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Press releases
St Laurence experiences solid
revaluation growth across portfolio
Active property investment vehicle St Laurence Property & Finance (SLPF)
recorded a significant uplift in property valuations of more than 9.5% in
the year to 31 March 2007.
Valuation increases resulted in unrealised revaluation gains of $26.7
million in the year to 31 March 2007. SLPF¡¦s investment property
portfolio increased from $244.5 million to $306.0 million during the
period through a combination of acquisition and valuation growth.
SLPF chairman Kevin Podmore says the continued increase in asset values is
a reflection of strong demand for property assets in the commercial and
industrial space. Prices have been driven higher by further local and
international demand for New Zealand property overall, combined with
robust underlying economic conditions.
Of the 26 properties in SLPF¡¦s portfolio, 12 properties showed
valuation gains of more than 10%.
Six of these properties demonstrated gains of more than 15%.
SLPF¡¦s North Harbour property at 13 William Pickering Drive rose in
value by 23.5%, from $6.7 million to $8.3 million, with several other
Auckland properties recording increases of more than 10%.
Other significant performers included:
„_ SLPF¡¦s Repco property in Mt Wellington, Auckland which rose 15.5%
to $22.4 million during the period;
„_ Cain Park in Penrose, Auckland which experienced a 14.1% lift in
value from $9.1 million to $10.3 million;
„_ Eagle Technology House in Victoria Street, Wellington which rose in
value by 11.5% from $19.2 million to $21.4 million; and
„_ The former Deloittes building in Molesworth Street, Thorndon, which
experienced a 11.7% rise in value to $15.4 million.
Mr Podmore says increasing demand for industrial space is creating a
number of development opportunities for SLPF in its existing property
portfolio. ¡§We are actively pursuing these development opportunities
and expect demand for future developments to continue as space in
prominent locations becomes increasingly scarce.
Plans are currently underway for SLPF to design-build more than half the
vacant development land to the rear of the Repco distribution centre in Mt
Wellington, Auckland. This is expected to further increase the value of
the property in the future. Other design-build opportunities within the
portfolio include the Central Park industrial complex in Porirua,
Wellington where a commitment has been recently secured to design and
build a new warehouse and distribution centre for national furniture
retailer Harvey Norman.
This is the first in what we hope to be a number of design-build
developments on a site which is ideally located for companies looking to
centralise their distribution and warehousing operations
¡§St Laurence Property & Finance¡¦s primary focus in 2008 is to
continue to progress with the value-add opportunities already identified
within the investment property portfolio. As well as this, we will
continue to focus on our strategic property development assets, including
our joint venture developments,¡¨ Mr Podmore says.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Paul Chapman Phone 04 903 4830
General Manager Mobile 0212 732 263
St Laurence Property & Finance
or
Helen Mexted Phone 04 903 4854 DDI
GM Funding & Corporate Services 0212 88 7772 Mobile
St Laurence Limited
BACKGROUND
St Laurence Property & Finance (SLPF) is an active property investor
with a diversified portfolio of property related investments and operating
activities and is part of the St Laurence group. It has in excess of $430
million of property based assets, including investment properties,
property developments and property operating activities. Valuation
increases had a positive impact on St Laurence Property & Finance full
year results to 31 March 2007 outlined below.
St Laurence Property & Finance Limited - Financial Highlights
2007
Consolidated $000s 2006
Consolidated $000¡¦s
Operating revenue 48,383 48,397
Operating surplus after tax 6,215 5,369
Unrealised change in value of investment properties 26,664 25,717
Net surplus for the year 32,879 31,086
Properties held for investment 306,025 244,452
Total assets 432,812 381,004
Total liabilities 268,715 275,469
Equity 164,097 105,535
St Laurence Property & Finance
leases 100% of Central Park
Active property investor St Laurence Property & Finance (SLPF) is
pleased to announce that its Central Park industrial shed facility in
Porirua, Wellington is now 100% leased.
This is the first time the Central Park has been declared fully tenanted
since Mitsubishi Motors exited a significant portion of its business from
the industrial park in 1998. The industrial complex comprises more than
12.3 hectares of land in total, including a 50,000 square metre shed plus
4 hectares of development land.
St Laurence Property & Finance general manager Paul Chapman says the
result is a reflection of the high demand for industrial space in the
area. “Demand for commercial space is pushing land prices up and this is
one of the key reasons businesses are getting in quick and securing space.
In saying that, there are still some excellent leasing opportunities
available in the land surrounding the wider Central Park shed facility,
and it is still a relatively cost effective alternative for businesses
looking for a convenient location for their distribution or warehouse
facilities.”
Central Park has attracted a range of distribution and warehouse
businesses with many tenants looking for a landlord to design-build their
new premises. “We are fortunate at SLPF to be fully integrated. This
means we are both landowners and value-add developers, and can provide an
end-to-end service for our tenants. This creates long-term growth
partnerships, and means we are able to grow as our clients’ businesses
grow.”
Central Park has been earmarked by St Laurence for development ever since
it was purchased in 2005 when SLPF exercised an option to purchase the
site.
While the existing building is now fully leased, there is still an
opportunity to develop the further 4 hectares of land at the park. SLPF
has been in discussions with number of interested parties looking to
expand their operations. “We will be looking to attract a similar range
of industrial, warehouse and logistics companies that want design-build
options that are in keeping with the zoning of the site,” Mr Chapman
says.
Central Park comprises a number of tenants including AF Logistics, Online
Security Services and Mitsubishi Motors. Mitsubishi Motors’ operates its
new and used parts division out of Central Park.
Online Security Services offers a range of secure paper-based and
electronic business information management solutions to its customers and
recently signed a three-year lease at Central Park.
Meanwhile, AF Logistics recently increased the space it leases at Central
Park to meet demand for its transport and logistics business. AF Logistics
stores and distributes products for a huge range of companies around the
lower North Island. It also has bases in Tawa, Gracefield, Palmerston
North and Hastings. The company has almost doubled its leasing area to
11,800 square metres.
Logistics Manager Jeff Hazlewood says Porirua City has proven to be a
great base for the company’s warehouse and distribution centre,
particularly given its proximity to the Port of Wellington where it is
working to create a central hub for imported products.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Paul Chapman Phone 04 903 4830
General Manager Mobile 0212 732 263
St Laurence Property & Finance
Or
Helen Mexted Phone 04 903 4854
GM Funding & Corporate Services 0212 88 7772 Mobile
St Laurence Limited
BACKGROUND
St Laurence Property & Finance (SLPF) is an active property investor
with a diversified portfolio of property related investments and operating
activities and is part of the St Laurence group. It has in excess of $430
million of property based assets, including investment properties,
property developments and property operating activities.
The company recently announced a net surplus after tax of $32.9 million
for the year to 31 March 2007. The result includes unrealised revaluation
gains of $26.7 million, which is an average of 9.5% across the investment
property portfolio. Over the year, SLPF’s investment property portfolio
increased from $244.5 million to $306.0 million through a combination of
acquisition and valuation growth.
St Laurence appoints new General
Manager
Active property investor St Laurence Property & Finance (SLPF) is
pleased to announce that it has appointed Paul Chapman as the company’s
new General Manager. Following Mr Chapman’s appointment, SLPF has also
announced that Kevin Podmore, currently executive chairman for SLPF will
assume the role of chairman.
Paul Chapman’s previous roles at St Laurence include chief financial
officer and chief executive officer of St Laurence Mortgages (now St
Laurence Limited). He has been with the company for six years.
SLPF chairman Kevin Podmore says: “I am delighted to announce Paul as St
Laurence Property & Finance’s new General Manager. He already has an
excellent track record with the company and will add an extensive amount
of experience and expertise to the SLPF portfolio.”
Mr Chapman will be responsible for managing SLPF’s portfolio and will
oversee the identification of new property acquisitions, divestments and
ongoing property developments.
END
For further information please contact:
Paul Chapman Phone 04 903 4830
General Manager Mobile 0212 732 263
St Laurence Property & Finance
or
Helen Mexted Phone 04 903 4854
GM Funding & Corporate Services Mobile 0212 88 7772
St Laurence Limited
BACKGROUND
St Laurence Property & Finance (“SLPF”) is an active property
investor with a diversified portfolio of property related investments and
operating activities and is part of the St Laurence group. It has in
excess of $340 million of property based assets, including investment
properties, property developments and property operating activities.
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Chairman's
report
St Laurence announces $32.9 million
net surplus after tax
Active property investor St Laurence Property & Finance (SLPF) today
announced a net surplus after tax of $32.9 million for the year to 31
March 2007.
The result includes unrealised revaluation gains of $26.7 million, which
is an average of 9.5% across the investment property portfolio. Over the
year, SLPF’s investment property portfolio increased from $244.5
million to $306.0 million through a combination of acquisition and
valuation growth.
Total assets increased from $381.0 million to $432.8 million in the 2007
financial year. Approximately $47.9 million of that increase was derived
from SLPF’s recent successful takeover offer for parcels in the St
John Balanced Property Fund, of which SLPF now holds a 58.6% stake.
SLPF’s net surplus after tax of $32.9 million compares to the $31.1
million net surplus after tax recorded for the year ended 31 March 2006.
SLPF chairman Kevin Podmore says last year’s result included several
one-off items which boosted revenue and profit. “St Laurence Property
& Finance has performed exceptionally well with 2007 earnings more
evenly spread across its property investment, property development and
other investment activities.”
In addition to the gains on the company’s investment property
portfolio, SLPF enjoyed a $7.4 million uplift in the value of its
property development joint ventures. It also sold a number of investment
properties throughout the year for a total consideration of $32.5
million.
“The commercial property sector is very healthy and there is strong
investment demand, both locally and internationally. Increased
valuations have allowed SLPF to book significant unrealised gains on its
investment properties as well as realise some gains through property
sales,” Mr. Podmore says.
“Our core focus for the year ahead is to continue to develop and add
value to our existing inventory of properties. We have several development
projects underway in Auckland including a significant joint venture
development adjacent to the former quarry in Mt Wellington. In
Wellington we continue to progress projects such as the development of
the Central Park site in Porirua and the redevelopment of the former
Deloitte House in Thorndon, Wellington.”
Holding a strong mix of office, industrial and other commercial
property, SLPF’s investment property portfolio’s weighted average
lease term increased from 3.47 years to 3.58 years at 31 March 2007.
“Tenancy demand for quality commercial and industrial property space
continues to increase,” Mr. Podmore says; “We expect this to
continue into 2008.”
In April 2007, SLPF also successfully raised $21.9 million (net of issue
costs) via a 1 for 5 rights issue, with 89% or 19.3 million of the 21.7
million new Mandatory Convertible Property Notes (MCNs) taken up by the
existing shareholder and note holders. “This is a positive result and
further consolidates our view that our investors are confident in our
strategy and direction,” Mr. Podmore says.
Post rights issue, SLPF’s Net Tangible Asset backing for its MCNs sits
at $1.47. “We are pleased with the new underlying NTA backing and
anticipate that the underlying discount to current market price will
decrease as the date approaches when the MCNs convert to ordinary shares
on a 1 for 1 basis in December 2008.”
Mr. Podmore adds, “The 2008 period is expected to be year of further
value growth for SLPF, as we continue to develop and add value to our
existing property investments. We look forward to keeping our
shareholders updated as we continue to build a solid platform for future
growth.”
ENDS
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