Gazit-Globe Reports Year-End and Fourth Quarter 2015 Financial Results

gazit globeNOI for 2015 increased by 26% to NIS 4.2 billion, FFO for 2015 increased by 4.8% to NIS 627 million. Excluding the effect of exchange rates fluctuations the FFO for 2015 increased by 17% and FFO per share increased by 15%.

 

 

TEL-AVIV, ISRAEL; March 31, 2016 – Gazit-Globe (NYSE; TSX; TASE: GZT), one of the world’s leading multi-national real estate companies focused on the management, acquisition, development and redevelopment of supermarket-anchored shopping centers in major urban markets, announced today its financial results for the Year-End and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2015.

References to the “Group” relate to Gazit-Globe’s consolidated statements. References to the “Company” relate to Gazit-Globe’s stand-alone financial statements. Unless otherwise stated, financial information included in this press release relates to the “Group”.

Highlights:

  • NOI for 2015 increased by 26% to NIS 4,184 million (US$ 1,072 million) compared to NIS 3,329 million (US$ 853 million) in 2014. The increase is mainly due to the consolidation of Atrium’s financial reports and the acquisition of Sektor.
  • FFO for 2015 increased by 4.8% to NIS 627 million (US$ 161 million), or NIS 3.51 per share (US$ 0.90), compared to NIS 598 million (US$ 153 million), or NIS 3.39 per share (US$ 0.87), in 2014. Excluding the effect of exchange rates fluctuations the FFO for 2015 increased by 17% and FFO per share increased by 15%.
  • Investments during 2015 totaled NIS 9.3 billion (US$ 2.38 billion) and included the acquisition of Sektor, Norway’s second largest commercial real estate company, for consideration amounting to approximately EUR 1.5 billion.
  • Same Property NOI for 2015, excluding the effect of exchange rates fluctuations, decreased by 0.5% (increase of 2.4% excluding Russia), compared to 2014. The occupancy rate as of December 31, 2015 remained high at a level of 95.8% compare to 95.9% as of December 31, 2014.
  • Shareholders’ equity as of December 31, 2015 totaled NIS 7,512 million (US$ 1,925 million), or NIS 34 per share (US$ 9.8 per share), compared to NIS 8,023 million (US$ 2,056 million), or NIS 45.0 per share (US$ 11.5 per share), as of December 31, 2014. The decrease in shareholders’ equity was mainly due to exchange rates fluctuations. (NIS 6.6 per share).
  • EPRA NAV per share as of December 31, 2015 was NIS 52.9 (US$ 13.6) compared to NIS 60.2 per share (US$ 15.4) as of December 31, 2014.
  • As of December 31, 2015, the Group had liquid assets and unutilized revolving credit facilities in the amount of NIS 10.4 billion (US$ 2.7 billion) of which NIS 3.0 billion (US$ 0.77 billion) at the Company level.
  • As of December 31, 2015, net debt to total assets (LTV) was 51.3%, compared to 51.0% as of December 31, 2014.
  • The Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of NIS 0.46 per share and updated its dividend policy for 2016, from the second quarter of 2016; the company will distribute a quarterly cash dividend of NIS 0.35 per share, which reflects an annual dividend in the amount of NIS 1.51 per share in 2016.
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Rachel Lavine, CEO of Gazit-Globe: “We have concluded an intense but successful year across all of our global platforms, which is reflected in the growth in our operational parameters, including in FFO and FFO per share, notwithstanding the decrease in equity that occurred due to the weakening of foreign exchange rates against our reporting currency during 2015. We continue to work consistently to improve our financial ratios with the goal of attaining an international credit rating. The updated dividend policy announced today is yet another step in this process and reflects the company’s firm commitment to strengthen its capital base.We are in the process of realizing the strategy for Gazit-Globe to simplify its corporate structure, increase its direct ownership of real estate and strengthen its capital base.

The new management team has many years of accumulated experience in the active management of income-producing properties, experience that will enable us to execute the strategy and transform Gazit-Globe from a holding company into an active real estate company over the short and medium term. As part of this program, in recent months we have increased our financial flexibility through the partial sale of shares in our North American subsidiaries, as well as executing an equity offering, which together have raised approximately NIS 1.4 billion. I am confident that in 2016 we will continue to execute our strategy which will lead to the creation of value for shareholders and bondholders.”

 

Financial highlights for 2015:

 

  • Rental income increased by 25% to NIS 6,150 million compared to NIS 4,913 million in 2014. The increase is mainly due to the consolidation of Atrium’s financial reports and the acquisition of Sektor.
  • NOI for 2015 increased by 26% to NIS 4,184 million compared to NIS 3,329 million in 2014. The increase is mainly due to the consolidation of Atrium’s financial reports and the acquisition of Sektor.
  • FFO for 2015 increased by 4.8% to NIS 627 million, or NIS 3.51 per share, compared to NIS 598 million, or NIS 3.39 per share, in 2014. Excluding the effect of exchange rates fluctuations the FFO for 2015 increased by 17% and FFO per share increased by 15%.
  • Net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders totaled NIS 620 million, or NIS 3.45 per share, compared to a net income of NIS 73 million, or NIS 0.39 per share, in 2014.
  • Occupancy rate as of December 31, 2015 remained high at 95.8% compare to 95.9% as of December 31, 2014.  By region, occupancy rate as of December 31, 2015 were: 94.8% in Canada; 96.0% in the US; 96.8% in North Europe; and 96.9% in Central and Eastern Europe.
  • The net fair value of investment property and investment property under development gain was NIS 711 million compared to a gain of NIS 1,053 million in 2014.
  • Shareholders’ equity as of December 31, 2015 totaled NIS 7,512 million or NIS 34 per share, compared to NIS 8,023 million, or NIS 45.0 per share, as of December 31, 2014. The decrease in shareholders’ equity was mainly due to exchange rates fluctuations. (NIS 6.6 per share).
  • Cash flow from operating activities in 2015 totaled NIS 1,514 million, compared to NIS 1,026 million in 2014.

Financial highlights for fourth quarter 2015:

 

  • Rental income increased by 24% to NIS 1,562 million compared to NIS 1,259 million in the same quarter last year. The increase is mainly due to the consolidation of Atrium’s financial reports and the acquisition of Sektor.
  • NOI for the quarter increased by 25% to NIS 1,047 million compared to NIS 840 million in the same quarter last year. The increase is mainly due to the consolidation of Atrium’s financial reports and the acquisition of Sektor.
  • FFO for the quarter increased by 8.1% to NIS 146 million, or NIS 0.82 per share, compared to NIS 135 million, or NIS 0.76 per share, in same quarter last year. Excluding the effect of exchange rates fluctuations the FFO for the quarter increased by 32% and FFO per share increased by 30%.
  • Net income attributable to the Company’s shareholders totaled NIS 206 million, or NIS 1.14 per share, compared to a loss of NIS 217 million, or NIS 1.25 per share, in the same quarter last year.
  • The net fair value of investment property and investment property under development gain was 231 compared to a gain of NIS 699 million in the same quarter last year.
  • Cash flow from operating activities totaled NIS 344 million, compared to NIS 304 million in the fourth quarter 2014.

 

Acquisition, Development, Redevelopment and Capital Recycling Activities:

 

  • During 2015, the Group invested NIS 9.3 billion (including the acquisition of Sektor). Total investment included NIS 7.4 billion invested in 28 income-producing property totaling 488 thousand square meters as well as NIS 1.9 billion in development and redevelopment projects.
  • As of December 31, 2015, the Group had 6 properties under development with a gross leasable area of 165 thousand square meters with a total investment of NIS 1.8 billion, and 21 properties under redevelopment with a gross leasable area of 353 thousand square meters with a total investment of NIS 4.8 billion. The additional cost to complete the properties under development and redevelopment totaled NIS 2.2 billion.

 

Financing Activities:

 

  • During 2015, the Group raised NIS 2.9 billion in equity. In addition, the Group raised NIS 5.6 billion through debenture offerings. The equity raised included a public offering in the company level of 0 million shares at a price of NIS 35.5 per share. The gross proceeds to the company were approximately NIS 604 million. Gazit-Globe’s controlling shareholder, Norstar Holdings Inc., purchased 8.5 million shares for a total consideration of approximately NIS 300 million.
  • The average nominal annual cost of debt during 2015 was 4.3%, compared to 4.8% in the 2014.
  • The company announced the adoption of a debentures buy-back plan in the amount of NIS 250 million and a shares buy-back plan in the amount of up to NIS 100 million.
  • The Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of NIS 0.46 per share and updated its dividend policy for 2016, from the second quarter of 2016; the company will distribute a quarterly cash dividend of NIS 0.35 per share, which reflects an annual dividend in the amount of NIS 1.51 per share in 2016.

ACCOUNTING AND OTHER DISCLOSURES

 

The Company believes that publication of FFO, which is computed according to EPRA guidance, more correctly reflects the operating results of the Company, since the Company’s financial statements are prepared in line with IFRS. In addition, publication of FFO provides a better basis for the comparison of the Company’s operating results in a particular period with those of previous periods and also provides a uniform financial measure for comparing the Company’s operating results with those published by other European property companies.

 

In addition, pursuant to the investment property guideline issued by the Israel Securities Authority in January 2011, FFO is to be presented in the “Description of the Company’s Business” section of the annual report of investment property companies on the basis of the EPRA criteria.

 

As clarified in the EPRA and NAREIT position papers, the EPRA Earnings and the FFO measures do not represent cash flows from operating activities according to accepted accounting principles, nor do they reflect the cash held by a company or its ability to distribute that cash, and they are not a substitute for the reported net income. Furthermore, it is clarified that these measures are not audited by the Company’s independent auditors.

 

CONFERENCE CALL/WEB CAST INFORMATION

 

Gazit-Globe will host a conference call and webcast in English on Tuesday, March 31, 2016 at 5:00 pm Israel Time / 4:00 pm Central European Time / 10:00 am Eastern Time, to review the year-end and fourth quarter 2015 financial results. Shareholders, analysts and other interested parties can access the conference call by dialing 1877 280 1254 (U.S./Canada) or 0800 279 4992 (U.K.) or 44 (0) 20 3450 9987 (International) or 1 809 212 925 (Israel), or on the Company’s website: www.gazit-globe.com (Conference ID 6172747)

Webcast link: http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/3jpyxanz

For those unable to participate during the call, a replay will be available for future review on Gazit-Globe’s website under Investor Relations.

 

About Gazit-Globe

 

Gazit-Globe is one of the largest owners, developers and operators of predominantly supermarket-anchored shopping centers in major urban markets around the world. Gazit-Globe is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: GZT), the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: GZT) and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE: GZT) and is included in the TA-25 and Real-Estate 15 indices in Israel. As of December 31, 2015 Gazit-Globe owns and operates 451 properties in more than 20 countries, with a gross leasable area of approximately 6.6 million square meters and a total value of approximately US$ 21 billion.

 
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