To view the PDF file, sign up for a MySharenet subscription.

VUKILE PROPERTY FUND LIMITED - Reviewed preliminary results for the year ended 31 March 2020

Release Date: 30/06/2020 07:15
Code(s): VKE VKE11 VKE12 VKE09 VKE10 VKE14 VKE16 VKE13 VKE15     PDF:  
Wrap Text
Reviewed preliminary results for the year ended 31 March 2020

VUKILE PROPERTY FUND LIMITED 
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) 
(Registration number 2002/027194/06) 
JSE share code: VKE 
ISIN: ZAE000056370 NSX share code: VKN  
Debt company code: VKEI 
(granted REIT status with the JSE) 
(Vukile or the group or the company)

Reviewed preliminary results for the year ended 31 March 2020

HIGHLIGHTS
- 3.2% increase in distributable earnings per share 
- Impressive retail performance in Spain 
  - Castellana dividend growth of 9.6%
  - Vacancies contained at 1.8% 
  - Increase of 10.8% in reversions and new lettings 
  - Maintaining a rent collection rate of 99% 
- Continued strength in Southern African portfolio 
  - Like-for-like trading density grew by 3.4% and by 5.1% when considering asset management interventions
  - Successful launch of redeveloped Pine Crest Centre and Maluti Crescent 
  - Retail vacancies contained at 2.9% with 84% retail tenant retention and positive reversions of 1.1% 
  - Retail like-for-like net income growth of 6.0% 
- Strong cash cover and well diversified sources of funding 
  - Vukile remains comfortably solvent and liquid 
  - Complies with all funding and debt covenants
  - Interest cover ratio of 5.8 times 
  - 77% (R1.8 billion) of FY21 maturing debt facilities successfully re-financed
- Operational focus in readying centres to reopen in a COVID-19 environment 
  - Primary focus on the health and wellbeing of our customers, tenants and staff 
  - Hygiene protocols for centres developed with input from leading virologist and hygiene expert 
  - Very successful reopening of all our centres in both South Africa and Spain

Financial performance
Total revenue for the period increased from R2.8 billion as at 31 March 2019 to R3.4 billion at 31 March 2020.

Headline earnings per share amounted to 116.92 cents per share (31 March 2019: 123.04 cents per share). Profit
available for distribution increased from R1 690 million as at 31 March 2019, to R1 791 million at 31 March 2020. 
On a per share basis, this represents a 3.2% increase in distributable earnings per share, from 181.48 cents per share 
for the year ended 31 March 2019 to 187.25 cents per share for the year ended 31 March 2020. Cash flow from operating 
activities comfortably covered the dividend to be paid for the period under review. Earnings per share for the year ended 
31 March 2020 amounted to -10.81 cents per share (31 March 2019: 199.05 cents per share). The decrease in earnings per 
share was primarily due to a downward fair value adjustment to investment property and listed investments. The group's net 
asset value per share at 31 March 2020 equated to 1 834 cents per share, down from 2 026 cents per share at 31 March 2019. 

The group's direct property investments were valued at R35.7 billion at 31 March 2020 (31 March 2019: R29.7 billion)
located in South Africa, Namibia and Spain.

The value of listed investments at 31 March 2020 was R2.10 billion (31 March 2019: R2.6 billion). Listed investments
comprise investments in Atlantic Leaf Properties, Fairvest Properties Limited and Arrowhead Properties Limited.

Prospects for the group 
The initial phase of the COVID-19 crisis had a negative impact on the markets in general and the property sector in
particular. Sentiment towards Vukile was also impacted by our specialist focus on the hard-hit retail sector and exposure
to Spain, which was one of the first countries to be severely affected by the rapid spread of the disease and resultant
lockdown of the economy.

While the Spanish economy will be hard hit in 2020, along with the global economy, current forecasts anticipate a
strong rebound in 2021. Spain is a key European economy underpinned by strong fundamentals providing Vukile shareholders
with a very good element of diversification into a country with a healthy structural retail real estate environment. In
particular, Castellana's geographically diversified portfolio and high-quality tenant profile made up of 93% international
and national tenants should provide a very solid recovery platform.

In South Africa, the economy will not only have to deal with the impact of the pandemic but also the effects of the
credit downgrade in March and concomitant weakening of the Rand. However, our South African portfolio remains very well
positioned to recover swiftly given its very defensive positioning in the middle to lower-LSM markets, with a strong
township and rural bias. The high level of tenants exposed to grocery and non-discretionary spend means that our centres 
have been trading at encouraging levels as the economy reopened on a phased approach.

The board and management have used this unique market crisis to critically evaluate Vukile's business model and remain
committed to its stated strategy and focus.

The COVID-19 crisis has also shone the spotlight on the future of retail along with other real estate asset classes.
As predicted, it is very clear that the retail landscape will change and while we will continue to experience a rise 
in online shopping, quality retail centres will have a critical role in any economy as part of an ongoing evolution 
to a world of omnichannel retailing. The changes in retail must be embraced and both Vukile and Castellana are very 
well positioned to capitalise on an era of greater specialisation which is needed to thrive in the changing retail 
environment.

Vukile has the key ingredients to ensure that it continues to provide great spaces that meet customers' needs
including by building great tenant relationships, increasing focus on customer centricity and the agility to adapt 
quickly. When deployed effectively, these elements translate into our nodally dominant centres being very profitable 
spaces for tenants to operate from.

Our balance sheet remains solid and the business is very cash generative with healthy interest cover ratios and the
ability to comfortably meet all debt servicing requirements. Even though the LTV is currently higher than the preferred
level, plans are in place to reduce it over time. Both Vukile and Castellana have enjoyed tremendous support from their
well-diversified funding base, as evidenced by the large percentage of refinancing already completed for the 2021
financial year.

Looking ahead, Vukile does not anticipate paying an interim dividend in respect of the first half of the 2021
financial year and the board has made the decision not to provide earnings and dividend guidance for the full year. 
Vukile also intends to adopt a variable dividend payout ratio going forward and will no longer pay out 100% of 
distributable earnings to enable greater capital flexibility and cash retention.

Vukile remains very well positioned to navigate the current uncertain environment and ensure long-term sustainability
for all stakeholders. Until such time as the broader impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic become clearer, our focus will
continue to be on prioritising cash retention and balance sheet strength over short-term earnings.

Payment of dividend 
A decision in respect of the final dividend will be made once the JSE provides feedback to the market on any potential
amendments or temporary rulings applicable to the REIT sector following the broad industry consultation process
currently being undertaken. The decision regarding the final dividend will be communicated on or before the publication 
of Vukile's audited annual results.

Review conclusion
These condensed consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2020 have been reviewed by
PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc, who expressed an unmodified review conclusion. A copy of the auditor's review report is 
available for inspection at the company's registered office together with the condensed consolidated financial statements, 
as identified in the auditor's report.

About this announcement
This short-form announcement is the responsibility of the directors of the company. The announcement is only a summary
of the full announcement, released on the JSE website at https://senspdf.jse.co.za/documents/2020/jse/isse/vke/FY2020.pdf 
on 30 June 2020, and does not contain full or complete details. Any investment decision by investors and/or shareholders 
should be based on consideration of the full announcement.

The full announcement is available on the company's website (www.vukile.co.za/cmsAdmin/uploads/FY2020.pdf) and 
may be requested by emailing Johann Neethling, at Johann.Neethling@Vukile.co.za from Tuesday, 30 June 2020 to 
Tuesday, 7 July 2020. 

On behalf of the board

NG Payne            LG Rapp
Chairman            Chief executive officer

Houghton Estate
30 June 2020

Executive directors: LG Rapp (chief executive), LR Cohen (chief financial officer), IU Mothibeli (managing director:
Southern Africa), GS Moseneke

Non-executive directors: NG Payne (Chairman), PS Moyanga, SF Booysen, RD Mokate, H Ntene, HM Serebro, B Ngonyama

Registered office: 4th Floor, 104 Oxford Road, Houghton Estate, 2198

Company secretary: J Neethling 

JSE sponsor: Java Capital 

NSX sponsor: IJG Group, Windoek, Namibia

Transfer secretaries: Link Market Services South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Braamfontein, Johannesburg 

Investor relations: Instinctif Partners, The Firs 302, 3rd Floor, Corner Craddock Avenue and Biermann Road, Rosebank,
Johannesburg, South Africa, Tel: +27 11 447 3030

Media relations: Marketing Concepts, 10th Floor, Fredman Towers, 13 Fredman Drive, Sandton, Johannesburg, South
Africa, Tel: +27 11 783 0700, Fax: +27 11 783 3702

www.vukile.co.za
Date: 30-06-2020 07:15:00
Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE'). 
The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of
 the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct, 
indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on,
 information disseminated through SENS.

Share This Story