AGM Statement
Great Portland Estates PLC
08 July 2005
8 July 2005
AGM Statement
Richard Peskin, Chairman of Great Portland Estates plc, will make the following
comments at today's AGM, to be held at Le Meridien, 21 Piccadilly, London, W1.
'Great Portland is well positioned to benefit from the strengthening central
London occupational market. Following sales of property since March 2004,
totalling some £160.2 million, the portfolio is now 100% located in the capital,
with almost 77% in the West End. This market is showing the early signs of a
supply shortage with a limited pipeline of new developments and initial take-up
figures for the second quarter of this year suggesting a strong increase over
the first. Consequently, we remain optimistic about the prospects for rental
growth.
In the City market, the supply of space is falling, but remains higher than in
the West End. Second quarter take-up figures were healthy, slightly better than
in the first, and we expect rental growth to return during 2006 for the best
quality buildings.
We continue to make good progress on our development programme. At Met Building,
which is 43% let by rental value at rents well ahead of our initial
expectations, I am pleased to report that we have strong interest in much of the
remainder. Redevelopment work is progressing well at all our West End projects
and since the year end we have received planning permission for the
redevelopment of Knighton House, Mortimer Street, where work is anticipated to
begin on an 80,000 sq ft scheme early next year.
We have made a number of interesting acquisitions since the year end with
purchases in the West End in Foley Street, and the Liberty Island site in Regent
Street and Kingly Street, the latter two in a joint venture with Liverpool
Victoria. We intend to maintain our disciplined approach to pricing and, with
investment yields still compressing under the weight of capital looking for
assets to buy, we expect opportunities to be limited in the short term. We are
likely to continue to take advantage of this high demand through sales of
property where we see limited angles for further value enhancement. Indeed,
since the year end, we have sold two properties for a total of £24.8 million,
generating a surplus of £2.5 million on their March 2005 book values.
Asset management activity continues to drive cashflows across the portfolio.
Since the year end, leases have been regeared at 160 Great Portland Street, Bond
Street House on New Bond Street, the Liberty Island site on Regent Street, 14
Hanover Square and Ellerman House, Camomile Street, EC2, all of which have
helped to maintain the group's void rate, including Met Building, at 6.9%,
comparing favourably with the central London market rate as a whole of
approximately 12%.
Last year was a busy and successful one for Great Portland, during which we
achieved most of our immediate strategic goals and generated attractive returns
for shareholders. With a strong balance sheet, a development programme growing
both in size and prospects and occupational markets appearing to be well set, we
look forward with confidence to building on the real progress we have made in
the last couple of years.'
Contacts:
Great Portland Estates plc
Toby Courtauld, Chief Executive 020 7612 1442
Finsbury
Edward Orlebar 020 7251 3801
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