Quarterly Report • Apr 25, 2022
Quarterly Report
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A comprehensive real estate offering serving the city and its users A €19.4 bn pipeline1 (4.3 million m², 800 projects)
Major progress on large mixed-use projects
"Cœur de ville" delivered in Bezons (65,000 m²), construction in Bobigny (100,000 m2 ) launched New projects in the Regions (Rouen, Tours, Annecy)
Residential supply rebuilt amid persistently strong demand
Supply ramped up, particularly in new regional markets Priority given to Individuals with new orders up +28% Agile monitoring of activity in a context of inflation
Sale of the remainder of Orange's head office; offices sold off-plan in the Regions Lease of the Group's first urban logistics project in Paris's 12th arrondissement
Retailer sales back to 2019 levels Net rental income up, collection rate near normal, sharp decline in bad debts
Consolidated revenue up to €661.2 m (+0.9% vs 2021 and +11.6% vs 2019) Net debt down to €1,518 m (-€128 m vs 31/12/2021 and -€798 m over 12 months) Strong liquidity at €3,035 m
Proposed dividend for 2021: €9.75/share (+2.6% vs 2020) Change in payment terms: dividend to be paid fully in cash on 31 May 2022
Given the non-completion of the acquisition of the Primonial group, Altarea modifies the guidance announced on 22 February 2022
Considering the first quarter performance, Altarea expects its 2022 operating profit to be significantly higher than 2021 and 2019, unless the macroeconomic and geopolitical context deteriorates further
By 2025, Altarea is targeting FFO2 per share of around €18, mainly generated by organic growth
Unaudited data as of 31 March 2022
1 Potential value at end-December 2021. Potential value = market value at delivery date. Retail: potential market value including transfer duties of projects on delivery (net rents capitalised at a market rate) at 100%, and revenue excluding tax for development projects. Residential: offer for sale + portfolio incl. VAT. Business property: potential market value excl. transfer duties on the date of disposal for investment projects (at 100%), amount excl. VAT of off-plan sales/PDCs for the other development programmes (at 100%, or Group share for jointly owned projects), and capitalised DPM fees, near stable year-on-year.
2 Funds from operations (FFO): net profit excluding changes in value, calculated expenses, transaction fees and changes in differed tax.
"Since the beginning of the year, Altarea has taken full advantage of the booming urban transformation market, in which it holds undisputed leadership positions with its comprehensive offering and wide product ranges. Operational successes achieved in each of our business lines make us confident about our outlooks, while remaining vigilant as to the changes in the environment.
In an inflationary context, driven by the consequences of the war in Ukraine, Altarea has already hardened its criteria in terms of land commitments and project launches. We note, however, that demand remains strong from all customers, with real estate playing its full role as a safe haven in times of crisis. More than ever, Altarea is proactive in terms of risk management, and will make the most of its agility and ability to seize opportunities in a market that remains favourably oriented.
Altarea remains confident in its long-term outlooks, which are fundamentally based on the urban transformation market. Given the non-completion of the acquisition of the Primonial group, we modify the guidance announced on 22 February. Considering the first quarter performance, we expect its 2022 operating profit to be significantly higher than 2021 and 2019, unless the macroeconomic and geopolitical context deteriorates further. By 2025, we are targeting FFO per share of around €18, mainly generated by organic growth.
Altarea's financial structure is particularly sound, with historically low net debt and abundant liquidity. As a result, and given the absence of any significant acquisition in the short term, Altarea will propose to the next Annual General Meeting of Shareholders the payment of the annual dividend entirely in cash."
Over the quarter, Altarea intensified its efforts to increase supply, which rose to 5,795 units, +25% vs 2021 and +29% vs 2019. Growth was mainly driven by the new territories which contributed nearly a quarter of Q1 supply (Angers, Tours, Caen, Amiens, etc.).
| In units | 31/03/2022 | 31/03/2021 | 31/03/2020 | 31/03/2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supply | 5,795 | 4,623 | 4,032 | 4,480 |
In addition to these development successes, Altarea has succeeded in speeding up times to market, with, in particular, an increase in building permits granting.
| In units | 31/03/2022 | 31/03/2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building permits granted | 2,323 | 1,933 | +20% |
| Land bought | 2,600 | 1,446 | +80% |
| Commercial launch (individuals only) | 1,753 | 924 | +90% |
Despite a clear rise in supply, demand cannot be fully met. In this context, Altarea has pro-actively given priority to Individual investors. First-quarter sales were stable in value terms but with a radically changed mix: new orders from Individual investors grew +28% to represent 75% of sales (against 58% in 2021), so recovering to pre-Covid levels.
| New orders | 31/03/2022 | 31/03/2021 | 31/03/2019 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In value (incl. VAT) | €588m | €587m | +0% | €627m |
| o/w Individual investors | €439m | €343m | +28% | €440m |
| o/w Institutional investors | €149m | €245m | -39% | €187m |
| In volume (units) | 1,944 units | 2,121 units | -8% | 2,651 units |
| o/w Individual investors | 1,445 units | 1,144 units | +26% | 1,543 units |
| o/w Institutional investors | 499 units | 977 units | -49% | 1,108 units |
In an environment dominated by resurgent inflation and supply chain disruptions, commercial mix management is a lever for steering the Group's profitability. Real estate is playing its role as a safe-haven asset, particularly for Individual investors. Altarea is therefore focusing its offer on this customer segment, even though Institutional demand remains strong. With the supply now regularly replenished, Altarea intends to pursue this strategy over the coming months. In the short term, Altarea can rely on a near-stable backlog3 of €3,650 million (-1.9% vs end-2021), representing around 1.5 times 2021 Residential revenue.
3 The backlog is a leading indicator of potential revenue, which includes revenue from sold units and those subject to completion to be booked in revenue according to technical progress.
During the first quarter 2022, Altarea sold to Crédit Agricole Assurances its remaining 10% stake in Bridge, Orange's global headquarters in Issy-les-Moulineaux (58,000 m²). This project is particularly representative of the Group's expertise in new-generation offices, characterised by user comfort adapted to new ways of working and with exemplary energy efficiency.
In the Regions, Altarea has agreed a third off-plan sale with Tivoli capital, to develop a 4,200 m2 co-working space in the Jolimont building in Toulouse, and another in Marseille with Erilia, a social housing enterprise (SHE) which will move its head office into 6,200 m2 of the Porte Est project by 2024.
Altarea Logistique has signed an off-plan lease with Logeos covering 25,000 m2 out of a total 38,000 m2 in a future multi-user logistics platform located on the link road between Nantes and Rennes, confirming the Group's growing expertise in this fast-growing real estate sector.
At the end of March Altarea signed an agreement to let the Manufacture de Reuilly building. This project, located in the heart of the 12th arrondissement of Paris, is the first urban logistics site to be developed by the Group.
With a pipeline of nearly €5 billion, Altarea is France's leading Business Property developer not only by volume but also by the depth and diversity of its offering. Business Property should continue to contribute significantly to Group profits in the future.
In the first quarter of 2022, tenant's revenue returned to their level of 20196 despite lower footfall7 . The end of Covid restrictions8 since mid-March should help restaurants and leisure activities, the sectors hardest hit by these measures.
CAP3000, the emblematic shopping centre on the Côte d'Azur, has once again been rewarded for its sea-front extension and its catering & lifestyle offering. This exceptional site, certified BREEAM "Excellent", is also the first shopping centre in the world to earn the BiodiverCity label.
4 In French, VEFA (vente en l'état futur d'achèvement).
5 In French, BEFA (bail en l'état futur d'achèvement).
6+1,0% vs 2019 (at constant surface area, excluding restaurants and leisure activities). Cumulative data from January to March.
7 Footfall from January to March 2022 was down 14% on the same period 2019 at a constant surface area basis.
8 Mask-wearing and vaccine passports.
9 The MIPIM (Marché International des professionnels de l'Immobilier) Awards reward the world's most exciting real estate projects each year.
The Group's net rental income (IFRS) for the first quarter 2022, was €50.3 million, up +5.9% of which +4% due to scope effects. The collection rate is 91.6%10. Excluding catering and leisure activities, the rate stood at 94.1%, close to pre-Covid levels. As a result of this improvement, bad debts fell sharply, which should have a significantly favourable impact on net rental income for the first half 2022 (lower bad debts provisions).
In an inflationary environment, Altarea expects a recovery in tenants' revenue, with increased differentiation by sector and retail concept. Demand from brands remains strong and the financial vacancy rate is nearly back to pre-crisis levels. As a result, rent levels should start growing again, thanks in part to the effect of rent indexation11 .
| In €m (excl. tax) | Q1 2022 | Q1 2021 | Change 22/21 | Q1 2020 | Q1 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue by % of completion | 549.9 | 535.5 | +2.7% | 384.2 | 433.0 |
| External services | 3.2 | 2.4 | - | 2.7 | 1.8 |
| Residential | 553.0 | 537.8 | +2.8% | 386.9 | 434.8 |
| Revenue by % of completion | 51.9 | 59.5 | -12.9% | 116.7 | 101.0 |
| External services | 1.5 | 3.9 | - | 1.1 | 1.0 |
| Business Property | 53.4 | 63.5 | -15.9% | 117.8 | 102.0 |
| Rental income | 50.3 | 47.5 | +5.9% | 51.4 | 49.1 |
| External services | 4.6 | 4.7 | - | 4.2 | 6.6 |
| Revenue by % of completion | - | 1.6 | - | 6.0 | - |
| Retail | 54.8 | 53.8 | +2.1% | 61.6 | 55.7 |
| Revenue | 661.2 | 655.1 | +0.9% | 566.2 | 592.5 |
Consolidated first-quarter 2022 revenue amounted to €661.2 million (+0.9%):
On 31 March 2022, net debt12 was €1,518 million, down €128 million vs 31 December 2021. This fall was in large part due to the signature in February 2022 of the Alta Infrastructures partnership specialising in retail outlets at European rail stations with Crédit Agricole Assurances.
Over 12 months, net debt has fallen by €798 million. As a reminder, Altarea's consolidated LTV13 was 24.1% at 31 December 2021.
10 €77.1 million received out of €84.2 million in rents and charges billed (including VAT).
11 There were changes to the way the French official retail rent index - Indice de Loyers Commerciaux (ILC) - is calculated. It is now composed 75% by the consumer price index (IPCL) and 25% by the construction cost index (ICC), giving an increase of +2.42% for the rolling annual inflation to end-2021. 12 Bank and bond debt.
13 Loan-to-Value (LTV): indebtedness ratio. Consolidated net bond and bank debt/Consolidated market value of Group assets.
At end-March 2022, the Group had €3,035 million in liquidity14 (+€365 m vs 31/12/2021). This cash position is notably linked to retail partnerships signed in 2021 and in 2022, and to the €350 million capital increase in December 2021, transactions realised in the view of the acquisition of Primonial Group.
Given the cash position and the absence of any significant external growth in the short term, Altarea will propose to its shareholders to pay the 2021 dividend fully in cash (see next paragraph "Annual General Meeting").
On 18 March 2022 the S&P Global ratings agency confirmed the rating Investment Grade, BBB-, with a negative outlook.
On 2 March 2022, Altarea informed the public that the acquisition of the Primonial Group could not be completed on the terms agreed. In the course of reviewing the legal documentation, some elements of which were only disclosed on 25 February 2022, Altarea found that the conditions precedent agreed for the acquisition of the Primonial Group on 2 March 2022 had not been met, due to non-respect - in substance, form and deadlines - of the provisions of the acquisition protocol signed in July 2021, which has lapsed following the failure to complete the prior operations required by the protocol.
Given the non-completion of the Primonial acquisition, the Company and its indirect subsidiary Alta Percier were cited before the Paris Commercial Court by the different shareholder groups in New Primonial Holding 2 (parent of the Primonial Group) seeking compensation for their alleged damages. Altarea and Alta Percier plan to contest the complaints made, which they consider without merit, and to take all legal measures to, first, defend their legitimate interests and, second, hold Primonial shareholders liable and obtain compensation for the damages incurred by the Group.
At the date of this press release, legal procedure is on-going.
Following the Supervisory Board meeting held today, it was decided to change the terms of payment of the annual dividend:
The agenda item and draft resolutions published in the BALO (French official state bulletin) on 15 April 2022 will be amended accordingly.
These proposals will be submitted to the shareholders for approval at the Annual General Meeting on 24 May 2022, to be held at 11:00 a.m. at the Group's headquarter.
14 Of which €688 million cash at corporate level, €1,196 million undrawn facilities, and €1,151 million at project level. Figures are exclusive of Neu CP (treasury notes) which stood at €559 million at end-March.
15 Please refer to the original text in French for more strict legal terms.
• Annual General Meeting: 24 May 2022 (11 a.m.)
Altarea is the leading property developer in France. As both a developer and investor, the Group is present in the three main real estate markets (retail, housing and commercial property), making it the leader in major mixed-use urban renewal projects in France. For each of its activities, the Group has all the know-how required to design, develop, market and manage tailor-made real estate products. Listed in Compartment A of Euronext Paris and a component of the SBF 120 index.
Eric Dumas, Chief Financial Officer Agnès Villeret - KOMODO
[email protected], tel.: + 33 1 44 95 51 42 [email protected], tel.: +33 6 83 28 04 15
Pierre Perrodin, Deputy CFO [email protected], tel.: +33 6 43 34 57 13
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to purchase Altarea shares. For fuller information about Altarea, please refer to the documents available on our website. www.altarea.com. This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are based solely on information currently available and are only valid as of the date of this document. They are not guarantees of the Altarea Group's future performance. While Altarea believes that such statements are based on reasonable assumptions at the date of publication of this document, they are by nature subject to risks and uncertainties which are unknown or that Altarea is unable to predict or control which may lead to differences between real figures and those indicated or inferred from such statements. This press release must not be published, circulated, or distributed, directly or indirectly, in any country in which the distribution of this information is subject to legal restrictions.
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