of Cambridge 
University Land Society. He 
is a former chairman of the 
Bank of England Commercial 
Property Forum and a Past 
President of the British 
Property Federation.

Ian’s significant experience in 
the Property and Corporate 
Finance worlds give him 
an experience base and a 
network that can valuably 
inform, guide and support 
TCS both in making day to 
day operational decisions, 
and in setting the long-
term strategic direction of 
the business. He has broad 
remuneration experience 
which supports his role as 
Chair of the Remuneration 
Committee.

PROFILE
Paul Huberman was appointed 
a Director in January 2015. 
He brings over 30 years’ 
experience in the property 
and finance sector. Paul was 
previously Finance Director 
at three quoted companies. 
He is currently a Non-
Executive Director of Galliard 
Homes Limited, a London 
housebuilder, a Non-Executive 
Director at LiFE At Ltd, a 
multi-branch London based 
residential estate agency, a 
Non-Executive Director at 
a privately-owned property 
group, and a Non-Executive 
Director at The Industrial 
Dwellings Society (1885) Ltd, 
a housing association. He also 
sits on the Advisory Board 
for London Resort Company 
Holdings Ltd, the developer of 
a major theme park in north-
west Kent. Recently, Paul was a 
Non-Executive Director at GRIT 
Real Estate Income Group Ltd 
and a Non-Executive Director 
at JCRA Group Ltd, the holding 
company of JC Rathbone 
Associates Ltd. 

Paul’s previous experience as 
Finance Director of a number 
of quoted businesses, and 
his on-going work in the real 
estate arena mean that he 
can robustly challenge and 
scrutinise the financial affairs 
of the business, leading the 
Audit Committee, as well as 
contributing meaningfully 
to the broader operational 
and strategic activities of 
the Company.

PROFILE
Jeremy was appointed to the 
Board in 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.

Jeremy’s wide experience 
base as a property 
professional, particularly 
in the Retail field, puts him 
in a strong position to help 
TCS really understand the 
challenges of owning retail 
property during a period of 
such significant change. His 
guidance on the changing 
face of retail combined with 
the importance creating 
mixed-use communities 
plays an important role in the 
Company’s strategic planning

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate governance continued

Board of Directors

Details of the Board of Directors are given on pages 70 and 71 of this report. At the end of the year the Board 
comprised four Non-Executive Directors, three of whom are independent and four Executive Directors, including 
the Chairman and Chief Executive.

The key roles and responsibilities are as follows:

Chairman and CEO:  
Edward Ziff OBE DL

Property Director:  
Lynda Shillaw

Managing Director:  
Ben Ziff

•  Ensure a robust decision 

making process is in place and 
all appropriate information 
is provided to the Board in a 
timely manner

•  Setting the Board agenda, 

focusing on strategic matters 
and giving adequate time to 
other key issues as required

•  Managing the Board to allow 

time for discussion of complex 
or contentious issues

•  Ensuring the Board discharges 

its responsibilities with 
respect to Risk Management 
and Governance, promoting 
high standards of Corporate 
Governance

•  Effective communication 

with shareholders and other 
stakeholders

•  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

•  Ensure implementation of  

Board decisions.

• 

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.

•  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.

Finance Director:  
Mark Dilley

Senior Independent Director:  
Paul Huberman

•  Provide advice and guidance  

on financial strategy

•  Supporting the Chairman and 
CEO’s delivery of objectives

•  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.

•  Leading the Non-Executive 

Directors in the oversight and 
evaluation of the Chairman  
and CEO

•  Being available to shareholders 
to express concerns that the 
normal channels have failed 
to resolve or which would 
be inappropriate

•  Taking responsibility for an 
orderly succession process 
for the Chairman were it to 
be required.

72

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 all shareholders, 
including non-family shareholders.

In accordance with the UK 
Corporate Governance Code 
the Board considers that Jeremy 
Collins, Paul Huberman, and Ian 
Marcus to be independent and 
confirm that they:

•  have not been an employee of 
the Company or Group during 
the prior five years;

•  have not had any material 
business relationship with 
the Company or has been a 
Director or a senior employee 
of a body which has had such a 
relationship with the Company;

•  have not received or receive 

remuneration from the 
Company other than Directors 
fees, nor do they participate in 
any Company Share Plan, nor 
is a member of the Company’s 
pension scheme;

•  do not have close family ties 
with the Company’s advisors, 
Directors, or senior employees;

•  have no cross Directors or 
significant links with other 
Directors through involvement 
in other companies and 
bodies other than that referred 
to below;

•  do not represent a significant 

shareholder; and

•  have not been a Director of the 
Company for more than nine 
years since their first appointment.

Ian Marcus and Lynda Shillaw 
are independent Non-Executive 
Directors of The Crown Estate.  
The Board has carefully considered 
this and discussed the matter 

with both Ian and Lynda in order 
to gain a full understanding of 
how each exercise their duties 
as Board members of The Crown 
Estate. The Board concluded that 
this situation does not impair Ian 
Marcus’s independence. 

One of the Non-Executive 
Directors, Michael Ziff, is not 
considered to be independent, 
due mainly to his shareholding in 
the Company 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 
Paul Huberman. 

During the year Ian Marcus 
was appointed as workforce 
representative in anticipation of 
the requirements of the 2018 UK 
Corporate Governance Code. 

The full Board met 10 times in the 
year and the record of Directors’ 
attendance at the Board meetings 
is set out overleaf. This year the 
Board met twice specifically  
to review the strategic direction 
of the Group. The Board manages 
overall control of the Group’s 
affairs in accordance with 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 (eight meetings 
in the year) and CitiPark Board 
(six meetings in the year), which 
comprise Executive Directors and 
senior. 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 Independent Non-Executive 
Directors meet 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.

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73

Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
 
Corporate governance continued

2018 UK Corporate Governance Code (the ‘Code’)

As part of the Company’s commitment to good corporate governance a 
review of compliance with the 2018 Code was undertaken and areas of 
non-compliance identified. The Board has undertaken several changes 
to comply with the 2018 Code and several other actions remain ongoing. 
Detail on compliance with the Code is provided on page 76.

Listing Rules

In accordance with listing rule 9.8.4 R the following information has been 
disclosed as set out below. 

Listing Rule requirement

A statement of the amount of interest capitalised 
during the period under review and details of any 
related tax relief.

Location

Not Applicable

Information required in relation to the publication 
of unaudited financial information.

Not Applicable

Details of any long-term incentive schemes.

Details of any arrangements under which a 
Director has waived emoluments, or agreed to 
waive any future emoluments, from the Company. 

No such long-term 
incentive plans

No such waivers

Details of any non pre-emptive issues of equity 
for cash.

No such share 
allotments

Details of any non pre-emptive issues of equity for 
cash by any unlisted major subsidiary undertaking. 

No such share 
allotments

Details of parent participation in a placing by a 
listed subsidiary. 

Not applicable

Details of any contract of significance in which a 
Director is or was materially interested.

No such contract

Details of any contract of significance between 
the Company (or one of its subsidiaries) and a 
controlling shareholder.

No such contract

Details of waiver of dividends by a shareholder.

No such waiver

Board statement in respect of relationship 
agreement with the controlling shareholder.

Directors’ Report,  
page 93

Performance of the Board

An evaluation of the effectiveness of the Board, its committees and 
Directors has been undertaken. Given the size of the Board and nature  
of the business the Directors performed an internal board evaluation. 
The Board decided not to undertake an external Board evaluation this 
year but will keep the matter under review.

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

•  The effectiveness of the Board 
committees in performing 
their roles.

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. 
The independent Non-Executive 
Directors met at least once during 
the year without the Chairman and 
non-independent Directors.

Committees of the Board

Nomination Committee

Audit Committee

Remuneration Committee

Edward Ziff (Chair)

Paul Huberman (Chair)

Ian Marcus (Chair)

Ian Marcus

Paul Huberman

Jeremy Collins

Michael Ziff

Attendance

Board Meetings

Executives

Edward Ziff

Mark Dilley

Lynda Shillaw

Ben Ziff

Richard Lewis

Ian Marcus

Jeremy Collins

Paul Huberman

Jeremy Collins

Non-Executive

Michael Ziff

Ian Marcus

Paul Huberman

Jeremy Collins

10

10

7*

10

4

Audit Committee Meetings

Paul Huberman

Ian Marcus

Jeremy Collins

2

2

2

10

10

10

10

* 

There have been seven Board meetings since Lynda Shillaw was appointed to the Board on 20 November 2018.

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Town Centre House, Leeds

75

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
 
Corporate governance continued

Statement of compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code

The UK Corporate Governance Code (2016) (‘the Code’) can be found on the FRC’s website: 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 Town Centre Securities 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. The Board has been taking steps to ensure that it complies with the 
new UK Corporate Governance Code published in 2018 and will report against that version of the Code 
next year including information on how Directors have performed their duties under section 172 of the 
Companies Act 2006.

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 Board of Directors has complied with the Code throughout the year except for the 
following matters:

UK Corporate 
Governance 
Code

Provision A.2.1

Provision

Explanation of departure from the Code

The roles of the 
Chairman and Chief 
Executive should 
not be exercised by 
the same individual.

The Board acknowledges that the appointment of Edward Ziff as 
Chairman and CEO and his tenure depart from the UK Code. 

Edward 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 a number of reasons, including 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. 
Furthermore, the Board noted the contributions which have been 
made by Edward Ziff in delivering the strategy of the Company, whilst 
utilising his position to act as an ambassador for the Company. 

The Independent Directors meet at least annually in a private 
session chaired by the Senior Independent Director to consider the 
governance of the Company including the division of responsibilities 
for the Chairman and CEO. 

Edward Ziff will stand for re-election at all future Annual General 
Meetings in accordance with the 2018 Code requirements. 

Chair not to remain 
in post for more 
than nine years.

Edward Ziff is Chairman and CEO which the Board feels is in the best 
interest of the Company. Due to this combined role Edward Ziff is not 
considered to be independent. The Board believes that the valuable 
experience provided by Edward Ziff continues to benefit the Company. 

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 role and experience of the Chairman and Chief Executive, 
and his deep knowledge of the Company, the Board believes the 
longer notice period continues to be appropriate.

Provision B.1.2

At least half the 
Board, excluding 
the Chairman to 
be independent.

The Board noted that less than half of the Board is considered to be 
independent. The composition of the Board is regularly reviewed to 
ensure that there in an appropriate balance of skills and experience.  
The Board currently comprises four Non-Executive Directors. 

To review each Non-
Executive Director’s 
time commitment.

The Board has a conflict of interest register which is tabled at meetings 
and regularly reviewed by the Board. The Board and Nomination 
Committee will meet as required to review any significant changes  
to membership. 

76

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 60 and the Director’s Report on page 93.

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 65.

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 60.

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 80.

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 82 and the Statement of Directors’ 
Responsibilities on page 95.

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 release 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).

Dr. Edward Ziff OBE DL

Chairman & Chief Executive

24 September 2019

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
 
Nomination Committee report

for the 2019 Annual Report

I am pleased to continue  
to act as Chairman of the 
Nomination Committee.

Dr. Edward Ziff OBE DL

Chairman of Nomination Committee

78

Dear Shareholder, 

I am pleased to continue to act 
as Chairman of the Nomination 
Committee. The other members of 
the Committee are Jeremy Collins, 
Ian Marcus, Paul Huberman and 
Michael Ziff. The Committee 
therefore comprises a majority 
of independent Directors. The 
Committee formally met once 
during the year. 

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. 

Committee Members

Edward Ziff (Chair)

Ian Marcus

Paul Huberman

Jeremy Collins

Michael Ziff

Read biographies of the committee 

members on pages 70 and 71

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. The Board 
will continue to have regard for 
diversity for future appointments.

All Board appointments are made 
on merit and we are pleased that 
the appointment of Lynda Shillaw 
as Property Director was an 
important step towards the Board 
becoming more diverse. 

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

Chairman of Nominations 
Committee

Work of the Committee  
during the year

Lynda Shillaw formally joined 
the Board in November 2018 
as Property Director following 
a detailed search process with 
support of Thomas Cole Kinder, 
an executive search firm. Thomas 
Cole Kinder had previously been 
used in the appointment of Mark 
Dilley as Group Finance Director. 
The Board were delighted to 
appoint someone of Lynda’s 
experience.

The effectiveness of the Board, 
its committees and Directors was 
reviewed as part of the September 
Board proceedings. More detail 
can be found in the Directors’ 
Report on page 93.

Following changes in the 
Corporate Governance Code the 
Board has now agreed that all 
members be put forward for re-
election every year. Biographies  
of the Board members can be 
found on page 70.

Diversity

The Board embraces the 
supporting principles on diversity 
in its broadest sense: diversity of 
skills, background, experience, 
knowledge, outlook, approach, 
gender and ethnicity. In addition, 
the Company has regard for 
diversity in recruitment 
at all levels. 

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
 
Audit Committee report

for the 2019 Annual Report

I am pleased to present the 
report of the Committee for  
the year ended 30 June 2019.

Paul Huberman

Chairman of Audit Committee

80

that at least one member of the 
Audit Committee has recent and 
relevant financial experience. The 
Committee as a whole has relevant 
sector experience.

Executive Directors, including 
Edward Ziff and Mark Dilley, join 
Committee meetings by invitation 
but are not members of the 
Committee. 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. This year the Terms 
of Reference were amended to 
reflect some changes required 
to ensure the Committee’s role 
is fully compliant with the new 
UK Corporate Governance Code 
which it recommended to the 
Board were amended in order 
to reflect best practice. This is 
available to view on the Company’s 
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. In addition, the Committee 
continues to review annually 
whether an internal audit function 
is required.

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 

2019 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

•  Reviewing the effectiveness of 

the Group’s whistleblowing policy

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

•  Considering management’s 
approach to the viability 
statement in the 2019 
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.

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 2019.

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 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 is 
also a member of the Committee, 
bringing valuable experience 
from his prior roles, including as 
Property Director at John Lewis. 
The Board is therefore satisfied 

Committee Members

Paul Huberman (Chair)

Ian Marcus

Jeremy Collins

Read biographies of the committee 

members on pages 70 and 71

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
 
Audit Committee report continued

for the 2019 Annual Report

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. The 
Committee received detailed 
reporting from the Finance 
Director and BDO in respect 
of key areas of management 
judgement and reporting. 
Using BDO’s assessment of 
risk and the Committee’s own 
independent knowledge of 
the Company, estimates and 
judgements of management in 
relation to the preparation of 
the financial statements were 
reviewed and challenged. The 
significant accounting matters and 
judgements related 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 

•  The investment in 

YourParkingSpace.co.uk (YPS), 
and the accounting treatment 
required to meet fair value 
requirements – The Committee 
agreed that the current carrying 
value reflects fair value, 
although this will be kept under 
regular review

•  The future accounting treatment 
of YPS, and the fact that should 
the Company’s share exceed 
20%, it would be highly likely 
that the P&L and Balance Sheet 
of YPS would have to be fully 
consolidated (pro rata) into the 
financial statements of TCS. 
The Committee agreed with the 
judgement that the Company 
did not hold significant 
influence over YPS given the 
15% shareholding at the balance 
sheet date

•  Going concern and covenant 
compliance – The Committee 
reviewed and approved the 
Going Concern analysis

•  Viability Statement and 

appropriateness of period 
of the statement – The 
Committee reviewed and 
agreed the longer-term viability 
analysis and recommended 
timeframe. As part of this 
process a number of stress 
scenarios were provided to the 
Committee. The assumptions 
behind those scenarios were 
robustly examined

•  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. The Committee 
also reviewed advice 
received by the Company 
on any tax implications of 
this arrangement.

Fair, balanced and 
understandable

In its review the Audit Committee 
has determined that the 2019 
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

The UK Corporate Governance 
Code provides that the Directors 
should monitor the Company’s 
risk management and internal 
control systems and, at least 
annually, 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. It will be 
noted in the Risk Management 
section that three areas of risk have 
been identified as having worsened 
in likelihood in the past year; those 
being Development, Valuation Risk, 
and Tenant & Sector Risk. All three 
effectively driven by a combination 
of the challenging environment 
for Retailers, and the protracted 
uncertainty regarding Brexit. Whilst 
the Company has demonstrated 
mitigating actions regarding these 
risks, including reducing the 
proportion of retail assets within 
the portfolio, there is no doubt that 
the risk environment has worsened.

The risk management 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 18-month cash flow 

forecasting that is reviewed by 
the Board on a monthly basis

82

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

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.

•  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 

Auditor Independence and Objectivity

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. The Company has put in place a 
formal process for agreeing and approving non audit work by the Audit 
Committee. 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

Other Audit related services

Total Audit Services

Non-audit services

Total Auditor’s remuneration

£000’s

86

10

15

111

2

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and anti-bribery policy.

Auditor Reappointment

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 20 years. 
The 2019 audit was the fourth audit 
by Russell Field and we anticipate 
him continuing in role in 2020.

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 

The Committee reviewed the 
effectiveness of the external audit 
process and the performance 
of the Auditor and for the 
reasons stated above, believe 
that BDO remain independent 
and recommend that BDO be 
reappointed as external auditor for 
the Company. The Committee note 
the requirements for the external 
auditor position to undergo 
tender and propose for this to be 
undertaken prior to 2025/2026. 
The Committee has also adopted 
a new process for evaluating audit 
effectiveness than it will use to 
review the FY19 audit.

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 member, 
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 continued to 
operate at a high standard and was 
effective in its support to the Board 
during the year.

Paul Huberman

Chairman of Audit Committee

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83

Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ remuneration report

for the 2019 Annual Report

On behalf of the Board I am 
pleased to present the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report of the 
Remuneration Committee.

Ian Marcus

Chairman of the Remuneration Committee

84

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 2019, which 
summarises remuneration 
outcomes and how the 
Remuneration Policy will 
operate for the year ending  
30 June 2020;

•  The Remuneration Policy 
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 2019, and how 
the Remuneration Policy will be 
implemented for the year ended 
30 June 2020.

Committee Members

Ian Marcus (Chair)

Paul Huberman

Jeremy Collins

Read biographies of the committee 

members on pages 70 and 71

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 2019 AGM.

As the Remuneration Policy will not 
be subject to a vote at the 2019 
AGM, the Remuneration Policy 
report remains unchanged from 
the policy which was approved at 
the 28 November 2017 AGM.

We formally met three times during 
the year.

Pay and performance  
during 2019

In determining the bonus award 
levels for the year ended 30 June 
2019 the Remuneration Committee 
have taken full account of the 
progress made by the Company 
in the past year. Profitability in 
the year has been challenged 
and this clearly has had an effect 
on bonus awards in the year. In 
addition, despite the significant 
asset management initiatives 
undertaken in the year, NAV has 
declined driven primarily by the 
pressure on retail values. Despite 
the significant progress made 
in delivering on the longer-term 
strategy, aimed at delivering long 
term value for shareholders, the 
Committee have determined that 
there should be no bonus paid to 
the Board members.

Bonus award for year ended  
30 June 2019:

The maximum bonus for 
the Executive Directors was 
unchanged from 2018 at 60% of 
base salary. The Committee has 
determined that there will be no 
bonus award for Directors for 
2019. 

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. Following a review last 
year, and as indicated in last year’s 
report, we continue to have the 
following views and intentions:

•  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  
five 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. 

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

•  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 

In order for the Committee 
to give the matter due 
consideration, it is the 
Committee’s intention to 
continue this review during the 
2019/20 financial year with a 
view to setting forth proposals 
for our shareholders to consider 
at the 2020 AGM or before if 
appropriate. 

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85

Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ remuneration report continued

for the 2019 Annual Report

Edward Ziff and Mark Dilley have 
between them engaged with a 
number of shareholders, both 
family and, where possible, larger 
independent shareholders. In 
addition, I am available to any 
shareholder who would like 
to discuss their concerns on 
remuneration throughout the  
year, not only at the AGM.

Ian Marcus

Chairman of  
Remuneration Committee

Implementation of the 
Remuneration Policy in 2020

•  From October 2019 salaries 

will increase by 3% for Edward 
Ziff, 3% for Mark Dilley, 1.75% 
for Lynda Shillaw, and 15% for 
Ben Ziff.

•  The annual bonus opportunity 
will remain at a maximum of 
60% of salary. The bonus will 
be based on similar measures 
to 2019. The weightings, 
measures and targets will be 
disclosed retrospectively in our 
subsequent report, owing to 
commercial sensitivity. 

•  Pension and benefits will 
operate as per 2019. 

At the Company’s AGM in 2018, 
7.71% of shareholders voted 
against the resolution to approve 
the 2018 Remuneration Report 
and, whilst the Committee is 
pleased that so many shareholders 
showed their support, the 
Committee notes that a few 
shareholders have concerns 
over aspects of the Company’ 
approach to remuneration. Based 
on a comment of one proxy 
advisory body, we understand 
the concern to be a 20% salary 
increase in Ben Ziff’s salary last 
year, following on from a 29% 
increase in the previous year. We 
commented in last year’s report 
that this increase was on the 
back of the strong performance 
of CitiPark, contribution to the 
business as a whole, and bench 
marking. Ben’s salary is relatively 
low when compared to main board 
Directors of peer companies so the 
Committee considers it important 

that his salary is competitive. 
This, together with the fact that 
the Company does not pay large 
bonuses or operate any share 
schemes, we feel justifies the 
increase in Ben’s salary. We have 
again agreed to increase Ben’s 
salary by 15% for the coming 
financial year. As in recent years 
the Committee believes this is 
appropriate given Ben’s continued 
performance running CitiPark, 
and given his relatively low pay 
given he is a member of TCS’s 
PLC Board.

Furthermore, the proxy advisory 
body noted that pay outcomes 
at TCS were not well aligned on a 
three-year basis relative to Total 
Shareholder Return. We take our 
responsibility to shareholders 
extremely seriously, nowhere more 
than in relation to remuneration. 
We would highlight the fact 
that actual bonus pay-out levels 
have averaged 16% over the last 
10 years and, combined with 
a scheme that has a relatively 
modest cap of 60% of salary and 
the lack of an LTIP scheme, we 
believe remuneration relative to 
performance has been well, and 
conservatively, managed. The 
recent and significant reduction in 
the TCS share price has distorted 
the comparisons of remuneration 
to recent Shareholder Return, 
however we remain convinced of 
the positive long term actions that 
management are taking to create 
long-term value for shareholders, 
and that the material discount of 
the share price to NAV highlights 
the opportunity.

86

REMUNERATION POLICY REPORT

Policy Report

Variable remuneration

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 receives no pension 
contributions.

The Group makes payments to a 
defined contribution scheme (or 
cash equivalent) for Mark Dilley of 
13% of salary, Lynda Shillaw of 13% 
of salary, and for Ben Ziff of 13% 
of salary.

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.

Service agreements and 
external appointments

The Chairman and Chief Executive 
has a service contract that is 
subject to not less than two years 
notice. Lynda Shillaw, 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. In the 
past year the Company has 
improved pension contributions 
and introduced a Westfield Health 
policy for a large number of 
staff members. 

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87

Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ remuneration report continued

for the 2019 Annual Report

REMUNERATION POLICY REPORT CONTINUED 

Consideration of shareholder views

The Group welcomes comments on its remuneration from shareholders. 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 2019. £’000s

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

Edward Ziff

Mark Dilley

610

74 0

371

332

48 0

202

Lynda Shillaw

261

340

158

Ben Ziff

194 48 0

122

Salary

Benefits

Bonus (paid)

Bonus (unpaid)

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. 
Lynda Shillaw joined the Board in November 2018 and therefore the above relates to her eight months of employment.  

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 
2019 and 30 June 2018. 

Salaries and fees

Bonuses

Taxable Benefits1

SIP Shares2

Pension 
contributions3

Total

2019 
£’000

2018 
£’000

2019 
£’000

2018 
£’000

2019 
£’000

2018 
£’000

2019 
£’000

2018 
£’000

2019 
£’000

2018 
£’000

2019 
£’000

2018 
£’000

Executive Chairman  
and Chief Executive

Edward Ziff

610

585

Executive Directors4

332

194

261

137

313

159

326

37

1,534

1,420

0

48

52

52

48

47

49

49

31

19

235

128

76

131

 –  

571

72

3

21

29

125

92

4

12

25

9

142

2

2

2

 –  

 –  

 –  

6

2

 –  

2

 –  

 –  

4

43

25

34

102

 –  

684

914

41

21

 –  

4

66

380

242

295

166

0

486

270

0

482

50

1,767

2,203

48

52

52

48

0

47

49

49

31

19

200

195

1,734

1,615

0

0

0

571

0

125

0

142

0

6

0

4

0

102

0

66

200

195

1,967

2,398

Mark Dilley

Ben Ziff

Lynda Shillaw

Richard Lewis

Duncan Syers

Non-Executive Directors4

Michael Ziff

Paul Huberman

Ian Marcus

Jeremy Collins

John Nettleton

Notes:

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    Edward Ziff received no pension contribution. The Group makes payments to 
a Defined Contribution scheme (or cash equivalent) for Mark Dilley (13% base 
salary), Lynda Shillaw (13% base salary) and Ben Ziff (13% base salary). 

4    Lynda Shillaw joined the Board, and Richard Lewis retired in November 2018. 
Duncan Syers and John Nettleton retired from the Board in September and 
November 2017 respectively.

88

Notes to the single figure table – Annual bonus targets and outcomes for 2019

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

For the year ended 30 June 2019, the Executive Directors did not receive a bonus pay-out.

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 2019 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 2019 and November 2019. 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 2019. For illustration, based on the share price as at 30 June 2019, this would equate to each Director 
receiving 870 partnership shares and 870 matching shares. In November 2018 Edward Ziff, Ben Ziff and Mark 
Dilley received 740 partnership shares and 740 matching shares in respect of the 2018 Share Incentive Plan.  
The total number of partnership and matching SIP shares beneficially held at 30 June 2018 is shown below.

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Executive

Edward Ziff

Mark Dilley

Lynda Shillaw

Ben Ziff

Holding of Partnership 
and Matching SIP Shares 
(30 June 2018)

6,432

1,480

0

6,432

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. 

Directors’ Shareholdings

The table below sets out the shares held by the Directors as at 30 June 2019. There has been no change to this 
information during the period 1 July 2019 to 24 September 2019. 

Executive

Edward Ziff

Ben Ziff

Mark Dilley

Michael Ziff

Beneficial

5,483,354

300,443

1,480

2,539,081

Non-beneficial

16,086,569

0

0

8,105,121

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 6,264,665 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.

Edward Ziff, Lynda Shillaw 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 2019, TCS Trustees Limited held 89,532 
Ordinary Shares (2018: 9,782) on behalf of all participants including those share awards of Executive Directors 
shown above.

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89

Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ remuneration report continued

for the 2019 Annual 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 2019. 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. 

400

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0
Jun–09

Feb–10 Oct–10

Jun–11

Feb–12 Oct–12

Jun–13

Feb–14 Oct–14

Jun–15

Feb–16 Oct–16

Jun-17

Feb–18 Oct–18

Jun–19

Source: DataStream (Thomson Reuters)

TOWN

FTSE UK REITs

On a five year basis TCS TSR was minus 0.6% versus the FTSE All Share REIT at 4.5%. On a ten year basis TCS 
TSR was 9.9% versus the FTSE All Share REIT at 10.9%. 

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

Single total figure of 
remuneration (£’000s)

Annual Bonus pay-out  
(% of maximum)

2018/19

2017/18

2016/17

2015/16

2014/15

2013/14

2012/13

2011/12

2010/11

2009/10

90

684

914

809

718

782

784

604

672

669

1,498

0%

40%

20%

10%

30%

33%

0%

13%

23%

0%

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 2018 to 2019. 

Salary % change

Taxable Benefits % change

Annual Bonus % change2

Executive Chairman and 
Chief Executive Officer 
(%)

3.0%

(21.7%)

n/a

Average pay for 
employees1 (%) 

4.6%

(33.0%)

(7.2%)

1 

2 

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

Chairman & Chief Executive’s bonus change shown as n/a as it was zero in the year ended 30 June 2019 compared to £235,000 in the prior year.

Relative importance of spend on pay

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

Staff remuneration costs 

Dividends to shareholders

External appointments 

2018 
£’000

5,365

6,114

2019 
£’000

5,704

6,247

% 
change

6.3%

2.2%

Edward Ziff is the unpaid Chair and Trustee of Leeds Cares. Lynda Shillaw is a Non-Executive Director for  
Vivid Housing Ltd and The Crown Estate for which she receives £28,000 compensation in total.

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 2020. 

Component

Implementation for 2020

Base salary

The Committee has approved the following increases effective from 1 October 2019: 

Benefits

Pension

•  3% increase for Edward Ziff and Mark Dilley, and 1.75% for Lynda Shillaw

•  15% increase for Ben Ziff based on the strong performance of CitiPark, contribution to the 

business as a whole, and bench marking

Benefits provisions will be as per 2019, 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

EM Ziff does not receive a contribution. The Group makes payments to a Defined Contribution 
scheme (or cash equivalent) for Mark Dilley (13% base salary), Lynda Shillaw (13% base salary),  
and Ben Ziff (13% base salary)

Annual bonus

Maximum opportunity 60% base salary (unchanged)

The measures and weightings applying to the 2020 bonus 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 3% increase in fees for Non-Executive Directors has been agreed

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ remuneration report continued

for the 2019 Annual Report

Directors’ report 

Consideration by the Directors of matters relating to Directors’ remuneration 

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

The Directors present their report for  
the year ended 30 June 2019.

• 

Ian Marcus

•  Paul Huberman

•  Jeremy Collins. 

The key activities of the Committee during the year were: 

•  Approving the bonus outcome for 2018

•  Approving the salary increases for 2019

•  Setting the bonus targets for 2019

•  Reviewing Service Contracts for continued appropriateness

•  Discussing potential structures for a future LTIP scheme

•  Reviewing changes to Corporate Governance, and the Committee’s approach to those changes. 

Statement of voting in relation to the 2018 AGM 

Votes For

Votes Against

This report was approved by the Board on 24 September 2019 and signed on its behalf by

Annual Report on 
Remuneration

92.29%

7.71%

Ian Marcus

Chairman of the Remuneration Committee

92

Principal Activities

Share Capital

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 104.

An interim dividend of 3.25p per 
share was paid on 21 June 2019 as 
a PID. The Directors now propose 
a payment of a final dividend of 
8.50p per share comprising a PID 
of 4.50p per share and an ordinary 
dividend of 4.00p per share for 
approval of the shareholders at 
the forthcoming Annual General 
Meeting (‘AGM’). The proposed final 
dividend will be paid on 7 January 
2020 to ordinary shareholders on 
the register at the close of business 
on 6 December 2019.

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 2019, 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.

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 2019, 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, including movements 
during the year, are set out in Note 
23 to the financial statements.

Purchase of own shares

The Company repurchased 95,617 
shares of its own shares during 
the year to satisfy Employee Share 
Incentive Plan (‘SIP’) Scheme. 
The Company currently holds no 
treasury shares.

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 2019.

Political Donations

The Group made no political 
contributions in the financial year 
(2018: 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 70. 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 87.

Beneficial and non-beneficial 
interests of the Directors in the 
shares of the Company as at 30 
June 2019 are disclosed in the 
Directors’ Remuneration Report on 
page 89. 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 Code of 
Corporate Governance all Directors 
will retire at the Company’s AGM 
on 25 November 2019 and offer 
themselves for re-election.

On 20 November 2018 Mr Richard 
Lewis stepped down as a Director 
following his retirement and Ms 
Lynda Shillaw was appointed a 
Director. Service agreements of 
Executive Directors and terms 
of conditions of Non-Executive 
Directors available for inspection 
at Company’s registered office.

Workforce Engagement

Ian Marcus, Non-Executive Director, 
agreed to be workforce champion 
for the Company. Further details 
on workforce engagement are 
included on page 49. 

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.

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ report continued

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

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’ and Officers’ 
liability insurance cover in respect 
of potential legal actions against 
the Directors.

2019 Annual General Meeting

A Notice of Meeting can be found 
on pages 142 to 151 explaining 
the business to be considered at 
the AGM on 25 November 2019 
at Town Centre House, Leeds. 
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

Further detail is set out on  
page 65 of the Strategic Report.

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.

The Board confirms that, since 
the entry into the relationship 
agreement until 24 September 
2019, being the latest practicable 
date prior to the publication of this 
Annual Report and Accounts:

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

•  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.

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 & 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 51.3% of the 
Company’s voting rights.

Substantial Shareholdings

At 30 June 2019, the following shareholders had notified an interest in 
the issued Ordinary Share capital of the Company in accordance with the 
UK Listing Authority’s Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. The 
Company has not received any further notifications in this respect during 
the period 1 July 2019 until 24 September 2019. 

Ziff Concert Party

New Fortress Finance Holdings Limited

Post-Balance Sheet Events

Number  
of shares

% of  
Issued Capital

27,285,464

3,376,000

51.33

6.35

Since 30 June 2019, there have been no material events to report.

The Directors’ Report was approved by the Board on 24 September 2019.

By order of the Board

Link Company Matters Limited

Company Secretary

24 September 2019

94

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;

•  make judgements and 

accounting estimates that are 
reasonable and prudent;

•  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 
pages 70 to 71, confirms that, to 
the best of their knowledge:

•  the Strategic Report includes 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.

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 2019  
was approved by the Board on  
24 September 2019.

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.

For and on behalf of the Board

Edward Ziff OBE

•  the financial statements, 

Chairman and Chief Executive

24 September 2019

prepared in accordance with 
the applicable set of accounting 
standards, five a true and fair 
view of the assets, liabilities, 
financial position and profit or 
loss of the Company taken as a 
whole; and

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
 
Financial statements

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Independent Auditor’s report 

Consolidated income statement 

Consolidated statement 
of comprehensive income 

Consolidated balance sheet 

Consolidated statement  
of changes in equity 

Consolidated cash flow statement 

Notes to the consolidated  
financial statements 

Company balance sheet 

Statement of changes in equity 

Notes to the company  
financial statements 

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104

104

105

106

107

108

131

132

133

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Burlington House, Manchester
Image: Description

97

Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Independent Auditor’s report
to the members of Town Centre Securities PLC

Opinion

Key audit matters

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 2019 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 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 (UK GAAP)).

In our opinion:

•  the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the Parent Company’s affairs 

as at 30 June 2019 and of the Group’s loss 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:

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

Valuation of the Group’s property interests

Risk

The valuation of the Group’s property interests is 
the key driver of the Group’s net asset value and 
underpins the results for the year. 

Accounting policy for treatment of investment 
properties can be found on page 110 and further 
detail is found in note 12.

These interests, totalling £362.1m (2018: £399.5m) 
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 
appointed by management. Of the total portfolio, 
only £0.25m is valued by management internally, 
being an immaterial property interest.

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. 

Assets held as development properties are valued 
using a comparable sale approach or income based 
approach if being utilised as car parks. Where assets 
are undergoing development, these are generally 
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. 

All of these valuation methods can require 
significant judgement and estimation to be applied 
the external valuation experts, increasing the 
inherent risk in this area.

The above, along with the highly material size of the 
balances, means 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.

•  the disclosures in the Annual Report set out on page 60 that describe the principal risks and explain how they 

Response

are being managed or mitigated;

•  the Directors’ confirmation set out on page 65 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;

•  the Directors’ statement set out on page 65 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 12 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 65 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.

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

expenditure details and lease terms, which 
were agreed back to appropriate supporting 
documentation. No differences were identified 
between the internal data and that used within the 
valuation calculations. 

We held meetings with both external valuation 
experts in which we confirmed directly with these 
experts that valuations had been performed on 
bases consistent with practices approved by the 
Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (‘RICS’) 
and the requirements of IFRS as adopted by the 
EU 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 

We attended meetings with the valuation experts 
to further understand the methodology applied 
and challenge them on any key inputs to their 
calculations and any 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. 

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Independent Auditor’s report continued
to the members of Town Centre Securities PLC

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 £3,700,000 (2018: £4,000,000)  
and for the Parent Company £3,600,000 (2018: £3,500,000). This was determined with reference to a 
benchmark of total non-current assets (of which it represents 1% (2018: 1%), 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 
£320,000 (2018: £350,000) 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 £210,000 (2018: £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% at group level) which we consider to be a key 
consideration in assessing the financial performance of the business. 

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.

Component materiality on significant components was set at levels between £140,000 and £1,560,000 (2018: 
£170,000 and £1,770,000) with specific materiality being set between £100,000 and £210,000 (2018: £100,000 
and £270,000).

We reported to the Audit Committee all individual audit differences in excess of £16,000 (2018: £20,000). 
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 operates through a number of legal entities, which  
form reporting components. The financial information relating to the parent company and all significant  
and non-significant trading components of the Group were subject to full scope audits by the Group audit 
team. Significant components were defined as those reporting components contributing more than 15% 
towards group assets, turnover or profits. There were 39 components which were dormant for which no  
audit procedures were performed. 

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Capability of the audit to detect irregularities including fraud

We undertook audit procedures to respond to the risk of non-compliance with laws and regulations, focussing 
on those that could give rise to a material misstatement in the Group and Parent Company financial statements, 
including, but not limited to, the Companies Act 2006, the UK Listing Rules, the REIT regime requirements 
and legislation relevant to the rental of properties. We made enquiries of management to obtain further 
understanding of risks of non-compliance. There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above 
and the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected 
in the financial statements, the less likely we would become aware of it. 

We addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, by undertaking procedures to review journal 
entries processed during and subsequent to the year end and evaluate whether there was evidence of bias that 
represented a risk of material misstatement due to fraud. 

We consider that the audit procedures we planned and performed in accordance with ISAs (UK) have provided us 
with reasonable assurance that irregularities, including fraud, would have been detected to the extent that they 
could have resulted in material misstatements in the financial statements. Our audit was not designed to identify 
misstatements or other irregularities that would not be considered to be material to the financial statements. 

Other information

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

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

We have nothing to report in this regard.

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

•  Fair, balanced and understandable set out on page 82 – the statement given 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 80 – 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 76 – 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.

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Independent Auditor’s report continued
to the members of Town Centre Securities PLC

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

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;

•  the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report 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.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and Parent Company and its environment obtained 
in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in:

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 the recommendation of the Audit Committee, we were appointed by the Directors to audit the financial 
statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 and subsequent periods. In respect of the year ended 30 June 
2019, we were re-appointed as auditors by the members of the Company at the Annual General Meeting held 
on 20 November 2018. The period of total uninterrupted engagement is four years, covering the years ending 
30 June 2015 to 30 June 2019.

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

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

•  the Strategic Report or the Directors’ Report; or

Use of our report

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 95, 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.

102

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 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, UK

24 September 2019

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

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103

Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Consolidated income statement
for the year ended 30 June 2019

Consolidated balance sheet
as at 30 June 2019

Gross revenue

Property expenses

Net revenue

Administrative expenses

Other income

Valuation movement on investment properties

Reversal of impairment of car parking assets

(Loss)/profit on disposal of investment properties

Share of post tax profits from joint ventures

Operating (loss)/profit

Finance costs

(Loss)/profit before taxation

Taxation

(Loss)/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

Notes

3

3

4

7

14

8

9

11

11

10

10

2019
 £’000

31,189

(11,600)

19,589

(6,857)

574

(18,308)

200

(709)

1,067

(4,444)

(8,025)

(12,469)

–

(12,469)

(23.4)p

12.0p

11.75p

8.5p

2018 
£’000

30,178

(10,896)

19,282

(6,574)

888

5,932

1,300

1,677

3,757

26,262

(7,887)

18,375

–

18,375

34.6p

13.0p

11.50p

8.5p

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
for the year ended 30 June 2019

(Loss)/profit for the year

Items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss

2019 
£’000

(12,469)

2018
 £’000

18,375

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

Net asset value per share

Notes

2019 
£’000

2018
 £’000

12

14

12

13

15

12

15

16

17

18

324,500

13,387

337,887

24,194

4,024

2,510

30,728

1,609

336,311

39,742

 376,053 

 23,423 

 4,024 

 2,125 

 29,572 

 1,544 

370,224

 407,169 

5,871

5,354

23,692

34,917

405,141

(34,739)

(34,739)

(182,152)

(216,891)

188,250

 3,530 

 6,288 

 23,149 

32,967 

440,136 

(37,954)

(37,954)

(198,057)

(236,011)

204,125

23

13,290

 13,290 

200

559

250

173,951

188,250

354p

 200 

 559 

 250 

 189,826 

 204,125 

384p

21

Revaluation gains/(losses) on car parking assets

500

(350)

Items that will not be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss

Company number: 00623364

Revaluation gains on other investments

Total other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive (loss)/income for the year

2,341

2,841

(9,628)

1,136

786

19,161

The financial statements on pages 104 to 130 were approved by the Board of Directors on 24 September 2019 
and signed on its behalf by

All profit and total comprehensive income for the year is attributable to owners of the Parent. The Notes on pages 
108 to 130 are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

Dr. Edward Ziff OBE DL

Chairman & Chief Executive 

104

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105

Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
for the year ended 30 June 2019

Consolidated cash flow statement
for the year ended 30 June 2019

Balance at 30 June 2017

Comprehensive income for the year

Profit for the year

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

Called up  
share 
capital 
£’000

13,290

Share  
premium 
account 
£’000

Capital 
redemption 
reserve 
£’000

Revaluation 
reserve 
£’000

Retained 
earnings 
£’000

Total  
equity 
£’000

200

559

600

176,429

191,078

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

18,375

18,375

(350)

(350) 

 1,136 

786 

 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 

Comprehensive income for the year

Loss for the year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive loss for the year 

Contributions by and distributions to owners

Final dividend relating to the year ended  
30 June 2018

Interim dividend relating to the year ended  
30 June 2019

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(12,469)

(12,469)

2,841

2,841

(9,628)

(9,628)

(4,519)

(4,519)

(1,728)

(1,728)

Balance at 30 June 2019

13,290

200

559

250

173,951

188,250

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 generated from/(used in) investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities

(Repayment of)/proceeds from non-current borrowings

Dividends paid to shareholders

Net cash used in financing activities

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year

2019

2018

Notes

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

24

11,090

(7,678)

14,235

(7,595)

3,412

6,640

(25,517)

(3,740)

(255)

(814)

17,089

23

(385)

(723)

28,145

(16,252)

(6,247)

(900)

(1,806)

(153)

(340)

7,534

–

(175)

(8,809)

676

13,823

(3,973)

5,796

(6,114)

(22,499)

(5,264)

5,473

209

23,692

(23,483)

209

(318)

2,349

3,124

5,473

23,149

(17,676)

5,473

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

Cash balances

Overdrawn balances

The Consolidated Cash Flow Statement should be read in conjunction with Note 24.   

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107

Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements

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 2019 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 2019.

The effect of IFRS 15 has been assessed by the Directors and does not have a material impact on the Group.

The effect of IFRS 9 has been assessed by the Directors and does not have a material impact on the Group.

(b) 

 New standards, amendments to published standards and interpretations issued but not effective for the 
period ended 30 June 2019 and not early adopted.

 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. 

108

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.

(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.

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109

Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES CONTINUED

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.

(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.

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.

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.

Goodwill

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.

110

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.

Investments

The Group classifies its listed and unlisted investments in accordance with IFRS9, being at fair value through 
profit and loss.

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. Equity instruments are valued at 
fair value at each reporting date. The fair values of listed investments are based on current bid prices. Any fair 
value gains and losses arising on equity instruments classified as fair value through profit and loss are recognised 
in the Income Statement. However, an assessment for each individual equity instrument not held for trading is 
considered, to establish whether an irrevocable election under IFRS 9 should be made to classify the instrument 
at fair value through other comprehensive income. Where this election has been made, fair value gains are 
recognised through other comprehensive income. 

Dividends on equity instruments are recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement when the Group’s right to 
receive payment is established.

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019 
 
 
 
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES CONTINUED

Investments continued

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, 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 equity instruments, 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, being the most reliable estimate of fair value at the period end.

Trade and related party receivables

Trade and related party receivables (such as loans to joint ventures or loans to investments) are recognised 
initially at fair value and are subsequently measured at amortised cost. 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.

Impairment provisions for current and non-current trade receivables are recognised based on the simplified 
approach within IFRS 9 using a provision matrix in the determination of the lifetime expected credit losses. 
During this process the probability of the non-payment of the trade receivables is assessed. This probability is 
then multiplied by the amount of the expected loss arising from default to determine the lifetime expected credit 
loss for the trade receivables. For trade receivables, which are reported net, such provisions are recorded in a 
separate provision account with the loss being recognised within cost of sales in the Consolidated Statement 
of Comprehensive Income. On confirmation that the trade receivable will not be collectable, the gross carrying 
value of the asset is written off against the associated provision.

Impairment provisions for receivables from related parties and loans to related parties are recognised based on a 
forward looking expected credit loss model. The methodology used to determine the amount of the provision is 
based on whether there has been a significant increase in credit risk since initial recognition of the financial asset. 
For those where the credit risk has not increased significantly since initial recognition of the financial asset, twelve 
month expected credit losses along with gross interest income are recognised. For those for which credit risk has 
increased significantly, lifetime expected credit losses along with the gross interest income are recognised. For 
those that are determined to be credit impaired, lifetime expected credit losses along with interest income on a net 
basis are recognised. From time to time, the Group elects to renegotiate the terms of trade receivables due from 
customers with which it has previously had a good trading history. Such renegotiations will lead to changes in the 
timing of payments rather than changes to the amounts owed and, in consequence, the new expected cash flows 
are discounted at the original effective interest rate and any resulting difference to the carrying value is recognised 
in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (operating profit). 

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are carried in the Consolidated Balance Sheet are held at amortised 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. 

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 12 months after the balance sheet date.

112

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.

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.

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.

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued 
 
 
 
1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES CONTINUED

(a) Deferred income tax continued

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:

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.

i) 

ii) 

rental income is recognised on an accrual basis on a straight line basis over the term of the lease;

(c) Cash flow and fair value interest rate risk

 turnover rents are based on underlying turnover and are recognised in the period to which the turnover 
relates; and 

The Group has no significant interest bearing assets. Borrowings issued at variable rates expose the Group to 
cash flow interest rate risk.

iii) 

rent reviews are recognised with effect from the review date.

(b) Car park income

Contract car park income is recognised on a straight line basis over the relevant period, in accordance with the 
contract to which it relates. Daily car park income is recognised when received.

(c) Hotel income

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.

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.

At 30 June 2019, 59.4% (2018: 54.5%) of the Group’s borrowings were under long term fixed rate agreements and 
therefore were protected against future interest rate volatility. 

(d) Interest income

(d) Capital risk

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 recognised on a straight line 
basis over the relevant period. 

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.

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.

114

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115

Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Notes 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.

2019
 £’000

363,375

31,466

10,300

405,141

2018 
£’000

397,577

30,659

11,900

440,136

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 2019, arising from car 
park operations, was £3,961,000. After allowing for an allocation of administrative expenses, the operating profit 
at these sites was £3,249,000. Revenue received within the car park and hotel segments is the only revenue 
recognised on a contract basis under IFRS 15. All other revenue within the Property segment comes from rental 
lease agreements.

4. ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

Employee benefits

Depreciation

Charitable donations

Other

2019 
£’000

4,240

339

92

2,186

6,857

2018 
£’000

 3,919 

 339 

 116 

 2,200 

 6,574 

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2019

2018

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

5. SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE GROUP’S EXTERNAL AUDITORS

Property 
rental
£’000

Car park 
activities
£’000

Hotel 
operations
£’000

Total
£’000

Property 
rental
£’000

Car park 
activities
£’000

Hotel 
operations
£’000

Total
£’000

Gross revenue

16,408

12,154

2,627

31,189

15,891

11,516

2,771

30,178

Audit services:

(A) Segmental assets

Property rental

Car park activities

Hotel operations

(B) Segmental results

Other income

Share of post-tax profits  
from joint ventures

Operating profit before 
valuation movements

Valuation movement on 
investment properties

Reversal of impairment  
of car parking assets

(Loss)/profit on disposal  
of investment properties

Valuation movement on  
joint venture properties

Service charge income

Service charge expenses

2,976

(3,990)

–

–

–

–

2,976

2,556

(3,990)

(3,387)

–

–

–

–

2,556

(3,387)

Property expenses

(1,424)

(6,766)

(2,396)

(10,586)

(1,210)

(6,537)

(2,318)

(10,065)

Net revenue

13,970

5,388

231

19,589

13,850

4,979

453

19,282

Administrative expenses

(5,889)

(968)

569

1,075

5

–

–

–

–

(6,857)

(5,627)

(947)

574

888

1,075

1,196

–

–

–

–

–

(6,574)

888

1,196

9,725

4,425

231

14,381

10,307

4,032

453

14,792

(18,308)

–

–

200

(709)

(8)

–

–

–

–

–

–

(18,308)

5,932

–

200

–

1,300

(709)

1,677

(8)

2,561

–

–

–

–

–

–

5,932

1,300

1,677

2,561

Operating (loss)/profit

(9,300)

4,625

231

(4,444)

20,477

5,332

453

26,262

Finance costs

(Loss)/profit before taxation

Taxation

(Loss)/Profit for the year

(8,025)

(12,469)

–

(12,469)

(7,887)

18,375

–

18,375

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

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.

116

–  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

– 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

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 84 to 92 
in the Directors’ Remuneration Report and form part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

The average monthly number of staff employed during the year was 135 (2018: 140). 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 defined contribution schemes.

2019 
£’000

2018 
£’000

85

10

15

110

–

2

2

112

2019
 £’000

4,969

620

115

5,704

 82 

 10 

 18 

110

35

 4 

39

149

2018
 £’000

 4,700 

 575 

 90 

5,365 

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Notes 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

Total finance costs

9. TAXATION

2019 
£’000

172

33

207

85

77

574

2019
 £’000

5,698

1,981

346

8,025

2018
 £’000

142

29

198

438

81

 888 

2018
 £’000

5,698

1,879

310

7,887

There was no current or deferred tax charge for both of the years presented.

Taxation for the year is lower (2018: lower) than the standard rate of corporation tax in the United Kingdom of 19% 
(2018: 19%). The differences are explained below:

Profit before taxation

Profit on ordinary activities multiplied by rate of  
corporation tax in the United Kingdom of 19% (2018: 19%)

Effects of:

– United Kingdom REIT tax exemption on net income before revaluations

– United Kingdom REIT tax exemption on revaluations

Total taxation

Factors affecting current and future tax charges

2019
 £’000

(12,469)

2018 
£’000

18,375

(2,369)

3,491

(1,206)

3,575

–

(1,630)

(1,861)

–

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.

10. DIVIDENDS 

2017 final paid: 8.25p per share

2018 interim paid: 3.25p per share 

2018 final paid: 8.50p per share

2019 interim paid: 3.25p per share 

118

2019 
£’000

–

–

4,519

1,728

6,247

2018 
£’000

4,386

1,728

–

–

6,114

An interim dividend in respect of the year ended 30 June 2019 of 3.25p per share was paid to shareholders on  
21 June 2019. This dividend was paid entirely as a Property Income Distribution (PID).

A final dividend in respect of the year ended 30 June 2019 of 8.5p per share is proposed. This dividend, based on 
the shares in issue at 24 September 2019, amounts to £4.5m which has not been reflected in these accounts and 
will be paid on 7 January 2020 to shareholders on the register on 6 December 2019. This dividend will comprise 
an ordinary dividend of 4.0p per share and a PID of 4.5p.

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 (2018: 53,161,950).

(Loss)/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

Loss/(profit) on disposal of investment and development 
properties

EPRA earnings and earnings per share

2019

2018

Earnings
£’000

(12,469)

18,308

(200)

8

709

6,356

Earnings
per share
p

(23.4)

34.5

(0.4)

0.0

1.3

12.0

Earnings
£’000

18,375

(5,932)

(1,300)

(2,561)

(1,677)

6,905

Earnings
per share
p

34.6

(11.2)

(2.4)

(4.8)

(3.2)

13.0

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

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

12. NON-CURRENT ASSETS

(A) Investment properties

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

Additions at cost

Other capital expenditure

Disposals

Deficit on revaluation

Movement in tenant lease incentives

Valuation at 30 June 2019

Freehold
£’000

276,861

9,483

1,656

(9,507)

(3,326)

900

1,851

277,918

16,968

3,469

(14,290)

(17,879)

579

266,765

Long
leasehold
£’000

22,609

–

–

(15)

(2)

(900)

–

21,692

–

–

–

(408)

–

21,284

Development
£’000

27,301

–

140

–

9,260

–

–

36,701

–

271

(500)

(21)

–

Total
£’000

326,771

9,483

1,796

(9,522)

5,932

–

1,851

336,311

16,968

3,740

(14,790)

(18,308)

579

36,451

324,500

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued 
 
 
 
 
 
 
12. NON-CURRENT ASSETS CONTINUED

(B) Freehold and leasehold properties – car park activities

Valuation at 30 June 2017

Additions

Depreciation

Deficit on revaluation

Reversal of impairment

Valuation at 30 June 2018

Additions

Depreciation

Surplus on revaluation

Reversal of impairment/(impairment)

Valuation at 30 June 2019

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

Freehold
£’000

2,000

–

–

–

1,000

 3,000 

–

–

500

250

3,750

Long
leasehold
£’000

20,495

153

(175)

(350)

300

 20,423 

255

(184)

–

(50)

Total
£’000

22,495

153

(175)

(350)

1,300

 23,423 

255

(184)

500

200

20,444

24,194

Retail and Leisure

Merrion Centre (excluding offices)

Offices

Hotels

Out of town retail

Distribution

Residential

Development property

Car parks

Finance lease adjustments

Value
£’000

Initial yield
%

Reversionary  
yield
%

5.6%

7.3%

8.0%

4.3%

4.0%

6.3%

5.6%

6.2%

6.3%

7.9%

9.0%

6.0%

5.6%

6.6%

5.7%

7.1%

Passing rent
£’000

3,704

7,126

3,867

1,180

1,752

411

617

ERV
£’000

4,179

7,759

4,335

1,630

2,477

427

636

62,650

92,500

45,685

25,800

41,750

6,140

10,500

18,657

21,443

285,025

36,451

22,793

4,425

348,694

The historical cost of freehold and leasehold properties relating to car park activities is £22,425,000 
(2018: £22,425,000).

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.

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 7.2% – £309.1m, Valuation at 5.2% – £403.9m.

Valuation in the Consolidated Financial Statements at a reversionary yield of 8.1% - £313.6m, Valuation at  
6.1% – £395.3m.

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

Investment properties valued by the Property Director

Finance lease obligations capitalised

Leasehold improvements

Investment 
Properties 
£’000

195,345

127,780

251

1,124

–

324,500

Freehold and 
Leasehold 
Properties
 £’000

–

17,000

–

3,301

3,893

24,194

Total 
£’000

195,345

144,780

251

4,425

3,893

348,694

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. 

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued 
 
 
 
12. NON-CURRENT ASSETS CONTINUED

(C) Fixtures, equipment and motor vehicles 

At 1 July 2017

Additions

Disposals

Depreciation

At 30 June 2018

Net book value at 30 June 2018

At 1 July 2018

Additions

Disposals

Depreciation

At 30 June 2019

Net book value at 30 June 2019

13. GOODWILL

At the start and end of the year

Cost
£’000

 4,819 

 339 

(1,526)

–

 3,632 

3,632

814

(56)

–

4,390

2019 
£’000

4,024

Accumulated
depreciation
£’000

 2,847 

–

(1,517)

758

2,088 

1,544

2,088

–

(42)

735

2,781

1,609

2018
 £’000

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% (2018: 1%) and a discount rate of 8% (2018: 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.

14. INVESTMENTS IN JOINT VENTURES

At the start of the year

Investments in joint ventures

Dividends and other distributions received in the year

Share of profits after tax

At the end of the year

Investments in joint ventures are broken down as follows:

Equity

Loans

122

2019
 £’000

39,742

723

(28,145)

1,067

13,387

2019 
£’000

7,792

5,595

13,387

2018
 £’000

27,852

8,809

(676)

3,757

39,742

2018 
£’000

34,650

5,092

39,742

Investments in joint ventures primarily relate to the Group’s interest in the partnership capital of 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

Non-current liabilities

Net assets

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

Revenue

Expenses

Finance costs

Valuation movement on investment properties

Net profit

2019
 £’000

69,400

1,178

(2,702)

(52,080)

15,796

2019 
£’000

3,328

(33)

(1,406)

1,889

(17)

1,872

2018 
£’000

69,400

1,754

(1,374)

–

69,780

2018 
£’000

2,134

(92)

–

2,042

5,691

7,733

Belgravia Living Group Limited has recently completed construction of a block of residential apartments in 
Piccadilly Basin, Manchester. The Group’s financial interest in this joint venture is primarily in the form of a loan 
with a value as at 30 June 2019 of £5.5m (2018: £5.1m). 

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

Non-current assets

Current assets

Current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Net liabilities

2019 
£’000

22,736

540

(23,355)

–

(79)

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

Expenses

Net profit

2019 
£’000

(14)

(14)

2018
 £’000

10,466

363

(9,745)

(1,129)

(45)

2018 
£’000

(31)

(31)

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.

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued 
 
 
 
 
14. INVESTMENTS IN JOINT VENTURES CONTINUED

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

2019 
£’000

3,530

2,341

5,871

2018 
£’000

2,394

1,136

3,530

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 (2018: £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

2019 
£’000

975

1,535

2,510

2018
 £’000

590

1,535

2,125

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 asset is categorised as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy as defined in IFRS 13 as the inputs to the valuation 
are based on unobservable inputs.

16. TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

Trade receivables

Less: provision for impairment of receivables

Other receivables and prepayments

124

2019 
£’000

2,955

(411)

2,544

2,810

5,354

2018 
£’000

1,539

(458)

1,081

5,207

6,288

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.

Due to the nature of income, debts are generally recovered in advance and only a small proportion of debt is 
overdue at the balance sheet date. As such, the credit risk relating to trade and other receivables in considered to 
be low and any expected credit loss would be immaterial. 

As at 30 June 2019, trade receivables which had not been impaired can be analysed as follows:

2019

2018

Total
£’000

2,544

1,081

Within  
credit terms
£’000

2,124

1,006

211

11

Outside credit terms

Less than 
 one month
£’000

One to  
two months
£’000

Older than  
two months
£’000

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

10

7

2019
 £’000

458

229

(218)

–

(58)

411

199

57

2018 
£’000

435

211

(160)

–

(28)

458

The creation and release of the provision for impaired receivables have been included in administrative expenses 
in the Consolidated Income Statement.

The ageing of the provision is as follows:

2019

2018

Total 
£’000

411

458

Less than  
one month 
£’000

One to  
two months 
£’000

Older than  
two months 
£’000

9

141

19

33

383

284

The only class within trade receivables is rent receivable. 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.

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued 
 
 
 
17. TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES 

Bank overdraft

Trade payables

Social security and other taxes

Other payables and accruals

2019 
£’000

23,483

128

529

10,599

34,739

2018
 £’000

17,676

140

816

19,322

37,954

The Group’s banking facility has an agreement which allows the right of off-set between fellow group companies. 
Interest payments and covenant tests are conducted on a net basis across the accounts within the banking 
facility. Whilst management monitors cash on a net basis, the fact that accounts were not actually swept and 
netted off at 30 June 2019 has meant that the cash and overdraft balances have been presented on a gross basis. 
The prior year cash and bank overdraft balances have been adjusted upwards by £17.676m to allow for consistent 
treatment and presentation of the group facility.

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:

At the start of the year

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

At the end of the year

2019 
£’000

2018 
£’000

71,862

4,425

105,865

182,152

87,759

4,444

105,854

198,057

2019 
£’000

2018 
£’000

198,057

191,969

(16,000)

(233)

(16,233)

347

(19)

328

6,500

(704)

5,796

310

(18)

292

182,152

198,057

The debenture, bank loans and overdrafts are secured by fixed charges on properties, valued at £336,825,000 
(2018: £339,485,000) 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

2019 
£’000

23,692

(23,483)

209

2018 
£’000

23,149

(17,676)

5,473

The Group’s remaining contractual non-discounted cashflows for financial liabilities is set out below:

In one year or less on demand

In more than one year but not  
more than five years

In more than five years

In one year or less on demand

In more than one year but not  
more than five years

In more than five years

2019

Trade 
and other 
creditors 
£’000

23,483

Bank 
borrowings 
£’000

Debenture 
stock
 £’000

1,750

5,698

–

–

76,690

–

23,483

78,440

22,790

148,163

176,651

2018

Finance 
 lease 
£’000

209

818

17,475

18,502

Total 
£’000

18,913

100,298

165,638

284,849

Trade 
and other 
creditors 
£’000

17,676

Bank 
borrowings 
£’000

Debenture 
stock 
£’000

Finance lease 
£’000

Total 
£’000

2,130

 5,698 

 211 

28,317

–

–

93,919

–

17,676

96,049

 22,790 

153,860 

182,348 

 830 

17,785 

18,826 

117,539

171,645

317,501

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

2019
 £’000

–

30,500

30,500

2018 
£’000

–

14,500

14,500

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued 
 
 
 
19. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The above debenture stock has been valued as at 30 June 2019 on the basis of open market value.

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 2019

As at 30 June 2018

Nominal  
value
£’000

Weighted 
average rate
%

106,001

72,500

4,425

182,926

5.375

2.41

5.0

Weighted 
average 
period
Years

12

2

118

Nominal 
 value
£’000

Weighted 
average rate
%

106,001

88,500

4,444

198,945

5.375

2.41

5.0

Weighted 
average 
period
Years

13

3

119

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 £735,000 
(2018: £803,000).

Financial instruments held for trading purposes

The fair valuation of debenture stock is categorised as Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy as defined in IFRS13 as 
inputs are quoted in active markets.

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:

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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

209

818

17,475

18,502

2019

Interest
£’000

209

818

13,050

14,077

Present  
value
£’000

–

–

4,425

4,425

Minimum 
lease 
payments
£’000

211

836

17,785

18,832

2018

Interest
£’000

211

836

13,341

14,388

Present  
value
£’000

–

–

4,444

4,444

It is, and has been throughout the year under review, the Group’s policy not to trade in financial instruments.

21. EPRA NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE

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

Finance leases

2019

2.75%

2.41%

5.375%

5.0%

2018

2.50%

2.41%

5.375%

5.0%

Fair value of current borrowings

The fair value of bank borrowings and overdrafts approximates to their carrying value.

Fair value of non-current borrowings

Debenture stock

Non-current bank borrowings

128

2019

2018

Book value
£’000

105,865

71,862

Fair value
£’000

116,518

71,862

Book value
£’000

105,854

87,759

Fair value
£’000

111,347

87,759

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

22. COMMITMENTS

2019 
£’000

188,250

53,162

354p

2018 
£’000

204,125

53,162

384p

The Group has no capital commitments (2018: £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

2019
£’000

13,821

40,713

83,364

2018
£’000

14,224

45,444

88,591

The Group has a wide range of leases in place with tenants across a broad range of properties, sectors, tenures 
and rental values.

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued 
 
 
 
Company balance sheet
as at 30 June 2019

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: 00623364

Notes

2019 
£’000

2018 
£’000

4

4

5

6

7

9

8

9

102,026

872

256,798

359,696

5,871

96,626

22

102,519

(20,337)

(132,519)

(152,856)

(50,337)

309,359

(177,727)

131,632

92,984

457

255,909

349,350

3,530

121,520

20

125,070

(16,270)

(131,709)

(147,979)

(22,909)

326,441

(193,613)

132,828

10

13,290

13,290

200

559

80,057

37,526

131,632

200

559

80,057

38,722

132,828

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 £5,051,000 (2018: £11,106,000).

The financial statements on pages 131 to 141 were approved by the Board of Directors on 24 September 2019 and 
signed on its behalf by

Dr. Edward Ziff OBE DL

Chairman & Chief Executive 

22. COMMITMENTS CONTINUED

Minimum total future lease payments payable:

Within one year

One to five years

In more than five years

2019 
£’000

1,411

5,643

25,511

2018 
£’000

1,411

5,643

26,922

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 2019 was 
£1,411,000 (2018: £1,400,000).

23. CALLED UP SHARE CAPITAL

Authorised

The authorised share capital of the company is 164,879,000 (2018: 164,879,000) Ordinary Shares of 25p each. 
The nominal value of authorised share capital is £41,219,750 (2018: £41,219,750).

Issued and fully paid up

At 30 June 2018 and 30 June 2019

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. CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

(Loss)/profit for the financial year

Adjustments for:

Depreciation

Profit on disposal of fixed assets

Loss/(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

(Increase)/decrease in receivables

(Decrease)/increase in payables

Cash generated from operations

2019 
£’000

(12,469)

919

(9)

709

8,025

(1,067)

18,308

(579)

(200)

(2,074)

(473)

11,090

2018 
£’000

18,375

933

–

(1,677)

7,887

(3,757)

(5,932)

(1,851)

(1,300)

144

1,413

14,235

25. REMUNERATION OF KEY MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL

The remuneration of the Executive 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 88.

Short-term employee benefits

Post-employment benefits

130

2019 
£’000

1,865

102

1,967

2018 
£’000

2,332

66

2,398

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued 
 
 
 
Statement of changes in equity
for the year ended 30 June 2019

Notes to the company financial statements

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

Called 
up share 
capital  
£’000

13,290

Share 
premium 
account  
£’000

Capital 
redemption 
reserve  
£’000

Other  
reserve  
£’000

Retained 
earnings  
£’000

Total  
equity  
£’000

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

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 2018

Interim dividend relating to the year ended  
30 June 2019

5,051

5,051

5,051

5,051

(4,519)

(4,519)

(1,728)

(1,728)

Balance at 30 June 2019

13,290

200

559

80,057

37,526

131,632

132

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.

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133

Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019 
 
 
 
Notes to the company financial statements continued

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES CONTINUED

Investments

Investments are held on the balance sheet at fair value. Any fair value gains and losses are taken to the 
income statement.

Investment income

Income from investments is accounted for on the payment date of the dividends.

Investment 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 equivalents

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.

Joint ventures

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).

A joint venture is a contractual arrangement whereby the Company and other parties undertake an economic 
activity that is subject to joint control.

3. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

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.

134

Wages and salaries (including Directors’ emoluments)

Social security costs

Other pension costs

2019 
£’000

3,086

369

62

3,517

2018 
£’000

2,693

452

58

3,203

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 £1,967,000 (2018: £2,398,000).

The average monthly number of staff employed during the year was 56 (2018: 56). Disclosures required by the 
Companies Act 2006 on Directors’ remuneration, including salaries, share options, pension contributions and 
pension entitlement, are included on page 88 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 2019 is included in note 5 to the Consolidated 
Financial Statements.

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135

Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019 
 
 
 
Notes to the company financial statements continued

4. TANGIBLE ASSETS

Investment properties

Valuation at 30 June 2018

Additions 

Valuation movement

Movement in tenant lease incentives

Valuation at 30 June 2019

Freehold
£’000

49,494

14,709

(5,401)

(166)

58,636

Long leasehold
£’000

Development
£’000

7,340

–

(350)

–

6,990

36,150

271

(21)

–

Total
£’000

92,984

14,980

(5,772)

(166)

5. FIXED ASSET INVESTMENTS

Shares in Group undertakings

At 1 July 

Additions

At 30 June

36,400

102,026

Other investments

The above freehold and long leasehold properties have been valued as at 30 June 2019 on the basis of open 
market value by Jones Long LaSalle and CBRE in accordance with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors 
Appraisal and Investment Manual.

Fixtures, equipment and motor vehicles

Balance at 30 June 2018

Additions 

Disposals

Depreciation

Balance at 30 June 2019

Net book value at 30 June 2019

Net book value at 30 June 2018

Total tangible assets

At 30 June 2019

At 30 June 2018

Cost 
 £’000

1,484

699

(56)

–

2,127

Accumulated 
depreciation  
£’000

1,027

–

(42)

270

1,255

872

457

102,898

93,441

136

2019
 £’000

2018 
£’000

248,693

248,693

–

–

248,693

248,693

2,125

385

2,510

5,091

372

132

–

–

1,950

175

2,125

–

4,985

106

–

–

5,595

256,798

5,091

255,909

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

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

2019 
£’000

3,530

2,341

5,871

2018 
£’000

2,394

1,136

3,530

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 (2018: £889,130).

7. DEBTORS

Trade debtors

Less: provision for impairment of debtors

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings

Other debtors and prepayments

2019 
£’000

383

(72)

311

95,176

1,139

96,626

2018
 £’000

169

(68)

101

120,988

431

121,520

The expense recognised in relation to the impairment of debtors for the year ended 30 June 2019 was £1,000 
(2018: £1,000).

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings are unsecured, interest free and repayable on demand.

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137

Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019Shareholder Information 
 
 
 
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

2019
 £’000

36

–

128,807

3,676

132,519

2018 
£’000

35

22

120,242

11,410

131,709

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.

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 2019

As at 30 June 2018

Nominal value
£’000

106,001

92,837

198,838

Weighted 
average rate
%

5.375

2.41

Weighted 
average 
period
Years

12

3

Nominal value
£’000

106,001

104,750

210,751

Weighted 
average rate
%

5.375

2.41

Weighted 
average 
period
Years

13

3

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.

2019 
£’000

2018
 £’000

Foreign currency exposure

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Non-current

Bank borrowings

5.375% First mortgage debenture stock

Current

Bank borrowings

Total borrowings

71,862

105,865

177,727

20,337

198,064

87,759

105,854

193,613

16,270

209,883

The debenture, bank loans and overdrafts are secured by fixed charges on properties, valued at £336,825,000 
(2018: £339,485,000) 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

2019
 £’000

–

30,500

30,500

2018 
£’000

–

14,500

14,500

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.

138

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

Fair values of current borrowings

2019

2.75%

2.41%

5.375%

2018

2.50%

2.41%

5.375%

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

2019

2018

Book value 
£’000

105,865

71,862

Fair value 
£’000

116,518

71,862

Book value
 £’000

105,854

87,759

Fair value 
£’000

111,347

87,759

Debenture stock

Long-term bank borrowings

10. CALLED UP SHARE CAPITAL

Authorised

164,879,000 (2018: 164,879,000) Ordinary Shares of 25p each. 

Issued and fully paid up

At 30 June 2018 and 30 June 2019

 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.

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019 
 
 
 
Notes to the company financial statements continued

11. SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES

The Company’s wholly owned active subsidiary undertakings at 30 June 2019, registered in England or Scotland 
and operating in the United Kingdom, are as follows:

Company number

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

140

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 number

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 asterisk 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:

Belgravia Living Group Limited

Bay Sentry Limited

Proportion of  
Ordinary Shares held 
%

Activity

50

50

Property Investment

Software Development

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.

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notice of Annual General Meeting

Notice is hereby given that the 2019 Annual General Meeting (the ‘Meeting’) of Town Centre Securities PLC  
(the ‘Company’) will be held at Town Centre House, The Merrion Centre, Leeds, LS2 8LY on Monday  
25 November 2019 at 10.30am.

You will be asked to consider and, if thought fit, to pass the resolutions below. Resolutions 1 to 15 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 16 to 19 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 2019.

Resolution 2: Directors’ Remuneration Report 

2. 

 To approve the Directors’ Remuneration Report set out on pages 84 to 92 of the Company’s 2019 Annual 
Report for the year ended 30 June 2019 (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 2019 of 8.50 pence 
per Ordinary Share, to be paid on 7 January 2020, to shareholders whose names appear on the register at 
close of business on 6 December 2019. 

Resolutions 4 to 11: Re-election of Directors

4. 

To re-elect Michael Ziff as a Non-Executive Director of the Company.

5. 

To re-elect Ian Marcus as a Non-Executive Director of the Company.

6. 

To re-elect Paul Huberman as a Non-Executive Director of the Company.

7. 

To re-elect Jeremy Collins as a Non-Executive Director of the Company.

8. 

To re-elect Edward Ziff as an Executive Director of the Company.

9. 

To re-elect Benjamin Ziff as an Executive Director of the Company.

10.  To re-elect Lynda Shillaw as an Executive Director of the Company.

11.  To re-elect Mark Dilley as an Executive Director of the Company

Resolution 12: Re-appointment of Auditors

12. 

 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 13: Remuneration of Auditors

13.  To authorise the Directors to determine the remuneration of the Company’s auditors.

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Resolution 14: Authority to Make Political Donations 

14. 

 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 2020. 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 15: Authority to Allot Ordinary Shares

15. 

 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) 

(b) 

 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

 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) 

(ii) 

 to ordinary shareholders in proportion (as nearly as may be practicable) to their existing holdings; 
and

 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 2020, or 25 February 2021, 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. 

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notice of Annual General Meeting continued

SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS

Resolution 16: Authority to Disapply Pre-emption Rights

16. 

 That, if resolution 15 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 15, by way of a rights issue only): 

(i) 

(ii) 

 to ordinary shareholders in proportion (as nearly as may be practicable) to their existing  
holdings; and 

 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 16 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 2020, or 25 February 
2021, 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 17: Additional Authority to Disapply Pre-emption Rights for Purposes of Acquisitions  
or Capital Investments

17. 

 That, if resolution 15 above is passed, the Board be given the power, in addition to any power granted under 
resolution 16 above, to allot equity securities (as defined in the Act) for cash under the authority granted 
under paragraph (a) of resolution 15 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) 

(b) 

 limited to the allotment of equity securities or sale of treasury shares up to a nominal amount of 
£664,524.25; and

 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 2020, or 25 February 
2021, 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.

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Resolution 18: Authority to purchase Company’s own shares

18. 

 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 25 
February 2021 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 19: Notice of General Meetings, other than Annual General Meetings

19. 

 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

24 September 2019

Registered Office: 

Town Centre House,  
The Merrion Centre,  
Leeds LS2 8LY

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
    
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notice of Annual General Meeting 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 2019 Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2019 (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. 

Resolutions 2: Directors’ Remuneration Report (excluding the Directors’ Remuneration Policy)  
for the year ended 30 June 2019

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 84 to 92 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.

Resolutions 3: Final Dividend

The Board proposes a final dividend of 8.50 pence per share in respect of the year ended 30 June 2019 If 
approved, the recommended final dividend will be paid on 7 January 2020 to all ordinary shareholders who are 
on the register of members on 6 December 2019. 

Resolutions 4 to 11: Re-election of Directors

The Board has agreed a policy whereby all Directors will seek annual re-election at the AGM, in accordance with 
the FRC Code of Corporate Governance. 

The Board believes that each Director seeking 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 re-election at the Meeting are set out on pages 70 to 71 of the Annual Report.

None of the independent Non-Executive Directors seeking 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 12: 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 13: 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 14: 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. 

146

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 14 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.

Resolution 15: 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 20 November 2018, which expires at the end of 
the 2019 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 24 September 2019, 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 15 
will allow Directors to allot, including the Ordinary Shares referred to in paragraph (a) of Resolution 15, 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 24 September 2019 (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 15 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 2020 or 25 February 2021, whichever is earlier.

Special Resolutions

Resolution 16: Authority to Dis-apply Pre-emption Rights

At the Annual General Meeting held on 20 November 2018, the Directors were given the authority to issue equity 
securities of the Company and sell treasury shares in exchange for cash until the 2019 Annual General Meeting. 
Resolution 16 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 24 September 2019, 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 2020 or 25 February 2021, whichever is earlier. 

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019 
 
 
 
Notice of Annual General Meeting continued

EXPLANATORY NOTES CONTINUED

Attendance and Voting in Person or by Proxy

Resolution 17: 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.

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 [XXX] to [XXX] 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

Resolution 17 seeks this separate authority. Where the authority granted under resolution 17 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.

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 2019, 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

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 17 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.

Recommendation

The Board considers that Resolutions 1 to 19 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.

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The Directors believe that this resolution will assist them in taking advantage of business opportunities as they arise.

IMPORTANT NOTES

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 2020, or 25 February 2021, whichever is earlier. 

Resolution 18: Authority to Purchase Company’s Own shares

Resolution 18 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.

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 2020 or on 25 February 2021, whichever is 
the earlier, when a resolution to renew the authority will be proposed.

Resolution 19: 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 149 to 151 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.

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. 

2. 

3. 

 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 Thursday, 
21 November 2019 (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.

 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.

 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 10.30am on Thursday 21 November 2019 (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).

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019  
 
 
 
 
Notice of Annual General Meeting continued

IMPORTANT NOTES CONTINUED

5. 

6. 

 As an alternative to completing the hard copy Form of Proxy, a shareholder can appoint proxies electronically 
by logging onto www.signalshaeres.com.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 
10.30am on Thursday 21 November 2019 (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.

 A shareholder or shareholders having a right to vote at the meeting and holding at least 5% 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).

8. 

 As at 24 September 2019 (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 24 September 2019 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. 

12. 

 Biographical details of all those Directors who are offering themselves for appointment or re appointment at 
the meeting are set out on page 70 and 71 of the Annual Report and Accounts.

 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. 

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Town Centre Securities PLC | Annual Report & Accounts 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Investor information

Registrar

Dividends

All general enquiries concerning shareholdings in 
Town Centre Securities PLC should be addressed to:

Interim dividend: 3.25p per share paid on 21 June 2019 
to shareholders on the register on 24 May 2019.

Link Asset Services 
The Registry 
34 Beckenham Road 
Beckenham 
Kent BR3 4TU

Telephone: 0871 664 0300

(Calls cost 12p per minute plus network extras. 
Lines are open from 9.00am–5.30pm, Monday to Friday.)

Telephone outside United Kingdom:  
+44 (0) 371 664 0300

Email: shareholder.services@linkgroup.co.uk

Website: www.linkassetservices.com

Final dividend: 8.50p per share to be paid on 
7 January 2020 to shareholders on the register on 
6 December 2019.

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

Independent Auditor

BDO LLP

Brokers

Liberum 
Peel Hunt

Bankers

Lloyds Banking Group Plc 
The Royal Bank of Scotland Plc 
Svenska Handelsbanken AB (Publ)

Solicitors

DLA Piper UK LLP 
Bond Dickinson LLP 
TLT LLP

Principal Valuers

Jones Lang LaSalle 
CBRE

Corporate public relations

MHP Communications

CONTACT INFORMATION

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

Registrar and transfer office

Link Asset Services

Trustees to mortgage debenture holders

Link Market Services Trustees 
6th Floor 
65 Gresham Street 
London EC2V 7NQ

152

Town Centre House, office interior

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Town Centre House 
The Merrion Centre 
Leeds 
LS2 8LY

+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