Eastern Property Holdings Limited (EPH) : Third Quarter 2014 Trading Update

Eastern Property Holdings Limited (EPH) / Eastern Property Holdings Limited (EPH) : Third Quarter 2014 Trading Update . Processed and transmitted by Nasdaq OMX Corporate Solutions. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

28 November 2014, Road Town, Tortola, BVI

MAIN EVENTSAcquisition of 90% of Geneva House and Berlin House office and retail properties, as a result the Company became a 100% owner of both properties;Acquisition of 100% of Polar Lights business center in Northern part of the center of Moscow; Two successful bond placements for total amount of $270 million;Sale of Petrovsky Fort business center;Sale of almost 25% of Scandinavia land plot.FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTSStrong performance of rental assets; Significant RUB weakening against US$ during first 9 months 2014 led to FX loss; Decrease in valuations of St. Petersburg investment properties before the sale led to revaluation loss;Gain on acquisition of Berlin House, Geneva House and Polar Lights properties due to the agreed price discount to the fair value of the assets;No material gain or loss from the sale of Petrovsky Fort, as the property was sold at the price close to its NAV.SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL CHANGES FOR Q3 2014IncomeNet Rental Income

During 9 months ended 30 September 2014, our wholly-owned rental properties generated Net Rental Income of $8.99 million. Berlin House and Geneva House properties, which were acquired at the end of August, have contributed $1.38 and $1.47 million of Net Rental Income respectively since the acquisition date. The acquisition of Polar Lights had no impact on Net Rental Income because it was acquired on 30 September 2014. 

Interest Income

The Company generated $5.75 million of interest income in the first nine months of 2014 which is approximately at the same level as for the comparable period of 2013 ($5.84 million).

Gain from acquisition of subsidiaries

The transaction price for 90% of Geneva House and Berlin House properties amounts to $148.5 million and the price for 100% of Polar Lights amounts to $152.8. As the net assets values of the acquired companies were higher than the purchase price, the Company recognized gain on all three acquisitions in amount of $41.75 million. This gain is calculated based on the preliminary agreed purchase prices which are subject to certain final adjustments. Anyhow, we do not expect any significant change of purchase prices.

ExpensesProfessional and administration fees

The Company recognized $1.82 million of Professional and administration expenses in the nine months of 2014 in comparison with $0.95 million for the same period in 2013. The increase is primarily caused by the expenses related to bonds issue ($0.60 million) and expenses related to Unicredit loan extension ($0.12 million).

Net fair value adjustment on investment properties loss

During nine months 2014 the Company recognised loss of $11.44 million primarily caused by decrease in Petrovsky Fort and Scandinavia land plots valuations in the amount of $9.37 million and $1.50 million respectively.

Finance costs

The Company recognized $3.71 million of finance costs in the first nine months of 2014 in comparison with $2.15 million for the same period in 2013. The main reason of increase are: the interest expense on Jilford loan which was arranged in September 2013 and further increased during 9 months 2014, as well as the interest expense for the period starting from 25 August 2014 on third party loans provided to Berlin House and Geneva House.

AssetsInvestment properties

The value of the Investment properties significantly increased from $100.14 million as of 31 December 2013 to $506.87 million as of 30 September 2014. This increase is the net result of Berlin House, Geneva House and Polar Lights acquisitions and the sale of Petrovsky Fort and part of Scandinavia land plot. Also the remaining part of Scandinavia land plot was reclassified on balance sheet from Investment properties to Investment property held for sale.

Loans and Receivables

EPH's loans and receivables decreased from $81.0 million as of 31 December 2013 to $74.94 million as of 30 September 2014. The decrease is primarily attributable to the fact that Berlin House and Geneva House have repaid the most part of the loans due to the Company before their acquisitions and the remaining outstanding balances are now eliminated during consolidation. No new loans were provided during 9 months of 2014.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The $74.27 million increase in the Company's cash position in the first nine months of 2014 is the net effect of cash inflows from two bond placements for the total amount of $270 million, proceeds from sale of Petrovsky Fort in amount of $21.58 million and proceeds from the sale of a part of Scandinavia land plot in the amount of $1.99 million, decreased by consideration paid for the acquisitions of three properties for the total amount of $224.67 million.

Accounts Receivable

The $2.65 million decrease in accounts receivable is primarily caused by the payment received for the Arbat apartments sold in December 2013. 

Assets Under Development (at cost)

Assets under development have decreased from $101.83 million at 31 December 2013 to $94.88 million at 30 September 2014. The $6.95 million net decrease is primarily caused by significant weakening of the RUB against the US$. Assets under development are carrying at cost which is nominated in RUB, thus the weakening of RUB against USD leads to decrease in Assets under development presented in USD.

LiabilitiesLoans from Banks and Others (LT & ST)

EPH's debt consists of 9 year bonds listed on Swiss Stock Exchange issued in August and September 2014, a loan from Jilford Ltd. signed in September 2013 for the purpose of financing Arbat construction, the third party loans to EPH Real Estate and to Connecta KG and a loan from Valartis Bank (Liechtenstein) AG signed in December 2013.

The outstanding balance of listed bonds at reporting date was $270 million. The proceeds from the bonds were used to finance the acquisition of Berlin House, Geneva House and Polar Lights properties.

The loan from Jilford is received through Vakhtangov Place Limited, the Company's 60% joint operation company, therefore only 60% of the loan received is reflected on EPH's balance sheet. During the first nine months of 2014 the outstanding balance of the loan increased from $9.51 million at 31 December 2013 to $15.09 million at 30 September 2014.

EPH Real Estate and Connecta KG have the RUB nominated loans from the third party on their balance sheets. The outstanding balance of the loans amounted to $96.08 million as of 30 September 2014.

The loan from Valartis Bank (Liechtenstein) AG was received to fully repay performance fees liability. During the first nine months of 2014 the outstanding balance of the loan remained unchanged at $8.52 million.

Before 30 September 2014 the Company had a loan from UniCredit Bank Austria which was disposed at 30 September 2014 due to the sale of Petrovsky Fort. The outstanding balance of the loan as of end 2013 was $32.65 million.

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

The most part of accounts payable in the amount of US$ 76.63 million represents the deferred part of the purchase price with respect to acquisition of Berlin House, Geneva House and Polar Lights, which is payable in 3Q 2015.

Significant Q3 2014 Income and Expense ItemsNet Rental Income 30.09.2014 30.09.2013 Change YoY  Petrovsky Fort5,441,374 5,004,609 436,765  Magistral'naya707,761 714,666 (6,905) Berlin House1,375,933 0 1,375,933  Geneva House1,462,387 0 1,462,387  Total8,987,455 5,719,275 429,860
Material YoY changes in Income/Expense Items 30.09.2014 30.09.2013 Change YoY  Interest income5,745,736 5,841,181 (95,445) Professional and administration fees(1,818,025)(944,362)(873,663) Net (loss)/ gain from fair value adjustment on investment properties(11,440,045)85,030 (11,525,075) Finance costs(3,714,480)(2,149,833)(1,564,647) Net gain from acquisition of subsidiaries41,745,068 0 41,745,068 Significant Q3 2014 Changes in Financial PositionAssets  30.09.2014 31.12.2013 Change  Investment properties506,871,878 100,140,472 406,731,406  Investment property held for sale7,352,483 0 7,352,483  Loans and receivables (LT & ST)74,942,870 80,995,725 (6,052,855) Cash & cash equivalents80,918,430 6,648,367 74,270,063  Assets under development94,879,691 101,833,883 (6,954,192) Accounts receivable1,151,496 3,807,038 (2,655,542)     Liabilities         Loans from banks and others (LT & ST)392,608,819 51,210,613 341,398,206  Accounts payable and accrued expenses87,228,262 7,091,474 80,136,788 EPH - Q3 Trading Update


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Source: Eastern Property Holdings Limited (EPH) via Globenewswire
HUG#1874914

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Eastern Property Holdings Limited (EPH)
Valartis Asset Management SA Geneva Switzerland

WKN: 250817;ISIN: VGG290991014;