Atrium European Real Estate Limited
EANS-News: Atrium European Real Estate Limited
First quarter 2021 trading update - ATTACHMENT
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Quarterly Report
St Helier Jersey / Channel Islands -
First quarter 2021 trading update
Jersey, 4 May 2021, Atrium European Real Estate Limited (VSE/Euronext: ATRS),
(the "Company" and together with its subsidiaries, "Atrium" or the "Group"), a
leading owner, operator and redeveloper of shopping centres and retail real
estate in Central Europe, provides an update on both trading for the three
months ended 31 March 2021 and the impact of COVID-19 on the Group's operations.
Business overview year to date
Q1 2021 continued to be impacted by COVID, performance expected to gradually
improve as restrictions ease
* Atrium's centres were closed for over 60% of Q1 2021 compared to two weeks in
Q1 2020
* Footfall and tenant sales were therefore impacted at 53% and 55% respectively
of 2019 levels, and 62% and 68% compared to 2020 which was partially impacted
by COVID
* In Russia, where Atrium's centres have been open fully throughout the quarter,
sales in the first quarter of 2021 reached their pre-COVID levels
* The trends seen in Russia this year, and in the periods when restrictions were
lifted across the whole portfolio in 2020, give us confidence that footfall
and sales will improve in the coming months as vaccination levels increase and
lockdowns are lifted
* Approximately 88% of the Group's GLA is currently operating following the
reopening of shopping centres in Poland today and on 19 April in Slovakia. The
Czech Republic remains in lockdown except for essential stores, and is
expected to reopen next week on the 10 of May
* As of 30 April 2021, collection rates were at 83% of Q1 2021 invoiced rent and
99% of 2020 invoiced rent
Strong demand for Atrium's green financing provides further capital for the
residential strategy
* EUR650 million raised during the year under our EMTN green financing
programme. In February, a EUR300 million inaugural green bond was issued,
followed up by a EUR350 million first green hybrid bond issuance in May
* Both issuances were over three times oversubscribed, attracting strong demand
from international institutional investors, which is a clear endorsement of
our ongoing diversification into residential for rent in Poland and Czech and
the future outlook for the Company post the pandemic
* The green bonds issued in February at a 2.625% coupon together with a EUR78
million buyback of 2022 notes reduced Atrium's average debt cost to 2.8% and
extended its maturity to 5.0 years (as of today)
* The green hybrid issuance in May at a 3.625% coupon will be treated as equity
(IFRS), thus reducing the Group's LTV to 27%. Both Fitch and Moody's have
confirmed a 50% equity / debt treatment for rating purposes
* The proceeds from the hybrid are intended to be used for the financing of
BREEAM certified residential for rent assets and developments
* Moody's maintained Atrium's Baa3 investment grade credit rating on 24 April
and improved its outlook to stable
* Atrium has a strong liquidity of EUR470 million as of today, with c.EUR170
million[1] in cash and EUR300 million unutilized credit facility to enable it
to execute its growth strategy and navigate the pandemic
Key financial figures for the period
In EURm 3M 2021 3M 2020 CHANGE
% / ppt
Net rental income
("NRI") 32.2 36.3 (11.3)
EBITDA 26.7 30.8 (13.2)
Operating margin
(in %) 92.8 91.0 1.8
Occupancy rate
(in %)* 91.7 92.3 (0.6)
EPRA NRV (in EUR)* 4.19 4.25 (1.4)
* As at 31/3/2021 and 31/12/2020 respectively
* Group NRI was EUR32 million for the 3M 2021, down 11% or EUR4 million year on
year due to:
o EUR3 million COVID-19 lockdown relief impact, both mandatory and voluntarily
tenant support
o EUR1 million non-core assets disposals impact as part of the portfolio
rotation strategy
* EBITDA decreased by 13% due to the NRI decrease, while operating margin
improved 1.8 ppt to 92.8% mainly due to Russia
* Occupancy slightly lower compared to year-end 2020 due to extended lockdowns
in Q1, but is expected to recover when shopping centres resume normal
operations and as the vaccination roll out continues
* EPRA NRV as at 31 March was stable at EUR4.19 with stable retail market yields
[2]
Dividend
* 46.4% of shareholders opted to receive the Q1 2021 dividend in the form of
scrip dividend, resulting in an issuance of 4,560,813 shares and cash outflow
reduction of c.EUR12 million
* The Q2 2021 dividend will be paid (as a capital repayment) on 30 June 2021 to
shareholders on the register as at 11 June 2021, with an ex-dividend date of
10 June 2021. The election date for a scrip dividend will start on14 June and
end on 25 June 2021
* A circular setting out further details on the election being offered to
shareholders pursuant to the scrip dividend alternative will be posted on the
Company's website before the start of the election period
Liad Barzilai, Chief Executive Officer of Atrium Group, commented:
"Atrium's performance during the first quarter continued to be significantly
impacted by the pandemic but there are more reasons for confidence now than
there has been at any time over the last 12 months. As the vaccination roll out
continues, we are seeing a gradual lifting of restrictions, with Poland opening
today and the Czech Republic planning to open next week. We are confident that
once they are open fully, trading at our centres will recover following the
patterns seen in 2020 when restrictions were eased and in Russia which has
remained open since summer 2020. Our priority remains the safety of our
employees, tenants and consumers as we return to a normal trading environment."
"Since the start of the year we have also been active in the capital markets,
raising EUR650 million through our green financing programme in two over-
subscribed issuances. This has given us a strong financial support to pursue our
residential and growth strategies and see us through what are hopefully the last
stages of the pandemic."
Further information can be found on the Company's website www.aere.com or for
Analysts:
Molly Katz: mkatz@aere.com
Press & Shareholders:
FTI Consulting Inc.: +44 (0)20 3727 1000
Richard Sunderland / Claire Turvey / Andrew Davis: atrium@fticonsulting.com
[atrium@fticonsulting.com]
About Atrium European Real Estate
Atrium is a leading owner, operator and redeveloper of shopping centres and
retail real estate in Central Europe. Atrium specializes in locally dominant
food, fashion and entertainment shopping centres in the best urban locations.
Atrium owns 26 properties with a total gross leasable area of over 809,000 sqm
and with a total market value of approximately EUR2.5 billion. These properties
are located in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Russia, and with the
exception of one, are all managed by Atrium's internal team of retail real
estate professionals. In February 2020 Atrium announced a strategy to diversify
its portfolio by investing in and managing residential for rent real estate,
with a primary focus on Warsaw.
The Company is established as a closed-end investment company incorporated and
domiciled in Jersey and regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission as
a certified Jersey listed fund, and is listed on both the Vienna Stock Exchange
and the 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.
For the presentation see: https://aere.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/
20210504_Q1_Trading_update.pdf [https://aere.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/
20210504_Q1_Trading_update.pdf]
[1] Excluding the net proceeds from the Hybrid
[2] CBRE April 2021 European Property Investment Yields overview
Further inquiry note:
For further information:
FTI Consulting Inc.:
+44 (0)20 3727 1000
Richard Sunderland
Claire Turvey
Richard.sunderland@fticonsulting.com
end of announcement euro adhoc
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Attachments with Announcement:
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http://resources.euroadhoc.com/documents/279/5/10715464/1/21_05_04_Atrium_Q1_2021_highlights_Eng_Final_.pdfissuer: Atrium European Real Estate Limited
Seaton Place 11-15
UK-JE4 0QH St Helier Jersey / Channel Islands
phone: +44 (0)20 7831 3113
FAX:
mail: richard.sunderland@fticonsulting.com
WWW: http://www.aere.com
ISIN: JE00B3DCF752
indexes:
stockmarkets: Luxembourg Stock Exchange, Wien
language: English