Atrium European Real Estate Limited
EANS-Adhoc: Atrium European Real Estate Limited
FIRST QUARTER 2015 RESULTS
SHOW CONTINUED STEADY OPERATIONAL PROGRESS
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28.05.2015
Atrium European Real Estate Limited
("Atrium")
FIRST QUARTER 2015 RESULTS SHOW CONTINUED STEADY OPERATIONAL PROGRESS
Ad hoc announcement - Jersey, 28 May 2015. Atrium European Real Estate Limited
(VSE/ Euronext: ATRS) (the "Company" and together with its subsidiaries, the
"Group"), a leading owner, operator and developer of retail real estate and
shopping centres in Central and Eastern Europe, announces its results for the
three months ended 31 March 2015.
Highlights:
- Gross rental income ("GRI") of EUR51.8m (3M 2014: EUR52.8m), with an EPRA
like-for-like GRI of EUR44.0m (3M 2014: EUR48.5m)
- Net rental income ("NRI") of EUR49.0m (3M 2014: EUR51.0m), with an EPRA like-
for-like NRI of EUR42.0m (3M 2014: EUR48.4m)
- the main driver behind the decrease in income was the temporary
discounts agreed with tenants in the Group's Russian portfolio, which
have been granted to protect occupancy levels during the on-going
difficult economic situation
- excluding Russia, the Group's NRI increased by 7.8% and like-for-like
EPRA NRI was flat
- The operating margin in our core markets of Poland, Czech Republic and
Slovakia increased by 0.5% to 98.5%, while the Group operating margin
decreased from 96.6% to 94.6% due to the adverse performance in Russia
- EPRA occupancy rates as at 31 March 2015 remained high at 96.3% (31 December
2014: 97.4%)
- EBITDA, excluding revaluation and disposals, decreased by 8.0% to EUR41.1m
(3M 2014: EUR44.7m)
- Profit before taxation was EUR11.1m compared to EUR27.9m for the first three
months of 2014. The change was mainly caused by a EUR2.0m decrease in NRI,
non-cash foreign exchange loss of EUR12.4m (including reclassification of a
currency translations reserve), compared to a EUR9.3m gain in the first three
months of 2014, partially offset by the lower EUR4.4m devaluation result
compared to EUR16.0m devaluation in the first three months of 2014
- Company adjusted EPRA earnings per share decreased by 13.8% to 8.1 EURcents
(3M 2014: 9.4 EURcents)
- The Group's standing investments portfolio comprised 81 assets at the quarter-
end compared to 153 as at 31 December 2014 but grew in value by 1.3% to
EUR2.6 billion after accounting for, inter alia:
- the disposal of 72 non-core properties in the Czech Republic
- the inclusion of the Atrium Felicity shopping centre development in
Lublin, Poland, which opened in March 2014
- the acquisition of two prime shopping centres in November 2014; Focus
Mall Bydgoszcz in Poland and Palác Pardubice in Czech Republic
- Total assets of EUR3,451m with a cash position of EUR478.8m (31 December
2014: EUR425.2m) and borrowings of EUR1,068.0m as at 31 March 2015 (31
December 2014: EUR1,068.1m), representing a gross and net LTV of 36.9% and
20.4% respectively
- EPRA Net asset value ("NAV") per ordinary share remained relatively constant
at EUR6.06 (31 December 2014: EUR6.08) after total first quarter dividend
distributions of EUR0.0675 per share in the first three months of 2015
- Second quarterly dividend of EUR0.0675 per share due to be paid as a capital
repayment on 30 June 2015 to shareholders on the register at 23 June 2015
with an ex-dividend date of 22 June 2015.
Operational highlights during and after the period:
Investment properties
- Completed the sale of a portfolio of 72 retail assets in the Czech Republic
for a consideration of c.EUR69m in January 2015 (including a secured vendor
loan)
- Signed an agreement to acquire a 75% interest in the Arkády Pankrác shopping
centre in Prague in January 2015, for a consideration of EUR162m. The Otto
family will continue to own the remaining 25% of the joint venture. The
acquisition is expected to be finalised in the second quarter of 2015
- Opened the 17,300 sqm extension of the Atrium Copernicus shopping centre in
Torun, Poland in March 2015
Financing transactions
- In May 2015, Atrium successfully issued EUR150m 3.625% notes due in October
2022, which will be consolidated and form a single series with the EUR350m
3.625% bond due in October 2022 (issued by Atrium in October 2014). The issue
price was 106.395% reflecting a yield of 2.9%. The cash proceeds amounted to
EUR159.6m including EUR3.0m in accrued interest
- In May 2015, the Group notified Berlin-Hannoversche Hypoteken AG of its
intention to voluntarily undertake the early repayment on 29 May 2015 of a
EUR105m bank loan (including fees) held by Atrium Promenada sp. z o.o..
Group executive management team changes
- In January 2015, following the transfer of 52.1m ordinary shares from Apollo
Global Real Estate Management LP to Gazit-Globe Ltd., the two Atrium
directors nominated by Apollo, Joseph Azrack and Roger Orf, resigned from the
Board of Directors
- In January 2015, Atrium announced the appointment of Ryan Lee as its new
Group Chief Financial Officer. Ryan joined the Group on 2 February 2015, with
his appointment becoming effective on 1 April 2015.
Commenting on the results, Josip Kardun, Group CEO, said: "During the first
quarter we have continued to make good progress in reweighting the Group's
portfolio towards larger scale and dominant shopping centres in our core
geographies having disposed of a non-core portfolio in the Czech Republic,
agreed to acquire a 75% stake in the Arkády Pankrác shopping centre in Prague,
opened the Atrium Copernicus extension in Poland and progressed the extension of
Atrium Promenada in Warsaw.
"This focus on growing high quality cash flow in the region's stronger and least
volatile economies has helped mitigate the performance of our Russian portfolio
on the overall Group results. Drawing on past experience, we have prioritised
the maintenance of occupancy by granting temporary discounts to our tenants in
Russia to ensure our centres remain attractive and continue to trade as well as
possible.
"The outlook elsewhere across CEE remains encouraging, as evidenced by the IMF's
recent increase GDP growth forecasts for our core geographies, and this,
combined with the progress we are making with our wider strategy, gives me
confidence for the future prospects of the Group."
This announcement is a summary of, and should be read in conjunction with the
full version of the Group's Q1 2015 results, which can be found on the Atrium
page of the Vienna Börse website at http://en.wienerborse.at/ and on the Group's
page of the Euronext Amsterdam website, www.euronext.com or on the Group's
website at www.aere.com.
Further information can be found on Atrium's website www.aere.com or from:
Analysts:
Ljudmila Popova
lpopova@aere.com
Press & Shareholders:
FTI Consulting Inc
Richard Sunderland
Claire Turvey
Ellie Sweeney
+44 (0)20 3727 1000
atrium@fticonsulting.com
Atrium is established as a closed-end investment company incorporated and
domiciled in Jersey and regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Authority as
a certified Jersey listed fund, and is listed on both the Vienna Stock Exchange
and the NYSE Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange. Appropriate professional advice
should be sought in the case of any uncertainty as to the scope of the
regulatory requirements that apply by reason of the above regulation and
listings. All investments are subject to risk. Past performance is no guarantee
of future returns. The value of investments may fluctuate. Results achieved in
the past are no guarantee of future results.
Further inquiry note:
For further information:
FTI Consulting Inc.:
+44 (0)20 3727 1000
Richard Sunderland
Nick Taylor
Richard.sunderland@fticonsulting.com
end of announcement euro adhoc
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issuer: Atrium European Real Estate Limited
Seaton Place 11-15
UK-JE4 0QH St Helier Jersey / Channel Islands
phone: +44 (0)20 7831 3113
mail: richard.sunderland@fticonsulting.com
WWW: http://www.aere.com
sector: Real Estate
ISIN: JE00B3DCF752
indexes: Standard Market Continuous
stockmarkets: official market: Wien, stock market: Luxembourg Stock Exchange
language: English