Announcement
HALFYR: KPG: KPG reports 164% profit growth, delivers on strategy
08:30am
KPG
22/11/2021 08:30
HALFYR
PRICE SENSITIVE
REL: 0830 HRS Kiwi Property Group Limited
HALFYR: KPG: KPG reports 164% profit growth, delivers on strategy
o Net profit after tax: $143.2m (+164.1% on the prior comparable period
(pcp))
o Investment property fair value movement: +$93.6m (+2.8%)
o Net tangible assets per share: $1.42 (+6 cents per share (cps))
o Net rental income: $94.0m (+11.5% on pcp)
o Operating profit before tax [Note 1]: $62.5m (+8.0% on pcp)
o Adjusted funds from operations [Note 1]: 3.06cps (+31.6% on pcp)
o Gearing: 30.7% (FY21 31.2%)
o Interim dividend: 2.75cps
Kiwi Property today announced a robust financial result for the six months
ended 30 September 2021, reporting an uplift in all key operating metrics on
the prior comparable period, including growth in income, profitability, asset
values and interim dividend, despite the impact of COVID-19.
Net profit after tax was $143.2 million, up 164.1% on the same time last
year, underpinned by a $93.6 million increase in the fair value of the
company's investment properties. Operating profit before tax rose 8.0% to
$62.5 million, driven by an increase in net rental income, which grew 11.5%
to $94.0 million.
Kiwi Property's mixed-use, office and other properties were worth $3.5
billion as at 30 September 2021, up 2.8%, highlighting the strength of the
company's portfolio. Office was once again the highest performing of the
asset classes recording a fair value gain of 4.9% to $1.1 billion. Kiwi
Property's mixed-use portfolio, including Sylvia Park, LynnMall and The Base,
also experienced a valuation uplift, climbing 2.5% to $1.7 billion.
Kiwi Property Chief Executive Officer, Clive Mackenzie said the company's
solid half-year performance was particularly pleasing given the financial
headwinds caused by the pandemic.
"Kiwi Property's financial position and diversified property portfolio have
remained resilient, despite the impact of COVID-19. The opening of the Sylvia
Park Level 1 expansion had a positive impact on sales, driving increases in
both income and operating profit. We're operating in a challenging market and
the full financial impact of recent lockdowns won't be known until the second
half of our financial year. We enter that period in good shape though, well
placed to tackle whatever comes next."
Resilient tenant portfolio
Recent COVID-19 lockdowns have placed a number of businesses under
significant pressure. Kiwi Property is committed to sharing a fair proportion
of the financial impact of the pandemic and supporting its small and medium
sized tenants, in particular, to successfully navigate the pandemic. A $7.4
million rent relief provision was recorded in the first half of the financial
year and a similar cost is expected for the second half [Note 2].
Kiwi Property's customer-centric approach has enabled the company to minimise
vacancy, maintain productive shopping centres, and helped safeguard the
long-term performance of the company's assets. At the half-year, Kiwi
Property's assets were 99.8% occupied, with a robust weighted average lease
expiry of 5.2 years and rental growth of approximately 3.0%.
Delivering on strategy
"Over the past six months we've made significant progress on our mixed-use
ambition; breaking ground on new developments, launching a new asset class
and identifying new funding streams," said Mackenzie.
"Despite the volatile macro-economic climate, our evolution into a creator of
integrated retail, office and residential communities has more momentum than
ever," he added.
Build-to-rent
Kiwi Property has begun construction of New Zealand's first major
build-to-rent development, marking an important milestone in the delivery of
the company's mixed-use strategy. The $221 million, 295 apartment complex
will be located at Sylvia Park in Auckland, accelerating the site's evolution
into an integrated retail, office and residential community. The development
has a target stabilised net yield of approximately 4.5% and 10 year property
internal rate of return of over 8.0%.
"Build-to-rent is poised to become an important part of our portfolio,
further diversifying our asset base, unlocking growth and promoting valuation
uplift. With our large mixed-use landholdings, including Sylvia Park and
LynnMall, we're in a unique position to deliver build-to-rent at scale in
this country. Based on current plans, more than 1,200 residential apartments
could potentially be added to Sylvia Park in the next decade," said
Mackenzie.
LynnMall
Resource consent has been obtained for a 25 level mixed-use development at
LynnMall, which will integrate a compelling combination of ground floor
retail, three commercial office levels and a 19 floor build-to-rent tower.
Located on LynnMall's south west corner, the proposed mixed-use development
is expected to become the tallest structure in west Auckland, making it a
distinctive and iconic landmark. Construction of the development could begin
as early as 2022, pending funding and approval.
Sustainability
Kiwi Property continues to make substantive progress on its sustainability
journey, with the Global Real Estate Benchmark (GRESB) awarding the company a
score of 80 (out of 100) for its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
performance in 2021, a strong result for a first time participant. This
achievement places Kiwi Property among an impressive group of real estate
organisations and sets a solid platform for further progress.
In addition, the company has supported Waikato-Tainui and the Waikato
District Health Board to establish the region's largest vaccination centre at
Te Awa, The Base. More than 50,000 vaccinations have been administered at the
facility since it opened in July.
Dividend and outlook
Kiwi Property will pay an interim dividend of 2.75 cents per share for the
period ended 30 September 2021. Despite the expected cost of COVID-19 rental
abatements, the company continues to target a total dividend of no less than
5.30 cps [Note 3] for the 2022 financial year, up from 5.15 cps the year
before.
Outlook
Kiwi Property Chair, Mark Ford said "Kiwi Property took a number of important
steps forward in the delivery of its strategy over the past six months. Our
priority is to maintain this pace of execution, while continuing to unlock
additional growth and development opportunities. COVID-19 will invariably
cause challenges in the months ahead, but we will tackle them head-on, as we
continue striving to create long-term value for our shareholders and other
stakeholders."
>ENDS
Notes:
1: Operating profit before tax and AFFO are alternative non-GAAP performance
measures. Refer to the interim presentation accompanying this announcement
for definitions.
2: Absent lockdowns beyond 30 November 2021 or adverse impacts arising from
the Government's recent changes to the Property Law Act.
3: Contingent on the performance of the company through the second half of
the financial year and barring material adverse effects or unforeseen
circumstances.
Contact us for further information:
Clive Mackenzie
Chief Executive Officer
clive.mackenzie@kp.co.nz
Campbell Hodgetts
Communications and Investor Relations Lead
campbell.hodgetts@kp.co.nz
+64 27 563 4985
About us:
Kiwi Property (NZX: KPG) is one of the largest listed property companies on
the New Zealand Stock Exchange and is a member of the S&P/NZX 20 Index. We've
been around for over 25 years and proudly own and manage a significant real
estate portfolio, comprising some of New Zealand's best mixed-use, retail and
office buildings. Our objective is to provide investors with a reliable
investment in New Zealand property through the ownership and active
management of a diversified, high-quality portfolio. S&P Global Ratings has
assigned Kiwi Property an issuer credit rating of BBB (stable) and an issue
credit rating of BBB+ for each of its fixed rate senior secured bonds. Kiwi
Property is the highest rated New Zealand company within CDP (Carbon
Disclosure Project) and is a member of FTSE4 Good, a series of benchmark and
tradable indices for ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) investors.
Kiwi Property is licensed under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008. To find out
more, visit our website kp.co.nz
End CA:00383220 For:KPG Type:HALFYR Time:2021-11-22 08:30:59
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