Hammerson raises guidance as seeks to raise GBP190 million in equity
Hammerson PLC on Thursday announced plans to raise £190 million through an equity offering to partly fund a major property acquisition in Manchester, England, as the city-centre shopping centre landlord posted a decline in interim profit.
Hammerson recorded a 28% drop in pretax profit to £57.0 million in the six months that ended June 30 from £79.1 million a year earlier. IFRS profit was £56 million, down 29% from £79 million.
Hammerson booked net revaluation losses on properties of £3.6 million, swung from gains of £20.6 million a year before. Share of results of joint ventures slumped 70% to £11.6 million from £39.3 million.
More positively, net rental income rose 40% to £112 million from £80 million.
Hammerson declared an interim dividend of 9.67 pence, up 22% from 7.94p.
EPRA earnings was up 33% to £64 million from £48 million. But basic earnings per share fell 35% to 10.5p from 16.2p.
Net debt was £1.40 billion on June 30, up 2.2% from £1.37 billion on December 31.
Hammerson said it intends to raise £190 million via an equity offering to partly fund its acquisition of a 50% interest in the Manchester Arndale shopping centre from Palma Arndale BidCo Ltd for £218 million. The new shares represent 10% of its existing issued share capital.
The share placing will be conducted through an accelerated bookbuild, launched immediately on Thursday, Hammerson said. New shares are being offered to institutions via the share placing and retail investors via a separate retail offer.
Hammerson raised its 2026 guidance as a result of the Arndale acquisition, which it said will be earning accretive from day-one. It expects total net rental income growth of 28% for 2026, comprising 25% from the underlying business and a 3% contribution from Arndale.
EPRA earnings is now estimated at £132 million, representing growth of 27% year-on-year, with £125 million coming from the underlying business and £7 million contribution from the Arndale.
Shares in Hammerson were down 1.3% at 364.40 pence on Wednesday in London. In Johannesburg, they were down 0.9% to ZAR81.03.
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