Citycon Oyj Stock Exchange Release 28 April 2016 at 09:00 hrs
JANUARY-MARCH 2016
- Gross rental income increased to EUR 63.3 million (Q1/2015: 46.1) mainly due
to the acquisition of Norwegian shopping centre company Sektor Gruppen AS
(Sektor) in July 2015. Gross rental income of Citycon’s Norwegian operations
amounted to EUR 20.7 million. The acquisition also increased net rental income
by EUR 18.3 million.
- EPRA Earnings increased by EUR 8.7 million, or 32.1%, to EUR 36.0 million
especially due to the acquisition of the Norwegian operations. EPRA Earnings per
share (basic) decreased slightly to EUR 0.040 (0.043) due to the substantially
higher number of shares.
- Earnings per share (basic) was EUR 0.06 (0.04). The increase was mainly a
result of higher fair value gains.
- The outlook remained unchanged.
KEY FIGURES
+---------------------+----+-------+-------+----+-------+
| | |Q1/2016|Q1/2015| %2)| 2015|
+---------------------+----+-------+-------+----+-------+
|Net rental |MEUR| 55.2| 39.8|38.9| 199.6|
|income | | | | | |
+---------------------+----+-------+-------+----+-------+
|Direct |MEUR| 47.9| 34.9|37.3| 175.4|
|Operating | | | | | |
|profit | | | | | |
+---------------------+----+-------+-------+----+-------+
|Earnings |EUR | 0.06| 0.04|52.1| 0.14|
|per share | | | | | |
|(basic)1) | | | | | |
+---------------------+----+-------+-------+----+-------+
|Fair |MEUR|4,079.1|2,801.7|45.6|4,091.6|
|value of | | | | | |
|investment properties| | | | | |
+---------------------+----+-------+-------+----+-------+
|Loan to |% | 45.0| 40.8|10.3| 45.7|
|Value (LTV) | | | | | |
+---------------------+----+-------+-------+----+-------+
|EPRA based | | | | | |
|key figures | | | | | |
+---------------------+----+-------+-------+----+-------+
|EPRA |MEUR| 36.0| 27.2|32.1| 130.8|
|Earnings | | | | | |
+---------------------+----+-------+-------+----+-------+
|EPRA |EUR | 0.040| 0.043|-5.4| 0.173|
|Earnings | | | | | |
|per share | | | | | |
|(basic)1) | | | | | |
+---------------------+----+-------+-------+----+-------+
|EPRA NAV |EUR | 2.78| 2.92|-4.7| 2.74|
|per share | | | | | |
+---------------------+----+-------+-------+----+-------+
1) Calculated with the issue-adjusted number of shares resulting from the rights
issue completed in July 2015.
2) Change from previous year. Change-% is calculated from exact figures.
CEO, MARCEL KOKKEEL:
The results for Q1 show a good start to 2016. The implementation of our
diversified Nordic strategy paid off with the Norwegian and Swedish portfolio
showing strong performance and balancing out the weaker retail environment in
Finland. The quality of our Norwegian portfolio could be seen in its solid net
rental income growth as well as strong valuation uplift. Overall, Citycon’s like
-for-like net rental income growth, including Norway and Kista Galleria, showed
growth of 0.6%. EPRA Earnings per share was close to last year’s level, whilst
the average number of shares was 40% higher than in Q1/2015.
In 2016, our focus will remain on operational improvement and capitalizing on
the synergies of a larger Citycon. We will also continue to upgrade the quality
of our portfolio via asset rotation and (re)developments. The pre-leasing of the
first phase of Iso Omena (re)development has reached over 90% and we look
forward to the opening in August when the 28,000 sq.m. extension will come
online. The grand opening of the 100,000 sq.m. shopping centre will follow in
May 2017. The (re)developments and committed property acquisitions, totalling
EUR 450 million, will begin contributing to earnings starting from Q3/2016. As a
result, we expect rental income and earnings to pick up in 2017.
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT
The macroeconomic environment in Citycon’s operating countries remained stable
during the first quarter of 2016. Citycon’s operating countries are nevertheless
currently on diverging macroeconomic courses: the business environment in
Norway, Sweden, Estonia and Denmark remains strong or relatively strong, while
the Finnish economy is still dragging behind other countries.
In 2016, the European Commission forecasts Euro area GDP growth to reach 1.7%.
Sweden and Estonia are showing stronger growth figures than the Euro area
average and Denmark is in line with the Euro area forecast while the GDP growth
for Finland is almost stagnated and is expected to remain relatively modest for
a sixth year in a row. Finland’s GDP growth is dependent on domestic demand,
structural reforms and recovery of the country’s stagnating export markets.
Norway’s GDP is expected to grow slightly below Euro area average due to the
recent slowdown in the oil industry, but stable growth in exports and public
consumption will support economic growth in the country.
BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT KEY FIGURES
+-------------+-------+------+------+-------+-------+----+
|% |Finland|Norway|Sweden|Estonia|Denmark|Euro|
| | | | | | |area|
+-------------+-------+------+------+-------+-------+----+
|GDP growth | 0.5| 1.5| 3.2| 2.1| 1.7| 1.7|
|forecast | | | | | | |
|for 2016 | | | | | | |
+-------------+-------+------+------+-------+-------+----+
|Unemployment,| 9.3| 4.8| 7.1| 6.4| 5.8|10.3|
|Feb 2016 | | | | | | |
+-------------+-------+------+------+-------+-------+----+
|Retail sales | -0.2| 3.1| 3.0| 5.0| 0.9| 2.4|
|growth, | | | | | | |
|Jan–Feb 2016 | | | | | | |
+-------------+-------+------+------+-------+-------+----+
Sources: European Commission, Eurostat, Statistics Finland/ Norway/Sweden/
Estonia/ Denmark
The unemployment rates in all Citycon’s operating countries remain below the
Euro area average (10.3%). In the beginning of the year 2016 consumer confidence
levels have stayed stable in Citycon’s operating countries. The consumer
confidence levels in Finland, Sweden and Denmark remain positive, while the
consumer confidence in Norway, Estonia and on average in Euro area is still
slightly negative. (Source: Eurostat) Consumer prices have remained almost
unchanged compared to the previous year in all Citycon’s operating countries
apart from Norway where the prices have increased. (Source: Statistics
Finland/Norway/Sweden/Estonia/Denmark)
Retail sales growth for the first two months of 2016 has been strong in Estonia,
Norway and Sweden, positive in Denmark, but still slightly negative in Finland.
(Source: Statistics Finland/Norway/Sweden/Estonia/Denmark)
In Finland the weak outlook for retail sales limits the rental growth potential
and prime rents are forecasted to remain unchanged in 2016. Also in Norway,
rents are expected to stay unchanged. In Sweden, prime shopping centre rents are
forecasted to increase 2-3% during 2016. In Estonia, downwards pressure on rents
has increased due to intensifying competition and new supply. (Source: JLL)
In Finland, the high activity in the investment market has continued and the
transaction volume doubled in the first quarter of 2016 compared to the previous
quarter. The demand for prime properties remains strong and the demand for
secondary properties has increased. In Norway the transaction volume for 2016
might see a slight decrease due to stricter requirement for equity by Norwegian
banks. In Sweden the transaction volume in the first quarter of 2016 was
relatively low, however, the market remains attractive and supply is still
limited which changes investors' risk-taking to more opportunistic investment
strategies. Prime shopping centre yields have moved in during the last year.
Also yields for secondary shopping centres have decreased due to easier finance
availability, investors’ willingness to take on more risk and the lack of prime
property investments. In Estonia, prime yields are perceived edging close to
their lows in the cycle. However, yield compression is still expected to
continue as real estate investment market remains attractive in the low interest
rate environment. (Source: JLL)
RISKS
The company’s core risks and uncertainties, along with its main risk management
actions and principles, are described in detail in the Annual and Sustainability
Report 2015 and in the Financial Statements 2015.
Citycon’s Board of Directors believes there have been no material changes to the
key risk areas outlined in the Annual and Sustainability Report 2015. The main
risks are associated with property values, leasing, development projects,
operations, environment and people and the availability and cost of financing.
DIVIDEND AND OTHER ASSET DISTRIBUTION
The AGM 2016 decided the below asset distribution for the financial year 2015:
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------+
|AGM 2016 decision | | |
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------+
|Dividend |EUR/share| 0.01|
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------+
|Equity repayment |EUR/share| 0.0275|
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------+
|- record date | | 18 March 2016|
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------+
|- payment date | | 29 March 2016|
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------+
| | | |
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------+
|Board’s authorisation issued by the AGM 2016 1)| | |
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------+
|Equity repayment |EUR/share| maximum 0.1125|
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------+
|- record dates to be separately decided | | |
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------+
|- payment dates | | 30 June 2016|
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------+
| | |30 September 2016|
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------+
| | | 31 December 2016|
+-----------------------------------------------+---------+-----------------+
1) Unless the Board of Directors decides otherwise for a justified reason, the
authorisation will be used to distribute equity repayment three times and the
payment dates of the equity repayments will be on 30 June 2016, 30 September
2016 and 31 December 2016. The equity repayment, based on a resolution of the
Board of Directors, will be paid to a shareholder registered in the company’s
shareholders’ register maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd on the record date
for the equity repayment. The Board of Directors will decide on the record date
in connection with each equity repayment decision. Citycon shall make separate
announcements of such Board resolutions. The authorisation is valid until the
opening of the next Annual General Meeting.
OUTLOOK
The outlook for the company has remained unchanged. Citycon forecasts the 2016
Direct Operating profit to change by EUR 20 to 34 million and EPRA Earnings to
change by EUR 9 to 23 million from previous year. Additionally, the company
expects EPRA EPS (basic) to be EUR 0.155–0.175.
These estimates are based on the existing property portfolio as well as on the
prevailing level of inflation, the EUR-SEK and EUR-NOK exchange rates, and
current interest rates. Premises taken offline for planned or ongoing
(re)development projects reduce net rental income during the year.
Financial calendar
Interim report Jan–Jun 2016 14 July around 9 a.m.
Interim report Jan–Sept 2016 20 October around 9 a.m.
Helsinki, 27 April 2016
Citycon Oyj
Board of Directors
For further information, please contact:
Eero Sihvonen, Executive VP and CFO
Tel. +358 50 557 9137
eero.sihvonen@citycon.com
Henrica Ginström, VP, IR and Communications
Tel. +358 50 554 4296
henrica.ginstrom@citycon.com
Citycon is an owner, developer and manager of urban grocery-anchored shopping
centres in the Nordic and Baltic region, managing assets that total EUR 4.7
billion and with market capitalisation of approximately EUR 2 billion. Citycon
is the No. 1 shopping centre owner in Finland and Estonia and among the market
leaders in Norway and Sweden. Citycon has also established a foothold in
Denmark.
Citycon has investment-grade credit ratings from Moody's (Baa1) and Standard &
Poor's (BBB). Citycon Oyj’s share is listed in Nasdaq Helsinki.
