Paris, Amsterdam, February 2nd, 2016

Press Release

FULL-YEAR RESULTS 2015

Another successful year for the Group

Recurring Earnings per Share (recurring EPS) at €10.46, exceeding the range of €10.15 - €10.35 per share guidance for 2015 provided in January 2015.

  • Recurring Earnings per Share (recurring EPS) of €10.46, representing underlying growth of +8.3% from the recurring EPS for 2014 adjusted for the disposals in 2014 and 20151
  • Solid operating performance: Like-for-like Group Net Rental Income up by +3.2%, of which +3.9% for its shopping centre division
  • Record low cost of debt at 2.2% while extending average debt maturity to 6.5 years
  • Total portfolio value increased to €37.8 Bn, up by +9.2%
  • Net asset value per share:
    • Going Concern Net Asset Value per share: €186.70, up by +12.3%
    • EPRA NNNAV per share: €169.90, up by +12.4%
  • €7.4 Bn prime quality development pipeline
  FY-2015 FY-2014 Growth Like-for-like growth
Net Rental Income (in € Mn) 1,453 1,465 -0.8% +3.2%
  Shopping Centres 1,177 1,192 -1.3% +3.9%
  France 549 629 -12.7% +2.6%
  Central Europe 148 141 +5.1% +5.4%
  Spain 147 146 +1.2% +7.6%
  Nordic 106 97 +9.2% +8.7%
  Austria 92 88 +4.4% +4.4%
  The Netherlands 67 72 -7.1% -1.7%
  Germany 67 19 n.m n.m
  Offices 170 172 -1.2% -2.9%
  Convention & Exhibition 105 100 +5.1% +5.3%
Recurring net result (in € Mn) 1,030 1,068 -3.5%  
Recurring EPS (in € per share) 10.46 10.92 -4.2%  
         
Underlying Growth[1]     +8.3%  
         
  FY-2015 FY-2014 Growth Like-for-like growth
Total portfolio valuation (in € Mn) 37,755 34,576 +9.2% +6.0%
Going Concern Net Asset Value
(in € per share)
186.70 166.30 +12.3%  
EPRA triple Net Asset Value
(in € per share)
169.90 151.20 +12.4%  

Figures may not add up due to rounding.

"2015 has been another successful year for Unibail-Rodamco. The Group delivered three unique new shopping centres: Minto (Mönchengladbach), Polygone Riviera (Cagnes-sur-Mer) and Mall of Scandinavia (Stockholm). Their success was immediate; each of them drew more than 1 million visits in less than 4 weeks. In December 2015, the Group signed a binding term sheet for a lease agreement with Deloitte for the remaining 19 floors in Majunga (La Défense) which was ratified and signed on January 18, 2016. Majunga is now fully let. Unibail-Rodamco also executed a number of successful financing firsts and asset-liability management exercises, further decreasing its average cost of debt to a record low of 2.2%. The consistent execution of Unibail-Rodamco's strategy by our excellent teams generated Recurring EPS of €10.46, representing an underlying growth of +8.3%."
Christophe Cuvillier, CEO and Chairman of the Management Board

RECURRING EPS AT €10.46, UP +8.3% COMPARED TO ADJUSTED FY-2014

The Group's recurring EPS came to €10.46 in 2015, representing an increase of +8.3% from the recurring EPS for 2014 adjusted for the disposals in 2014 and the further disposals effected in 2015.
This successful year has been driven by solid like-for-like net rental income (NRI) growth in the shopping centres, successful deliveries and a record-low cost of debt.
Reported recurring EPS decreased by only -4.2% in 2015 compared to 2014, despite the impact of the massive disposals in 2014 (-€1.15) and 2015 (-€0.11) and ever lower indexation.

CONSISTENT EXECUTION YIELDS STRONG RESULTS

Shopping Centres
Although affected by the terrorist attacks in Paris last year, the Group's tenant sales were up by +4.1% through December 31, 2015, second only to the +5.3% recorded in 2007. Through November 2015, the Group's tenant sales were up by +4.6%, outperforming national sales indices by 240 bps due to, among others, the very strong performance in the Group's Spanish, French and Central European shopping centres. The like-for-like NRI for shopping centres grew by +3.9% compared to 2014, 360 bps above indexation. At only 0.3%, indexation was the lowest since 2007. The Group signed 1,367 leases on standing assets, with a Minimum Guaranteed Rent uplift of +18.2%, and +20.2% for its large shopping centres. Unibail-Rodamco signed 196 leases with international premium retailers, up by +15% from 170 in 2014. The EPRA vacancy rate remained low at 2.5%.

Offices
The Paris region office market saw a gradual recovery in take-up in 2015. Unibail-Rodamco achieved a number of notable leasing successes, with So Ouest Plaza (Levallois, Paris region) delivered in H1-2015 and fully let to L'Oréal, and the complete letting of the remaining 31,000m² of GLA in the Majunga tower to Deloitte. Majunga is now fully let.

Convention & Exhibition
Convention & Exhibition's strong performance was driven by successful shows such as "SIMA", "Batimat", the "Le Bourget International Air Show", the triennial "Intermat" show and "COP21". NRI was up by +5.1% compared to 2014.

STRONG OPERATING RESULTS CREATING VALUE

The Gross Market Value of the Group's assets as at December 31, 2015, amounted to €37.8 Bn, up +9.2% in total and up +6.0% like-for-like compared to December 31, 2014, driven primarily by rental and yield effects of +2.6% and +3.3% respectively, of the shopping centres division.
The average net initial yield of the retail portfolio compressed to 4.6% as at December 2015 (vs. 4.8% as at December 2014), reflecting market yield contraction and the increased quality of the portfolio. Yields in the office sector saw a strong recovery on the back of buoyant investor demand.

Going Concern NAV stands at €186.70 per share as at December 31, 2015, an increase of +€20.40 (+12.3%) compared to €166.30 as at December 31, 2014. This increase was the sum of (i) the value creation of €29.24 per share, (ii) the mark-to-market of the fixed-rate debt and derivatives for +€0.76, and (iii) the impact of the dividend of €9.60 per share paid in 2015.

€7.4 Bn DEVELOPMENT PIPELINE TO DRIVE FUTURE GROWTH

In 2015, the Group delivered €2.0 Bn of projects, including new retail assets Minto (Mönchengladbach), Polygone Riviera (Cagnes-sur-Mer) and Mall of Scandinavia (Stockholm), restructured and/or extended shopping centres, mainly Täby Centrum (Stockholm), Euralille (Lille) and Ruhr Park (Bochum), and delivered the fully let So Ouest Plaza office tower (Levallois, Paris region), which includes a cinema and restaurant right next to the So Ouest shopping centre. The Group added €1.4 Bn of new projects to the pipeline, including the Triangle tower project (Paris) following its approval by the Paris City Council on June 30, 2015. The total investment cost of the development pipeline amounts to €7.4 Bn as at December 31, 2015, compared to €8.0 Bn as at December 31, 2014.

ACTIVE BALANCE SHEET MANAGEMENT CONTRIBUTes TO STRONG FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

The Group took advantage of very favorable market windows in 2015 to refinance €1.9 Bn of debt at lower rates and with longer maturities. In addition, the Group restructured part of its hedging positions following the European Central Bank meeting on December 3rd 2015.
The average cost of debt of Unibail-Rodamco decreased to a new record low of 2.2% (from 2.6% in 2014), and the average maturity of its debt increased to 6.5 years. Financial ratios are strong: Loan-To-Value (LTV) decreased to 35% (vs. 37% as at December 2014) and the interest coverage ratio increased to 4.6x, up from 4.2x in 2014. The Group increased liquidity further, with a record level of €5.45 Bn of undrawn credit lines at December 31, 2015.

OUTLOOK FOR 2016

Adjusted for the impact of the €1.6 Bn of net disposal proceeds in 2015 (-2.6%), the Group anticipates its underlying rate of growth for 2016 to be in line with the +6% to +8% announced last year.
The successful restructuring of its hedging portfolio will provide an additional benefit in 2016, bringing the growth to between +8% and +10%. Consequently, the Group expects recurring earnings per share in 2016 of between €11.00 and €11.20 per share.

DIVIDEND

In 2016, Unibail-Rodamco will again pay its dividend in two installments. For the 2015 fiscal year, the Group will propose a cash dividend of €9.70 per share, subject to the approval of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on April 21, 2016. The payment schedule will be as follows:

  • Payment of an interim dividend of €4.85 on March 29, 2016 (ex-dividend date March 23, 2016); and
  • Payment of a final dividend of €4.85 on July 6, 2016 (ex-dividend date July 4, 2016).

For 2016 and thereafter, the Group intends to increase its annual cash distribution in line with its recurring EPS growth.

For further information, please contact:

Investor Relations
Antoine Onfray
+33 1 53 43 72 87
antoine.onfray@unibail-rodamco.com

Marine Huet
+33 1 76 77 58 02
marine.huet@unibail-rodamco.com

Media Relations
Pauline Duclos-Lenoir
+33 1 76 77 57 94
pauline.duclos-lenoir@unibail-rodamco.com

About Unibail-Rodamco
Created in 1968, Unibail-Rodamco SE is Europe's largest listed commercial property company, with a presence in 12 EU countries, and a portfolio of assets valued at €37.8 billion as of December 31, 2015. As an integrated operator, investor and developer, the Group aims to cover the whole of the real estate value creation chain. With the support of its 1,995 professionals, Unibail-Rodamco applies those skills to highly specialised market segments such as large shopping centres in major European cities and large offices and convention & exhibition centres in the Paris region.
The Group distinguishes itself through its focus on the highest architectural, city planning and environmental standards. Its long term approach and sustainable vision focuses on the development or redevelopment of outstanding places to shop, work and relax. Its commitment to environmental, economic and social sustainability has been recognised by inclusion in the DJSI (World and Europe), FTSE4Good and STOXX Global ESG Leaders indexes.
The Group is a member of the CAC 40, AEX 25 and EuroSTOXX 50 indices. It benefits from an A rating from Standard & Poor's and Fitch Ratings.
For more information, please visit our website: www.unibail-rodamco.com



[1] 2014 recurring EPS adjusted for the impact of (i) the disposals in 2014 (-€1.15) and (ii) the further disposals effected in 2015 (-€0.11).


UR FY 2015 EN



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Source: UNIBAIL-RODAMCO SE via Globenewswire

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