Trading Statement

Taylor Woodrow PLC 10 January 2007 Taylor Woodrow plc, the international housing development company, today issues an update on trading for the year ended 31st December 2006. Preliminary results will be announced on 20th February 2007. Group Overall we anticipate full year results to be at the top end of expectations, after making a provision against our North America land positions. Group Housing At a consolidated level, home completions were up 5.2% to 13,165 (2005: 12,516). The Group landbank (owned and controlled) decreased to 68,662 plots (2005: 75,160), driven by a reduction in holdings in North America. The Group order book was also down at £1,070m (2005: £1,318m), with a decrease in North America offsetting increases in the UK and Spain. UK Housing We completed 8,294 homes in the steady market conditions experienced during 2006, up 1.4% on last year (2005: 8,178). Average selling prices increased by 4.3% to £193k (2005: £185k), reflecting both mix changes and increases in the underlying price per square foot. Sales rates remained good in the second half of the year, despite rises in interest rates. An increase of 5% in active sites during the second half contributed to a 30% increase in the order book to £534m (2005: £411m). As previously advised, margins for the full year are slightly ahead of those achieved in the first half. We have maintained our investment in the UK landbank, which now stands at 34,827 plots (2005: 34,985), representing 4.2 years of supply. North America Housing The US Housing market weakened considerably in 2006, as rising interest rates and growing concerns over affordability have affected confidence. However, the strategy of maximising forward sales during 2005 will enable us to report a strong result in North America for 2006, despite the impact of anticipated pre-tax land write-offs in the region of US$40m. These write-offs follow a full review of our year-end land positions and also include deposits on options not taken up. Home completions in 2006 were 4,492, up 14.2% on last year (2005: 3,932). Average selling prices were lower at US$427k (2005: US$452k) primarily due to the impact of our reduced exposure to luxury Florida high-rise completions in 2006. Our land development business remains robust, completing 2,639 lots (2005: 2,735). The overall order book for North America is down by 39.9% to US$854m. We reduced our land spend in North America during 2006, but retain a strong landbank of 31,353 owned or controlled plots (2005: 37,910) equivalent to 4.4 years of supply. Spain and Gibraltar Housing We continue to make progress in our operations in Spain and Gibraltar, although delays in obtaining habitation certificates meant home completions were down 6.7% to 379 (2005: 406). Average selling prices have increased to £205k (2005: £169k) reflecting the relative strength of the market in Mallorca compared to Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol. The forward order book stood at £100m at the year end (2005: £81m) and we own or control 2,482 plots up 9.6% on last year (2005: 2,265) and representing 6.5 years of supply. Construction The performance of our Construction operation is in line with expectations. Gearing The year-end net debt position has been reduced below last year's level. Year-end gearing will be around 20%. Outlook The UK housing market remains good. Underlying fundamentals are strong due to the continuing significant undersupply of new housing. However, despite strong price appreciation at a national level, there were wide regional variations and customer confidence could be damaged if further interest rate rises materialise in 2007. Assuming market conditions remain stable, our strong landbank provides us with good opportunities for growth in 2007 and 2008. In North America, although the markets in Arizona, California and Florida remain challenging and difficult to predict, current market conditions in Texas and Ontario are healthy. We continue to be confident in the prospects for the business in the medium-term, but expect to see significant reductions in both operating margin and return on capital employed during 2007. In Spain we are well-placed to benefit from any land acquisition opportunities that market conditions might present. -ends- Notes to editors: Taylor Woodrow is a housing development group. Its primary business is the development of sustainable communities of high quality homes across the UK and in selected markets in North America and Spain. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and in the year ending 31 December 2005 turnover increased by 5% to £3.5 billion. For further information please visit the company's website - www.taylorwoodrow.com For further information please contact: Taylor Woodrow Jonathan Drake (Investor Relations) 0121 600 8394 / 07816 517 039 Ian Morris (Media Enquiries) 0121 600 8520 / 07816 518 767 Bell Pottinger Ben Woodford / Dan de Belder 020 7861 3232 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
UK 100

Latest directors dealings