SRE13 Apr 2012 08:12
Trading Statement
Sirius Real Estate Limited is pleased to provide the following trading update for the 12 months to 31 March 2012.
In January 2012, the Company completed the internalisation of the core management team, thereby aligning the interests of all stakeholders in the business and bringing the operating platform under the control and ownership of Sirius. As part of the internalisation, the Company acquired Sirius Facilities GmbH, the provider of property and asset management services to the Group for the last five years. The majority of its c.150 strong team led by Andrew Coombs and Alistair Marks have moved to the Company as part of this acquisition. The internalisation is expected to reduce the operating costs of the business by approximately €2m per annum.
During the year under review, the Company has traded well, and is expected to perform in line with management's expectations for the year. Rental income is expected to increase to €45.2m in the year compared to €43.6m last year (after excluding €1.9m of surrender premiums), driven primarily by higher average rate per sqm on new sales. In addition, the Company is expected to see further reductions in non-recovered service charge costs and overhead costs. The benefits from these will be offset by higher than expected write-offs of old service charge balancing amounts and debts that have been in legal hands.
Occupancy has increased to 78% in the year, up from 76% at the start of the financial year. This increase has come from new sales of 128,345 sqm at €5.24 per sqm (2010: 159,292 sqm at €4.41 per sqm) and lower moveouts of 91,933 sqm compared to 123,768 sqm in the previous year.
Increasing occupancy and rental rates continue to be at the heart of the Company's strategic plans and the higher rates achieved on new lettings in the year is a reflection of the Company's focus to achieve increased yields from the portfolio. Another year of more than 125,000 sqm of new sales is also indicative of the Company's successful marketing activities and the continued demand from the German SME sector for flexible lettings solutions. Demand has come from a broad mix of light industrial, logistics, office and storage users. In addition, the Company has continued to benefit from Smartspace, a highly flexible solution for young businesses, Flexilager, a low cost storage solution and the growing demand for conferencing facilities