Intershop: Significant increase in rental income in the first half-year 2017

Intershop has successfully concluded a challenging first half-year 2017:

• The net income of CHF 29.4 million or CHF 14.69 per share is 6.5% lower as the result for the same period last year which benefited from a one-off effect.
• The investment portfolio generated a gross yield of 6.3% and a net yield of 5.5%.
• The return on equity amounted to 10.1%.
• Shareholders' equity as per 30 June 2017 amounted to CHF 585 million or CHF 292 per share, which represents an equity ratio of 41.7%.
• Due to successful lettings, the vacancy rate of the investment properties decreased to 10.2%.

Due to the acquisition of the World Trade Center at the end of last year, the rental income increased by 5.7% to CHF 44 million despite the disposal of two investment properties in the second half of the prior-year.

As of the reporting date, the portfolio comprised 57 properties, including the development and promotional properties. Rental income in the reporting period was derived from the following types of use: 50% office and education, 30% light-industrial and logistics, 6% retail and food and 14% residential and parking.

The market value of the properties at the end of the reporting period was CHF 1,364 million, up marginally by CHF 0.1 million (0.01%) after deducting investments made.

The property expense increased by CHF 0.4 million to CHF 4.8 million and the personnel and administrative expense by CHF 0.9 million to CHF 6.5 million mainly due to the cost structure of the World Trade Center and the acquisition of the WTCL Services SA. In contrast, the service revenue generated by WTCL Services SA lead to an increase of the other income by CHF 0.6 million to CHF 2.1 million.

The net yield of the investment portfolio of 5.5% remained at an attractive level.

A financial income of CHF 2.1 million resulted from interest income, the profit from sales and the reversal of a prior-year valuation adjustment on the bond portfolio held as short term investment.

Financial expenses were reduced to CHF 7.0 million.

In the first half of 2017, Intershop refrained from acquisitions. In addition to the development of its own portfolio, the focus remained on letting and re-letting activities which resulted in the lower vacancy rate of 10.2% as of the balance sheet date. In the reporting period, the sales agreements for all the commonhold apartments of the project «eden7» were notarised and the building work is proceeding according to plan. Whilst the building permission for the «Albanteich-Promenade» site in Basel was being developed further, the revised zoning and development plan for «AuPark» in Wädenswil is still being reviewed by the authorities. Discussions continued with the canton of Zurich about the location of the «Zimmerberg secondary school». Simultaneously, the preparatory works for the planned renovation and addition of more storeys to the property in Rue de Lausanne in Geneva and the complete refurbishment of a building on the light-industrial site in Flurlingen are in progress.

In the reporting period, the sale of a smaller commercial property in Winterthur has been concluded. Together with the sale of the parking lots this resulted in a gain of CHF 1.1 million.

Outlook

Despite the increasingly positive developments in the economy, commercial lettings will remain challenging in the medium term. Intershop expects the vacancy rate for investment properties to increase slightly during the second half-year and move to a level similar to that of the previous year end. Following the reduction in the reference interest rate to 1.50% in June, revenues from residential properties are expected to fall. Due to the restructuring of some interest rate hedges a slight reduction in financing costs is anticipated.

It is expected that at the end of October the property in Moosseedorf will be purchased by its tenant.

The prevailing low-interest-rate environment continues to encourage property sales at attractive prices. Intershop will continue to follow the transaction market with great attention and seize any opportunities for promising acquisitions.

Altogether, Intershop expects a positive operating result for the year, which should make it possible to maintain the previous dividend policy.

Summary Half-year report 2017, pdf-file

Key Figures Intershop-Group

Kontakt

Cyrill Schneuwly

Agenda

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