ANNUAL REPORT 2001 Company Profile
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2001 ANNUAL REPORT BONATLA PROPERTY HOLDINGS Managed by 6th Floor Protea Place Protea Road Claremont 7700 PO Box 44845 Claremont 7735 Tel 27+21+683 7773 Fax 27+21+683 7774 www.bonatla.co.za Company Profile Bonatla Property Holdings Limited (“Bonatla”), is a property company listed on the JSE Securities Exchange SA list in the Real Estate – Property sector. The company listed in October 1997 with a portfolio of R240 million which has subsequently grown to R645 million. The portfolio comprises a spread of commercial, industrial and retail properties. During the review period the company changed its management structure from an in-house team to outsourced management. Catalyst Property Asset Managers (Pty) Ltd (“CPAM”) undertakes the asset management of the company whilst the Broll Property Group (Pty) Ltd performs the property management function. CPAM reports to the board of directors, the majority of whom are non-executive. The company seeks to create value for shareholders by consistently generating a total rate of return in excess of inflation. This is achieved by active asset management of the underlying portfolio thereby maximising the portfolio value. 264311 Bonatla inside 22/4/02 3:01 pm Page 1 contents 264311 Bonatla inside 22/4/02 3:01 pm Page 2 financial highlights Group 2001 2000 % Change Turnover (R000’s) 113 050 91 362 23,7% Operating profit (R000’s) 80 011 66 545 20,2% Operating margin 71% 73% (2,8%) Net income before taxation (R000’s) 12 743 3 760 238,9% Fully diluted earnings per share (cents) 5,02 3,11 61,4% Interest cover 1,15 1,03 11,9% Debt/equity ratio 2,83 3,01 6,2% Debt/total assets ratio 0,73 0,74 1,4% Repayment of long-term interest-bearing debt (R000’s) 11 822 –– Cashflow from operating activities (R000’s) (excluding dividends paid) 11 395 10 279 10,9% Headline Earnings per share (cents) Headline EPS 2 264311 Bonatla inside 22/4/02 3:01 pm Page 3 financial highlights (cont.) Comparison of Value of Investment Property to Turnover (Rm) Investment Property Turnover Total Debt vs Total Equity (Rm) Total Debt Total Equity 3 264311 Bonatla inside 22/4/02 3:02 pm Page 4 chairman’s report “The most significant change during the year was the restructuring of Bonatla’s management.” BJ van der Ross – Chairman of Bonatla The 2001 financial year was one of dramatic and positive change for Bonatla where much progress has been made in achieving the company’s strategic objectives. The most significant change during the year was the restructuring of Bonatla’s management. The full management function has been outsourced to the Catalyst group. The property management is undertaken by the Broll Property Group (Pty) Ltd who are the largest property managers in South Africa. The asset management of the group is performed by Catalyst Property Asset Managers (Pty) Ltd who are developing a reputation for their innovative and dynamic approach to property asset management. This decision is in line with international best practise for property owning companies to outsource their management to focused property experts. As an indication of their confidence in the future of Bonatla, the Catalyst group has subscribed for R8 million convertible debentures. The board has been reconstituted to reflect the change in management, and consists of the following members: Messrs M Brodie, J Broll, R du Plooy, J Styger, M Viljoen, N Vontas and B van der Ross. Messrs J Broll and R du Plooy represent the Catalyst group. 4 264311 Bonatla inside 22/4/02 3:02 pm Page 5 chairman’s report (cont.) The company paid its maiden dividend of 1 cent per share at the half-year stage, and another dividend of 1 cent per share after year-end. This is in line with the group’s objective of increasing dividend payments to shareholders. The group successfully restructured a large portion of its debt after year-end which should facilitate the continued payment of dividends. The above events and progress, as well as potential structural changes designed to further reduce the debt level and increase dividends, bode well for Bonatla in the coming year and beyond. On behalf of the board I would like to thank Mackie Brodie for his wise counsel as Chairman of Bonatla during the past three years. I would also like to thank my fellow directors and management for their commitment and contributions to the company. BJ VAN DER ROSS Chairman 5 264311 Bonatla inside 22/4/02 3:02 pm Page 6 review of results & portfolio analysis The 2001 financial year reflects on a year of consolidation, as the group focused on management of the underlying portfolio and debt restructuring. The main areas reported on, include: • Profitability • Balance sheet •Risk profile • Management • Shareholder relations • Share price and liquidity Profitability Fully diluted earnings per share increased by 61,4% from 3,11 cents to 5,02 cents. The group benefited from the general decline in interest rates, which has an amplified effect due to the group’s debt level. The significant increase in operating profit is as a result of a portfolio, which was acquired during 2000, being accounted for a full financial year. Lease Expiry Profile 6 264311 Bonatla inside 22/4/02 3:02 pm Page 7 review of results & portfolio analysis (cont.) The operating margin declined from 73% to 71% mainly due to the increase in vacancies from 4,3% to 11,1%. The increase in vacancies reflects the weak underlying property market fundamentals with excess space and low demand. Subsequent to year-end vacancies have reduced to 10,2%. The group believes operating margins will remain under pressure during the coming year as a result of property fundamentals continuing to weaken. CPAM succeeded in restructuring certain of the group’s debt structures after year end which will result in a significant interest saving notwithstanding the increase in the prime overdraft rate to 14%. Balance Sheet The balance sheet continues to strengthen with the total debt to total assets ratio improving from 74% to 73%. A total of R11,8m of interest-bearing debt was repaid and convertible debentures of R8m raised as long-term capital. A single property was sold during the period for R4,75m, a profit of R0,677m. Risk Profile The group has renewed or let 31 894m2 during the last six months, which has improved the lease expiry profile and significantly reduced the risks to the future income stream of the group. Seventy two percent of borrowings are now fixed for periods between one and eight years. The group will continue its strategy of not speculating with interest rates by at least maintaining the current percentage of fixed rate debt. Management As mentioned in the Chairman’s review the group has outsourced its management function to the Catalyst group. This decision has proven successful with the Broll Property Group renewing the majority of the group’s critical leases subsequent to their appointment. CPAM has focused on shareholder disputes (referred to below), debt restructuring and the underlying portfolio. The focus for 2002 will be the continued restructuring of Bonatla’s balance sheet to facilitate a reduction in debt and increased distributions to shareholders. 7 264311 Bonatla inside 22/4/02 3:02 pm Page 8 review of results & portfolio analysis (cont.) Shareholder Disputes The group started the year with four significant unresolved shareholder disputes. As at the date of this report all disputes have been amicably resolved with the resultant effect of all parties now focusing positively on Bonatla’s growth. Share Price and Liquidity The directors remain focused on improving the liquidity of the share and reducing the discount to net asset value at which the shares currently trade on the JSE. In this regard the proposals to reduce debt and increase dividend flows should have a positive impact. Bonatla closing price 1 October 2000 to 30 September 2001 S H A R E P R I C E High 115 cents Low 10 cents Annual Volume 6 323 364 8 264311 Bonatla inside 22/4/02 3:02 pm Page 9 review of results & portfolio analysis (cont.) GEOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS BY MARKET VALUE GEOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS BY GLA* 8% 3% Free State 12% 2% 7% 6% 4% 3% North West Northern Province Kwa-Zulu Natal 78% 77% Gauteng SECTORAL ANALYSIS BY MARKET VALUE SECTORAL ANALYSIS BY GLA* 25% 18% 34% 28% Office Industrial Retail 38% 57% GRADE ANALYSIS BY MARKET VALUE GRADE ANALYSIS BY GLA* 13% 4% 24% A 19% 9% B 13% C 55% 63% D * Gross Lettable Area 9 264311 Bonatla inside 22/4/02 3:02 pm Page 10 property portfolio 9 No Property & Description Date Valuation Gross No of Vacancy Owned Erf no. Street Address Acquired R'000 Lettable Tenants % by Area (m2) 1 Spoornet House Modern eight-storey building Oct 97 10 500 4 764 1 0,00% Bonatla Stand 4899/101 121 Eloff House with three levels of basement Properties Johannesburg Braamfontein parking. (Pty) Ltd Johannesburg 2 Gothic House Modern two-storey office block Oct 97 400 1 400 7 12,00% Bonatla Stand 231/3 67 Seventh Street with parking. It is situated in a Properties Linden Linden suburban node close to (Pty) Ltd amenities. 3 Sanrio Fruit Warehouse building with cold Oct 97 4 227 3 296 2 28,67% Bonatla Stand105/106 City Deep x4 Fortune & Merino Street, storage facilities. Properties 57/58/1 City Deep x1 City Deep, (Pty) Ltd Johannesburg 4 Delta City A multi-level industrial building Oct 97 4 000 14 992 3 5,01% Bonatla Stand 33 4 Salisbury Street designed and let to the motor Properties Salisbury Claims Johannesburg industry providing ample (Pty) Ltd parking, parts warehouse, panel beating shop.