PRESS RELEASE SHAFTESBURY CAPITAL PLC ("THE COMPANY") AUDITED PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2025 25 FEBRUARY 2026 DELIVERING SUSTAINED INCOME AND VALUE GROWTH Ian Hawksworth, Chief Executive, commented:
"We are pleaгed īo reporī anoīher excellenī year, delivering growīh in renīal income, earningг, dividendг, properīy valuaīion and neī īangible aггeīг per гhare. Our Weгī End eгīaīeг conīinue īo perform, wiīh vibranī deгīinaīionг гupporīed by high occupancy, fooīfall and cuгīomer гaleг. Leaгing demand remainг гīrong, wiīh 434 īranгacīionг compleīed during īhe year aī 10 per cenī ahead of December 2024 EªV. Porīfolio valuaīionг increaгed by 6.6 per cenī and we enīer 2026 wiīh a гīrong leaгing pipeline acroгг our deгīinaīionг.
The inveгīmenī in Covenī Garden by a leading global real eгīaīe inveгīor, NBIM, furīher underlineг īhe qualiīy and long-īerm appeal of our porīfolio. Wiīh enhanced liquidiīy and a гīrong balance гheeī, we are well-poгiīioned īo purгue accreīive opporīuniīieг and grow aггeīг under managemenī."
EPRA NTA increased by 7.2 per cent to 214.7 pence per share delivering total accounting return of 9.1 per cent
Portfolio valuation increased by 6.6 per cent like-for-like to £5.4 billion, supported by a 6.2 per cent like-for-like increase in ERV to £270 million
Underlying earnings improved 12 per cent to 4.5 pence per share and dividends increased by 14 per cent to 4.0 pence per share
434 leasing transactions, representing £39 million of contracted rent, 10.3 per cent ahead of December 2024 ERV and 13.9 per cent ahead of previous passing rents
High occupancy: 2.6 per cent of ERV available to let, with positive start to 2026 with strong footfall and customer sales
Portfolio investment through £113.3 million of capital expenditure and acquisitions providing excellent asset management and rental growth opportunities
Completion of long-term partnership with Norges Bank Investment Management ("NBIM") in respect of the Covent Garden estate
Well-positioned for growth, expansion and investment with a strong balance sheet, access to significant liquidity and low leverage
The property level information set out within the annual results, including valuation and rental data, reflects the portfolio under management at 100 per cent. Further information on the Group share, reflecting the Covent Garden estate at 75 per cent ownership, following the long-term partnership with NBIM, is set out on page 48. The Group financial statements are prepared under IFRS whereby the Group fully consolidates the Covent Garden estate, reporting NBIM's 25 per cent interest in Covent Garden as a non-controlling interest.
Key financialsAs at 31 December | As at 31 December | |
2025 | 2024 | |
Total equity attributable to owners of the Parent | £3,954.2m | £3,674.3m |
IFRS total equity per share1 | 214.6p | 200.4p |
EPRA net tangible assets1 | £3,954.9m | £3,671.1m |
EPRA net tangible assets per share1 | 214.7p | 200.2p |
Market value of property portfolio under management2 | £5,407.1m | £4,973.5m |
Like-for-like property valuation movement | +6.6% | +4.5% |
Like-for-like ERV growth | +6.2% | +7.7% |
Market value of property portfolio (Group share)2 | £4,700.7m | £4,973.5m |
Net debt | £813.3m | £1,405.0m |
EPRA LTV | 16.8% | 27.4% |
Net debt to EBITDA | 6.6x | 10.9x |
|
Year ended 31 December | Year ended 31 December | |
2025 | 2024 | |
Profit for the year attributable to owners of the Parent1 | £340.2m | £252.1m |
JSE headline earnings per share2 | 3.3p | 3.4p |
Underlying earnings per share2 | 4.5p | 4.0p |
Dividend per share3 | 4.0p | 3.5p |
Total property return | 10.1% | 7.6% |
Total accounting return | 9.1% | 7.0% |
Total shareholder return | 18.6% | (6.9%) |
| ||
Refer to Glossary of terms on pages 56 to 59. | ||
Enquiries: | ||
Shaftesbury Capital PLC | +44 (0)20 3214 9150 | |
Ian Hawksworth Chief Executive | ||
Situl Jobanputra Chief Financial Officer | ||
Sarah Corbett Director of Commercial Finance and Investor Relations | ||
Media enquiries: | ||
UK: Hudson Sandler Michael Sandler | +44 (0)20 7796 4133 | |
UK: RMS Partners Simon Courtenay | +44 (0)20 3735 6551 | |
SA: Narrate Rachel Quigley | +27 (0)11 447 3030 |
A presentation to analysts and investors will take place today at 09:30am (UK time) at the offices of Peel Hunt LLP, 100 Liverpool Street, London, EC2M 2AT. The presentation will also be available to analysts and investors through a live audio call and webcast and after the event on the Group's website at https://www.shaftesburycapital.com.
A copy of this announcement is available for download from our website at https://www.shaftesburycapital.com. About Shaftesbury Capital
Shaftesbury Capital PLC ("Shaftesbury Capital") is the leading central London mixed-use REIT and is a constituent of the FTSE-250 Index. Our property portfolio under management, valued at £5.4 billion, extends to 2.8 million square feet of lettable space across the most vibrant areas of London's West End. With a diverse mix of shops, restaurants, cafés, bars, residential apartments and offices, our destinations include the high footfall, thriving neighbourhoods of Covent Garden, Carnaby, Soho and Chinatown. Our properties are close to the main West End Underground stations and transport hubs for the Elizabeth Line. Shaftesbury Capital shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange ("LSE") (primary) and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange ("JSE") (secondary) and the A2X (secondary).
Our purposeInvesting to create thriving destinations in London's West End where people enjoy visiting, working, and living.
Our valuesWe have a set of values that are fundamental to our behaviour, decision making and the delivery both of our purpose and strategy: Act with integrity; Take a creative approach; Listen and collaborate; Take a responsible, long-term view; and Make a difference.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE STATEMENT OverviewWe are pleased to report another excellent year with growth in rental income, earnings, dividends, property valuation and net tangible assets per share. Our West End estates are busy and vibrant, with high occupancy, footfall and customer sales. Our customers recognise the exceptional features of our actively managed portfolio which has broad appeal to domestic and international consumers. We start 2026 with a strong leasing pipeline and repositioning opportunities across the portfolio that support our longterm growth prospects.
The independent valuation of properties under management increased by 6.6 per cent, resulting in 14.5 pence increase in EPRA NTA per share to 214.7 pence per share. We continue to deliver rental income growth and cost efficiencies, resulting in a 12.2 per cent increase in underlying earnings and 14.3 per cent growth in dividends.
In April 2025, we established a long-term partnership with Norges Bank Investment Management ("NBIM") which acquired a 25 per cent non-controlling interest in the Covent Garden estate, in line with the December 2024 valuation. The partnership brings together two long-term investors with a shared confidence in and ambitions for the growth prospects of the Covent Garden estate and the West End.
With our strong performance, pipeline, balance sheet and liquidity position, we are well-positioned to deliver attractive total accounting returns.
Strength of demand for our unique West End portfolioAs one of the largest property owners in London's West End, we play an important role in shaping the area's long-term future. Our iconic portfolio provides world-class retail, food & beverage, office and residential space, supporting London's position as a leading global destination.
London's rich cultural offering, strong transport links, globally-recognised educational hub and innovative business environment continue to underpin its global appeal. The West End remains a thriving hub for culture, retail, dining, leisure and entertainment. With limited new supply and consistently high demand for prime space, the fundamentals of the West End market are supportive of sustainable long-term rental growth.
Leasing demand is strong, with prime West End locations widely regarded as an essential "shop window" for global brands. Our portfolio continues to benefit from active asset management and curation, ensuring our locations remain vibrant, distinctive and well-positioned to capture customer demand. Hotel occupancy in the West End remains high, while the Elizabeth Line continues to broaden catchment for visitors and workers alike.
There is significant growth potential and rental reversion across each of our locations. Footfall and sales continue to strengthen, reflecting consumer confidence and underpinning leasing activity. 2025 has been a positive year, with demand remaining resilient despite uncertainty arising from higher employment costs and ongoing geopolitical and macroeconomic volatility.
We have made significant progress and remain confident and excited about the prospects for each of our destinations. We are generating rental income growth through our asset management activities. The benefit of unifying the Covent Garden district including the Piazza and surrounding streets, together with Seven Dials, through leasing, asset management and marketing activities is clear. The changes implemented across Seven Dials over the past three years have delivered 32 per cent rental growth with continued leasing demand, reinforcing consumer interest in the wider Covent Garden area.
The evolution of Carnaby Street has moved forward, with 19 new concepts introduced this year, with brand and category selection designed to address the evolving needs of our customers and consumers. We have undertaken initial engagement on public realm enhancements, including streetscape, lighting and wayfinding, which are expected to commence later this year while carefully preserving Carnaby Street's distinctive character and heritage.
In Chinatown we are continuing to introduce more variety and new concepts to the area, increasing the pan-Asian offering at a range of price points, whilst preserving the character of the area. This is delivering good rental growth with ERVs up 18 per cent since 2022.
Active investment marketThe West End investment market is very active for smaller lot sizes. Property yields are stable, with marginal yield compression observed across certain properties, supported by transactional evidence from a broad range of investors including in many cases owner-occupiers. There is now also enhanced appetite for larger lot sizes with lower interest rates contributing to improved liquidity conditions.
The formation of the long-term partnership on Covent Garden with NBIM, a leading global real estate investor, demonstrates the quality of our portfolio. Through partnering with private capital, we leveraged our operating expertise and assets, enhancing growth and expansion opportunities across our portfolio whilst strengthening our financial position and providing significant optionality to the Group.
We remain disciplined in our approach to capital allocation and continue to look at opportunities to expand selectively, adding to our growth prospects, ensuring that we deploy resources to enhance the overall portfolio and generate long-term value for shareholders. Over the past three years, Shaftesbury Capital has deployed £278 million of capital through acquisitions and capital expenditure and generated proceeds of £1 billion from disposals in line with valuation. We assess the merits of all capital decisions including investment in our portfolio and repositioning opportunities, accretive acquisitions, the disposal of non-strategic assets and the return of surplus capital to shareholders as appropriate.
We continue to deliver capital initiatives, particularly across Covent Garden and Carnaby | Soho. This year, we invested £113.3 million in our portfolio, comprising £33.1 million in capital expenditure and £80.2 million in targeted acquisitions. These acquisitions present attractive asset management opportunities with rental growth potential. We continue to invest where appropriate, with an encouraging pipeline of acquisition opportunities currently under review.
Significant growth in earnings, dividends and valuationOur prime West End portfolio is anticipated to continue to deliver long-term sustained total returns. NTA increased by 7.2 per cent over the year to 214.7 pence per share. Annualised gross income increased by 5.3 per cent (like-for-like) to £215.0 million from leasing activity and asset management initiatives. ERV increased by 6.2 per cent (like-for-like) to £270.3 million, reflecting favourable supply-demand dynamics in our markets for high-quality real estate with only 2.6 per cent of portfolio ERV available to let. 434 leasing transactions completed during the year, 10.3 per cent ahead of December 2024 ERV and 13.9 per cent ahead of previous passing rents. Total property return for the year was 10.1 per cent, significantly ahead of the MSCI Total Return Index which recorded 7.1 per cent.
Cost savings continue to be identified and implemented across the business. Current initiatives include supplier consolidation across portfolio operations, such as security, cleaning, facility management and property management, which are anticipated to generate efficiencies and enhance customer service. Underlying administration costs were £33.3 million excluding the share award charge, reflecting an 8 per cent reduction relative to 2024. Underlying earnings increased by 12.2 per cent to £81.9 million, equivalent to 4.5 pence per share and the Board has proposed a final dividend of 2.1 pence per share taking the total dividend for the year to 4.0 pence per share, up 14.3 per cent over the year, reflecting the progression in underlying and cash earnings. Total accounting return for the year was 9.1 per cent.
We maintain a strong balance sheet with a focus on resilience, flexibility and efficiency. Net debt to EBITDA is 6.6 times, EPRA LTV is 17 per cent and the interest cover ratio is 4.0 times, with substantial headroom against debt covenants. The Group has access to significant liquidity ensuring it is well-positioned to act on market opportunities.
Prime portfolio positioned for long-term growthOperational performance continues to be strong and there is a specific plan for each estate and the connections between them to deliver growth from the portfolio. With limited new supply and strong demand, the prospects for rental growth are positive, with leasing activity completed well ahead of previous passing rents and ERV. We are improving the quality of our offer via letting activity which enhances our customer mix.
Market rent (as represented by ERV) for the portfolio is 26 per cent higher than current passing rent, resulting in significant upside potential in rental income through leasing and asset management activity. The portfolio remains virtually full at 97 per cent occupancy. Based on our consumer data and experience, average spend and dwell time have the potential to be significantly higher in areas of our portfolio, with mix, category and brand selection designed to generate higher productivity which should support rental growth.
We place the customer at the heart of our business, delivering high-quality service, while creating vibrant, differentiated experiences for visitors, workers and residents. Our approach focuses on building and maintaining close customer relationships together with our partners. Customer retention remains a strength, underpinned by consistently high renewal rates and trusted partnerships with our customers. The scale and depth of the portfolio provide opportunities to support the growth of our customers with numerous examples of customers having upsized or expanded across the portfolio in recent years. This year we launched a Customer Satisfaction Survey which included customer interviews and was very well received. We have now rolled out our customer connection portal, allowing more frequent engagement.
Our marketing programme continues to focus on the consumer calendar, supporting footfall and sales prospects in our destinations. Our digital channels continue to grow, extending our reach and providing marketing opportunities with customers and partners. Activations and events provide further collaboration opportunities with brands across our portfolio providing ancillary revenue opportunities whilst benefiting stakeholders across the wider West End.
Commitment to environmental stewardshipOur Sustainability Strategy is founded in future-proofing our heritage buildings and creating sustainable and healthy places where people enjoy visiting, working and living. Throughout 2025, we continued to reduce the environmental impact of our operations. We have ambitious targets to decarbonise, reduce energy use and deliver positive environmental, social and economic impact.
We continue to work towards our aim to be a leader in sustainable heritage buildings and are proud to be included in the Financial Times list of Europe's Climate Leaders 2025. We are committed to meeting our 2030 carbon reduction targets and have reset our Net Zero Carbon target to 2040. We have already made great progress in reducing our carbon emissions and, working with our customers, will continue to decarbonise by replacing gas with electricity where practical to do so. As we look ahead, we will utilise technology and innovation to enhance our sustainability activities and work closely with customers and our stakeholders to deliver shared sustainability goals.
Our scale allows us to shape not only buildings, but also the spaces around them. We are working with local stakeholders to enhance the public realm across our destinations, making them greener and more enjoyable for everyone. Covent Garden's Henrietta Street public realm is currently being improved, with completion expected by the end of 2026, delivering wider, more accessible pavements and enhanced al fresco dining with greening. We are also undertaking early engagement on improvements to Carnaby Street to enhance the experience while preserving the area's unique character.
Active community engagementAs a responsible long-term investor, community engagement and collaboration are important to us. We recognise the importance of fostering relationships within the communities that help make our places thrive. Our community programme prioritises initiatives and charitable partnerships within Westminster and Camden, and includes financial contributions, provision of space and employee volunteering.
In 2025, we published our first Community Impact Report highlighting our contribution and the valuable work of community partners. In addition, we commenced our three-year community strategy, prioritising support for local people into employment as the area with the greatest potential to deliver lasting impact through partnerships across a range of charitable and community initiatives.
Our people, values and cultureOur people are one of our competitive strengths and critical to our success. We provide a collaborative environment where people are inspired to give their best and contribute to the Company's success. During the year, Shaftesbury Capital carried out a second employee survey, with a very high participation rate of 90 per cent and an overall engagement score of 84 per cent, ahead of the global benchmark. Overall, the employee feedback received was positive, reflecting strong levels of pride and commitment across the organisation. We thank our employees for taking part in the survey and for their commitment during the year.
We have a very experienced leadership team as well as a breadth of talent across the Group. At the end of the year, two valued colleagues, Michelle McGrath and Andrew Price, stepped down from the business and we thank them for their contribution over many years. Following this, a number of the senior leadership team have taken on greater responsibility in Asset Management, Leasing, Marketing and Investment reporting directly to the Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer.
We are proud to be named Britain's Most Admired Company 2025 in the Property / Residential & Commercial REITs sector which is an endorsement of our strategy and our people. We continue to invest in our people and have introduced a number of initiatives to support our colleagues, providing greater development opportunities.
OutlookOur growth prospects are underpinned by strong fundamentals. The West End market has delivered attractive, predictable growth over the long-term with annualised rental growth of approximately 4 per cent. Our strategy is to deliver consistent, long-term rental growth generating attractive risk-adjusted returns, earnings and valuation progression. The West End market is characterised by consistently high occupancy, scarcity value and limited new supply. We continue to actively rotate capital into core locations and prime streets, supported by selective capital investment. Our forward-looking customer and consumer focus, including optimising use, category and brand mix, is designed to enhance productivity and value. There are benefits of scale through aggregation, improved public realm and greater use of data continue to support sustainable growth. These strong fundamentals and our active approach have enabled us to outperform.
Despite ongoing macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainty, the West End continues to perform well, with high footfall, sales growth, limited vacancy and a strong leasing pipeline. The investment in Covent Garden by a leading global real estate investor, NBIM, underlines the quality of our portfolio. With enhanced liquidity and a strong balance sheet, we are well-positioned to pursue accretive opportunities and grow assets under management.
We are confident in delivering our medium-term target rental growth of 5 to 7 per cent, which, alongside stable yields, supports total property returns of 7 to 9 per cent and total accounting returns of 8 to 10 per cent per annum. Through active management of our prime West End portfolio and the strength of our operating platform, we are focused on sustained long-term growth in rental income, earnings, dividends and property valuation.
Ian Hawksworth Chief Executive 24 February 2026 OPERATING AND PORTFOLIO REVIEW OverviewShaftesbury Capital owns and manages an impossible-to-replicate portfolio that extends to 2.8 million square feet of lettable space across the most vibrant areas of London's West End. The Group's portfolio of adaptable mixed-use buildings provides diversified income streams with a long history of occupier demand exceeding availability of space. With a broad mix of shops, restaurants, cafés, bars, apartments and offices, our destinations include the high-footfall, thriving neighbourhoods of Covent Garden, Carnaby Street, Soho and Chinatown. Our properties are located at the heart of the West End's entertainment and cultural attractions, benefitting from excellent connectivity through close proximity to the main West End Underground and train stations together with transport hubs for the Elizabeth Line. These locations are characterised by high occupancy, low capital requirements and reliable, growing longterm cash flows.
Fundamentals supportive of rental growthThere is significant rental growth potential for each of our locations with embedded reversion in the portfolio of over 600 buildings. 434 leasing transactions completed during the year, 10.3 per cent ahead of December 2024 ERV, in turn delivering 6.2 per cent ERV growth over the year. Annualised gross income increased by 5.3 per cent (like-for-like) to £215 million. The valuation of the property portfolio under management increased by 6.6 per cent (like-for-like) to £5.4 billion.
Market rent (as represented by ERV) for the portfolio is 26 per cent higher than current passing rent, resulting in significant upside potential in rental income through leasing and asset management activity. Customer sales in aggregate are approximately 30 per cent ahead of pre-pandemic levels, while retail ERVs are only marginally ahead of 2019 levels, both in nominal terms.
Based on our consumer data and experience, average spend and dwell time have the potential to be significantly higher in areas of our portfolio, with our mix, category and brand selection designed to generate higher productivity which should be supportive of rental growth over time.
With a weighted average term to lease expiry or break of five years, approximately 20 per cent of the portfolio ERV re-prices annually, providing consistent opportunities to capture rental uplifts and align leases with prevailing market rates.
Our approach and aggregated ownership of estates enables us to deliver rental growth whilst establishing new rental tones, the benefit of which is often compounded across nearby buildings. Our focus is on converting the portfolio's reversionary potential into contracted income and cash flow. Total reversion is £55.3 million, with approximately two-thirds represented by the retail and F&B portfolio. 2025 retail and F&B new leases and renewals transacted 22 per cent ahead of previous passing rents with a strong leasing pipeline.
Components of the reversion under management 131 December | 31 December | |
2025 | 2024 | |
£m | £m | |
Annualised gross income | 215.0 | 202.8 |
Contracted (includes rent-free periods and contractual rent increases) | 15.6 | 14.9 |
Under offer | 4.0 | 3.0 |
Available-to-let | 6.8 | 6.3 |
Under refurbishment | 11.3 | 13.5 |
Net under-rented | 17.6 | 10.1 |
ERV | 270.3 | 250.6 |
1. Represents portfolio under management, at 100 per cent ownership.
Disciplined capital allocationWe continue to deliver a range of refurbishments demonstrating our ability to drive significant performance improvements, unlocking income and value through active asset management.
Our investment activity is focused on Covent Garden, Carnaby | Soho and Chinatown. We maintain a targeted approach and look for opportunities to expand, adding to our growth prospects. Ongoing asset management initiatives continue across Covent Garden and Carnaby | Soho in particular. During the year, £113.3 million has been invested in our portfolio, comprising £33.1 million in capital expenditure and £80.2 million (before costs) in targeted acquisitions in Covent Garden and Soho, presenting asset management opportunities with excellent rental growth prospects. The pipeline of acquisitions is encouraging, with a number of buildings currently under review. Three properties, including the last remaining Fitzrovia assets, have been disposed of during the year for gross proceeds of £12.4 million, in line with the 31 December 2024 valuation.
Capital commitments totalled £10.8 million as of 31 December 2025. On average, approximately 1 per cent of portfolio value is invested annually in refurbishment, asset management, and repositioning initiatives, including measures to improve energy performance.
Delivering valuation growthThe valuation of the property portfolio under management increased by 6.6 per cent on a like-for-like basis to £5.4 billion, equivalent to approximately £1,962 per square foot on average (Dec 2024: £1,833 per square foot).
The valuation gain has been driven by leasing and asset management activity. Leasing activity was on average 10.3 per cent ahead of December 2024 ERV, resulting in an overall increase in portfolio ERV of 6.2 per cent (like-for-like) to £270.3 million (Dec 2024: £250.6 million). The equivalent yield moved inwards marginally by 2 basis points to 4.43 per cent, whilst the portfolio net initial yield is 3.6 per cent and topped-up net initial yield (allowing for the expiry of rent-free periods) is 3.9 per cent. The equivalent yield for the commercial portfolio (excluding residential) is 4.6 per cent. Total property return for the year was 10.1 per cent, outperforming the MSCI Total Return Index which recorded 7.1 per cent.
Prime West End property yields are stable, and certain properties have seen marginal yield compression, supported by occupational and investment transactional evidence demonstrating demand for high-quality, prime central London real estate, from both international and domestic investors. There is renewed appetite for larger lot sizes with lower interest rates contributing to improved liquidity conditions. There is also growing demand for London retail investments with owner-occupiers continuing to acquire.
Retail properties, which represent 36 per cent of the portfolio, performed particularly strongly with ERVs up 8.1 per cent and valuations 10.4 per cent higher.
Covent Garden generated ERV growth of 5.6 per cent through leasing and asset management activity across the retail and food & beverage space, with 196 leasing transactions signed 9.6 per cent ahead of ERV. Across Carnaby | Soho, ERV growth was 7.5 per cent during the year, as a result of 164 new leases and renewals agreed 9.8 per cent ahead of ERV, primarily driven by retail lettings and asset management activity. During the year, 74 new leases and renewals were agreed in Chinatown, 13.9 per cent ahead of ERV. ERV growth in Chinatown was 5.5 per cent over the year, driven by food & beverage letting activity.
Portfolio by use for year ended 31 December 2025 | Retail | Food & beverage | Offices | Total commercial | Residential | Portfolio under management | Portfolio on a Group share basis |
Valuation (£m)1 | 1,977.6 | 1,782.0 | 1,006.8 | 4,766.4 | 638.8 | 5,405.2 | 4,698.8 |
Valuation (%) | 36% | 33% | 19% | 88% | 12% | 100% | 100% |
L-f-L valuation movement (FY 2025) | +10.4% | +5.8% | +5.6% | +7.6% | -0.6% | +6.6% | +6.7% |
L-f-L valuation movement (H2 2025) | +5.8% | +2.8% | +2.5% | +4.0% | -0.3% | +3.4% | +3.5% |
Annualised gross income (£m) | 75.8 | 76.4 | 39.0 | 191.2 | 23.8 | 215.0 | 187.6 |
Annualised gross income (%) | 35% | 36% | 18% | 89% | 11% | 100% | 100% |
L-f-L annualised gross income movement (FY 2025) | +3.2% | +5.0% | +12.0% | +5.6% | +3.2% | +5.3% | +5.4% |
L-f-L annualised gross income movement (H2 2025) | +3.4% | +3.4% | +2.5% | +3.2% | +2.0% | +3.1% | +2.9% |
ERV (£m) | 97.9 | 89.3 | 57.1 | 244.3 | 26.0 | 270.3 | 234.8 |
ERV (%) | 36% | 33% | 21% | 90% | 10% | 100% | 100% |
ERV psf (£) | 137 | 95 | 83 | 104 | 62 | 98 | 98 |
L-f-L ERV movement (FY 2025) | +8.1% | +4.9% | +5.8% | +6.4% | +4.4% | +6.2% | +6.3% |
L-f-L ERV movement (H2 2025) | +4.7% | +2.3% | +1.6% | +3.1% | +2.2% | +3.0% | +3.0% |
Net initial yield | 3.6% | 3.9% | 3.4% | 3.7% | 3.0% | 3.6% | 3.6% |
Topped up net initial yield | 3.8% | 4.2% | 3.8% | 3.9% | N/A | 3.9% | 3.9% |
Equivalent yield | 4.5% | 4.6% | 4.8% | 4.6% | 3.3% | 4.4% | 4.4% |
WAULT (years) | 3.1 | 8.1 | 2.7 | 4.8 | N/A | 4.8 | 4.83 |
Floor Area (sq ft m)2 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 2.8 | 2.83 |
Unit Count2 | 419 | 392 | 436 | 1,247 | 659 | 1,906 | 1,9063 |
Excludes £1.9 million of Group properties primarily held in Lillie Square LP Limited (a wholly-owned subsidiary).
Excluding long-leasehold residential interests.
WAULT, floor area and unit count have not been adjusted and reflect 100 per cent of the portfolio.
Portfolio by location for year ended 31 December 2025 | Covent Garden | Carnaby | Soho | Chinatown | Portfolio under management | Portfolio on a Group share basis |
Valuation (£m)1 | 2,825.5 | 1,816.9 | 762.8 | 5,405.2 | 4,698.8 |
Valuation (%) | 52% | 34% | 14% | 100% | 100% |
L-f-L valuation movement (FY 2025) | +5.5% | +8.5% | +6.4% | +6.6% | +6.7% |
L-f-L valuation movement (H2 2025) | +2.7% | +4.8% | +3.1% | +3.4% | +3.5% |
Annualised gross income (£m) | 109.5 | 72.2 | 33.3 | 215.0 | 187.6 |
Annualised gross income (%) | 51% | 34% | 15% | 100% | 100% |
L-f-L annualised gross income movement (FY 2025) | +4.8% | +6.8% | +4.0% | +5.3% | +5.4% |
L-f-L annualised gross income movement (H2 2025) | +4.2% | +2.0% | +1.9% | +3.1% | +2.9% |
ERV (£m) | 142.1 | 91.9 | 36.3 | 270.3 | 234.8 |
ERV (%) | 53% | 34% | 13% | 100% | 100% |
ERV psf (£) | 102 | 99 | 86 | 98 | 98 |
L-f-L ERV movement (FY 2025) | +5.6% | +7.5% | +5.5% | +6.2% | +6.3% |
L-f-L ERV movement (H2 2025) | +3.3% | +2.9% | +2.2% | +3.0% | +3.0% |
Net initial yield | 3.5% | 3.5% | 3.9% | 3.6% | 3.6% |
Topped up net initial yield | 3.9% | 3.8% | 4.3% | 3.9% | 3.9% |
Equivalent yield | 4.5% | 4.4% | 4.2% | 4.4% | 4.4% |
WAULT (years) | 4.8 | 4.1 | 6.5 | 4.8 | 4.83 |
Floor Area (sq ft m)2 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 2.8 | 2.83 |
Unit Count2 | 854 | 702 | 350 | 1,906 | 1,9063 |
Excludes £1.9 million of Group properties primarily held in Lillie Square LP Limited (a wholly-owned subsidiary).
Excluding long-leasehold residential interests.
WAULT, floor area and unit count have not been adjusted and reflect 100 per cent of the portfolio.
Independent valuations of the portfolio under management have been undertaken in accordance with Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors guidelines by CBRE and Cushman & Wakefield. The valuations represent the aggregated value of predominantly freehold properties. There is no reflection of any premium or discount which some potential investors may ascribe to the comprehensive ownership of a combination of some, or all, parts of the portfolio.
Excellent leasing activityThe portfolio under management represents 2.8 million square feet of lettable space, comprising 1.7 million square feet of retail and food & beverage space together with 0.7 million square feet of offices and 659 residential apartments.
During the year, 434 leasing transactions were concluded with a combined rental value of £38.8 million, comprising:
149 commercial lettings and renewals: £27.9 million, 11.9 per cent ahead of 31 December 2024 ERV and 20.1 per cent ahead of previous passing rents; and
285 residential lettings: £10.9 million, 6.4 per cent ahead of 31 December 2024 ERV and 3.9 per cent ahead of previous passing rents
In addition, 56 commercial rent reviews with a rental value of £14.1 million were concluded on average 7.7 per cent ahead of previous passing rents.
Leasing transactions across the portfolio by use concluded during the yearNew contracted | % above | % above | ||
Use | Transactions | rent £m | Dec-2024 ERV | previous passing rent |
Retail | 66 | 13.1 | 11.8 | 18.7 |
Food & beverage | 37 | 8.7 | 15.7 | 27.3 |
Offices | 46 | 6.1 | 7.2 | 11.1 |
Residential | 285 | 10.9 | 6.4 | 3.9 |
Total | 434 | 38.8 | 10.3 | 13.9 |
New contracted | % above | % above | ||
Destination | Transactions | rent £m | Dec-2024 ERV | previous passing rent |
Covent Garden | 196 | 18.3 | 9.6 | 17.8 |
Carnaby | Soho | 164 | 14.2 | 9.8 | 9.9 |
Chinatown | 74 | 6.3 | 13.9 | 11.6 |
Total | 434 | 38.8 | 10.3 | 13.9 |
Demand for West End retail is excellent, with brands placing considerable value on locations that combine high footfall, culture and a diverse consumer base. Scarcity continues to support rental tones with availability on many of our streets at or near record lows, driving competitive tension. Our districts benefit from a seven-days-a-week trading environment, supported by strong tourism levels. Trading conditions have been generally positive, with strong performance in luxury, premium, fashion and lifestyle categories. The portfolio now comprises over 400 shops with an average ERV of £137 per square foot, across a range of rental tones. Units continue to attract multiple interested parties and supporting uplifts in rents through new lettings and renewals.
Our estates are attractive for both global brands entering or expanding in the UK and home-grown operators. During the year, there were 30 new retail openings across the portfolio, with customers continuing to choose our portfolio to expand their operations. There have been a number of successful openings across Covent Garden including Nespresso and Dolce & Gabbana. Leading performance brand Saucony opened on James Street joining Swatch, which relocated to a larger unit. Recent additions such as Matiere Premiere, Byredo and Parfums de Marly reinforced the district's appeal for lifestyle and experiential retail. A number of high-quality brands have been added to Seven Dials including luxury activewear brand Alo Yoga, Swedish outdoor specialist Thule and German lifestyle brand Kapten & Son, all of which have opened on Neal Street.
Soho and Carnaby Street continue to attract an exciting mix of brands, including Tala, Farm Rio and Pure Seoul. Luxury beauty brand Charlotte Tilbury has opened a brand-new store at the key entrance to Carnaby Street, following the success of its Covent Garden flagship. MAC Cosmetics has launched a new experience-led concept as part of a relocation on Carnaby Street, emulating the vibrancy of Soho's nightlife. US fashion brand Edikted will open its European debut store, its first location outside the US. Global beauty retailer Sephora has also taken space on Carnaby Street and is due to open later this year. French-Swedish menswear brand Ron Dorff will launch a new UK flagship store in Soho later this year, relocating from Covent Garden.
Reflecting demand during the year, 66 lettings and renewals were completed, securing a rental value of £13.1 million, at an average of 11.8 per cent above December 2024 ERV and 18.7 per cent ahead of previous passing rents.
A total of 20 retail rent reviews, with a rental value of £3.3 million, were concluded at an average uplift of 13.1 per cent on previous passing rents.
Food & beverage (33 per cent of the property portfolio under management value)Our West End F&B portfolio welcomed 24 new dining concepts, reflecting the continued appeal of our districts to both independent operators and international entrants. The new arrivals span a range of cuisines, formats and price points, offering a wide variety of experiences across our predominantly pedestrian-centric destinations. The food & beverage portfolio extends to nearly 400 units. There were a small number of failures and sales moderated in certain restaurants in H1 2025; however trading levels improved in the second half, with particularly strong performance from bars and differentiated restaurants. Going out remains a priority for consumers with prime areas in demand. Health-conscious menus and wellness-led concepts continue to see strong consumer interest. Leasing demand has resulted in available space being filled quickly with just 0.5 per cent of the F&B portfolio available to let.
In Covent Garden, Harry's Bar opened a new Italian concept overlooking the Piazza, while Buvette, the celebrated gastrothèque by chef Jody Williams, will open in Neal's Yard this summer, offering a day-to-night dining concept. High-quality Italian dining concept, Burro, will open its first location in Floral Court in the coming months, with al fresco seating in the courtyard. Inception Group, the operator of unique hospitality concepts across London, will open a new flagship Mr Fogg's Tavern in the Market Building. The all-day dining offer has been supported by the arrivals of Qima Café, Copain, Hagen and St. JOHN Neal's Yard Bakery and Bar. Neal's Yard will welcome Kricket, and ADOH! has opened on Maiden Lane, led by the team behind the highly regarded Kolomba. The operators of Ergon House are set to open its Greek-inspired boutique hotel-and-dining experience on King Street later this year.
There continues to be strong performance from our Soho portfolio. Founder-led Soho restaurant Heard opened on Foubert's Place, alongside pizza and natural wine concept Ria's, joined by French-inspired restaurant and wine bar Marjorie's. Breadstall Pizza, which takes the best elements from both New York and Neapolitan-style pizzas, opened on Berwick Street. Northern Spanish-inspired ALTA opened in Kingly Court over two floors with an outdoor terrace and Soho icon The Shaston Arms relaunched under new management. Italian restaurant, Padella, signed to Kingly Street, a milestone for the brand as its first in the West End. Pioneering Indian restaurant, Darjeeling Express, will relocate from Kingly Court to a larger space on Rupert Street joining the likes of The Palomar and Speedboat Bar.
Chinatown continues to attract strong interest from operators looking to establish a presence in one of the West End's most distinctive, high-footfall dining destinations. Both local and international restaurateurs regard the district as a preferred location, benefiting from its high footfall, loyal customer base and unique cultural resonance. Interest in Chinatown, especially from new international entrants, is positive, with active demand from existing customers. Recent openings include Noodle & Beer, Sushinoya and Arome Bakery, each contributing to the area's expanding mix of pan-Asian cuisine and specialist bakery operators. Ning's Fresh Beef Hot Pot has joined Chinatown for what will be the brand's second location, serving authentic Cantonese cuisine. Chinatown London was at the centre of the Chinese New Year festivities, the largest celebration in the world outside of Asia, welcoming thousands of visitors over the 15-day celebration period.
During the year, 37 lettings and renewals were completed with a rental value of £8.7 million, 15.7 per cent ahead of December 2024 ERV and 27.3 per cent ahead of previous passing rents.
A total of 30 rent reviews, representing £10.5 million of rental value, were concluded at an average uplift of 6.1 per cent above previous passing rents.
Office (19 per cent of the property portfolio under management value)Our prime West End office portfolio is well let, with customers continuing to prioritise high-quality, well-designed space in locations that support employee experience and productivity. Demand is increasingly centred around buildings that offer high-quality fit-outs, access to exceptional district amenities and strong sustainability credentials.
Our offices benefit from unparalleled connectivity, with short walking distances to busy West End stations including Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Charing Cross, Oxford Circus, Piccadilly Circus and Tottenham Court Road. Customers place high value on being located within vibrant mixed-use neighbourhoods, where retail, dining, culture and leisure are on the doorstep.
We continue to see customers relocating from other parts of central London as employers recognise the importance of location in attracting and retaining talent. Our Carnaby | Soho and Covent Garden offices have captured this demand, with lettings to occupiers in the financial, professional services and real estate sectors.
Our refurbishment strategy remains focused on delivering spaces that meet a broad spectrum of customer requirements - from larger floorplates to highly flexible, ready-to-occupy suites - ensuring we can accommodate both established organisations and fast-growing businesses. The range of options across our portfolio continues to support customer expansion and long-term retention. During the year, refurbishment of 23,000 square feet at The Floral, Covent Garden, rated BREEAM Excellent, completed and is fully occupied, together with new signings on King Street, Ganton Street and Carnaby Street, commanding rents of over £110 per square foot.
During the year, 46 office leasing transactions were completed with a rental value of £6.1 million, achieving 7.2 per cent ahead of December 2024 ERV and 11.1 per cent ahead of previous passing rents.
A total of six rent reviews, representing £0.3 million of rental value, were concluded at an uplift of 8.5 per cent above previous passing rents.
Residential (12 per cent of the property portfolio under management value)The residential portfolio has performed well, with sustained leasing demand and high rates of renewal across our 659 apartments. Demand continues to be driven by the quality and character of our period buildings, which combine modern specification with the advantages of vibrant neighbourhoods and well-managed estates. These attributes remain highly valued by residents seeking convenience, connectivity and cultural proximity. Throughout the year we have seen competitive demand across all unit types, limited voids and short re-letting periods, reflecting the appeal of our homes and the continued strength of the central London rental market, with limited new supply supporting rental levels and occupancy. Investor sentiment towards the residential sector weakened in 2025, notwithstanding the continued rental growth, as regulatory uncertainty weighed on transaction volumes.
Looking ahead, our focus is on maintaining quality, improving energy efficiency and ensuring the residential portfolio continues to play a role in supporting our vibrant, mixed-use neighbourhoods. Across the year, 285 residential lettings and renewals were completed, generating a rental value of £10.9 million, averaging 6.4 per cent ahead of December 2024 ERVs and 3.9 per cent ahead of previous passing rents. At 31 December 2025, 0.7 per cent of the portfolio was available to let, demonstrating the depth of demand and the resilience of occupancy levels.
Creating unrivalled consumer experiences across our West End portfolioThrough carefully crafted events, targeted campaigns and memorable consumer moments, we enliven our vibrant, predominantly pedestrianised and traffic-calmed destinations, attracting visitors, building loyalty and driving repeat visits.
Our year-round, differentiated consumer experiences enhance key metrics including footfall, conversion and spend and, alongside strong customer partnerships, directly support long-term rental growth prospects.
Our digital platforms including social media, email newsletters and websites continue to see significant growth. During the year, our level of engagement and number of followers increased by 17.8 per cent in aggregate across all destinations. We have direct engagement with over 1.6 million consumers across our channels and in December 2025 launched a new consumer website for Covent Garden.
Our West End portfolio has welcomed a number of unique activations from global brands seeking a world-class destination to engage with both new and existing customers. For example, Chanel unveiled an experiential installation that reimagined skate culture through a luxury lens, celebrating a decade since opening their first ever beauty store in Covent Garden.
Carnaby Street celebrated the start to the Christmas season with the switch-on of the 'All Is Bright' festive lights, attracting thousands of visitors to the area. The lights were switched on by Charlotte Tilbury MBE, following the recent opening of a flagship store on Carnaby Street, marking a high-profile moment for the destination. In Covent Garden, Hollywood and West End actress Hayley Atwell switched on the Christmas lights alongside British stars of stage and screen. The "Theatre of Christmas" celebration honoured Covent Garden's theatrical heritage, in support of charity partner Acting For Others.
Chinatown once again played host to the annual Chinese New Year parade, the largest outside of Asia, welcoming thousands of visitors over the 15-day celebration period.
High occupancyAt 31 December 2025, EPRA vacancy (including units under offer) was 4.2 per cent of portfolio ERV (Dec 2024: 3.9 per cent); as summarised in the tables below, 1.6 per cent was under offer and 2.6 per cent was available-to-let.
Under offer% of portfolio
under management
ERV
Area
Use | ERV | £m | ('000 sq. ft.) |
Retail | 0.7 | 1.7 | 9 |
Food & beverage | 0.8 | 2.0 | 26 |
Offices | 0.1 | 0.2 | 4 |
Residential | 0.0 | 0.1 | 2 |
Total1 | 1.6 | 4.0 | 41 |
1. Includes nine units let on a temporary basis (ERV: £1.3 million) (Dec 2024: £1.5 million). | |||
Available-to-let space | |||
% of portfolio | |||
Use | under management ERV | ERV £m | Area ('000 sq. ft.) |
Retail | 0.7 | 1.7 | 15 |
Food & beverage | 0.5 | 1.4 | 19 |
Offices | 0.7 | 1.9 | 32 |
Residential | 0.7 | 1.8 | 31 |
Total | 2.6 | 6.8 | 97 |
Active asset management and refurbishment initiatives continue to realise income and value while enhancing environmental performance across the portfolio. £33.1 million was invested in capital expenditure in 2025. Refurbishment projects currently underway represent £11.3 million in ERV across 130,000 square foot equating to 4.2 per cent of total portfolio ERV, with delivery expected over the next 12-18 months.
Larger refurbishments include a retail scheme on Broadwick Street, mixed-use retail and office schemes on Floral Street and an important gateway site on Neal Street as well as an office-to-residential conversion on the upper parts of James Street, Covent Garden. Improvements to the Henrietta Street public realm are underway and are expected to be completed by the end of 2026. The works include widening the footway, creating a level surface to improve accessibility, and upgrading the surfacing to enhance the historic character. Public lighting will be improved while retaining the heritage-listed gas lamp columns. Clearer pedestrian routes and sightlines will help activate the street, alongside enhanced al fresco dining through the introduction of awnings and greening.
Under refurbishment% of portfolio
under management
Area
Use | ERV | ERV (£m) | ('000 sq. ft.) |
Retail | 0.3 | 0.8 | 7 |
Food & beverage | 0.7 | 1.8 | 22 |
Offices | 3.0 | 8.2 | 93 |
Residential | 0.2 | 0.5 | 8 |
Total | 4.2 | 11.3 | 130 |
Shaftesbury Capital owns 50 per cent of the Lillie Square joint venture, a residential estate and remaining development phases located in West London. Investor sentiment towards the residential sector weakened in 2025, as regulatory uncertainty weighed on transaction volumes. The property valuation of our 50 per cent share as at 31 December 2025 was £62.3 million, 4.6 (like-for-like) per cent below the 31 December 2024 valuation of £65.3 million. In addition, Shaftesbury Capital owns £1.9 million of other related assets adjacent to the Lillie Square estate. The joint venture has cash of £9.7 million (£4.9 million Shaftesbury Capital share). In total, 355 Phase 1 and 2 residential apartments have been sold.
Commitment to environmental stewardshipSustainability is central to Shaftesbury Capital's values and long-term investment approach. Our approach to future-proofing our West End heritage buildings recognises their role as long-term carbon stores, prioritising low-carbon refurbishment while enhancing energy efficiency. We continue to deliver measurable improvements through a rolling programme of energy-efficient refurbishments, aligned with a Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)-validated 2040 Net Zero Carbon target. New commercial refurbishments are designed to achieve a minimum EPC rating of B. As at December 2025, 94 per cent of our portfolio by ERV is rated EPC A to C, with 85 per cent of commercial EPCs rated A or B by ERV. We have enhanced our environmental data through increased coverage of meters. 2025 saw a 29 per cent annual decrease in our scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions, and a 7 per cent decrease in associated scope 3 emissions. We remain on track for our 2040 net zero carbon targets with a cumulative decrease in absolute greenhouse gas emissions of 54 per cent from our 2019 baseline year.
We participate in a range of external benchmarks and indices, providing independent recognition of our sustainability performance and identifying opportunities for improvement. In 2025, we maintained Gold Award status for our EPRA Sustainability disclosures, and achieved a CDP climate disclosure rating of B, an MSCI rating of BBB and a GRESB score of 66.
Active community investmentShaftesbury Capital has a strong record of supporting the local community. We partner with a wide range of charitable and community initiatives across Westminster and Camden, focusing on local employment and community cohesion. In 2025, we implemented our three-year community strategy, which is centred on supporting local employment opportunities, the area where we can deliver the greatest long-term benefit. This year, our direct total community contribution was £1.1 million. Employee volunteering hours increased by 12 per cent from 2024. We have also introduced a measure to quantify the wider social value of our estate management initiatives, using the nationally recognised TOMs ("Themes, Outcomes, Measures") framework, totalling social value of
£5.9 million for 2025.
Supporting local employment is a focus of our investment, which includes our partnership with the Department for Work & Pensions to launch Shaftesbury Capital Recruit, a free service supporting retail customers with recruitment. We also collaborated with industry peers to deliver a West End recruitment fair attended by more than 700 people. We support a range of community-led initiatives, working with partners to deliver employment and education programmes. Our impact extends beyond our buildings, and through thoughtful placemaking we continue to enhance the public realm across our portfolio, delivering pedestrianisation, streetscape improvements, greening, outdoor seating and measures to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution.
We have a Community Investment Forum ("CIF") comprising employees from across the business which is responsible for overseeing our programme of community investment. It enables us to review our community investments and consider applications for our community grants. We continue our support of culture and the arts, including the patronage of the Donmar Theatre in Seven Dials, as well as partnerships with the Society of London Theatres, British Fashion Council and London & Partners.
FINANCIAL REVIEW2025 was a year of positive performance with growth in rental income, earnings, dividends, property valuation and net tangible assets per share. We are pleased to have introduced private capital through the formation of a long-term partnership on Covent Garden with the Norwegian sovereign wealth fund which highlights the fundamental value and attractiveness of our portfolio, and to have further strengthened our balance sheet through our financing activities and enhanced the Group's financial flexibility.
Total accounting return for the year was 9.1 per cent and a total property return of 10.1 per cent was achieved, representing 3 percentage points of outperformance against the MSCI UK property index. ERV increased by 6.2 per cent resulting in 6.6 per cent growth in the valuation of property under management on a like-for-like basis. Underlying earnings increased by 12.2 percent to £81.9 million and the dividend increased by 14.3 per cent for the year, reflecting the progression in underlying and cash earnings. The Group maintains a strong balance sheet with EPRA loan-to-value of 16.8 per cent and significant headroom against debt covenants. The Group has access to liquidity of £1.0 billion, positioning it to act on market opportunities.
On 1 April 2025, the Group completed the sale of a 25 per cent non-controlling interest in the Covent Garden estate to Norges Bank Investment Management ("NBIM"). The transaction valued the Covent Garden estate in line with its independent property valuation as at 31 December 2024 and generated gross cash proceeds of £574 million for the Group.
Presentation of informationThe Group financial statements are prepared under IFRS whereby the Group fully consolidates the Covent Garden estate, with NBIM's 25 per cent interest in Covent Garden presented as a non-controlling interest.
Prior to the establishment of the Covent Garden partnership, the Group's focus was primarily on the wholly-owned portfolio with information presented on an IFRS basis. Following the sale of the 25 per cent non-controlling interest in the Covent Garden estate, management considers the business principally on a Group share basis with the non-controlling interest removed on a line-by-line basis. The key financial performance indicators are also presented on this basis. Results for the first quarter of the year reflect 100 per cent ownership of Covent Garden, whilst the remaining three quarters reflect a gross cash inflow of £574 million and the Group's 75 per cent ownership post-completion of the transaction.
The Group's share of joint ventures and associates continues to be viewed as a single line item. The Group holds a 50 per cent interest in the Lillie Square joint venture. Lillie Square is not considered to be a core part of the operations of the Group and therefore its results are not included on a Group share basis and are excluded from the calculation of underlying earnings. In the prior year the Group also held a 50 per cent interest in the Longmartin investment, which was sold to the partner in October 2024.
A summary income statement and balance sheet which reconcile the IFRS reported results to Group share are set out within the alternative performance and EPRA measures on page 46.
Financial highlightsWe have delivered continued strong operational and financial performance across the Group. Activity levels remained consistently high, as evidenced by the vibrancy of our estates, footfall, customer sales, leasing volumes and the strong pipeline.
Underlying earnings increased by 12.2 per cent to £81.9 million, equivalent to 4.5 pence per share, driven primarily by higher net rental income, on a like-for-like basis, and cost efficiencies including lower net finance costs. The Group's cost ratio, which adjusts for the non-cash share award charge, has reduced to 33.1 per cent (Dec 2024: 36.2 per cent). The Directors have proposed a final dividend of 2.1 pence per share, which when combined with the interim dividend of 1.9 pence results in a total dividend for the year of 4.0 pence per share. This represents an increase of 14 per cent compared with the 3.5 pence per share dividend for 2024 (H1 2024: 1.7 pence; H2 2024: 1.8 pence).
Property assets under management have been independently valued at £5,407.1 million, reflecting 6.6 per cent like-for-like growth. ERV increased by 6.2 per cent (like-for-like) to £270.3 million and annualised gross income was up 5.3 per cent like-for-like to £215.0 million. The equivalent yield of the portfolio was 4.43 per cent, reflecting a marginal inward movement of 2 basis points since 31 December 2024.
During the year, £113.3 million was invested into asset acquisitions and capital expenditure across the portfolio and proceeds of
£12.4 million were realised on the sale of three properties.
Overall EPRA NTA (net tangible assets) per share increased by 7.2 per cent from 200.2 pence to 214.7 pence. Combined with the 3.7 pence per share dividend paid to shareholders during the year, the total accounting return for the year was 9.1 per cent. Total shareholder return for the year was 18.6 per cent, reflecting dividends paid and the change in the share price from 125.5 pence to
144.5 pence per share. Total property return was 10.1 per cent, outperforming the 7.1 per cent return on the MSCI Total Return Index.
Net finance costs have been reduced by 28 per cent from £57.2 million to £41.4 million primarily due to the increase in interest income earned on the cash proceeds received from the sale of a non-controlling interest in Covent Garden. The proceeds were used in part to reduce gross debt by £242 million and are expected in due course to be used for the repayment of the £275 million of exchangeable bonds which are due to mature in March 2026.
The Group has a strong balance sheet with an EPRA loan-to-value ratio of 16.8 per cent (Dec 2024: 27.4 per cent) and net debt of £0.8 billion (Dec 2024: £1.4 billion). The ratio of net debt to EBITDA has been reduced from approximately 11 to under 7 times. There is substantial headroom against debt covenants and access to liquidity, including undrawn committed bank facilities of £675 million.
Alternative performance measuresAs is usual practice in the real estate sector, alternative performance measures ("APMs") are presented for certain indicators, including earnings, earnings per share and EPRA net tangible assets, making adjustments set out by EPRA in its Best Practice Recommendations. These recommendations are designed to make the financial statements of public real estate companies more comparable across Europe, enhancing the transparency, comparability and coherence of the sector.
One of the key performance measures which the Group uses is underlying earnings. The underlying earnings measure reflects the underlying financial performance of the Group's West End property rental business, on a Group share basis, and is a relevant metric in determining dividends. The measure aligns with the main principles of EPRA earnings. EPRA earnings excludes valuation movements on the property portfolio, profit or loss on disposal of investment properties and investment in subsidiaries and associates, fair value changes of financial instruments, cost of early close out of debt and adjustments in relation to any other non-operating and exceptional items.
The non-operating and exceptional items adjusted for by the Group in the current and prior year include non-recurring corporate and transaction costs. These costs are considered non-recurring as they relate to significant transactions outside the ongoing operations of the Group. Other exceptional items adjusted for include the fair value movements of the option component of the exchangeable bond, and following the completion of the all-share merger in March 2023, the unwinding of the IFRS 3 fair value of debt.
In calculating underlying earnings, additional adjustments of £6.7 million (Dec 2024: £2.3 million) are made to EPRA earnings to exclude the financial performance of the Lillie Square joint venture, associated tax adjustments and the interest receivable on the loan issued to the joint venture by the Group. Lillie Square is not considered to be a core part of the operations of the Group and therefore its results are not included in underlying earnings.
Further details on APMs used and how they reconcile to IFRS are set out on page 46.
INCOME STATEMENTUnderlying earnings is a key measure used by the Group to assess performance. The numbers for 2025 presented below are on a Group share basis for the Covent Garden estate (reflecting the Group's 75 per cent ownership) and profits from associates (which relate to the prior year) are reflected as a single line item. Further details regarding underlying earnings are set out in note 3 'Performance measures'.
2025 £m | 2024 £m | |
Gross profit1 | 161.1 | 167.1 |
Other income1 | 3.0 | - |
Administration expenses1 | (41.0) | (39.4) |
Net finance costs1 | (41.4) | (57.2) |
Profit from associates1 | - | 2.8 |
Taxation1 | 0.2 | (0.3) |
Underlying earnings for the year1 | 81.9 | 73.0 |
Non-controlling interest | 47.2 | - |
EPRA and non-underlying adjustments | 258.3 | 179.1 |
IFRS profit for the year | 387.4 | 252.1 |
Underlying earnings per share | 4.5p | 4.0p |
IFRS earnings per share | 18.7p | 13.8p |
Dividend per share | 4.0p | 3.5p |
1. Numbers for 2025 are presented on a Group share basis. |
Gross profit | ||
2025 £m | 2024 £m | |
Rent receivable | 212.7 | 197.2 |
Straight lining of tenant lease incentives | 3.6 | 7.8 |
Revenue attributable to non-controlling interest for 9-month period April to December 2025 | (20.7) | - |
Revenue | 195.6 | 205.0 |
Property expenses | (33.7) | (33.1) |
Expected credit loss provision | (3.3) | (3.9) |
Tenant lease incentives written off | (1.6) | (0.9) |
Costs attributable to non-controlling interest for 9-month period April to December 2025 | 4.1 | - |
Costs | (34.5) | (37.9) |
Gross profit1 | 161.1 | 167.1 |
1. Gross profit for 2025 is presented on a Group share basis. | ||
Positive leasing and asset management activity across the portfolio has resulted in an increase in rent receivable, up 5.9 per cent on a like-for-like basis, adjusting for acquisitions and disposals, and for the sale of the 25 per cent interest in the Covent Garden estate, which took effect on 1 April 2025.
Cash collections have continued to be strong with limited customer administrations or anticipated failures in the year. Property costs have remained consistent on an IFRS basis, with inflationary pressures offset by operational efficiencies.
Gross profit attributable to the non-controlling interest for the nine-month period 1 April to 31 December 2025 was £16.6 million.
Other incomeFollowing the 25 per cent investment by NBIM in the Covent Garden estate, the Group provides day-to-day asset management and property management services. Asset management fees, broadly reflecting the costs of managing the estate, are paid to the Group and together with other items, £3.0 million of income was recognised in the year in respect of the 9 months commencing on 1 April 2025.
Administration expensesUnderlying administration expenses of £41.0 million have been incurred during the year, reflecting ongoing efficiencies with an offsetting increase in non-cash share award charges (which were £4.6 million higher than in the prior year). Administration expenses now include a running cost of three years of share award charges for the first time since merger completion in 2023. In view of strong relative performance against the peer group on the TAR measure, expected vesting assumptions have been increased in relation to the 2023 awards. Adjusting for this, and reflecting the effect of ongoing efficiencies, cash administration costs were effectively eight per cent lower relative to 2024, and further cost savings are targeted over the next two years.
£5.9 million (Dec 2024: £3.3 million) of non-recurring corporate and transaction related administration costs, which do not relate to the ongoing operations of the Group, have been incurred during the year.
The Group's cost ratio, which adjusts for the non-cash share award charge, has reduced to 33.1 per cent (Dec 2024: 36.2 per cent).
Net finance costsThe cash inflow from the transaction of £574 million brought net debt down significantly. Net finance costs have been reduced to
£41.4 million (Dec 2024: £57.2 million). Finance costs of £61.6 million were incurred in the year with the average gross drawn debt balance of £1.4 billion, reducing to £1.2 billion at 31 December 2025.
Finance income of £20.2 million comprises £3.2 million in relation to interest rate hedging arrangements and £17.0 million interest on cash held on deposit.
The majority of the Group's debt is at fixed rates, and as at the year end, the Group had only £75 million of drawn debt at variable rates. Protection is currently in place in relation to the interest rate exposure on the Group's expected drawn variable rate debt until the end of 2026 through derivative contracts entered into in December 2025. These comprise interest rate caps for SONIA exposure at 3 per cent for notional value of £150 million in each of Covent Garden and the Group. It is expected that further interest rate hedging arrangements will be put into place in due course, as appropriate, in relation to variable rate exposure for future years.
In 2026, we will refinance or repay £400 million of maturing debt, comprising the exchangeable bonds and private placement loan notes; however based on current borrowing levels we are targeting finance costs to be broadly flat overall.
Profit from associatesIn October 2024 the sale of our 50 per cent share in Longmartin investment was completed. Up until October 2024 the investment was presented as an associate with our share of the profit included in the underlying metrics.
TaxationThe Group continues to satisfy the requirements to qualify for REIT status. Therefore, as its income is derived substantially from qualifying property rental business activities within the REIT regime, the majority of its income is exempt from tax. There is a tax credit of £0.2 million in the year (2024: £0.3 million charge) arising in respect of an adjustment to the prior period tax charge relating to non-REIT activity.
DividendsThe Board has proposed a final dividend of 2.1 pence per share, bringing the total dividend to 4.0 pence per share (2024: 3.5 pence per share), reflecting progression in underlying earnings and cash generation. The dividend is to be paid wholly as a PID on 22 May 2026 to shareholders on the register at 24 April 2026.
SUMMARY BALANCE SHEETThe summary balance sheet below as at 31 December 2025 is presented on a Group share basis, excluding the 25 per cent non-controlling interest in the Covent Garden estate.
31 December
2025
Adjustment for non-controlling
31 December
2024
IFRS £m | interest £m | Group share £m | IFRS £m | |
Property portfolio1 | 5,358.0 | (697.1) | 4,660.9 | 4,929.0 |
Net debt2 | (901.5) | 88.2 | (813.3) | (1,405.0) |
Other assets and liabilities | 111.6 | (5.0) | 106.6 | 150.3 |
Non-controlling interest | (613.9) | 613.9 | - | - |
Net assets (IFRS and Group share) | 3,954.2 | - | 3,954.2 | 3,674.3 |
EPRA net tangible assets | 3,954.9 | - | 3,954.9 | 3,671.1 |
EPRA net tangible assets per share (pence) | 214.7p | - | 214.7p | 200.2p |
Adjusted, diluted number of shares3 | 1,842.3m | - | 1,842.3m | 1,833.3m |
Includes £20.7 million (2024: £20.1 million) accounted for as owner-occupied property and £nil (2024: £9.8 million) accounted for as held for sale. The market value of the property portfolio under management is £5,407.1 million (2024: £4,973.5 million).
Net debt based on nominal value of debt drawn less cash, excluding tenant deposits of £11.6 million (2024: £14.2 million).
Number of shares excludes 128.4 million shares held in relation to the exchangeable bond and 3.1 million within an approved Employee Benefit Trust. Total shares in issuance, including these components, was 1,953.2 million shares.
IFRS net assets and EPRA NTA have increased by 7.2 per cent in the year, primarily due to the like-for-like increase in the valuation of the property portfolio. The non-controlling 25 per cent interest in the Covent Garden partnership is £613.9 million, having increased by £47.2 million since completion of the transaction in April 2025. £7.9 million of dividends were paid to NBIM during the year, representing 25 per cent of the Covent Garden dividends for the period April to September 2025.
Property portfolioThe carrying value of the portfolio under management, reflected at 100 per cent, as at 31 December 2025 is £5,358.0 million having increased from £4,929.0 million at 31 December 2024.
The independent market valuation of the portfolio of £5,407.1 million has increased by 6.6 per cent (like-for-like) since 31 December 2024 driven by ERV growth of 6.2 per cent (like-for-like) and the equivalent yield of 4.43 per cent (Dec 2024: 4.45 per cent).
£80.2 million (before costs) has been invested in targeted acquisitions in Covent Garden and Soho, presenting asset management opportunities with excellent rental growth prospects and the pipeline of acquisitions is encouraging, with a number of buildings currently under review.
Capital expenditure during the year was £33.1 million, predominantly relating to office refurbishments in Covent Garden.
The sale of three properties, including the last remaining Fitzrovia assets, was completed in the year for total proceeds of £12.4 million, in line with the 31 December 2024 valuation.
Debt and gearingThe Group maintains a strong financial position, with diversified sources of funding, a spread of debt maturities, significant headroom against debt covenants, access to liquidity, modest capital commitments, significant unencumbered asset value and interest rate hedging in place for 2026.
The Group's cash and undrawn committed facilities as at 31 December 2025 were £1,014.1 million (Dec 2024: £559.8 million). As at 31 December 2025, the Group had capital commitments of £8.9 million.
31 December | 31 December | |
2025 | 2024 | |
Group share1 | £m | £m |
Cash and cash equivalents2 | 339.1 | 109.8 |
Undrawn committed facilities | 675.0 | 450.0 |
Cash and undrawn committed facilities | 1,014.1 | 559.8 |
Commitments | (8.9) | (24.1) |
Available resources | 1,005.2 | 535.7 |
Numbers for 2025 are presented on a Group share basis.
Excludes tenant deposits of £11.6 million (Dec 2024: £14.2 million).
It is expected that £275 million of the cash and cash equivalents on balance sheet will be applied towards repayment of the exchangeable bonds upon maturity in March 2026.
The loan-to-value ("LTV") ratio and EPRA LTV at 31 December 2025 were 17 per cent. This is comfortably within the Group's limit of no more than 40 per cent. Net debt to EBITDA has been reduced from a multiple of approximately 11 to under 7 times.
31 December | 31 December | |
2025 | 2024 | |
Group share1 | £m | £m |
Cash and cash equivalents | 339.1 | 109.8 |
Debt at nominal value | (1,152.4) | (1,514.8) |
Net debt | (813.3) | (1,405.0) |
Loan-to-value | 17.3% | 28.2% |
EPRA loan-to-value | 16.8% | 27.4% |
Net debt to EBITDA | 6.6x | 10.9x |
Interest cover | 396.4% | 292.1% |
Weighted average debt maturity - drawn facilities | 4.0 years | 4.6 years |
Weighted average cost of debt - gross | 3.6% | 4.0% |
Weighted average cost of debt - net | 3.4% | 3.7% |
Drawn debt with interest rate protection2 | 100% | 100% |
Numbers for 2025 are presented on a Group share basis.
Taking account of interest on cash deposits and interest rate caps.
At 31 December 2025, Group net debt was £813.3 million having reduced significantly following the receipt of the £574 million of gross proceeds from the creation of the Covent Garden partnership with NBIM. Proceeds have been used to reduce drawn debt, with partial repayment of the Canada Life term loan (£67.4 million of the £135 million, which utilised approximately £42 million of the proceeds net of restricted cash), repayment of a £200 million term loan in October 2025 and in due course we are positioned for repayment of the £275 million of exchangeable bond due in March 2026. In the meantime, the remaining proceeds are held on deposit until deployed.
In October 2025, the Covent Garden partnership entered into a new five-year £300 million (£225 million at Group share) unsecured revolving credit facility which is undrawn.
The maturity of the Group's £150 million unsecured revolving credit facility was extended from December 2027 to December 2030 and the £300 million unsecured revolving credit facility from December 2028 to December 2029. The margins on these loans were reduced to better reflect market conditions and further strengthen the Group's position. The facilities are currently undrawn.
The weighted average cash cost of drawn debt is 3.6 per cent (Dec 2024: 4.0 per cent) which reduces to an effective cash cost of 3.4 per cent (Dec 2024: 3.7 per cent) taking into account interest income on cash deposits and the benefit of interest rate hedging. As maturing debt is repaid or refinanced (including the £275 million of exchangeable bond, which has a cash coupon of 2 per cent), based on current market interest rates, it is currently anticipated that the weighted average cost of debt will increase.
All of the Group's drawn debt is at fixed rates or currently has interest rate protection in place. £300 million of hedging (comprising
£150 million at Group and £150 million in the Covent Garden partnership) has been entered into during the year and is in place until the end of 2026 which provides for a cap of 3.0 per cent on SONIA exposure.
Financing opportunities will continue to be reviewed over the coming year, taking advantage of the Group's attractive credit profile.
Cash flowsMovement in cash flow - Group share | 2025 £m |
Cash, excluding tenant deposits, as at 31 December 2024 | 109.8 |
Non-controlling interest's share of cash acquired | (7.5) |
Operating inflow | 104.0 |
Investing outflow | (107.1) |
Financing inflow | 306.6 |
Dividends paid | (66.7) |
Cash, excluding tenant deposits, as at 31 December 2025 | 339.1 |
The overall balance of cash increased by £229.3 million to £339.1 million as at 31 December 2025. This is due largely to: |
Operating cash inflows of £104.0 million reflecting growing gross profit and continuing high levels of cash collection, partly offset by administrative and finance costs. The inflow is further reduced for the payment of non-underlying administrative costs, non-underlying transaction costs for property acquisitions and disposals and costs related to the sale of Covent Garden partnership.
Investing cash outflows of £107.1 million, including £9.4 million of gross proceeds from the sale of three properties offset by
£31.5 million capital expenditure and £85.1 million for property acquisitions (including acquisition costs).
The £267.4 million financing outflow reflects the net movement in facilities drawn and repaid in the year. In addition, £574 million of gross proceeds were received on completion of the long-term Covent Garden partnership.
Total dividends paid in the year excludes £4.7 million paid to a Group entity which holds 128.4 million shares in relation to the exchangeable bonds. Following the dividend threshold test, as set out in the exchangeable bond conditions, substantially all of the dividend was subsequently retained by the Group.
Going concernFurther information on the going concern assessment is set out in note 1 'Principal accounting policies'.
The Group has a strong balance sheet with EPRA loan-to-value of 16.8 per cent, Group interest cover of 4.0 times, and access to cash of £339.1 million and undrawn facilities of £675.0 million as at 31 December 2025. There remains sufficient liquidity and debt covenant headroom even in a "severe but plausible" downside scenario.
There continues to be a reasonable expectation that the Group will have adequate resources to meet both ongoing and future commitments for at least 12 months from the date of signing these financial statements. Accordingly, the Directors consider it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the 2025 Annual Report.
Situl Jobanputra Chief Financial Officer 24 February 2026 PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES Risk managementThe Board has overall responsibility for Group risk management. It determines its risk appetite and reviews principal risks and uncertainties regularly, together with the actions taken to mitigate them. The Board has delegated responsibility for the review of the adequacy and effectiveness of the Group's internal controls framework to the Audit Committee.
Risk is a standing agenda item at management meetings. This gives rise to a more risk-aware culture and consistency in decision-making across the organisation in line with the corporate strategy and risk appetite. All corporate decision-making takes risk into account, in a measured way, while continuing to drive an entrepreneurial culture. The Executive Committee and senior management team are responsible for the day-to-day commercial and operational activity across the Group and are, therefore, responsible for the management of business risk.
The principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group are set out on the following pages with the potential impact and the mitigating actions and controls in place. These risks are reviewed and updated on a regular basis. The Group's approach to the management and mitigation of these risks is included in the 2025 Annual Report. The Board has confirmed that its risk appetite and key risk indicators remain appropriate.
Risk outlook and emerging risksLooking ahead to 2026, there is a high degree of interconnectedness between macroeconomic conditions and the global geopolitical climate which could affect the Group's risk profile. While inflationary pressures and interest rates may show signs of improvement, shifts in trade policy, regional conflicts, regulatory changes, inflation, and capital market volatility could continue to influence investor sentiment, financing costs, occupational demand, travel patterns, consumer behaviour and real estate valuations.
Climate change, environmental regulation and sustainability expectations continue to represent an area of focus and potential risk. Failure to comply with evolving regulatory requirements or meet stakeholder expectations could result in financial, operational or reputational impacts. In addition, physical climate risks and the cost of adapting assets to meet environmental standards may increase over time, requiring ongoing investment and active management. The regulatory landscape also continues to evolve and bring additional challenges and costs of compliance.
The Group actively monitors emerging risks to identify and assess issues that could affect the delivery of its strategic objectives. These risks arise from evolving circumstances or trends which may develop rapidly and could have a significant impact on the Group's financial strength, competitive position or reputation, either over the next three years or in the longer term. At this stage, the likelihood and potential impact of such risks are often uncertain, and appropriate mitigation actions may not yet be fully developed.
The Group undertakes regular horizon-scanning to identify potential risks and emerging trends that may become significant in the future. The most relevant risks and opportunities identified through this process are assessed to determine their relevance and whether any additional actions are required. Prioritised emerging risks are then reviewed and validated by senior management to better understand their potential impact and to develop appropriate strategies to manage them. A non-exhaustive list of emerging risks is outlined below.
Emerging risks with a one to three-year time horizon include:
UK fiscal and monetary policy and political uncertainty, alongside evolving geopolitical risks, impacting confidence, investment and occupier demand;
Landlord, tenant and wider regulatory reform, including implementation of the Renters' Rights Act from 2026;
Implementation of the Building Safety Act and evolving UK property valuation standards and practices;
Planning and environmental policy changes affecting development feasibility, cost and timelines;
Changes to residential rent controls; and
Technology disruption (particularly the impact of AI) and associated cyber, fraud and business-model impacts across customer and operations.
Emerging risks with a longer-term horizon include:
Shifts in social dynamics and demographics, including changes in how space is used, patterns of urbanisation, consumer spending and travel patterns;
Evolving consumer preferences and behaviours;
Long-term impacts of climate change;
Influence of technological developments, including in areas such as digital currencies on consumer behaviour and payment practices; and
Changes to property-related tax and regulatory changes.
Economic and political | ||
Risk | Impact on Strategy | Mitigation |
Decline in real estate valuations driven by macroeconomic conditions, interest rates and investor sentiment Changes to government policy, legislation and regulation impacting the property sector Weak or volatile business and consumer confidence Inflationary pressures on operating costs, including energy and the cost-of-living Increased material costs, supply chain disruptions and labour shortages affecting customers Reduced availability and/or increased cost of debt or equity funding; financial market volatility and/or disruption Uncertainty over the level and trajectory of interest rates Persistent discount of The Group's share price relative to EPRA NTA | Lower rental income due to customer demand, affordability pressures or tenant failures Increased vacancy levels, incentives or longer letting periods resulting in lower rental income Downward pressure on capital values and portfolio valuations Higher finance costs due to increased interest expense on new or refinanced debt Higher operating costs due to inflation in property operating costs, energy, insurance and service contracts Reduced financial and operational flexibility due to constraints on capital investment, development activity or asset repositioning | Maintain appropriate liquidity to meet operational and financial commitments Target longer and staggered debt maturities, and diversified sources of funding Undertake early refinancing of upcoming debt maturities where appropriate Covenant headroom monitored and stress tested Fixed rate financing and derivative contracts to provide interest rate protection Counterparty credit monitoring, early intervention, diversification by concept, price point and covenant quality Monitoring proposals and emerging policy and legislation, with industry lobbying where appropriate Engagement with key stakeholders and local authorities Monitoring of key indicators including interest rate and yield movements, capital market liquidity, valuation trends, customer demand and occupancy levels, and the Group's EPRA NTA discount |
Change in 2025: Stable Context and actions taken: The Group's focus on prime West End assets has historically provided resilience through economic cycles, supported by strong underlying demand, low vacancy levels and sustained footfall. The Group has had a long-term focus on maintaining a strong balance sheet, with sufficient liquidity and debt covenant headroom, to ensure it is able to withstand market volatility and take advantage of opportunities. As at 31 December 2025, the Group had access to cash of £339 million and undrawn facilities of £675 million providing substantial headroom against foreseeable commitments. Funding, debt and treasury metrics are monitored on a continual basis with a focus on preserving liquidity and capital, maintaining leverage and managing refinancing risks. Extensive forecasting, stress testing and scenario modelling has been undertaken, including sensitivities to interest rates, valuation movements, rental income and cost inflation, to help inform decision making and capital allocation. A downside scenario has been analysed in connection with the going concern assessment, details of which are set out in note 1 'Principal accounting policies' within 'Going concern'. The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The Group remains in close dialogue with local authorities and key stakeholders to understand policy developments and future plans, and to position the estate constructively in response to potential legislative, planning and regulatory changes. | ||
Portfolio | ||
Risk | Impact on Strategy | Mitigation |
Inability of the Group to adopt the appropriate portfolio strategy to respond effectively to changing market conditions and shifts in consumer behaviour and customer requirements Portfolio concentration Misalignment with joint venture partners Volatility in the investment and capital markets, including changes in investor sentiment and fluctuations in property yields and values | Inability to deliver the Group's business plan or need for structural change to the business plan impacting returns or capital values Reduced flexibility to respond to adverse market conditions | Focus on prime assets, locations and uses where, in normal conditions, there is a structural imbalance between availability of space and demand Concentration of assets where scale and control can be leveraged to influence place-making outcomes Establish asset clusters to provide the opportunity to drive long-term growth and returns |
Portfolio risk continued | ||
Risk | Impact on Strategy | Mitigation |
Regular strategic analysis with focus on creating mixed-use destinations and residential districts with distinct and sustainable attributes Market monitoring and valuation through regular assessment of investment market condition and bi-annual external valuations to monitor portfolio performance and value Regular communication and agreed business plan with joint venture partners Reconfigure and repurpose space to respond to, and anticipate, evolving customer demand and consumer behaviour | ||
Change in 2025: Stable Context and actions taken: The Group focuses on prime assets in the West End of London, predominantly within the retail and food & beverage sectors. While this portfolio concentration presents inherent risk, the Group considers this focus to be a strategic strength, providing a high degree of influence over defined areas and the ability to curate customer mix, uses and the public realm in order to drive long-term value. The Group actively promotes and manages its areas to sustain high levels of footfall and to maintain locations that remain relevant, attractive and commercially vibrant. During 2025, sustained customer demand resulted in low vacancy levels across the portfolio and consistently strong footfall performance. Further to the introduction of NBIM as an investor in Covent Garden, the Group has retained 75 per cent ownership and management control over the Covent Garden estate but does not have sole control over all strategic, operational and financial decisions relating to these assets. Contractual agreements for the management are in place with regular communication between parties throughout the year with performance tracked to the agreed business plan. Through regular dialogue with current and potential customers, combined with ongoing assessments of market conditions, the Group is able to better understand market demand and consumer preferences and reconfigure and adapt space as appropriate to support leasing performance and long-term returns. | ||
Operational resilience | ||
Risk | Impact on Strategy | Mitigation |
Misconduct or poor operational or sustainability standards Poor performance, failure or misconduct by third-party advisers, contractors or service providers including during period of transition Catastrophic or disruptive event such as a terrorist attack, natural disaster, health pandemic or cyber security incident or cyber crime | Reduced rental income as a result of business disruption, reduced footfall or tenant impacts Higher operating costs, including remediation, security, insurance or recovery costs Reduced capital values and investment attractiveness Reduced financial and operational flexibility Business disruption or damage to property assets Reputational damage to the Group and/or diminished attractiveness of London as a destination | Supplier procurement policy in place, with regular monitoring of third party advisers and contractors Engagement with key stakeholders and local authorities Comprehensive insurance cover, including building reinstatement, loss of rent and terrorist insurance Detailed business continuity and crisis communication plans in place On-site physical security measures and cyber security systems in place to protect data and IT infrastructure Health and safety policies and procedures Close liaison with police, National Counter Terrorism Security Office (NaCTSO) and local authorities |
Operational resilience continued | ||
Change in 2025: Stable Context and actions taken: While geographic concentration presents inherent risk, the Group's ownership of prime West End real estate is also a significant strength, providing an element of control and enabling active curation of areas to maintain locations that are popular, safe and resilient. Given the high-profile nature of the Group's assets, the risk of an external event is inevitably heightened. The Group therefore places significant emphasis on maintaining appropriate insurance cover and implementing effective security, operational and health and safety frameworks. Business continuity plans for both employees and service providers have been reviewed, including the introduction of external resources if required, alongside associated HR policies, technology and communication arrangements. IT security systems that support data security and disaster recovery are in place. Cyber security risk, including both widespread threats such as state-sponsored attacks and those targeted directly at the Group's systems and data, remains a key area of focus. The Group is supported by external advisers, including specialist consultants, to ensure appropriate controls and security protocols are maintained, and employees receive regular cyber security and phishing awareness training. Operational resilience, cyber security and business continuity arrangements are reviewed regularly by management, with key risks and mitigation measures reported to the Board. | ||
Leasing and asset management | ||
Risk | Impact on Strategy | Mitigation |
Inability to achieve target rents or to attract and retain desired customer mix and high occupancy due to changing market conditions, shifts in consumer behaviour and spending patterns and increased competition from alternative locations/formats Unfavourable planning/licensing policy, legislation or action impacting on the ability to secure approvals or consents | Decline in customer demand for the Group's properties Reduced income and increased vacancy Reduced return on investment and development property Reduced ability to deliver targeted rental growth and long-term valuation creation | Maintain a high quality and diversified customer mix aligned to each location Strategic focus on creating mixed-use destinations with distinctive and sustainable attributes Early engagement with local and national authorities Pre-application and consultation with key stakeholders and landowners Regular assessment of market conditions, leasing performance and development strategy Active asset management to respond to changing customer and consumer demands Business strategy based on delivering sustainable, long-term returns |
Change in 2025: Stable Context and actions taken: The Group takes measured risks by using its expertise in place-making and creative and active asset management to deliver long-term value through rental growth and attracting new customers. During 2025, leasing activity remained strong, with high occupancy levels reflecting the strength of demand for prime central London real estate. Many of the Group's customers operate within the retail and food & beverage sectors and are exposed to a range of external pressures, including the availability and cost of credit, cost-of-living impacts on consumer spending, business and consumer confidence, inflation, energy costs and supply chain disruption, labour availability and other operational cost pressures. The Group actively seeks opportunities to create or enhance value through the planning process, cognisant of the risks but leveraging the Group's experience and capabilities to deliver strategic objectives. The Group has a focused leasing, asset management and marketing strategy in place, ensuring the business is well-positioned and regularly engages with customers, suppliers and partners to ensure requirements, standards and operational resilience is maintained | ||
People | ||
Risk | Impact on Strategy | Mitigation |
Inability to attract, retain and develop suitable skilled and experienced employees, leadership and succession planning within the business | Reduced ability to execute the Group's strategy and business plan | Succession planning and identification of key roles and critical skills |
People continued | ||
Risk | Impact on Strategy | Mitigation |
Key person risk | Constrained growth and loss of strategic or commercial opportunities Increased pressure on corporate costs and operational effectiveness | Regular performance evaluations, training and professional development Long-term, competitive and performance-linked incentive arrangements Flexible and modern working practices |
Change in 2025: Stable Context and actions taken: The Group's success is driven by a dedicated team of skilled and talented individuals working collaboratively across the business. The health, safety and well-being of our people and service providers is of the utmost importance, supported by a culture and environment that allows individuals to grow, develop and perform to the best of their abilities. There remains a risk of illness or absence across employees, management or service providers which would disrupt the day-to-day activities of the Group's business and running of the estate. Team communication and management strategies have been implemented to ensure appropriate support, supervision and collaboration where employees are working flexibly or remotely. Recruiting and on-boarding policies have been reviewed and adapted where necessary to ensure that the business is able to continue to attract, develop and retain high-quality talent. The Group continues to monitor employees' mental and physical well-being and the health and safety of our employees and service providers remains a top priority with regular seminars and webinars from external experts. | ||
Climate change | ||
Risk | Impact on Strategy | Mitigation |
Physical impact to the Group's assets from rising temperatures or other extreme climate-related event such as flooding Transitional challenge of increasing and more onerous climate-related regulation, compliance and reporting requirements The cost, complexity and feasibility of retrofitting, insuring or leasing heritage assets and listed buildings on a whole life carbon basis Failure to progress cost-effective retrofit pathways for heritage assets may reduce lettability, ERVs, and exit liquidity risk Inability to keep pace with customer and consumer demand for proactive action to manage and mitigate climate-related risk | Reduced income, capital values or business disruption resulting from physical climate events Increased operating costs associated with compliance, reporting and achieving target environmental metrics Increased capital costs of retrofitting, or inability to resolve listed building or planning challenges, leads to buildings becoming "carbon stranded" Reduced rental income through lower rents and longer void periods due to reduced customer demand for less sustainable buildings | Active management of climate-related risks and opportunities, supported by a dedicated sustainability team We have set a 2040 Net Zero Carbon target to align with the Science Based Targets initiative long-term carbon reduction targets. For more detail on the mitigation measures in place for climate risk, please refer to the Group's TCFD disclosures in the 2025 Annual Report as well as the Group's Net Zero Carbon Pathway. External reporting and performance monitoring through recognised indices and benchmarks, including EPRA, CDP, MSCI and GRESB Continued engagement with stakeholders to preserve heritage buildings, while enhancing environmental performance Pro-active customer and consumer engagement programme and setting of appropriate climate-related targets on both development and operations |
Change in 2025: Stable Context and actions taken: The Group believes in taking a responsible and forward-looking approach to environmental issues sustainability and recognises the urgent need to tackle climate change. The Group is committed to meeting our 2030 carbon reduction targets and 2040 Net Zero Carbon target. As a long-term steward of the West End, the Group recognised the importance of preserving and celebrating the area's heritage through carefully considered refurbishments and developments. The Group has made material progress in the decarbonisation of the portfolio and recognises that it is at acritical point for action and will continue our efforts in 2026 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our buildings and operations. This requires more innovative and sustainable ways of working and includes supply chain partners across development and operational disciplines, customers, as well as corporate actions. | ||
Compliance with law and regulations | ||
Risk | Impact on Strategy | Mitigation |
Breach of legislation, regulation or contractual obligations, including shareholders agreement with joint venture partners Failure to anticipate, respond to or comply with changes in legal or regulatory requirements, including potential reforms to the Landlord and Tenant Act or other property related legislation Health and Safety incidents, including accidents or near misses, causing loss of life or very serious injury to employees, contractors, customers or visitors Loss of REIT status due to noncompliance with REIT requirements Added complexity of reporting requirements because of joint venture arrangements | Prosecution for non-compliance with legislation or regulation Litigation or fines and associated reputational damage Distraction of management from strategic objectives Adverse financial consequences, including potential loss of REIT tax benefits | Appointment of external advisers to monitor changes in law or regulation Employees attend external briefings to remain cognisant of legislative and regulatory changes Governance frameworks within joint venture agreements with regular communication with partners Robust health and safety policies, procedures, training and governance frameworks across the Group Appointment of reputable and competent contractors Adequate insurance held to cover the risks inherent in property ownership, management and construction projects |
Change in 2025: Stable Context and actions taken: Compliance with law and regulations, including health and safety, remains a key priority for the Board. Protocols are in place and communicated across the various stakeholder groups to ensure awareness of, and compliance with, new legislation and requirements. The health and safety of our people and the public is a key priority. The Group works closely with its stakeholders to mitigate health and safety risks. The Group remains in ongoing communication with HMRC regarding its REIT status, its compliance with the requirements and HMRC's approach in the event of any potential breach of the REIT conditions. | ||
The statement of Directors' responsibilities below has been prepared in connection with the Group's full Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2025. Certain parts of the Annual Report have not been included in this announcement as set out in Note 1 to the condensed financial information.
The Directors consider that the Annual Report, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Group's position and performance, business model and strategy.
Each of the Directors, whose names and functions are listed in the Governance section of the Annual Report confirm that, to the best of their knowledge:
the Group financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted international accounting standards, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit of the Group;
the Strategic Report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the Group, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that it faces.
The responsibility statement was approved by the Board of Directors on 24 February 2026 and signed on its behalf by:
Ian HawksworthChief Executive 24 February 2026
Situl JobanputraChief Financial Officer 24 February 2026
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT | |||
For the year ended 31 December 2025 | |||
Note | 2025 £m | 2024 £m | |
Revenue | 4 | 238.9 | 227.1 |
Costs | 4 | (61.2) | (60.0) |
Gross profit | 4 | 177.7 | 167.1 |
Other income | 3.0 | - | |
Administration expenses | 5 | (50.2) | (42.7) |
Gain on revaluation and sale of investment property | 321.8 | 194.6 | |
Change in value of investments and other receivables | (6.5) | (7.0) | |
Operating profit | 445.8 | 312.0 | |
Finance income | 6 | 20.5 | 14.8 |
Finance costs | 7 | (63.8) | (72.0) |
Other finance income | 6 | 4.0 | 4.5 |
Other finance costs | 7 | (9.7) | (6.5) |
Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments | (3.0) | (0.9) | |
Net finance costs | (52.0) | (60.1) | |
Net profit from joint ventures and associates | 11 | - | 0.5 |
Loss on sale of investments and subsidiaries | 12 | (6.7) | - |
Profit before tax | 387.1 | 252.4 | |
Taxation | 8 | 0.3 | (0.3) |
Profit for the year | 387.4 | 252.1 | |
Profit attributable to: | |||
Owners of the Parent | 340.2 | 252.1 | |
Non-controlling interest | 12 | 47.2 | - |
Earnings per share attributable to owners of the Parent: | |||
Basic earnings per share | 3 | 18.7p | 13.8p |
Diluted earnings per share | 3 | 18.5p | 13.8p |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME | |||
For the year ended 31 December 2025 | |||
Note | 2025 £m | 2024 £m | |
Profit for the year | 387.4 | 252.1 | |
Other comprehensive income | |||
Iīemг īhaī will noī be reclaггified īo profiī or loгг: | |||
Revaluation gain/(loss) on owner-occupied property | 0.6 | (0.1) | |
Total comprehensive income for the year | 388.0 | 252.0 | |
Total comprehensive income attributable to: | |||
Owners of the Parent | 340.8 | 252.0 | |
Non-controlling interest | 12 | 47.2 | - |
2025 | 2024 | ||
Note | £m | £m | |
Non-current assets | |||
Investment property | 10 | 5,337.3 | 4,899.1 |
Property, plant and equipment | 25.2 | 25.5 | |
Trade and other receivables | 13 | 113.8 | 139.7 |
5,476.3 | 5,064.3 | ||
Current assets | |||
Trade and other receivables | 13 | 41.3 | 30.4 |
Derivative financial instruments | 1.6 | 3.4 | |
Tax receivable | 0.3 | - | |
Cash and cash equivalents | 14 | 361.4 | 124.0 |
404.6 | 157.8 | ||
Assets held for sale | |||
Investment property held for sale | 10 | - | 9.8 |
- | 9.8 | ||
Total assets | 5,880.9 | 5,231.9 | |
Non-current liabilities | |||
Borrowings | 15 | (772.4) | (1,467.8) |
Lease liabilities | (2.3) | (2.7) | |
Derivative financial instruments | - | (1.8) | |
(774.7) | (1,472.3) | ||
Current liabilities Borrowings | 15 | (438.4) | - |
Lease liabilities | (0.3) | (0.3) | |
Tax liabilities | - | (0.2) | |
Derivative financial instruments | (1.3) | - | |
Trade and other payables | (98.1) | (84.8) | |
(538.1) | (85.3) | ||
Total liabilities | (1,312.8) | (1,557.6) | |
Net assets | 4,568.1 | 3,674.3 | |
Equity | |||
Share capital | 17 | 488.2 | 488.2 |
Other components of equity | 3,466.0 | 3,186.1 | |
Equity attributable to owners of the Parent | 3,954.2 | 3,674.3 | |
Non-controlling interest | 12 | 613.9 | - |
Total equity | 4,568.1 | 3,674.3 | |
Share capital
Share premium
Merger reserve1
Share-based payments reserve
Other reserves2
Retained earnings
Total
Non-controlling interest
Total equity
Note | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
At 1 January 2025 | 488.2 | 232.5 | 1,256.0 | 4.4 | (31.6) | 1,724.8 | 3,674.3 | - | 3,674.3 | |
Profit for the year | - | - | - | - | - | 340.2 | 340.2 | 47.2 | 387.4 | |
Other comprehensive income for the year | - | - | - | - | - | 0.6 | 0.6 | - | 0.6 | |
Total comprehensive income for the year | - | - | - | - | - | 340.8 | 340.8 | 47.2 | 388.0 | |
Contribution from non-controlling interest | 12 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 574.6 | 574.6 |
Dividends3 | 9 | - | - | - | - | - | (67.5) | (67.5) | (7.9) | (75.4) |
Fair value of share-based payments | - | - | - | 6.5 | - | - | 6.5 | - | 6.5 | |
Realisation of cash flow hedge | - | - | - | - | 0.1 | - | 0.1 | - | 0.1 | |
Balance at 31 December 2025 | 488.2 | 232.5 | 1,256.0 | 10.9 | (31.5) | 1,998.1 | 3,954.2 | 613.9 | 4,568.1 |
Represents non-qualifying consideration received following previous share placings and the all-share merger with Shaftesbury PLC in March 2023. The amounts taken to the merger reserve do not currently meet the criteria for qualifying consideration and therefore will not form part of distributable reserves as they form part of linked transactions.
Other reserves represent own shares of £32.9 million and cash flow hedge reserve of £0.1m offset by a capital redemption reserve of £1.5 million. Own shares represent the nominal value of 128,350,793 shares issued to a controlled entity, of which 127,008,786 shares are held as collateral for the exchangeable bond, and 3,146,886 shares held by the Group's Employee Benefit Trust in respect of employee share awards.
Excludes £4.7 million paid to a controlled entity, Capco Investment London (No.7) Scottish Limited Partnership, in respect of 128,350,793 shares, of which 127,008,786 are held as collateral for the exchangeable bond. The entity has provided an undertaking not to exercise its voting rights in respect of such ordinary shares but has received its dividend, all of which was retained by the Group following calculation of the dividend threshold test as set out in the exchangeable bond conditions.
Share capital
Share premium
Merger reserve1
Share-based payments reserve
Other reserves2
Retained earnings
Total
Non-controlling interest
Total equity
Note | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | £m | |
At 1 January 2024 | 488.2 | 232.5 | 1,256.0 | 1.3 | (31.7) | 1,533.9 | 3,480.2 | - | 3,480.2 | |
Profit for the year | - | - | - | - | - | 252.1 | 252.1 | - | 252.1 | |
Other comprehensive expense for the year | - | - | - | - | - | (0.1) | (0.1) | - | (0.1) | |
Total comprehensive income for the year | - | - | - | - | - | 252.0 | 252.0 | - | 252.0 | |
Dividends3 | 9 | - | - | - | - | - | (61.1) | (61.1) | - | (61.1) |
Fair value of share-based payments | - | - | - | 3.1 | - | - | 3.1 | - | 3.1 | |
Realisation of cash flow hedge | - | - | - | - | 0.1 | - | 0.1 | - | 0.1 | |
Balance at 31 December 2024 | 488.2 | 232.5 | 1,256.0 | 4.4 | (31.6) | 1,724.8 | 3,674.3 | - | 3,674.3 |
Represents non-qualifying consideration received following previous share placings and the all-share merger with Shaftesbury PLC completed in March 2023. The amounts taken to the merger reserve do not currently meet the criteria for qualifying consideration and therefore will not form part of distributable reserves as they form part of linked transactions.
Other reserves represent own shares of £32.9 million and cash flow hedge reserve of £0.2m offset by a capital redemption reserve of £1.5 million. Own shares represent the nominal value of 128,350,793 shares issued to a controlled entity, of which 127,008,786 are held as collateral for the exchangeable bond, and 3,146,886 shares held by the Group's Employee Benefit Trust in respect of employee share awards.
Excludes £4.3 million paid to a controlled entity, Capco Investment London (No.7) Scottish Limited Partnership, in respect of 128,350,793 shares, of which 127,008,786 are held as collateral for the exchangeable bond. The entity has provided an undertaking not to exercise its voting rights in respect of such ordinary shares but has received its dividend, all of which was retained by the Group following calculation of the dividend threshold test as set out in the exchangeable bond conditions.
2025 | 2024 | ||
Note | £m | £m | |
Cash flows from operating activities | |||
Cash generated from operations | 20 | 161.2 | 108.7 |
Finance costs paid | (65.1) | (72.0) | |
Interest received | 20.3 | 15.0 | |
Net cash inflow from operating activities | 116.4 | 51.7 | |
Cash flows from investing activities | |||
Purchase and development of property | (120.4) | (130.4) | |
Purchase of fixed assets | - | (2.3) | |
Sale of property | 9.4 | 136.6 | |
Dividends received from associate | - | 1.2 | |
Sale of associate | - | 82.5 | |
Loans to joint ventures and associate's repayment received | - | 15.6 | |
Net cash (outflow)/inflow from investing activities | (111.0) | 103.2 | |
Cash flows from financing activities | |||
Borrowings repaid | (292.4) | (305.0) | |
Borrowings drawn | 25.0 | 135.0 | |
Gross proceeds from disposal of 25 per cent interest in Group subsidiaries | 574.0 | - | |
Cash dividend paid to owners of the Parent | 9 | (66.7) | (61.1) |
Cash dividends paid to non-controlling interest | 12 | (7.9) | - |
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing activities | 232.0 | (231.1) | |
Net movement in cash and cash equivalents | 237.4 | (76.2) | |
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January | 124.0 | 200.2 | |
Cash and cash equivalents 31 December | 14 | 361.4 | 124.0 |
Shaftesbury Capital PLC | 2025 Press Release

