Land Securities Group PLC Announces Annual Results for the Year Ended 31 March 2015

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwired - May 19, 2015) - Land Securities Group PLC (LSE: LAND) (OTC PINK: LSGOF)

Forward-looking statements
These Annual Results, our Annual Report and the Land Securities website may contain certain "forward-looking statements" with respect to Land Securities Group PLC and the Group's financial condition, results of its operations and business, and certain of Land Securities Group PLC's and the Group's plans, strategy, objectives, goals and expectations with respect to these items and the economies and markets in which the Group operates.

Forward-looking statements are sometimes, but not always, identified by their use of a date in the future or such words as "anticipates", "aims", "due", "could", "may", "should", "will", "would", "expects", "believes", "intends", "plans", "targets", "goal" or "estimates" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. By their very nature forward-looking statements are inherently unpredictable, speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Many of these assumptions, risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond the Group's ability to control or estimate precisely. There are a number of such factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, changes in the economies and markets in which the Group operates; changes in the legal, regulatory and competition frameworks in which the Group operates; changes in the markets from which the Group raises finance; the impact of legal or other proceedings against or which affect the Group; changes in accounting practices and interpretation of accounting standards under IFRS, and changes in interest and exchange rates.

Any forward-looking statements made in these Annual Results, our Annual Report or the Land Securities website, or made subsequently, which are attributable to Land Securities Group PLC or any other member of the Group, or persons acting on their behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the factors referred to above. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date it is made. Except as required by its legal or statutory obligations, Land Securities Group PLC does not intend to update any forward-looking statements.

Nothing contained in these Annual Results, our Annual Report or the Land Securities website should be construed as a profit forecast or an invitation to deal in the securities of Land Securities Group PLC.

Annual results for the year ended 31 March 2015
"With record leasing levels across our London development programme, combined with a reshaped retail portfolio and continued financial discipline, we have delivered very strong results with a profit before tax of £2,416.5m and a total business return of 30.7%," said Chief Executive Robert Noel.

"In London, we reached the peak of construction activity in our development programme during the year. Our programme has been sized and timed to deliver highly efficient and technically resilient office space into a supply-constrained market. The success of the programme is increasingly evident. At 20 Fenchurch Street, the amazing Sky Garden opened to the public, and the development is now 92% let. In March, we pre-let 1 New Street Square in its entirety to Deloitte on a 20 year lease and 1 & 2 New Ludgate is already 84% let or in solicitors' hands.

"With a further 1.1m sq ft to let in our development programme, we are well positioned to benefit from the continuing supply-constrained conditions in the year ahead.

"In Retail, we took decisive action and have transformed our shopping centre portfolio, focusing our capital and expertise on those assets that fit in with our strategic themes of dominance, experience and convenience, and by selling those that do not. In line with our strategy, we acquired a 30% interest in the Bluewater shopping centre and took full ownership of Buchanan Galleries, Glasgow where we are working up our extension plans. We also committed to the redevelopment of Westgate, Oxford to provide a much-anticipated retail and leisure destination for the city. Our focus will remain on creating, owning and managing great destinations.

"We are determined to maintain our financial strength during this programme of significant investment and continued to implement our net debt neutral approach, with our development programme and acquisitions broadly matched with disposals. We are also investing to build a pipeline of future opportunities. In addition to our development plans at Westgate and Buchanan Galleries, we took advantage of a rare opportunity to acquire an important City site at an attractive price with the purchase of 21 Moorfields in February.

"Our strategy is delivering for our customers, our communities and our shareholders. Crucially, it is a strategy which recognises the cyclicality of the markets we operate in, ensuring we build a sustainable business for the long term. Looking ahead, we have a robust balance sheet and are confident our portfolios are well matched to customer demand."

Results summary
		31 March 2015		31 March 2014		Change
Valuation surplus (1)		£2,036.9m		£763.8m		Up 17.3% (2)
Basic NAV per share		1,343p		1,069p		Up 25.6%
Adjusted diluted NAV per share (3)		1,293p		1,013p		Up 27.6%
Group LTV ratio (1)		28.5%		32.5%
Profit before tax		£2,416.5m		£1,108.9m
Revenue profit (1)		£329.1m		£319.6m		Up 3.0%
Basic EPS		306.1p		142.3p
Adjusted diluted EPS		41.5p		40.5p		Up 2.5%
Dividend		31.85p		30.7p		Up 3.7%

1. Including our proportionate share of subsidiaries and joint ventures, as explained in the notes to the financial statements included within the Annual Report.

2. The% change for the valuation surplus represents the increase in value of the Combined Portfolio over the year, adjusted for net investment.

3. Our key valuation measure.

For investor relations or media enquiries, please contact Edward Thacker, Director of Investor Relations at Land Securities by telephone on +44 (0)20 7413 9000 or by email at investor.relations@landsecurities.com.

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