Announcement
FLLYR: PFI: PFI Announces Robust Annual Results
08:31am
PFI
22/02/2021 08:31
FLLYR
PRICE SENSITIVE
REL: 0831 HRS Property for Industry Limited
FLLYR: PFI: PFI Announces Robust Annual Results
PFI ANNOUNCES ROBUST ANNUAL RESULTS
The PFI management team will present the results via live webcast from 10am
NZT on 22 February 2021. To view and listen to the webcast, please visit
https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/ykx59fkj. Anyone wishing to participate
in the webcast (for example, to ask a question) must pre-register for the
conference call at http://apac.directeventreg.com/registration/event/6081809.
Upon registering, participants will be provided with participant dial-in
numbers, a passcode and a unique registrant ID. In the 10 minutes prior to
the call start time, you will need to use the conference access information
provided in the email received at the point of registering, in addition to
opening the webcast (using the details above).
Highlights
- Robust annual result: annual profit after tax of $113.5 million, Funds From
Operations (FFO)[1] earnings up 6.6% from the prior year to 9.67 cents per
share, Adjusted Funds From Operations (AFFO) earnings up 3.1% from the prior
year to 8.03 cents per share, 2020 cash dividends of 7.70 cents per share
- Strong balance sheet: net tangible assets up 7.5% to 220.9 cents per share,
additional bank facility secured, over $110 million of available liquidity,
gearing of 30.0%
- Portfolio metrics healthy: weighted average lease term of 5.28 years,
occupancy of 99.4%, just 3.3% of contract rent is due to expire in 2021
- Significant strategic progress: $183 million invested in core industrial
property and $158 million of non-core divestments since the beginning of
2019, including the post balance date divestment of Carlaw Park for $110
million, portfolio positioned to benefit from trends supporting long-term
growth
- Increased dividend guidance: robust results, a strong balance sheet, and
forecast rental growth result in a lift in 2021 dividend guidance to 7.85 to
7.90 cents per share
Property for Industry Limited (PFI, the Company) today announced robust
results for the year ended 31 December 2020.
"Against a backdrop of testing conditions, the Company performed
exceptionally well. Specifically, our conservative gearing and ability to
access liquidity worked to our advantage. We took decisions on the basis of a
well-defined strategy but retained the flexibility to change course. The
Board is pleased to have emerged well placed to respond to opportunities as
they arise. At the same time, we have grown cash returns for our investors
while supporting those tenants most in need," says PFI Chairman, Anthony
Beverley.
Robust annual result
Profit after tax for the year totalled $113.5 million (22.70 cents per
share), down from $176.3 million (35.35 cents per share) in the prior year. A
$72.5 million fair value gain on investment properties, as compared to a
$125.2 million fair value gain in the prior year, was the main contributor to
this reduction in profit.
FFO earnings of 9.67 cents per share were 0.60 cents per share or 6.6% ahead
of the prior year. AFFO earnings of 8.03 cents per share were up 0.24 cents
per share or 3.1% when compared to the prior year.
That being the case, the PFI Board resolved to pay a fourth quarter cash
dividend of 2.2500 cents per share, up 0.1000 cents per share from the
dividend paid in the prior year.
The dividend will have imputation credits of 0.5141 cents per share attached
and a supplementary dividend of 0.2333 cents per share will be paid to
non-resident shareholders. The record date for the dividend is 1 March 2021,
and the payment date is 10 March 2021.
As was the case with the third quarter dividend, the dividend reinvestment
scheme (DRS) will operate with a discount of 2%. The last date for receipt of
an application for participation in the DRS is one business day after the
record date, being 2 March 2021. Further details can be found in the DRS
Offer Document, which is available on PFI's website:
https://www.propertyforindustry.co.nz/investor-centre/dividend-information/di
vidend-reinvestment/.
The fourth quarter dividend will take cash dividends for the full year to
7.70 cents per share, an increase from the prior year of 0.10 cents per
share, resulting in an FFO dividend pay-out ratio of 80% (2019: 84%) and an
AFFO dividend pay-out ratio of 96% (2019: 98%, refer Appendix 2).
Strong balance sheet
Net tangible assets (NTA) per share increased by 15.4 cents per share or 7.5%
from 205.5 cents per share as at the end of 2019 to 220.9 cents per share as
at the end of the year.
In response to the risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, in March 2020
PFI secured a new $50 million liquidity facility from the Commonwealth Bank
of Australia, New Zealand Branch (CBA). In November 2020, the facility was
extended to 19 March 2022 and increased from $50 million to $100 million. The
extended and increased facility was in addition to the bonds and syndicated
bank facility PFI already had in place.
"Our portfolio revaluation uplift has made the Company more valuable. At the
same time we have shored up our ability to access cashflow to continue to
secure quality industrial properties in line with our strategy," says PFI
Chief Finance and Operating Officer, Craig Peirce.
The weighted average term to expiry of PFI's bonds and bank facilities stands
at 2.8 years as at the end of the year, and the Company ended the year with
gearing[2] of 30.0% and an interest cover ratio[3] of 4.1 times.
Craig Peirce concludes: "High levels of liquidity from a diverse range of
sources, ultra-low interest rates and headroom to covenant levels provide PFI
with a strong funding position, and the contracted divestment of Carlaw Park
will provide further funding flexibility."
Portfolio metrics healthy
(see table in attached PDF)
Further to the announcement in December 2020, PFI recorded an annual increase
in the value of its property portfolio from independent valuations of $72.5
million or 4.7% to $1,631.5 million. Around one-third of this valuation
outcome was due to rental growth, which in part reflects the successful
leasing outcomes, described below. Low interest rates are contributing to a
demand for industrial property investment that continues to outstrip supply,
resulting in movements in yields or cap rates that contributed the remaining
two thirds of the increase in value. As a result of portfolio and valuation
activity, PFI's passing yield firmed from 5.75% to 5.53%. An independent
market rental assessment of the entire portfolio was completed as part of the
valuation process, this assessment estimates that PFI's portfolio is around
2.5% under-rented.
Over 90,000 square metres, representing around 14% of PFI's existing
portfolio by rent, was leased during the year to 37 new and existing tenants
for an average increase in term of 7.5 years. Lease renewals accounted for
more than 70% of the contract rent secured. Across these leasing
transactions, low levels of incentives and capital expenditure were required
to attract and retain tenants, with average leasing costs of 0.6 months per
year of term.
The leasing market for industrial property remains robust, with vacancy still
at historically low levels. CBRE reports[4] Auckland Prime industrial vacancy
is at just 1.2%, with Secondary industrial vacancy at 1.7%.
Rent reviews were completed on 94 leases during the year, resulting in an
average annual uplift of 3.4% on ~$50.7 million of contract rent. 12 market
rent reviews on ~$4.2 million of contract rent delivered an annualised
increase of 2.8% over an average review period of 2.5 years. These market
rent reviews were settled at an average of approximately 1.7% above December
2019 market rental assessments.
At the end of the year, the Company's portfolio was 99.4% occupied and just
3.3% of contract rent is due to expire in 2021. When combined with rent
reviews, around 83% of PFI's portfolio is subject to some form of lease event
during 2021.
Significant strategic progress
Including the post balance date acquisition of industrial properties located
at 670-680 Rosebank Road in Avondale, Auckland, PFI has invested $183 million
in core industrial property since the beginning of 2019.
At the same time, $158 million of non-core property has been divested,
including the recently announced post balance date divestment of the Carlaw
Park properties in Parnell, Auckland.
On completion of the Rosebank Road acquisition and the Carlaw Park
divestment, PFI's portfolio will be 98% industrial, positioning the Company
to benefit from trends supporting long-term growth, such as e-commerce.
In 2021, we will continue to target acquisitions of core industrial
properties, as well as advancing our plans for some of our strategic sites,
such as our Bowden Road site in Mount Wellington, and our Springs Road site
in East Tamaki, where upcoming potential lease expiries may provide PFI with
significant redevelopment opportunities. The divestment of Shed 22 in
Wellington following completion of seismic works will also be a priority, as
will the recommencement of the build-to-lease development at 47 Dalgety Drive
in Wiri ($9.0 million).
Increased dividend guidance
Simon Woodhams notes: "PFI has delivered robust results, with an increase in
both FFO and AFFO earnings. The Company has a strong balance sheet, and our
industrial property portfolio is in great shape, with forecast growth in
rents."
Craig Peirce continues: "Our average AFFO dividend pay-out ratio has been
100% since we began disclosing this metric in 2016[5]. Now that dividends are
comfortably AFFO covered, we are pleased to advise a lift in forecast
dividends of 0.15 to 0.20 cents per share to 7.85 to 7.90 cents per share.
"We expect that this level of full year cash dividends will approximate 80%
to 90% of FFO earnings and 95% to 100% of AFFO earnings, in line with the
Company's dividend policy. This guidance is subject to there being no
material adverse changes in conditions or unforeseen events, including no
material tenant failures or further significant COVID-19 restrictions."
Closing
Simon Woodhams concludes: "This year, we took proactive steps to protect our
people and core business. At the same time, we held our course on our
strategy and retained the confidence of the market. The year's results show
that even when the country and the economy as a whole are struck by
unexpected events like the COVID-19 pandemic, our patient, long-term approach
remains relevant."
ENDS
ABOUT PFI & CONTACT
PFI is an NZX listed property vehicle specialising in industrial property.
PFI's nationwide portfolio of 95 properties is leased to 149 tenants.
For further information please contact:
SIMON WOODHAMS
Chief Executive Officer
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Phone: +64 21 749 770
Email: woodhams@propertyforindustry.co.nz
CRAIG PEIRCE
Chief Finance and Operating Officer
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Phone: +64 21 248 6301
Email: peirce@propertyforindustry.co.nz
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Property for Industry Limited
Shed 24, Prince's Wharf, 147 Quay Street, Auckland 1010
PO Box 1147, Shortland Street, Auckland 1140
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www.propertyforindustry.co.nz
Attachments
NZX Form - Results Announcement
NZX Form - Distribution Notice
Annual Results Presentation
Annual Report
Appendices
Appendix 1 - FFO and AFFO Calculations
(see table in attached PDF)
Appendix 2 - FFO and AFFO Dividend Pay-out Ratios
(see table in attached PDF)
Appendix 3 - AFFO Pay-out Ratios (2016 - 2020)
(see table in attached PDF)
[1] Funds From Operations (FFO) and Adjusted Funds From Operations (AFFO) are
non-GAAP financial information and are common property investor metrics,
which have been calculated in accordance with the guidelines issued by the
Property Council of Australia. Please refer to Appendix 1 for more detail as
to how these measures were calculated.
[2] That is, total borrowings as a percentage of the most recent independent
valuation of the property portfolio. Covenant: 50%.
[3] That is, the ratio of interest expense and bank fees to operating
earnings excluding interest expense and bank fees. Covenant: 2 times.
[4] CBRE "Auckland industrial and office vacancy Hot off the Press",
February 2021
[5] AFFO has been disclosed since the financial year ended 31 December 2016
(refer Appendix 3).
End CA:00367916 For:PFI Type:FLLYR Time:2021-02-22 08:31:35
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