Business Update for Q4
Great Portland Estates PLC
02 April 2007
Business Update for GPE's fourth quarter
2 April 2007
Great Portland Estates plc ('GPE' or the 'Group') announces an encouraging start
to 2007, encompassing the last quarter of its financial year:
1. The execution of the Group's development programme is on track
with several important milestones reached.
2. Sustained tenant demand is being converted into new lettings at
the Group's redeveloped and refurbished buildings.
3. GPE has continued to recycle capital out of mature assets and
into new opportunities for significant potential for valuation growth.
4. Several financing transactions have been implemented to optimize
the Group's cost of capital and support future growth initiatives.
1. Development progress
The Group's development business continues to make good progress across the 25
schemes in the programme. Of these, 14 are in the near-term programme
representing a completed area of 1.1 million sq ft. Key points during the
quarter include:
• Practical completion was successfully taken at four schemes totaling
213,000 sq ft being 180 Great Portland Street, 60/62 Margaret Street, phase
1 of 222 Regent Street and at Kent House, Market Place, all in the West End.
• Construction work progressed well at the Titchmor scheme on Mortimer
Street, W1 (110,000 sq ft), 60 Great Portland Street, W1 (87,000 sq ft),
Foley Street, W1 (21,000 sq ft), all in the West End and at Tooley Street,
SE1 (198,000 sq ft).
• Margaret Street and Tooley Street are being managed on behalf of third
parties and GPE will recognise revenue from these projects for the year to
March 2007 in-line with managements' expectations.
• Resolution to grant planning permission was obtained during March at
Bermondsey Street and Blackfriars Road, both in SE1, for a total of 238,000
sq ft of commercial space, up from the existing area of 64,000 sq ft.
2. Occupational Market and recent lettings
The central London office markets are performing strongly. Good interest from a
diverse range of potential tenants is coming up against a falling supply of new
high quality space, particularly in the West End. As a result, the trends seen
in rental value growth during the last quarter of 2006 are continuing into 2007.
During its fourth quarter, GPE has signed 14 new leases (5 of which were in the
Group's joint ventures), over 99,000 square feet, with an annual rental value of
over £5.9 million (GPE economic interest of £4.0 million). Specific highlights
include:
• Elsley House, Great Titchfield Street, W1: The ground, first and second
floors were let prior to practical completion of the refurbishment at an
average rent of £47.50 sq ft, 10% ahead of the rental value as at 31
December 2006.
• 180 Great Portland Street, W1: Following the marketing launch in
February, the third floor has been let at £55 per sq ft, 11% ahead of
the rental value as at 31 December 2006.
• Kent House, Market Place, W1: The first, fifth, sixth and
seventh floors have been let in three separate transactions at rents
of between £52.50 and £65 per sq ft within weeks of completing the
recent refurbishment programme and at an average of 16% ahead of the
rental value as at 31 December 2006.
3. Investment activity
The Group has continued to find investment opportunities during the
quarter, building on the successes of 2006. Three properties have been
acquired for a combined purchase price of £34.4 million, two of which
add to the Group's Hanover Square Estate which now totals 1.3 acres of
prime Mayfair with numerous asset management and development
opportunities.
The Group sold two properties during the quarter. A 20,500 sq ft office
building on New Cavendish Street, W1 was sold for £14.2 million at a yield
of 4.3%, whilst the Group's joint venture with Liverpool Victoria sold its
interest in Verulam Gardens, Gray's Inn Road, WC1 for £24.2 million, booking
a 54% premium to the March 2006 valuation. REIT status has allowed the Group
to execute these disposals on a tax free basis.
On 29 March 2007, the Group announced the creation of a new £460 million 50/50
joint venture with Liberty International subsidiary, Capital and Counties Ltd
('C&C') to be managed by the Group on similar terms to its existing joint
ventures. C&C will contribute 16 properties with a starting value of £299
million, the majority of which are in the West End, while GPE will put in 4
properties worth £162 million and pay a balancing sum of £68 million in cash.
Based on 31 December 2006 values, the transaction brings total assets under
management to £1.9 billion, up from £1.6 billion, of which the Group's economic
interest is £1.5 billion.
4. Financing transactions
A busy period of capital structure management has seen the Group simplify its
debt portfolio and strengthen the platform to fund future business development
activities. A 'tap' issue of £50 million nominal of GPE's 2029 5.625% debentures
was successfully placed and the maturity of the Group's £300 million credit
facility was extended by one year to 2012. Following the notice given to
holders of the 5.25% Convertible Bonds 2008 (the 'Bonds') on 22 February 2007,
the Bonds have now been converted to new ordinary shares in GPE. As at 31 March
2007 the outstanding issued number of shares in GPE was 181.0 million. The
remaining 2027 7.25% debentures were redeemed on 28 March 2007.
Commenting on the three months to 31 March 2007, Toby Courtauld, Chief Executive
said 'we have seen good progress across all areas of the business so far this
year and we remain on track to deliver against our performance objectives. We
are seeing good levels of tenant demand which has helped rents to grow across
our near term development schemes. We expect investment markets in central
London to remain intensely competitive. However, we are seeing significant deal
flow and we remain confident that we will be able to continue our successful run
of finding new opportunities for future growth'.
Contacts:
Great Portland Estates plc
Toby Courtauld Chief Executive 44 (0)20 7647 3042
Timon Drakesmith Finance Director 44 (0)20 7647 3034
Finsbury
James Murgatroyd 44 (0)20 7251 3801
Gordon Simpson 44 (0)20 7251 3801
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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