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BALWIN PROPERTIES LIMITED - Voluntary Business and Trading Statement for the year ended 28 February 2022

Release Date: 23/03/2022 07:30
Code(s): BWN     PDF:  
Wrap Text
Voluntary Business and Trading Statement for the year ended 28 February 2022

Balwin Properties Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
Registration number 2003/028851/06
Share code: BWN
ISIN: ZAE000209532
(“Balwin” or “the company” or “the group”)

VOLUNTARY BUSINESS AND TRADING STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 28 FEBRUARY 2022

HIGHLIGHTS

    -       Approximately 2 960 apartments sold and recognised in revenue in the year (2021: 2 546
            apartments).
    -       Growth of four new developments included in revenue in the year, namely, Thaba Eco
            Village (Johannesburg South), Izinga Eco Estate (KwaZulu-Natal, Umhlanga), De Aan-Zicht
            (Western Cape, Milnerton) and Greenbay (Western Cape, Somerset West).
    -       Broadening of funding base through introduction of term funding through new R560 million
            unsecured facilities from local lending institutions.
    -       Further improvement to level 4 B-BBEE rating (previously level 5 B-BBEE rating) as a result of
            the successful implementation of the BEE transaction.
    -       Achieved Six-Star Green ratings from The Green Building Council of South Africa
            (“GBCSA”) for quality of design, construction and operation for six of our developments
            and a Net Zero Carbon rating due to the efficient usage of power by our lifestyle centres.
    -       Obtained Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies (“EDGE”) Advanced Certification
            for approximately 6 990 apartments from the International Finance Corporation (“IFC”).
    -       Received a further seven international awards at the Africa and Arabia Property Awards,
            with three awards subsequently winning in their respective category for “Best in Africa” for
            Greencreek, Munyaka and The Blyde developments.

VOLUNTARY TRADING STATEMENT

The following voluntary disclosure is made in accordance with Section 3.4(b) of the JSE
Limited’s Listings Requirements:

        -      Consolidated earnings per share for the year ended
               28 February 2022 (“the period”) is expected to increase by between 4% and 9% over
               the prior corresponding period. This translates into an increase from the prior financial
               year’s 71.7 cents to a range between 74.5 and 78.1 cents per share.
        -      Consolidated headline earnings per share for the period is expected to increase by
               between 2% and 7% over the prior corresponding period. This translates into an
               increase from the prior financial year’s 71.5 cents to a range between 72.9 and 76.5
               cents per share.
        -      Consolidated core headline earnings per share for the period is expected to increase
               by between 12% and 17% over the prior corresponding period. This translates into an
               increase from the prior financial year’s 71.5 cents to a range between 80.0 and 83.6
               cents per share.(1)                                                                       

The board considers core headline earnings as an appropriate indicator of the operating
performance of the group as it adjusts for the once-off accounting impact of the IFRS 2 BEE
transaction.

The financial information which this business and trading statement is based on has not been
reviewed and reported on by the Company’s external auditors.

It is expected that Balwin will release its results for the year ended 28 February 2022 on or about
16 May 2022.

BUSINESS UPDATE

Balwin’s results for the financial year ended 28 February 2022 demonstrate a continued steady
recovery from the prior year. Sustained strong demand resulted in an approximate 16%
increase in apartments recognised in revenue in the year.

Average selling prices remained largely consistent from the prior reporting period. The average
selling price of the group is impacted by the mix of apartments sold, together with the
continued increase in contribution from the Green Collection developments.

The group continues to focus on the roll-out of the Green Collection developments, a popular
product due to the lower selling price which has grown to 31% of all apartments handed over
in the year (2021: 23%) contributing 19% to revenue (2021:14%). The main source of revenue
continues to be derived from the Classic Collection developments which constituted 60% of
apartments recognised in revenue (2021: 70%) and contributed 65% of revenue (2021: 74%).
The remaining 9% of apartments handed over comprises the Signature Collection
developments (2021: 7%) contributing 16% of revenue (2021:12%).

Approximately 1 900 apartments have been pre-sold beyond the reporting period and have
accordingly not been recorded in revenue in the current financial year.

Cash management and utilisation remain a focus area for the group and Balwin continues to
engage with its funding partners to ensure that appropriate facilities and financial support
remain in place. Through this focus on capital allocation, the group is pleased with the cash
position of R659 million at year end, an increase of R328 million from the prior year.

The group secured R560 million in term loans from Stanlib and Sanlam during the year,
representing a significant milestone for the group to broaden its funding base in a cost-
effective manner. The group continues to evaluate alternative funding sources and models
with respect to capital management to continue to grow the business and more effectively
fund the working capital requirements.

Balwin continued its strategic drive to provide green home loans to customers through the
offering of an eco-home loan product. Balwin’s customers will benefit financially by receiving
a reduction in the interest rate to assist in unlocking investment potential of green infrastructure
technologies and services while offering value to the customer through improved affordability.

OUTLOOK

Whilst remaining vigilant over the post-Covid period, the Board is positive on the resilience of
the Balwin product as demonstrated by sustained demand from its clients.

The impact of the recent increase in the repo rate from 3.75% to 4% and possible additional
inflationary pressures which will likely result from recent geo-political events is being closely
monitored and pro-actively managed by the Board.
                                                                    
The Board continues to place an emphasis on annuity business opportunities that are
presented as a by-product of the development of the estates. Contributions from annuity
income initiatives currently constitute a negligible portion of the total profits of the group,
however, the Board has identified significant potential opportunities in this regard and intends
to actively pursue these. Structures have been put in place to ensure the successful
implementation of the annuity business with the initial annuity offerings expected to add to
Group profitability in FY24.

As consistently advised in recent communication to the shareholders, the Board will continue
to place an emphasis on appropriate cash management and cost containment throughout
the business. Significant focus is placed on appropriate and cost-effective funding measures.

Any forward-looking statements are the responsibility of the board and have not been
reviewed nor reported on by the company’s auditors.

Footnote:
(1) Consolidated core headline earnings is a non-IFRS measure calculated as headline earnings
for the period excluding certain non-operating items. Headline earnings in the current financial
year were adjusted for a once-off IFRS 2 BEE charge to arrive at the consolidated core headline
earnings figure. No adjustments were required to the prior year’s headline earnings.


Bedfordview
23 March 2022

Sponsor: Investec Bank Limited

Date: 23-03-2022 07:30:00
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