2019 12 months and IV quarter consolidated unaudited interim report
COMMENTARY FROM MANAGEMENT
Merko Ehitus posted revenue of EUR 99 million and net profit of EUR 9.3 million in Q4 of 2019, close to a one-third gain over the same period a year ago. In Q4, the revenue generated by the real estate development business area more than doubled compared to 2018 and made up approximately 47% of the group’s revenue as a whole. In 2019, the 12-month revenue of Merko Ehitus was EUR 327 million and net profit was EUR 16.3 million. As discussed with the supervisory board, the group’s management board proposes to pay shareholders 0.60 euros per share as dividends.
The fourth quarter of Merko Ehitus was expected to be strong. The professional work of the group companies’ teams and timely completion of apartment development projects contributed to the result. The forecasts of group’s management were somewhat exceeded as some apartment development projects were completed earlier than planned and sales were faster thanks to greater interest from buyers.
The decline in annual sales revenue by about one fifth was expected because of the extra¬ordinarily high comparison base of 2018, which included the construction of some very large shopping centres in Tallinn and Riga. The group’s smaller secured order book also reflects the situation on the market: fewer commercial real estate sites are being built because competition is stiffer, construction prices have risen and financing conditions have become more complicated. The price competition on the main contracting market continues to be tight. So it is all the more gratifying to note that in spite of the lower revenue, we were able to improve profitability through a more precise selection of construction projects and the team’s effectiveness. The year’s net profit figure was impacted by significantly higher income tax expenses compared to 2018 in connection with the payment of dividends. The group’s profit before taxes for the 12 months was EUR 20.3 million and increased by 2.8% from the year before.
The proportion of the real estate development business area has continued to increase, and in Q4 it made up close to 47% of the entire group’s revenue. The real estate development business area’s sales revenue was EUR 46.5 million in Q4 and totalled EUR 70.1 million for the 12 months. In Q4, Merko sold a total of 276 apartments, 482 for the entire year, and the respective figures for commercial areas sold were 13 and 24. The apartment market in Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius is stable and our focus continues to be on large development areas where we can establish an integral residential environment and launch and build development projects stage by stage based on demand.
In 2019, the group Invested EUR 87.4 million into new and ongoing development projects and started construction of a total of 368 new apartments in the Baltics. The largest projects were the Uus-Veerenni, Lahekalda and Pikaliiva residential projects in Tallinn; in Riga, the Gaiļezers and Viesturdārzs developments; and, in Vilnius, the Vilneles slenis and Rinktinės Urban developments.
Q4 2019 revenue of Merko Ehitus was EUR 99 million (Q4 of 2018: EUR 119 million), EBITDA was EUR 10.2 million (Q4 of 2018: 7.6 million), and net profit was EUR 9.3 million (Q4 of 2018: EUR 7.0 million). In Q4 2019, Merko subsidiaries signed new agreements worth EUR 42 million and the volume of new contracts over the 12 months of 2019 stood at EUR 170 million. As of 31 December 2019, the group’s secured order book amounted to EUR 141 million, compared to EUR 229 million on the same date in the previous year.
The largest projects in progress in Q4 in Estonia were the construction of Terminal D parking house at the Tallinn passenger port, Türi Basic School, the student home for Rakvere Vocational School and the commercial building at Pärnu mnt 186, as well as the reconstruction of the Aaspere-Haljala road section. In Latvia, the largest projects in progress were the construction of the Pinki school building and dormitory, Lidl’s logistics centre, Alfa shopping centre, and Laima chocolate factory, as well as the reconstruction of the Riga Technical University Civil Engineering Faculty building. In Lithuania, the larger projects were the construction of Neringa Hotel, Quadrum office building, and a private school in Vilnius.
OVERVIEW OF THE IV QUARTER AND 12 MONTHS RESULTS
PROFITABILITY
2019 12 months’ profit before tax was EUR 20.3 million and for Q4 2019 it was EUR 10.0 million (12M 2018: EUR 19.8 million and Q4 2018: EUR 7.1 million), which brought the profit before tax margin to 6.2% (12M 2018: 4.7%).
Net profit attributable to equity holders of the parent in 12 months 2019 was EUR 16.3 million (12M 2018: EUR 19.3 million) and Q4 2019 net profit attributable to equity holders of the parent was EUR 9.3 million (Q4 2018: EUR 7.0 million). 12 months’ net profit margin was 5.0% (12M 2018: 4.6%). Net profitability was influenced by, among other things, a significantly increased income tax expense: in Q2, the group’s income tax expense on paid dividends was EUR 2.7 million greater than the year before. There was no income tax expense on the dividends paid in 2018 – the dividends were distributed from dividends paid by foreign subsidiaries to the parent.
REVENUE
Q4 2019 revenue was EUR 99.2 million (Q4 2018: EUR 119.2 million) and 12 months’ revenue was EUR 326.8 million (12M 2018: EUR 418.0 million). 12 months’ decreased by 21.8% compared to same period last year. The share of revenue earned outside Estonia in 12 months 2019 was 48.3% (12M 2018: 51.5%).
SECURED ORDER BOOK
As at 31 December 2019, the group’s secured order book was EUR 141.4 million (31 December 2018: EUR 229.0 million). In 12 months 2019, group companies signed new contracts in the amount of EUR 169.6 million (12M 2018: EUR 246.4 million). In Q4 2019, new contracts were signed in the amount of EUR 42.0 million (Q4 2018: EUR 89.4 million).
REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT
In 12 months 2019, the group sold a total of 482 apartments (incl. 47 apartments in a joint venture); in 12 months 2018, the group sold 482 apartments as well (incl. 131 apartments in a joint venture). The group earned a revenue of EUR 63.8 million from sale of own developed apartments in 12 months 2019 and EUR 41.3 million in 12 months 2018. In Q4 of 2019 a total of 276 apartments (incl.11 apartments in a joint venture) were sold compared to 227 apartments (incl. 84 apartments in a joint venture) in Q4 2018, and earned a revenue of EUR 43.6 million from sale of own developed apartments (Q4 2018: EUR 17.0 million).
CASH POSITION
At the end of the reporting period, the group had EUR 24.7 million in cash and cash equivalents, and equity of EUR 130.3 million (46.2% of total assets). Comparable figures as at 31 December 2018 were EUR 40.0 million and EUR 131.8 million (48.9% of total assets), respectively. As at 31 December 2019, the group had net debt of EUR 39.0 million (31 December 2018: EUR 4.2 million).
PROPOSAL FOR DISTRIBUTION OF PROFITS
As discussed with the Supervisory Board, the Management Board proposes to distribute to shareholders EUR 10.6 million in dividends (0.60 euro per share) from retained earnings in 2020. This is equivalent to a 65% dividend rate for 2019.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
unaudited
in thousand euros
| 2019 12 months | 2018 12 months | 2019 IV quarter | 2018 IV quarter | |
| Revenue | 326,779 | 418,011 | 99,159 | 119,243 |
| Cost of goods sold | (291,958) | (384,962) | (85,235) | (107,978) |
| Gross profit | 34,821 | 33,049 | 13,924 | 11,265 |
| Marketing expenses | (4,260) | (3,285) | (1,634) | (803) |
| General and administrative expenses | (12,988) | (12,304) | (4,147) | (3,721) |
| Other operating income | 2,983 | 3,527 | 1,243 | 1,050 |
| Other operating expenses | (1,318) | (1,115) | (96) | (838) |
| Operating profit | 19,238 | 19,872 | 9,290 | 6,953 |
| Finance income/costs | 1,085 | (97) | 722 | 176 |
| incl. finance income/costs from sale of subsidiary and liquidation | - | (62) | - | (3) |
| finance income/costs from joint venture | 1,766 | 653 | 921 | 379 |
| interest expense | (656) | (652) | (185) | (200) |
| foreign exchange gain (loss) | - | 5 | - | 6 |
| other financial income (expenses) | (25) | (41) | (14) | (6) |
| Profit before tax | 20,323 | 19,775 | 10,012 | 7,129 |
| Corporate income tax expense | (3,833) | (375) | (850) | (206) |
| Net profit for financial year | 16,490 | 19,400 | 9,162 | 6,923 |
| incl. net profit attributable to equity holders of the parent | 16,270 | 19,343 | 9,267 | 7,031 |
| net profit attributable to non-controlling interest | 220 | 57 | (105) | (108) |
| Other comprehensive income, which can subsequently be classified in the income statement | ||||
| Currency translation differences of foreign entities | 13 | (6) | 23 | (37) |
| Comprehensive income for the period | 16,503 | 19,394 | 9,185 | 6,886 |
| incl. net profit attributable to equity holders of the parent | 16,281 | 19,324 | 9,279 | 6,981 |
| net profit attributable to non-controlling interest | 222 | 70 | (94) | (95) |
| Earnings per share for profit attributable to equity holders of the parent (basic and diluted, in EUR) | 0.92 | 1.09 | 0.52 | 0.40 |
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
unaudited
in thousand euros
| 31.12.2019 | 31.12.2018 | |
| ASSETS | ||
| Current assets | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 24,749 | 39,978 |
| Trade and other receivables | 50,413 | 76,183 |
| Prepaid corporate income tax | 104 | 224 |
| Inventories | 166,226 | 117,992 |
| 241,492 | 234,377 | |
| Non-current assets | ||
| Investments in joint venture | 2,498 | 732 |
| Other long-term loans and receivables | 11,094 | 10,391 |
| Investment property | 14,047 | 13,771 |
| Property, plant and equipment | 11,919 | 9,715 |
| Intangible assets | 777 | 671 |
| 40,335 | 35,280 | |
| TOTAL ASSETS | 281,827 | 269,657 |
| LIABILITIES | ||
| Current liabilities | ||
| Borrowings | 20,725 | 19,900 |
| Payables and prepayments | 69,585 | 77,016 |
| Income tax liability | 812 | 381 |
| Short-term provisions | 7,976 | 8,100 |
| 99,098 | 105,397 | |
| Non-current liabilities | ||
| Long-term borrowings | 43,001 | 24,266 |
| Deferred income tax liability | 1,682 | 1,481 |
| Other long-term payables | 3,491 | 2,179 |
| 48,174 | 27,926 | |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES | 147,272 | 133,323 |
| EQUITY | ||
| Non-controlling interests | 4,217 | 4,577 |
| Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent | ||
| Share capital | 7,929 | 7,929 |
| Statutory reserve capital | 793 | 793 |
| Currency translation differences | (710) | (721) |
| Retained earnings | 122,326 | 123,756 |
| 130,338 | 131,757 | |
| TOTAL EQUITY | 134,555 | 136,334 |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | 281,827 | 269,657 |
Interim report and the investor presentation are attached to the announcement and are also published on NASDAQ Tallinn and Merko’s web page ().
Priit Roosimägi
Head of Group Finance Unit
AS Merko Ehitus
AS Merko Ehitus () group consists of AS Merko Ehitus Eesti in Estonia, SIA Merks in Latvia, UAB Merko Statyba in Lithuania and Peritus Entreprenør AS in Norway. Besides providing construction service as a main contractor, the group’s other major area of activity is apartment development. As at the end of 2019, the group employed 694 people, and the group’s revenue for 2019 was EUR 327 million.
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