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Primary Health Properties PLC
(Incorporated in the United Kingdom)
Company Number: 3033634
LSE Share Code: PHP
JSE Share Code: PHP
ISIN Code: GB00BYRJ5J14
LEI: 213800Y5CJHXOATK7X11
("PHP" or the "Company" or "Group")
Q3 2023 Trading Update and Completion of Secondary Listing
Rental growth continuing to drive performance and dividend growth
Primary Health Properties PLC, one of the UK's leading investors in modern primary healthcare
facilities, today publishes a trading update for the third quarter of the year to 30 September 2023 ("Q3
2023") and announces the completion of its secondary Listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange
("SE").
Secondary Listing
The Company is pleased to announce that the listing of PHP on the JSE is effective as of 8.00am today.
The Board of PHP believes that the secondary listing will contribute to liquidity in the Group's shares
as a result of the growing interest in the Company and its increased profile in the South African market,
where a number of investors have already shown strong interest in the unique healthcare property
investment opportunity.
Rental growth
In the nine months to 30 September 2023 the Company generated an additional #3.3 million (Q3 2022:
#2.4 million) of extra rental income from its rent review and asset management activities, both in the
UK and in Ireland.
The Company continues to see an improving rental growth outlook, in particular from rent reviews.
An extra #3.1 million (Q3 2022: #2.3 million) of income was generated in the nine months from 243
reviews that have been settled, representing a 9.6% increase over the previous passing rent,
equivalent to 4.4% (2022: 3.4%) on an annualised basis.
PHP remains on course to generate in excess of #4.0 million (2022: #3.0 million) of extra income from
rent reviews in 2023 driven by the impact of inflation on both indexed-linked and open market value
("OMV") reviews.
A further #0.2 million (Q3 2022: #0.1 million) has been generated from asset management activities
where the Company has exchanged on five new projects, completed six lease regears and three new
lettings. There is a strong pipeline of a further 26 asset management projects which, in addition to
extending lease lengths and increasing rents, will improve the environmental performance of the
buildings.
Investment and development
As previously announced, the Group has agreed to acquire one of Ireland's first Enhanced Community
Care ("ECC") facilities at Ballincollig, near Cork, Ireland, for a total consideration of '29.6 million with
completion expected imminently. The property is fully let to the Health Service Executive ("HSE") on
a 25-year lease and benefits from five yearly, compounded annually, Irish CPI indexed rent reviews.
The property will be managed by Axis Technical Services, PHP's recently acquired Irish property
management business, and the acquisition will increase PHP's portfolio to 514 assets, of which 21 are
in Ireland, with a contracted rent roll of just under #150 million.
The Group continues to adopt a very disciplined approach to further investment and development
activity, which will only take place if accretive to earnings. The future pipeline of opportunities
continues to be focused predominantly in Ireland and PHP's existing portfolio through asset
management projects.
Currently there is limited exposure to development risk with just one scheme on-site. The Group is in
the process of renegotiating rental values with several Integrated Care Boards across the UK to
maximise the financial viability of schemes in our pipeline, given the current economic and interest
rate environment.
Financing
As at 30 September 2023 the Group's net debt stood at #1,277.1 million (30 June 2023: #1,269.8
million) and on a pro-forma basis the Loan to Value ("LTV") ratio was 45.8% (30 June 2023: 45.6%).
The Group has #282 million (30 June 2023: #314 million) of undrawn loan facilities available, net of
capital commitments. 97% of the Group's debt is fixed or hedged at a weighted average cost of 3.3%.
Dividend
On 5 October 2023, the Company declared its fourth quarterly interim dividend of 1.675p per Ordinary
Share which will be paid on 24 November 2023 to shareholders who were on the share register at the
close of business on 13 October 2023. The dividend will be paid by way of a property income
distribution of 1.34 pence and a normal dividend of 0.335 pence. The dividend is equivalent to 6.7p
on an annualised basis and represents a 3.1% increase over the 6.5p paid in 2022.
MSCI's Highest 10-Year Risk Adjusted Total Return Award
During the period, PHP was announced as the winner of MSCI's Highest 10-Year Risk Adjusted Total
Return Award for the UK in 2022; the second year in succession having also received the award in
2021. The award reflects the Group's continued operational resilience and security of its predictable
income stream which underpins its progressive dividend policy as PHP completes its 27th year of
continued dividend growth.
Board succession and changes
As previously announced, Mark Davies will succeed Harry Hyman as Chief Executive Officer of the
Group at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting ("AGM") in April 2024. As part of the
handover process Mark will work alongside Harry from the start of next year.
Harry Hyman, Chief Executive Officer of Primary Health Properties, commented:
"We continue to focus on income growth from our existing portfolio and are encouraged by the
growth already seen in the year to date. Furthermore, with 97% of PHP's debt either fixed or hedged,
a strong control on costs, a disciplined approach to capital deployment and just one development on
site we have limited exposure to further cost increases and development risk.
"The increasingly firmer tone of rental growth is positive and we believe in the medium term that PHP
will be a beneficiary of the current inflationary environment both through open market and index-
linked reviews.
"Future rental growth will be key to underpinning both the operational performance and valuation of
the Group's portfolio in the ongoing turbulent economic and interest rate outlook caused by both
global and domestic events.
"We are delighted that PHP's shares have started trading on the South African JSE today and are
pleased by the positive reception from the investors we have met so far. This is a significant milestone
that demonstrates the international attraction of PHP's equity story as we grow and become a global
healthcare investment opportunity. The resulting impact on Group's liquidity will benefit all of our
stakeholders as we continue to deliver sustainable long term income growth."
For further information contact:
Harry Hyman Richard Howell
Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer
Primary Health Properties PLC Primary Health Properties PLC
T: +44 (0) 7973 344768 T: +44 (0) 7766 072272
E: harry.hyman@phpgroup.co.uk E: richard.howell@phpgroup.co.uk
David Rydell/Stephanie Whitmore/ Verity Parker
Buchanan Communications
T: +44 (0) 20 7466 5000
E: php@buchanan.uk.com
Notes to Editors
Primary Health Properties (LSE and JSE: PHP) is a leading investor in modern primary healthcare
properties across the UK and Ireland. Since listing on the London Stock Exchange ("LSE") in 1998, it
has created progressive returns for shareholders through a combination of rental growth and capital
appreciation, generating 27 years of consecutive dividend growth.
Its primary listing is on the Premium Segment of the LSE and is included on the FTSE 250 Index. It has
a secondary listing on the South African JSE LIMITED ("JSE").
The Group owns and manages a #2.8 billion portfolio of healthcare assets that generate strong, high
quality rent roll of just under #150 million. Its internal management team delivers sector leading
financial management, with the lowest peer cost ratios. In particular, PHP is positioned for growth in
the emerging Irish market following its 2023 acquisition of Axis Technical Services, the Irish property
management business.
PHP's long-term leases offer unique security with c.90% of rental income directly or indirectly backed
by the government, via the NHS in the UK or HSE in Ireland. Growing and ageing patient populations
are placing increasing and significant pressure on the government's under-invested healthcare
systems; the provision of better front line primary care offers a proven solution. The Board has a strong
commitment to responsible growth and has set out a clear plan to transition operational, development
and asset management activities to Net Zero Carbon by 2030.
Further information about PHP can be found here: https://www.phpgroup.co.uk/
United Kingdom
24 October 2023
Sponsor: PSG Capital
Date: 24-10-2023 10:00:00
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