Klövern AB (publ): Year-end report January – December 2019

»» Income increased by 12 per cent to SEK 3,638 million (3,250).

»» The operating surplus increased by 14 per cent to SEK 2,463 million (2,170).

»» Profit from property management increased by 9 per cent to SEK 1,462 million (1,344).

»» Profit before tax amounted to SEK 3,433 million (3,688) and net profit, attributable to the parent company’s shareholders, totalled SEK 3,003 million (3,345), corresponding to SEK 3.24 (3.54) per ordinary share.

»» The return on equity amounted to 15.9 per cent (21.2).

»» Changes in value of properties totalled SEK 2,125 million (2,309). Project development, including development of building rights, contributed to increases in value of properties of SEK 681 million (910).

»» After taking possession of 3 properties for SEK 959 million, transfer of possession of 86 properties for SEK 5,029 million and investments of SEK 1,550 million, the value of the property portfolio amounted to SEK 52,377 million.

»» The interest coverage ratio amounted to 2.6 (2.7), leverage declined to 50 per cent (56) and the adjusted equity ratio increased to 43.5 per cent (37.4).

»» EPRA NAV increased by 17 per cent to SEK 21.17 (18.13).

»» For the 2019 financial year the Board of Directors proposes a dividend of in total SEK 0.50 (0.46) per ordinary share to be paid in four instalments and a dividend of in total SEK 20.00 (20.00) per preference share to be paid in four instalments.

Statement by the CEO

Streamlining, value creation and financial strength

Summing up 2019, we can note that it has been a very intensive year with very strong earnings. We are particularly proud of the high net moving-in, the development in a comparable portfolio and the fine return on equity. We have continued to streamline the property portfolio to fewer locations in Sweden, at the same time as we have made further investments in our main locations, both in the domestic market and abroad. The pace of business has been high with the focus on profitability, sustainability, structural streamlining and financial strengthening with the aim of creating an even stronger Klövern for the future.

STRONG EARNINGS DEVELOPMENT
Klövern is again reporting strong earnings. During 2019, profit from property management improved by 9 per cent to SEK 1,462 million. After positive changes in value of properties amounting to SEK 2,125 million, profit before tax totalled SEK 3,433 million. After tax, this corresponds to earnings per share of SEK 3.24 and a return on equity of 16 per cent.

RECORD HIGH NET MOVING-IN AND GOOD DEVELOPMENT IN A COMPARABLE PORTFOLIO
All our prioritized markets have developed well during 2019, despite macrostatistics having indicated a slowdown in the economy. The year’s net moving-in was record high amounting to SEK 130 million, which is far above the target of at least 1 per cent of the rental value. The development in a comparable portfolio, i.e. properties owned throughout 2018 and 2019, is very satisfying with an increase of income of 6 per cent and of operating surplus of 5 per cent.

STRONGER FINANCIAL POSITION
Klövern’s financial position has been further strengthened during the year, both by good development of earnings and strategic net divestment of properties. The adjusted equity ratio improved by 6.1 percentage points to 43.5 per cent, which is above the target of 40 per cent, while leverage¹ declined to 50 per cent. At year-end as much as 93 per cent of the credit volume was hedged or at a fixed rate and the average financing rate was 2.3 per cent. The interest coverage rate is satisfactory, amounting to 2.6 during the year. In general, continued favourable loan terms are offered both in the bank market and the capital market. During 2019, Klövern issued a total of SEK 2,300 million in the bond market, of which SEK 1,600 million was within the framework of a green bond programme.

STREAMLINING AND INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION
During the year we continued to follow our strategy of streamlining the property portfolio, both geographically and in terms of products.

Amongst other things, we have divested the whole of our portfolio in Karlstad and all investment properties in Örebro. The Swedish property portfolio is now concentrated in 10 cities. 96 per cent of the total property portfolio is located in what we refer to as larger cities with over 100,000 inhabitants and 74 per cent in metropolitan regions with more than a million inhabitants.

The portfolio has to an even greater extent been focused on modern offices through divestment of warehouse and logistics premises including seven properties sold to Blackstone, and acquisitions of and investments in modern office properties.

At the year-end, the international portfolio made up 12 per cent of the total property value and it is expected to continue to grow, in amongst other ways by further acquisitions but also apace with the completion of the projects in New York and Copenhagen. We can note that the two ongoing projects in New York, 1245 Broadway and 28&7, are developing completely according to plan and expect to start construction of the third project, 118 10th Avenue, during the second quarter of 2020. The total investment for the projects in Manhattan is expected to amount to just under SEK 3 billion with an assessed potential development profit of just over SEK 2 billion.

VALUE-CREATING PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
Project development is an important part of our business model and the new business area Project development Sweden which was created during 2019 has a key role in Klövern’s position as a long term city developer. Project development, including development of building rights, contributed to increases in value of properties of SEK 681 million during 2019.

FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY
We are pleased to note that our long-term sustainability work is producing results. In one of the Nordic region’s largest brand surveys with the focus on sustainability, Sustainable Brand Index B2B, Klövern has been designated as Sweden’s third most sustainable real estate company, and number two among the listed real estate companies.

GOOD VALUE GROWTH
The net asset value per share (EPRA NAV¹) has developed well and amounted at the year-end to SEK 21.17, corresponding to an increase of 17 per cent during 2019.

CONTINUED GOOD DEVELOPMENT
Overall, we have a very stable business which during 2019 showed high profitability and good underlying growth, at the same time as the financial position was further strengthened. I look forward to a continued good development during 2020.

Rutger Arnhult, VD Klövern

1) The definition of leverage and the calculation of EPRA NAV
have been changed in connection with this year-end report.
Historical figures have been adjusted. See also page 19: Definitions.
Rutger Arnhult, CEO Klövern

Klövern AB (publ)


For additional information, please contact:
Rutger Arnhult, CEO, +46 (0)70-458 24 70, rutger.arnhult@klovern.se
Lars Norrby, IR, +46 (0)76-777 38 00, lars.norrby@klovern.se

Klövern is a real estate company committed to working closely with customers to offer them attractive premises in growth regions. Klövern is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. For further information, see www.klovern.se.

Klövern AB (publ), Bredgränd 4, 111 30 Stockholm. Phone: +46 (0)10-482 70 00. E-mail: info@klovern.se.

The information in the year-end report is such that Klövern AB (publ) is obliged to publish under the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was made available for publication, through the abovementioned contact persons, at 07:30 CET on 12 February 2020.

This is a translation of the original Swedish language press release. In the event of discrepancies, the original Swedish wording shall prevail.

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