INVESTIS Holding SA

Positive revenue growth in both segments

Investis Group increased its revenue by 0.8% to CHF 98.6 million in the first half of 2019 (previous year: CHF 97.9 million).  
The Properties segment saw revenues go up again by 4.0% to CHF 28.1 million (PY: 27.0 million). This pleasing increase resulted from a like-for-like increase in rental income of 0.7%, acquisitions and continued successful vacancy management (reduced vacancy rate to 2.1%). Annualised full occupancy property rent came to CHF 56.6 million.

Within the Real Estate Services segment, Property Management generated growth of 1.6%. This gratifying revenue growth came in spite of the completion of the sale of Régie du Rhône Crans-Montana SA at the end of February 2019. Rents under management went up again to CHF 1.76 billion (per 31.12.2018: CHF 1.74 billion).

Facility Services recorded a slight decline in revenues of 2.0%, mainly because of a streamlining of mandates.

Healthy operating profit – in line with the target set for services business

Operating profit (EBIT) stood at CHF 56.0 million, an increase of 91.7%. This good result was achieved thanks to improved operational earnings at both segments. Real Estate Services increased its EBIT margin to a gratifying 8.3%. The successful restructurings are, as forecast, bearing fruit. Consequently, this segment is also on course to achieve its target margin by the end of the year. Investis continues to press ahead systematically with the digital transformation of its business model.

Thanks to higher rental income and a slightly lower real-term average discount rate of 3.44%, revaluation gains were significantly higher at CHF 27.6 million than in the previous year (CHF 2.7 million). The sale of individual properties generated disposal gains of CHF 6.7 million.

Financial result

Financial expenses went up slightly owing to the renewal of the bond falling due in February. The average interest rate remains low at 0.6% (previous year: 0.5%).

Financial income came to CHF 5.0 million, which is significantly higher than in the previous half-year (CHF 0.1 million). This income includes gains from the sale of Régie du Rhône Crans-Montana SA, and the effect of reducing the stake in Polytech Ventures Holding SA.

Income taxes

Following the implementation of the TRAF tax reform in the Canton of Geneva from 2020, CHF 61 million of deferred tax liabilities could be released. This positive one-off effect led to total net tax income for the first half of CHF 53.2 million (previous year: tax expense of CHF 5.8 million). Investis expects an average tax rate of 15% from 2020.  

Net Profit

Net profit came to CHF 111.9 million (previous year: CHF 21.7 million) and earnings per share to CHF 8.80 (previous year: CHF 1.70). Net profit before revaluation effects¹ went up to CHF 33.8 million (prior year CHF 19.7 million).

Very solid balance sheet with a conservative loan-to-value of 42%

Total assets came to CHF 1.4 billion as at 30 June 2019, with a very comfortable equity ratio of 46.4% (31.12.2018: 41.3%). The portfolio value was estimated at CHF 1,340 million and comprised 154 properties with 2,872 residential units at cut-off date. In relation to the portfolio value, the loan-to-value amounted to a conservative 42% (interest-bearing debt of CHF 562 million). Following the substantial release of CHF 61 million of deferred tax, this balance sheet item fell to CHF 119 million (31.12.2018: CHF 178 million).

Net asset value (NAV) per share went up significantly to CHF 52.47 (31.12.2018: CHF 45.89).

Subsequent events

Investis sold Régie du Rhône SA on 8 August 2019. In 2018, this subsidiary generated revenue of CHF 20 million with 155 employees. Investis will focus its Property Management activities on its national Privera brand. At the same time, Investis acquired a portfolio of six residential properties in Geneva for CHF 62 million. These have an annualised full occupancy property rent of CHF 2.89 million.

Market environment and outlook for 2019

The Investis portfolio is mainly made up of mid-priced residential properties in central locations in the Lake Geneva region. Its concentration in this region is the Investis Group’s USP. These residential properties remain in high demand thanks to continuing positive net migration into this region coupled with demographic change and a low proportion of new builds in central locations. The highly regulated market keeps new investment at a low level, which also has a positive effect on demand. 

Investis plans to maintain its sustainable expansion by acquiring investment properties in attractive locations with a focus on the Lake Geneva region.

The environment remains challenging for the Real Estate Services segment. However, Investis believes that economic conditions remain advantageous and that further growth impulses in both activities will have a positive effect on the Group’s results.

Investis will reach all the medium-term objectives set at the time of the IPO in June 2016 by the end of 2019.

¹ The share of the deferred tax release referring to earlier revaluation gains has also been considered.

Reporting

The 2019 Half-Year Report is available at https://reports.investisgroup.com/19/hyr and on our website www.investisgroup.com under Investors / Reporting.

There will be a conference call on the half-year results for the media and analysts (in English) today at 11 a.m. Following the presentation of the half-year results, Stéphane Bonvin (CEO) and René Häsler (CFO) will be available to answer questions.

The dial-in numbers are as follows:

+41 (0)58 310 50 00 (Europe)

+44 (0)207 107 06 13 (UK)

+1 (1)631 570 56 13 (USA)

Please dial in 5 minutes prior to the start of the conference call. The accompanying presentation is also available on our website from 7 a.m. under Investors / Reporting (https://www.investis-group.com/nc/en/investors/).

Interested parties are also invited to follow the media and analysts conference call via live webcast on our website (www.investisgroup.com) under Investors / Reporting.

Agenda