Tous Actualités
Suivre
Abonner ECO Business-Immobilien AG

ECO Business-Immobilien AG

EANS-Adhoc: ECO Business-Immobilien AG
ECO Business-Immobilien AG: Increase in revenues - negative earnings due to impairment charges

  Disclosure announcement transmitted by euro adhoc. The issuer is responsible
  for the content of this announcement.
25.03.2009
ECO Business-Immobilien AG:
Increase in revenues - negative earnings due to impairment charges
Vienna, 25 March 2009. The development of earnings at ECO 
Business-Immobilien AG (Vienna Stock Exchange: ECO) in 2008 was 
negatively influenced by the financial crisis and the resulting 
effects on the real economy. In spite of a further improvement in 
revenues to EUR 74.8 million, Group earnings fell to EUR -35.7 
million for the reporting year (2007: EUR 32.8 million). This shift 
was triggered above all by a market-related decline in the value of 
the portfolio during the second half of the year, which amounted to 
roughly 5% of property assets. However, net cash earnings (FFO after 
interest and tax, incl. impairment charges) were positive at EUR 5.0 
million despite a substantial rise in finance costs and a challenging
market environment throughout the entire year. The equity ratio 
equalled 33.7% as of the balance sheet date on 31 December 2008.
Revenues rose by 54% to EUR 74.8 million in 2008 (2007: EUR 48.6 
million). This growth resulted above all from the acquisition of the 
former BAWAG properties at the end of 2007, which made their first 
full year´s contribution to revenues in 2008. The increase in 
revenues was also supported by stable rental prices in the company´s 
core markets and a concentration on tenants with sound credit 
ratings. The liquidity shortage on financial markets had an 
unfavourable effect on the investment market for business properties 
during the entire year. Accordingly, income from the sale of 
properties declined from EUR 16.5 million in 2007 to EUR 4.5 million 
for 2008. However, the profit margin on these sales in relation to 
the IFRS carrying amounts remained clearly positive at 22.3%.
Operating profit (EBIT) fell to EUR -6.8 million, compared with EUR 
60.8 million in 2007. The main cause of the drop in EBIT was the net 
loss from fair value adjustments, which totalled EUR 49.0 million or 
roughly 5.0% of property assets - compared with a net gain of EUR 
17.1 million from fair value adjustments in the prior year. In 
addition to a lower volume of property sales, EBIT was also 
negatively affected by non-recurring expenses related to the 
cancellation of a property transaction during the second quarter of 
2008.
Financial results deteriorated from EUR -19.1 million in 2007 to EUR 
-43.2 million for the reporting year, and were influenced by 
significantly higher finance costs. The increase in finance costs 
resulted from a substantial rise in the volume of financing from EUR 
491.8 million in 2007 to EUR 740.9 million for 2008 as well as higher
average basis interest rates in the reporting year. Profit before tax
fell from EUR 41.7 million in 2007 to EUR -49.9 million in 2008. 
Earnings per share equalled EUR -1.05 for 2008, compared with EUR 
1.11 in the previous year.
Net cash earnings (FFO after interest and tax, incl. impairment 
charges), which illustrates the operating strength of ECO, was 
positive at EUR 5.0 million in 2008 despite the substantial 
year-on-year increase in finance costs, but remained below the EUR 
24.7 million recorded in 2007. The positive operating development of 
the company supported an increase in FFO before interest and tax to 
EUR 48.1 million (2007: EUR 44.2 million).
A decrease in liabilities as of the balance sheet date led to an 
improvement in the equity ratio, which rose from 32.6% at the end of 
2007 to 33.7% as of 31 December 2008. The loan-to-value ratio (LTV) 
equalled 64.5% as of 31 December 2008 (2007: 66.1%). Equity of EUR 
375.1 million was contrasted primarily by non-current liabilities of 
EUR 470.8 million (2007: EUR 618.3 million). Approximately one-third 
of the company´s debt financing was hedged against fluctuations in 
interest rates. Excluding the effects of hedging instruments, the 
average interest rate for the ECO Group equalled roughly 3.9% at the 
end of the reporting year (basis interest rate incl. margin). Cash 
and cash equivalents totalled EUR 14.6 million as of the balance 
sheet date (2007: EUR 34.7 million) and were increased at the 
beginning of 2009 by proceeds of over EUR 100 million from the sale 
of properties.
Net asset value (NAV) per share declined from EUR 12.40 to EUR 10.80,
primarily as a result of the above-mentioned impairment charges. 
Adjusted NAV equalled EUR 10.72 per share.
The property portfolio of ECO Business-Immobilien AG comprised 117 
objects with a combined value of EUR 1.07 billion at the end of 2008.
During the past year, ECO focused primarily on the management of the 
properties in its portfolio.
In order to further strengthen its focus on office and commercial 
properties, ECO sold objects that cannot be classified in full under 
this segment of business and/or are used predominately for 
residential purposes. These properties comprise 50% of the Allianz 
trading portfolio (EUR 52.0 million) as well as individual objects in
Austria and Germany with a combined value of EUR 61.3 million. The 
properties were purchased by the conwert Group, which previously held
the remaining 50% stake in the Allianz portfolio. The agreed purchase
price was based on an appraisal by independent experts as of 31 
December 2008. As a result of the current market environment and the 
resulting effect on property valuations, the sale price of EUR 113.3 
million is less than the historical acquisition cost of the related 
properties. This transaction will not only optimise the ECO 
portfolio, but will also largely repay the liability to the conwert 
Group. The transferred portfolio is comprised mostly of residential 
objects at inner city locations and also includes a hotel in Austria 
and two senior citizens´ residences in Germany. Following the 
completion of the sale in 2009, ECO will only hold portfolios in the 
investment and development segments of business.
During the first weeks of 2009, ECO sold two properties in Vienna to 
private investors for a total of EUR 112.7 million. These funds will 
strength the liquidity of the company over the long-term and also 
increase the equity ratio.
Since the further development of the real economy and the duration 
and extent of the current recession are difficult to estimate, ECO 
assumes the 2009 financial year will be characterised by a difficult 
market environment.
In addition to the optimisation of the portfolio through the sale of 
selected objects, activities for the coming year will concentrate on 
the management of the existing properties. ECO is currently 
conducting a thorough analysis of each object to ensure optimal 
realisation. Ongoing measures to improve the equipment, structure and
realisation of the ECO properties should ensure a stable level of 
occupancy and rental prices in times of a downturn, and also form the
basis for an increase in value and earnings when the current market 
trend reverses. ECO intends to utilise selective prospects for 
acquisitions and also to take advantage of opportunities for sales. 
Financing has already been secured for projects in the development 
portfolio, and these assignments will now be completed. However, 
ECO´s current plans do not call for the start of any new projects.
Effective asset management should allow ECO to meet its current 
expenses from operating income and also generate positive cash 
earnings in 2009. ECO expects rental income will remain stable in 
comparison with the previous year, while proceeds from the sale of 
properties will be used above all to reduce debt and strengthen 
liquidity. Therefore, the equity ratio should increase in relation to
the 2008 level. In the financing area, ECO will profit from the 
decline in interest rates and should record an improvement in 
financial results compared with 2008.
Selected Company Data in accordance with IFRS
01-12/2008      01-12/2007
Revenues (TEUR)                                          74,794          48,589
 Thereof rental income  (TEUR)                           61,668          39,959
Income from the disposal of non-current assets (TEUR)     4,517          16,508
Net gain/(loss) from changes (TEUR)                     -48,985          17,146
in the fair value of investment properties
Operating profit (EBIT) (TEUR)                           -6,790          60,801
Profit before tax (EBT) (TEUR)                          -49,940          41,654
Profit after tax (after minority interests)(TEUR)       -35,698          32,772
Earnings per share (EUR)                                  -1.05            1.11
Weighted average number of shares (Nr.)              34,100,000      29,550,000
FFO (funds from operations)1)(TEUR)                      48,067          44,195
before interest and tax, incl. impairment charges
Cash earnings (FFO - funds from operations)2)(TEUR)       4,991          24,723
after interest and tax
NAV per share(EUR)                                        10.80           12.40
1) EBIT + depreciation and amortisation +/- fair value adjustments +/-
impairment charges
2) EBIT + depreciation and amortisation +/- fair value adjustments 
+/- impairment charges - financial results - income taxes paid
Balance sheet indicators
Balance Sheet - Summary (TEUR)                      31/12/2008       31/12/2007
Non-current assets                                   1,085,709        1,244,766
 Thereof investment properties                         981,890        1,140,019
 Thereof construction in progress                       40,421           34,746
 Thereof properties available for sale                  51,881           58,319
Current assets                                          27,904           93,330
Total Assets                                         1,113,614        1,338,095
Equity and reserves                                    375,113          435,685
 Thereof minority interests                              6,918           12,784
Non-current liabilities                                470,846          618,343
Current liabilites                                     267,654          284,067
Total Equity and Liabilities                         1,113,614        1,338,095
Property Data
                                                      31/12/2008     31/12/2007
Number of objects                                            117            127
 Thereof investment portfolio                                 72             73
 Thereof trading portfolio                                    41             46
 Thereof development projects                                  4              8
Rentable space in m²*                                    662,700        668,000
 Thereof trading portfolio                                39,100         42,800
 Thereof development projects                             38,800         53,100
Garage spaces (number)                                     3,530          3,380
 Thereof trading portfolio                                   270            280
 Thereof development projects                                150            230
Property assets (in TEUR)                              1,074,192      1,233,083
 Thereof properties under construction                    40,421         34,746
 Thereof trading portfolio                                51,881         58,319
* Garage spaces were included at 20 m² each
This press release includes forward-looking estimates and statements that are
based on the information available to ECO Business-Immobilien AG at the present
time. Forward-looking statements are normally described with terms such as
"expect", "estimate", "plan", "anticipate", "assume", "should", "could", etc.,
and reflect conditions at the time they are made. ECO notes that numerous
factors may cause actual circumstances and, therefore also actual results, to
differ from the expectations described in this press release.
end of announcement                               euro adhoc

Further inquiry note:

ECO Business-Immobilien AG
Friedrich Scheck, CEO
Tel.: +43(1)535 21 99-9012
mailto:scheck@eco-immo.at

Peter Pechar
Head of Investor Relations
Tel.: +43(1)535 21 99-9035
mailto:pechar@eco-immo.at

Hochegger Financials
Roland Mayrl
Tel.: +43(1) 504 69 87-331
mailto:r.mayrl@hochegger.com

Branche: Real Estate
ISIN: AT0000617907
WKN: A0D8RY
Index: Prime.market
Börsen: Wiener Börse AG / Regulated free trade

Plus de actualités: ECO Business-Immobilien AG
Plus de actualités: ECO Business-Immobilien AG