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ACSION LIMITED - Announcement on property valuations and withdrawal of cautionary announcement

Release Date: 05/03/2021 13:00
Code(s): ACS     PDF:  
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Announcement on property valuations and withdrawal of cautionary announcement

Acsion Limited
(Registration number 2014/182931/06)
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Share code: ACS ISIN: ZAE000198289
(“Acsion” or the “Company” or the “Group”)

ANNOUNCEMENT ON PROPERTY VALUATIONS AND WITHDRAWAL OF CAUTIONARY ANNOUNCEMENT

Shareholders are referred to the announcements released on SENS on 5 February 2021 and 26 February
2021 in respect of the preparation of valuations of the Company’s investment properties, including
developments under construction as at 31 August 2020 (the “Valuations”).

Acsion has now completed the preparation of the Valuations and is in a position to provide the following
details:

1.    RESTATEMENTS TO 31 AUGUST 2020 INTERIM RESULTS (“RESTATEMENTS”)

      In response to the announcement made on 26 February 2020, the Board has now determined, or
      obtained, valuations of the investment properties as at 31 August 2020. The effect of the Valuations
      provides greater clarity on the impact of COVID-19 on the 2020 Interim results.

      When performing valuations, valuers were required to use judgement while faced with
      unprecedented circumstances resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of COVID-19 was
      incorporated in the final valuations by adjusting the valuation amounts directly and not by adjusting
      the forecasted cash flows. The valuations are based on inputs and assumptions reflecting the
      economic circumstances resulting from the outbreak.

      The impact of the Valuations on the previously published 2020 Interims on 26 November 2020 is as
      follows:

      Statement of financial position (R’000)

        Item                                          Previously            Restated           % Change
                                                        reported
        Investment property                            8 213 406           8 035 965              (2.2%)
        Retained income                                3 408 052           3 340 782              (2.0%)
        Deferred tax liability                         1 494 499           1 475 081              (1.3%)

      Statement of Profit or Loss (R’000)

        Item                                          Previously            Restated           % Change
                                                        reported
        Fair value adjustment                                  -            (86 688)            (100.0%)
        Profit before tax                               135 408               48 720             (64.0%)
        Taxation                                        (40 462)            (21 043)             (48.0%)
        Profit for the period                            94 946              27 676              (70.8%)
    
     The profit for the period ended 31 August 2020 is less by R67 million from the profit of R94 million
     previously reported for the same period. This represents approximately 4% of the market
     capitalisation at 26 November 2020.

     Ratios

     Headline earnings per share (“HEPS”) and basic earnings per share (“EPS”) were previously reported
     at 23.8 cents. After the Restatements, the 2020 Interims reflect a HEPS and basic EPS of 6.7 cents
     per share.

     Net asset value per share decreased to 1 880.9 cents from the previously reported 1 898.1 cents, a
     decrease of 0.9%.

     The movement in the carrying value of investment properties for the 2020 Interims includes:

     -     net negative fair value adjustments of R87 million; and
     -     capital expenditure of R173 million incurred on developments under construction

     The net negative fair value adjustments of R86 million in investment properties for the 2020
     Interims represents a reduction in value in the region of 4.0% of market capitalisation at the end of
     the reporting period.

     The information relating to the Restatements has not been reviewed or reported on by Acsion’s
     auditors.

2.   DETAILS OF VALUATIONS AS AT 31 AUGUST 2020

     2.1   Tenant concessions

           Up until 31 August 2020, no rent concessions had been granted to any tenants as a result
           of the impact of COVID-19. However, due to significant uncertainty over collectability of
           rent during the COVID-19 lockdown, rental income for this period was recognised only to
           the extent it was probable that it would be received. This resulted in R83 million of
           unrecognised rental income for the 2020 Interims, which subsequently will be recognised
           as revenue to the extent, and at the point in time, that collectability is considered probable.
           An insurance claim in the region of R98 million in respect of non-payment of rental by
           tenants during the lockdown periods was lodged with the Company’s insurer subsequent
           to 31 August 2020. The outcome of this claim is uncertain at this stage and not recognised
           in the results.

     2.2   Methodology of the Valuations

           The Group uses a discounted cash flow and income capitalisation methodology as a basis
           when determining the fair value of investment properties. At least one third of the
           properties are valued externally and the balance is valued by the directors of Acsion. A
           property will be externally valued at least once every three years. The fair values of all
           investment properties for the Group are classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy
           in IFRS 13 Fair value measurement. There were no transfers between Levels 1, 2 and 3
           during the six months ended 31 August 2020.

     2.3   Independent valuer

           The Group has employed the services of Mrs A de Wet of Amanda De Wet Consultants and
           Investors, a professional valuer registered in accordance with section 20(2)(a) of the
           Property Valuers Professional Act 47 of 2000 (Registration number 5542) for external
           valuations for the six months ended 31 August 2020. Mrs de Wet is not connected to the
           Group and has recent experience in location and category of the investment properties
           valued. She holds BProc and LLB qualifications and has completed a National Diploma in
           real estate.

     2.4   Completed developments

           Completed developments were valued using the discounted cash flow of future income
           streams method by internal valuation. External valuers have the discretion to use their own
           valuation method.

           Mrs A de Wet has used the income capitalisation method based on future cash flows, being
           her preferred method of valuation.

     2.5   Developments under construction

           The Group measures investment properties under construction at cost until either its fair
           value becomes reliably determinable or construction is completed. For the six months
           ended 31 August 2020, Mall@Larnaca has been valued by Mrs A de Wet using the income
           capitalisation method, being her preferred method of valuation. Acsiopolis has been valued
           by Mrs A de Wet using a residual valuation technique, resulting in the highest and best use
           appraisal for this property.

3.   PROPERTY PORTFOLIO INFORMATION

3.1   Developed investment properties

      The developed investment properties as at 31 August 2020 consisted of the following ten
      properties:

             Property name            Directors               GLA            Value/m2   Percentage
                                    independent              (m2)     (excluding bulk,    of total
                                      valuation                                 where    portfolio
                                 31 August 2020                            applicable)    by value
                                           (Rm)                                                (%)
             Mall@Reds*                   1 411            54 740               25 667         2.5
             Mall@Emba                      580            24 605               23 572         9.2
             Mall@Moutsiya                  228            14 703               15 507         3.6
             Mall@Carnival*               2 595            90 615               28 031        41.3
             Mall@Lebo                      566            23 534               24 050         9.0
             Mall@Mfula                     353            17 930               19 688         5.6
             Mall@55*                       318            15 969               18 681         5.1
             Moreleta
             Square                         130             8 579               15 153         2.1
             Simarlo
             Rainbow                         49             6 891                7 111         0.8
             Hyde Park
             Terrace                         53                 -                    -         0.8
                                          6 283           257 566              177 460       100.0

3.2   Developments under construction

      Developments under construction as at 31 August 2020 consisted of the following
      properties classified as investment properties:

                             Independent              GLA          Value/m2       Anticipated
                               valuation             (m2)        (excluding           opening
                          31 August 2020                        bulk, where
                                    (Rm)                         applicable)
      Acsiopolis*                    919           37 437            22 851       During 2021
                                                                                 calendar year
      Larnaca*                     1 062           39 000            27 242         July 2021
      Trade @ 55*                     40           10 000             4 000       Negotiating
                                   2 021           86 437            54 093

      *Independently valued

      No investment properties were acquired during the six months ended 31 August 2020,
      however additional capital expenditure was incurred during this period.

3.3   Reconciliation of investment properties carrying values and property valuation values as
      at 31 August 2020

                                                                                         R’000
      Investment properties at fair value                                            8 035 965
      Investment properties leased assets and equipment                                112 979
      Operating lease asset                                                            155 749
      Property valuation values                                                      8 304 693

3.4   Reconciliation of investment properties carrying values for the six months ended 31
      August 2020

                                                                                         R’000
      Opening balance at 1 March 2020                                                7 854 029
      Capital expenditure                                                              172 672
      Disposal                                                                         (1 434)
      Foreign currency translation                                                      97 386
      Fair value adjustment                                                           (86 688)
      Closing balance at 31 August 2020                                              8 035 965

3.5   Sensitivity analysis

      The estimated impact of a change in the significant unobservable inputs would result in a
      change in the investment properties fair value estimation:

      Properties excluding mixed use development

                                                                                      R’000
      An increase of 50 basis points in the discount rate:                         (27 921)
      A decrease of 50 basis points in the discount rate:                            28 505
      An increase of 50 basis points in the capitalisation rate:                  (384 689)
      A decrease of 50 basis points in the capitalisation rate:                     432 731

      Mixed use development

                                                                                      R’000
      An increase of 50 basis point in the exit cap rate                          (296 561)
      A decrease of 50 basis points in the exit cap rate                            336 102
      An increase of 50 basis points in the discount rate                           (6 000)
      A decrease of 50 basis points in the discount rate                              6 000
      An increase of 1% in selling price per sqm                                      9 000
      A decrease of 1% in selling price per sqm                                     (9 000)

4.    WITHDRAWAL OF CAUTIONARY ANNOUNCEMENT

      Following the completion of the Valuations, Acsion shareholders are advised that caution is no
      longer required to be exercised when dealing in the Company’s securities.

Full details of the Valuations, together with supporting documentation, are available on the Company’s
website at https://www.acsionsa.co.za/results.htm.

Johannesburg
5 March 2021

Sponsor
Nedbank Corporate and Investment Banking

Date: 05-03-2021 01:00:00
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