The three acquisitions made in 2022 – Forum Gdansk and Copernicus shopping centers in Poland and the 50% share of the Ploiesti Shopping City in Romania – contributed 28 million Euro to the NOI for 9M 2023. On a like-for-like (‘LFL’) basis, NOI increased by 14% in 9M 2023, driven by higher base rents, turnover rents and short-term income, as well as a better recovery of operating costs (93% in 9M 2023 versus 91% in the same period of 2022).
Tenant sales (LFL, excluding hypermarkets) were 14% higher in 9M 2023 versus the same period a year ago, fuelled almost equally by an increase in footfall (+6%, LFL) and a rise in average spend per visit (+6%).
NEPI Rockcastle is Europe’s third-largest listed retail real estate company by investment portfolio value and the largest owner, operator and developer of shopping centers in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). Demand from both international and regional retailers for the Group’s properties remained very strong resulting in retail vacancy falling to 2.2%. Rent collection rate for the period reached 97% by mid-November.
Rüdiger Dany, NEPI Rockcastle’s CEO, said “This was another quarter of very solid results for NEPI Rockcastle, building on the exceptional performance we achieved in the first half of this year. We see robust growth continuing across our region as household income and consumer spend are holding up well, despite macroeconomic challenges. The acquisitions made in 2022 are showing their worth in delivering strong value, while organic growth is supported by an increased number of visitors and very strong tenant sales. Developments are also starting to deliver value. We opened Promenada Craiova in southern Romania in October, the largest retail scheme launched in the entire CEE region in 2023. Promenada Craiova was the first development of the Group where renewable energy production was integrated over the parking areas, supplying 70% of the energy needed by the shopping centre and its tenants. This project, together with the overall photovoltaic projects installed on the Romanian property portfolio, will ensure a 25-30% green energy consumption across these properties.”
Well capitalized balance sheet, strengthened by scrip take-up
The Group has no debt maturing in 2023 and liquidity remains very strong with 361 million Euro in cash and 620 million Euro in available committed credit facilities as of 30 September 2023. Shareholders were offered an option to receive scrip for the first half (‘H1’) 2023 dividend distribution, which saw a 74% take-up rate. This was the equivalent of raising 121 million Euro of equity and, together with the scrip take up equivalent of 145 million Euro in April 2023, contributed to reducing the loan-to-value ratio (‘LTV’) to 32.9%, comfortably below the Company’s 35% strategic threshold.
The property portfolio’s value of 6.84 billion Euro is 0.9% higher compared to June 2023 due to investments in developments made during third quarter (‘Q3’) 2023. In line with Company policy, no property valuations were undertaken during Q3 2023. Independent valuations are included in half-yearly and year-end financial reports.
In October 2023, NEPI Rockcastle established a robust Sustainability-Linked Financing Framework to guide its future funding initiatives. This framework incorporates Key Performance Indicators (‘KPIs’) and Sustainability Performance Targets (‘SPTs’) that are intricately linked to the Group’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance energy efficiency across all its operations. Together with the Green Financing Framework (‘GFF’) revised during the first six months of the year, the two frameworks are showing the Group’s strong commitment to sustainability.
Operating Performance
Trading update
Total footfall in the third quarter of 2023 has stabilized at slightly below the levels of 2019, after a surge in the first half of this year, almost fully recovering since the end of the pandemic. The LFL increase in footfall was 6.2% in the first nine months of 2023, relative to the comparative period of 2022.
The pace of growth in tenant sales (LFL, excluding hypermarkets) was solid in the third quarter of the year at 8.2% higher relative to Q3 2022. Over 9M 2023, turnover increased across all retail segments, by an average of 13.6%. The best performing categories were Entertainment (+27%), Health & Beauty (+26%) and Services (+26%). In the largest segment, Fashion, tenant sales increased by 9%.
In 9M 2023, occupancy cost ratio (‘OCR’) was at a sustainable level of 12.4%. Higher tenant sales more than offset the increase in rents and tenants’ contributions to operating expenses.
Leasing activity
In Q3 2023, the Group signed 348 new leases and lease renewals, for more than 64,600 sq m, of which 37% by gross lettable area (‘GLA’) are new leases (1.1% of total GLA). International tenants accounted for 49% of newly leased GLA.
Significant new leases signed in Q3 2023 include Adidas, Flanco and Altex (Promenada Craiova, Romania), McDonalds (Severin Shopping Center, Romania), Reserved (Galeria Wolomin, Poland), Gym+ (Ozas Shopping and Entertainment Centre, Lithuania), Terranova (Galeria Mlyny, Slovakia), Ochnik (Alfa Centrum Bialystok, Poland), Nike (Bonarka City Center, Poland).
New units opened in Q3 2023 include Half Price (Karolinka Shopping Centre, Poland), Sport Vision, Mango and Hugo (Paradise Center, Bulgaria), Martes (Galeria Wolomin, Poland), CCC (Aura Centrum, Poland), Deichmann and Kiko (Serdika Center, Bulgaria).
Development Update
Promenada Craiova opened on 5 October 2023, with 99% occupancy for the shopping centre (GLA: 53,700 sq m and 85% occupancy rate for the retail park (GLA: 10,000 m2). On its first day of trading, approximately 55,000 people visited the scheme, with more than 100,000 visitors over the first weekend. The strength of demand from international retailers to open or expand their presence in the CEE was validated by the range of brands opened in Promenada Craiova, including the first store in Romania (and the CEE) for Inditex’s value fashion brand Lefties and other newcomers to the city, including Calvin Klein, Carrefour, Massimo Dutti, Mohito, Peek & Cloppenburg, Tommy Hilfiger and Under Armour.
The extension of Promenada Mall Bucharest is on time and on budget and opening is projected for Q4 2025. The installation of photovoltaic panels across the Group’s Romanian assets continues, with 20 units already completed and functional.
NEPI Rockcastle’s development pipeline under construction, or under permitting, amounts to approximately 600 million Euro (excluding the completed Promenada Craiova development), of which 196 million Eurowas already spent by 30 September 2023.
