Financial responsibility

The main principles are the long-term financing policy and responsibility towards funding providers and owners

Our objective is to provide appropriate and functional premises for our customers efficiently and on a long-term basis. The main principles of financial responsibility include both the long-term financial policy and the responsibility towards funding providers and owners. They are the prerequisites for the success of our main mission.

The procurement of services and materials, personnel expenses, income and property taxes paid, and dividends and investments constitute SYK’s direct financial impacts. We regularly monitor our financial and operational indicators such as our project situation and energy consumption.

We ensure a sustainable basis for our operations and minimise the risks of operations by committing to the agreed upon project programmes, and the principles of sustainable development, as well as by taking care of our responsibilities in a timely manner. The implementation of even extensive investment projects is secured by seeking a financially advantageous funding basis with manageable risks.

SYK’s employment effect in 2020 amounted to approximately 2,040 person-years. An average of 32 employees worked for our company. The employment effect generated by investments and purchases is therefore very significant. These figures are based on the maintenance and investment expenses shown in the company’s income statement, and the have been converted into the employment effect figure using KTI Property Information’s maintenance cost comparisons and, with respect to investments, statistics provided by the Confederation of Finnish Construction Industries RT.

We are one of the largest payers of property taxes in all the localities in which we operate, and in the Pirkanmaa economic region, we are one of the largest payers of corporate income tax. In 2020, SYK paid a total of EUR 27.4 million in taxes, of which property taxes represented 45 per cent. We paid property taxes in 16 municipalities, totalling EUR 12.4 million.

During 2020, we received government grants of EUR 0.2 million, most of which were granted for renewable energy investments. Some of the grants were also received for other R&D projects.

Taxes

University Properties of Finland Ltd operates in Finland and pays all its taxes in Finland. Our tax footprint describes the significant indirect and direct taxes paid by SYK Group, as well as the taxes withheld from employees’ salaries.

The taxes we paid in 2020 were as follows: property tax EUR 12.4 million, income tax EUR 7.2 million, value-added tax EUR 7.8 million, and withholding tax EUR 0.8 million . The property tax and income tax are clearly the largest tax items. Property tax is a substantial expense item in our expense structure, and it is spread broadly across Finland. See: the chart on property taxes by municipality.

Our company does not have a separate tax strategy. The finance unit is in charge of tax affairs. We engage in active efforts to prevent the shadow economy, financial crime and tax evasion. We also expect the same responsibility from our partner network.

The tax footprint consists of three primary categories:

• Direct taxes (e.g. income taxes, various employer’s contributions, asset transfer taxes, property taxes, etc.)
• Indirect taxes (taxes paid by the company as part of the price of a service or product but remitted by the seller, e.g. tax on insurance premiums, etc.)
• Remitted taxes (e.g. taxes deducted from salaries, tax at source, VAT)

Direct and remitted taxes paid by SYK Group

	Year 2020	Year 2019	Year 2018	Unit
VAT	7,8	4,4	5,4	M€
Property tax	12,4	12,4	12,1	M€
Income taxes	7,2	5,8	6,1	M€
Total	27,4	22,7	23,6	M€
Withholding	0,8	0,8	0,8	M€

Real estate assets

By grouping our properties into portfolios in accordance with our strategy and carefully allocating our investments, we ensure the development of our solvency and our ability to secure competitive financing.

The operation of universities and the aim of our owners constitute the core of our real estate strategy. Our real estate assets are concentrated in the major campuses, and we focus on serving the real estate requirements of educational institutes. We have divested any buildings that do not serve this purpose.

The responsible management of our real estate assets also indirectly creates wellbeing throughout Finland.

Campus development

Responsibility in the development of campuses means that the use of campuses constitutes smart deployment or resources, and the functions are also developed with ecological sustainability in mind. Awareness of the importance of campuses as part of the cities’ overall infrastructure is essential in regional development work. We will develop new life for the campuses by looking for functions and operators that are suitable for the premises released by tenants.

The smart deployment of resources, reconditioning of existing premises to meet the current requirements, as well as the construction of new square metres in moderation are all part of our responsible campus development work. Preserving the cultural heritage and transferring it to new generations is also part of responsible campus development.

Spatial efficiency

With educational institutions, we have developed shared-use and multi-purpose premises that are not exclusively intended for specific user groups or activities. The universities have studied and investigated their genuine need for premises by using various analytical methods. Efficient use of premises and resources is the future of learning environments and laboratories in particular.

We seek to promote the synergies between various operators, while maximising the amount of time our premises are used. The transition from individual working rooms and large underused meeting and conference facilities to versatile multi-purpose working environments allows the premises to be adapted to the work and its requirements. The users of premises can utilise open and closed premises according to their needs at any time. Efficient planning reduces the idle use of premises and helps to optimise the level of reconditioning work.

Sustainable development indicators

	2020	2019	2018	2017	2016	Unit
Revenue	170,5	165,2	159,5	150,1	148,2	M €
Return on equity	3,3	3	3	2,6	2,8	%
Balance sheet total	1 417,2	1 335,0	1 357,1	1 268,8	1 226,8	M €
Value of investments	94,5	114,9	95,4	116,3	95,8	M €
Tax footprint, total taxes	27,4	22,7	23,6	20,9	22,3	M €

Development of revenue 2015–2020

Development of profit 2015–2020