2015-08-04 07:30:00 CEST

2015-08-04 07:30:04 CEST


REGULATED INFORMATION

English Finnish
Sponda - Interim report (Q1 and Q3)

Sponda Plc’s interim report January–June 2015


Sponda Plc                    Interim report 4 August 2015 at 8:30 a.m.


Sponda Plc's interim report January-June 2015



JANUARY-JUNE 2015 IN BRIEF (compared with 1 January - 30 June 2014)



  -- Total revenue was EUR 116.6 (126.1) million. The decline was primarily due
     to properties sold in 2014.
  -- Net operating income was EUR 82.1 (89.4) million. The decline was due to
     aforementioned disposals.
  -- Operating profit was EUR 91.9 (76.6) million. This includes a fair value
     change of EUR 12.4 (-1.8) million.
  -- Cash flow from operations per share was EUR 0.19 (0.17). 
  -- The fair value of the investment properties amounted to EUR 3,143.2
     (3,269.0) million.
  -- Net assets per share totalled EUR 4.65 (4.56).
  -- The economic occupancy rate was 86.3% (85.7%).
  -- The prospects remain unchanged.



APRIL-JUNE 2015 IN BRIEF (compared with 1 April - 30 June 2014)



  -- Total revenue was EUR 59.4 (62.6) million.
  -- Net operating income was EUR 42.5 (45.5) million. 
  -- Operating profit was EUR 64.4 (44.9) million. This includes a fair value
     change of EUR 22.3 (4.8) million.
  -- Cash flow from operations per share was EUR 0.11 (0.08).



KEY FIGURES



                                 4-6/2015  4-6/2014  1-6/2015  1-6/201  1-12/201
                                                                     4         4
Total revenue, M€                    59.4      62.6     116.6    126.1     246.7
Net operating income, M€             42.5      45.5      82.1     89.4     176.0
Operating profit, M€                 64.4      44.9      91.9     76.6     151.7
Earnings per share, €                0.14      0.09      0.17     0.13      0.24
Cash flow from operations per        0.11      0.08      0.19     0.17      0.37
 share, €                                                                       
Equity per share, €                                      4.65     4.56      4.65
Equity ratio*, %                                         40.7     40.1      41.0
Interest cover ratio                                      3.4      3.2       3.3
*) The figure for 1-6/2014 has been adjusted as a result of                     
 the adoption of the IFRIC 21 Levies                                            
interpretation.                                                                 





KEY FIGURES ACCORDING TO EPRA BEST PRACTICES RECOMMENDATIONS



                                          4-6/15  4-6/14  1-6/15  1-6/14  1-12/1
                                                                               4
EPRA Earnings, M€                           26.4    26.4    51.3    51.7   101.6
EPRA Earnings per share, €                  0.09    0.09    0.18    0.18    0.36
Company adjusted Earnings, M€               28.9    27.6    53.5    53.6   108.7
Company adjusted Earnings per share, €      0.10    0.10    0.19    0.19    0.38
EPRA NAV/share, €                                           5.47    5.31    5.45
EPRA NNNAV/share, €                                         4.50    4.44    4.49
EPRA Net Initial Yield (NIY), %                             5.48    5.58    5.18
EPRA “topped-up” NIY, %                                     5.49    5.59    5.19
EPRA Vacancy rate, %                                       13.68   14.30   12.96
EPRA Cost Ratio (including direct                                          17.26
 vacancy costs), %                                                              
EPRA Cost Ratio (excluding direct                                          11.96
 vacancy costs), %                                                              



PRESIDENT AND CEO KARI INKINEN

Sponda's rental operations were stable in the second quarter. Net operating
income grew compared to the previous quarter in spite of the disposal of
properties. The economic occupancy rate increased slightly, or remained stable,
compared to the first quarter of the year in all of the Finnish segments, which
is something we can be particularly pleased about. 

We sold two properties in Moscow at the end of the second quarter of 2015. This
was a significant accomplishment in the prevailing economic situation. Property
sales at the end of the review period had a negative effect on the Group's
economic occupancy rate. Nevertheless, Sponda's economic occupancy rate was
more than half a percentage point higher than at the corresponding time last
year. 

The Lassila office property was completed on schedule at the end of June, and
the first tenants have already moved in. The property has a total leasable area
of 4,600 m2 and it was 65% leased at the time of completion. Sponda set up its
first virtual lobby in the office building, which will allow us to gather
experiences with regard to Sponda's other properties. 

We currently have two significant property development projects in the
construction phase. The first of these, the office building in Helsinki's
Ilmala district, will be completed at the end of this year. The second is the
Ratina shopping centre in Tampere, which will be completed in summer 2018. 

BUSINESS CONDITIONS - FINLAND

The Finnish economy remained in recession in the first quarter of 2015.
According to preliminary data from Statistics Finland, Finnish GDP decreased by
0.1% compared to the previous quarter and remained unchanged year-on-year. The
Finnish Ministry of Finance has reduced its growth forecast for 2015. According
to the forecast, Finnish GDP will grow by 0.3% in 2015. Exports are expected to
grow by only 0.3% this year, but the rate of export growth is predicted to
increase to 3.3% in 2016 as economic growth in the eurozone accelerates. The
GDP growth rate for 2016 is forecast to be 1.4%. 

The transaction market was very active in the second quarter of 2015 with a
volume of approximately EUR 2.2 billion. The total transaction volume from the
start of the year until the end of June was approximately EUR 2.6 billion.
International investors accounted for 39% of the total volume. At this rate,
the transaction volume for the full year 2015 will exceed the previous year's
level of EUR 4.3 billion. 

New construction activity has been low due to the weak economic situation.
According to KTI Property Information, approximately 100,000 m2 of office space
was completed in the Helsinki metropolitan area in 2014, with 94,000 m2 under
construction in spring 2015. Business premises construction will increase when
work begins on two major shopping centres in Helsinki: Redi in Kalasatama and
Tripla in Pasila. In Tampere, the construction of the Ratina shopping centre
began in April. 

The vacancy rates for office premises in the Helsinki metropolitan area
increased last winter. At the end of March, the vacancy rate stood at
approximately 13%. According to KTI Property Information, the situation
deteriorated in Helsinki, remained unchanged in Vantaa and improved slightly in
Espoo. 

BUSINESS CONDITIONS - RUSSIA

According to the World Bank, Russian GDP grew by 0.6% in 2014. According to a
World Bank forecast, Russian GDP declined by 2.2% in the first quarter of 2015,
and the GDP growth forecast for the full year is -2.7%. The GDP growth forecast
for 2016 is 0.7%. The forecast is based on a predicted slight increase in oil
prices, which would support the appreciation of the rouble and a decrease ininflation. 

Activity in transaction market picked up slightly compared to the first
quarter. The volume in the second quarter was approximately USD 0.7 billion,
and the total volume for the first half of the year was approximately USD 1.1
billion. This represents a year-on-year decline of 30%. Offices accounted for
71% of the total transaction volume, and 97% of the investments were in Moscow.
International buyers accounted for approximately 30% of the total. 

Preliminary information from CBRE indicates that the average vacancy rate for
office premises in Moscow decreased slightly in the second quarter and stood at
17%. The vacancy rate for Class B office space was 14%, while the vacancy rate
for Class A office space was 26%. 

There were no major changes in rental levels in the second quarter. For some
Class A office premises in central Moscow, rental levels declined by 5-7%.
Rental levels remained unchanged for Class B office premises as well as Class A
office premises outside the city centre. 

Some 224,000 m2 of new office space was completed in the first half of the
year. Of this total, 66% was Class A office space and 34% was Class B office
space. CBRE predicts that the volume for the full year will be approximately
1.1 million square metres. 

OPERATIONS AND PROPERTY ASSETS 1 JANUARY - 30 JUNE 2015

At the end of June 2015, an external consultant assessed the values of Sponda's
investment properties in Finland (Catella Property Oy) and in Russia (CB
Richard Ellis). The change in fair value of the investment properties in
January-June was EUR 12.4 (-1.8) million and in April-June alone EUR 22.3 (4.8)
million. The value of Sponda's properties in Finland developed favourably
primarily due to a decrease in yield requirements. The negative change in fair
value of properties in Russia was attributable to changes in yield requirements
and market rents. The changes in fair values are itemised in the table
“Valuation gains/losses on fair value assessment”. 

Valuation gains/losses on fair value assessment

M€



                                          4-6/15  4-6/14  1-6/15  1-6/14  1-12/1
                                                                               4
Changes in yield requirements (Finland)     32.2     3.3    32.2     3.3    15.7
Changes in yield requirements (Russia)      -7.4     0.0    -7.4     0.0   -10.0
Development gains on property                1.8     0.0     2.9     0.0     5.5
 development projects                                                           
Modernisation investments                   -9.7   -10.7   -20.7   -16.2   -42.0
Change in market rents and maintenance       9.2    10.0    18.4    15.4    40.3
 costs (Finland)                                                                
Change in market rents and maintenance      -2.8     0.4   -15.3    -6.8   -19.3
 costs (Russia)                                                                 
Change in currency exchange rates           -1.1     2.7     2.2     1.5     5.9
Investment properties, total                22.3     5.7    12.4    -2.8    -3.9
Real estate funds                            0.0    -2.7     0.0    -2.6    -1.8
Realised share of real estate fund           0.0     1.9     0.0     3.5     5.5
 profits                                                                        
Group, total                                22.3     4.8    12.4    -1.8    -0.2



Sponda has determined the fair values of its investment properties in
accordance with the company's established accounting principles. A higher than
usual level of uncertainty is related to the valuation due to the economic
situation in Russia, sanctions and strong fluctuations in the rate of the
rouble. Especially the lack of comparable sales, changes to lease agreements
agreed upon with tenants and the rouble becoming increasingly common as the
contract currency have increased uncertainty. 

RENTAL OPERATIONS

Sponda calculates the growth in net rental yield for its properties according
to EPRA Best Practices Recommendations by using a like-for-like net rental
growth formula based on a comparable property portfolio owned by the company
for two years. Like-for-like net rental growth was 1.8% (5.3%) for office
premises, 2.5% (8.5%) for shopping centres, 18.8% (-5.2%) for logistics
premises and -4.6% (-15.8%) for properties in Russia. The like-for-like figure
for Russia is adjusted for changes in exchange rates to better reflect the true
change. All of Sponda's lease agreements in Finland are tied to the cost of
living index. 

The economic occupancy rates by type of property and geographical area were as
follows: 



Type of property          30.6.2015  31.3.2015  31.12.2014  30.9.2014  30.6.2014
Office properties, %           88.1       87.9        88.5       88.3       87.9
Shopping centres, %            89.8       90.3        91.2       89.3       90.4
Logistics, %                   68.6       68.5        64.9       65.6       71.9
Russia, %                      84.5       90.1        90.4       89.4       89.0
Total property                 86.3       86.8        87.0       86.5       85.7
 portfolio, %                                                                   
Geographical area         30.6.2015  31.3.2015  31.12.2014  30.9.2014  30.6.2014
Helsinki business              88.3       88.2        89.3       88.3       89.4
 district, %                                                                    
Helsinki Metropolitan          83.7       83.6        83.1       83.2       82.2
 Area, %                                                                        
Turku, Tampere, Oulu, %        92.3       92.9        93.2       92.2       90.4
Russia, %                      84.5       90.1        90.4       89.4       89.0
Total property                 86.3       86.8        87.0       86.5       85.7
 portfolio, %                                                                   





The decline in the occupancy rate in Russia was influenced by the sale of two
fully occupied properties at the end of June 2015. 



DIVESTMENTS AND INVESTMENTS

Divestments M€



                 1.4.-30.6.2  1.4.-30.6.2  1.1.-30.6.2  1.1.-30.6.2  1.1.-31.12.
                         015          014          015          014         2014
Properties sold                                                                 
Selling price           50.1          6.7         56.4          7.0        237.2
Profit/loss on          -1.1          0.5         -1.4          0.6          0.6
 sale*                                                                          
Balance sheet           51.2          6.2         57.8          6.4        236.6
 value                                                                          



*) Includes transaction costs



Investments M€



                       1.4.-30.6.  1.4.-30.6.  1.1.-30.6.  1.1.-30.6  1.1.-31.12
                             2015        2014        2015      .2014       .2014
Properties acquired           0.0         0.0         0.0        0.0       -65.0
Maintenance                  -9.7       -10.7       -20.7      -16.2       -42.0
 investments                                                                    
Property development        -14.7        -5.2       -25.5       -8.5       -22.0
 investments                                                                    



Property development investments were mainly directed to the construction of
office buildings in Ilmala and Lassila in Helsinki. 

RISKS AND UNCERTAINTY FACTORS IN THE NEAR FUTURE

Sponda estimates that the risks and uncertainty factors in the current
financial year are primarily related to the development of the Finnish and
Russian economies. 

In Russia, these risks are related to the decline of tenants' solvency and a
decrease in the economic occupancy rate. The depreciation of the Russian rouble
may cause tenant insolvency and a decrease in property values. The operations
in Russia present a foreign exchange risk to Sponda. Changes in exchange rates
may cause exchange rate losses that have a negative impact on the company's
financial result. The uncertain situation in the Russian market may slow down
the sale of Sponda's properties in Russia in 2015. 

The weak development of the Finnish economy may cause a decline in net
operating income and tenant insolvency. 

For Sponda's property development projects, the key risk is related to the
degree of success in leasing premises. 

PROSPECTS FOR 2015

Sponda provides prospects for 2015 with regard to the development of the
company's net operating income and adjusted EPRA Earnings. 

Net operating income

Sponda estimates that the net operating income for 2015 will amount to EUR
158-168 million. The estimate is based on the company's view of property sales
to be completed and the development of rental operations during the year. 

Adjusted EPRA Earnings

Sponda estimates that company adjusted EPRA Earnings in 2015 will amount to EUR
95-105 million. This outlook is based on the development of net operating
income and the company's estimate of the development of financial expenses. 





4.8.2015
Sponda Plc
Board of Directors





Additional information:
Kari Inkinen, President and CEO, tel. +358 20 431 3311 or +358 400 402 653 and
Pia Arrhenius, SVP, Corporate Planning and IR, tel. +358 20 431 3454 or
+358 40 527 4462.







Distribution:
NASDAQ OMX Helsinki
Media
www.sponda.fi