Telford Homes PLC | Trad...Update | FE InvestEgate

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4/22/2015

Telford Homes PLC | Trading Update | FE InvestEgate

Telford Homes PLC

Trading Update RNS Number : 9218K Telford Homes PLC 22 April 2015  

 

  Press  Release

22  April  2015

    Telford  Homes  Plc   ("Telford  Homes"  or  the  "Group")   Trading  Update   Telford  Homes  (AIM:  TEF),  the  London-­‐focused  residential  property  developer,  is  pleased  to  provide  the  following  trading  update  ahead  of  its preliminary  results  for  the  year  ended  31  March  2015,  which  will  be  announced  on  Wednesday,  27  May  2015.   Highlights ·

Consistently  strong  demand  with  contracts  exchanged  on  661  open  market  properties

 

in  the  year  to  31  March  2015,  a  significant  increase  on  the  prior  year  (2014:  515) ·

Developing   in   areas   of   non-­‐prime,   inner   London   where   demand   exceeds   supply   and   property  prices  have  continued  to  increase  at  a  modest  rate

·

Operating   profit   margin   expected   to   be   higher   than   last   year   (2014:   17.1   per   cent

 

before  interest) ·

Profit  before  tax  for  the  year  to  31  March  2015  anticipated  to  be  above  current  market   expectations

·

Development  pipeline  as  at  31  March  2015  remains  over  £1  billion  of  future  revenue,   with  over  50  per  cent  of  this  forward  sold

·

93  per  cent  forward  sold  for  the  year  to  31  March  2016

·

£180   million   corporate   loan   facility   secured   in   March   2015,   supporting   the   Group's  

 

growth  plans  over  the  next  few  years   Current  trading Following   another   year   of   strong   trading   conditions   in   the   Group's   non-­‐prime,   inner   London   locations   the   Board   is   pleased   to   confirm   that   profit before  tax  for  the  year  to  31  March  2015  is  anticipated  to  be  above  market  expectations.    Both  gross  and  operating  profit  margin  are  expected  to be  higher  than  the  previous  year,  assisted  by  some  commercial  property  sales  at  higher  than  anticipated  prices  and  cost  inflation  being  less  than the  Board's  prudent  estimates.   The  Group  expects  margins  to  return  to  normal  levels  over  the  next  few  years  due  to  a  combination  of  factors  including  homes  completing  that were  sold  in  previous  years,  more  modest  price  inflation  and  greater  increases  in  some  material  and  labour  costs.    These  cost  pressures  are  being closely  monitored  and  are  not  expected  to  have  a  significant  impact  on  the  Board's  longer  term  forecasts.   Telford   Homes   operates   in   relatively   affordable   areas   of   inner   London   that   are   benefitting   from   ongoing   regeneration.     Whilst   property   prices   in London's  prime  markets  have  seen  some  cooling  off  in  recent  months,  demand  for  the  Group's  properties  remains  strong  and  prices  have  seen controlled  and  steady  growth  in  an  environment  of  continued  undersupply  of  new  homes.    These  conditions  will  sustain  the  London  property market  in  the  long  term  and  underpin  the  Group's  growth  plans.    The  Group's  customers  are  also  benefitting  from  a  cheaper  and  more  readily available  supply  of  mortgage  finance,  arising  from  lower  interest  rates  and  greater  competition  amongst  mortgage  providers.   The  Group  exchanged  contracts  for  the  sale  of  661  open  market  properties  in  the  year  to  31  March  2015,  an  increase  of  28  per  cent  over  last  year (2014:   515)   at   an   average   price   of   £459,000   (2014:   £400,000).     Forward   sold   properties   continue   to   generate   immediate   cash   receipts   from deposits   taken   and   enhance   longer   term   earnings   and   cash   flow   visibility.     The   Group   is   already   93   per   cent   sold   in   terms   of   open   market   homes expected  to  legally  complete  in  the  year  to  31  March  2016.   Recent   successful   sales   launches   include   Manhattan   Plaza   in   E14,   which   is   located   close   to   Canary   Wharf   and   will   benefit   from   the   new   Crossrail station  due  to  open  in  2018.    The  launch  started  in  London  less  than  two  weeks  ago  and  is  ongoing  overseas  with  50  per  cent  of  the  120  open market  apartments  already  sold.    Earlier  in  2015  the  Group  launched  The  Junction,  E1  where  half  of  the  26  open  market  homes  have  been  sold and  The  Town  Apartments  located  in  Kentish  Town,  where  all  15  open  market  homes  sold  out  in  a  single  weekend.   Development  pipeline

http://www.investegate.co.uk/ArticlePrint.aspx?id=201504220700169218K

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4/22/2015

Telford Homes PLC | Trading Update | FE InvestEgate In   2014   Telford   Homes   announced   that   its   development   pipeline   had   exceeded   £1   billion   in   future   revenue   for   the   first   time   following   a   number of  significant  site  purchases.    Since  that  date  the  Group  has  acquired  a  site  in  Redclyffe  Road,  Upton  Park  and  will  submit  a  planning  application for  more  than  170  homes  later  this  year.    The  Group  is  also  looking  at  many  other  opportunities  and  has  recently  agreed  terms  with  one  of  its affordable  housing  partners  on  a  regeneration  scheme  with  planning  permission  for  over  100  homes.   The  time  taken  to  achieve  planning  consents  remains  a  restriction  on  increasing  the  supply  of  new  homes  and  can  cause  delays  to  the  Group's planned  development  programmes.    In  recent  months  the  Group  has  finally  received  a  resolution  to  grant  planning  consent  for  a  development  on Caledonian  Road,  N1,  and  expects  to  complete  on  the  site  purchase  shortly.    The  development  will  consist  of  96  open  market  apartments  along with  60  affordable  homes  and  construction  is  anticipated  to  commence  in  the  next  few  months.   After  taking  account  of  the  high  volume  of  completions  in  the  second  half  of  the  year,  the  development  pipeline  as  at  31  March  2015  remains  at more  than  £1  billion  of  future  revenue  and  over  50  per  cent  of  this  is  forward  sold.   As   announced   in   March   2015,   the   Group   has   secured   a   £180   million   banking   facility   provided   by   its   existing   banking   partners,   HSBC,   RBS   and Santander,   and   a   new   partner,   Allied   Irish   Bank.     This   facility,   which   extends   to   March   2019,   provides   the   finance   to   support   the   current   pipeline and  the  Group's  growth  plans.   Outlook With  the  UK  General  Election  approaching,  tackling  the  housing  shortage  is  high  on  all  political  party  agendas  and  there  is  a  consensus  that  more needs   to   be   done   which   should   be   positive   for   the   housebuilding   industry.     The   Board   is   not   concerned   by   any   individual   policy   proposals announced  to  date,  given  the  Group's  typical  price  point,  and  so  far  there  has  been  no  sign  of  any  short  term  impact  on  demand  in  the  weeks leading  up  to  the  Election.   Telford   Homes   remains   focused   on   relatively   affordable   locations   in   London   that   are   experiencing   high   demand   from   owner-­‐occupiers,   investors and  tenants  due  to  a  long  term  shortage  of  supply.    The  Group  has  maintained  its  strong  pre-­‐sold  position  and  has  a  development  pipeline  that extends  into  2019.    With  the  new  £180  million  bank  facility  in  place,  the  Board  is  confident  that  Telford  Homes  can  maintain  and  supplement  this pipeline   and   that   there   are   many   opportunities   in   the   Group's   areas   of   operation.     This   will   assist   in   achieving   the   Board's   stated   long   term forecasts  including  a  significant  increase  in  both  output  and  profits  over  the  next  few  years.   Jon   Di-­‐Stefano,   Chief   Executive   of   Telford   Homes,   commented:   "Telford   Homes   is   operating   in   areas   of   London   that   benefit   from   a   stable property  market  and  yet  still  suffer  from  a  shortage  of  supply.    Demand  for  the  Group's  homes  has  remained  very  strong  and  I  am  pleased  to report  that  the  Board  anticipates  exceeding  current  market  expectations  for  profits  in  the  year  to  31  March  2015.   "Given  our  substantial  forward  sold  position  and  a  development  pipeline  of  over  £1  billion,  the  Group's  earnings  visibility  is  exceptionally  strong.   The  Board  expects  significant  growth  in  output  and  profits  over  the  next  few  years  and  remains  very  confident  in  the  long  term  prospects  for Telford  Homes."   -­‐  Ends  -­‐   For  further  information:   Telford  Homes  Plc

    Tel:  +44  (0)  1992  809  800  

Jon  Di-­‐Stefano,  Chief  Executive

www.telfordhomes.london  

Katie  Rogers,  Group  Financial  Director  

 

Shore  Capital  -­‐  Nomad  and  Joint  Broker Pascal  Keane  /  Patrick  Castle

Tel:  +44  (0)  20  7408  4090

  Peel  Hunt  LLP  -­‐  Joint  Broker

 

Alex  Vaughan  /  Hugh  Preston

Tel:  +44  (0)  20  7418  8900

  Media  enquiries: Abchurch

 

Henry  Harrison-­‐Topham  /  Quincy  Allan

Tel:  +44  (0)  20  7398  7702

henry.ht@abchurch-­‐group.com    

www.abchurch-­‐group.com

For  further  information,  please  see  www.telfordhomes.london  

This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange   END     TSTUARBRVWASUAR

http://www.investegate.co.uk/ArticlePrint.aspx?id=201504220700169218K

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