GLP Reports 2QFY18 Earnings

GLP Reports 2QFY18 Earnings

GLP reported earnings (PATMI) of US$231 million for the three months ended 30 September 2017, up 34% year-on-year, driven by higher revaluations and foreign exchange gains.

  • 2Q FY18 earnings up 34% year-on-year to US$231 million
  • Scheme meeting to take place on 30 November 2017; Shareholders to receive S$3.38 in cash per share by 19 January 20181 if Scheme becomes effective
  • Gazeley portfolio expected to be fully syndicated by April 2018 with GLP retaining a 15% stake

US$ million

2Q FY18

2Q FY17

YoY

Change

1H FY18

1H FY17

YoY

Change

Revenue

282

214

32%

543

420

29%

Earnings (PATMI)

231

173

34%

375

376

0%

Core Earnings2

173

152

14%

297

298

0%

Core Earnings (ex reval)2

62

68

(8%)

133

137

(3%)


Singapore, 10 November 2017 – GLP, the leading global provider of modern logistics facilities, reported earnings (PATMI) of US$231 million for the three months ended 30 September 2017 (“2Q FY18”), up 34% year-on-year, driven by higher revaluations and foreign exchange gains.

Ming Mei, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of GLP, said: “GLP continued to execute on our strategy of creating value by providing integrated solutions to grow and serve our logistics ecosystem. We have access to multiple funding levers and intend to continue executing our capital recycling strategy through our fund management platform.”

Entry into Europe

In October 2017, GLP announced its acquisition of Gazeley, a leading European logistics platform, with the stated intention of injecting it into the fund management platform. Investor demand for the US$2.8 billion (€2.4 billion) portfolio is strong and the portfolio is expected to be fully syndicated by April 2018, with GLP retaining a ~15% stake.

Gazeley adds a premier operational and development platform for GLP in Europe. GLP intends to retain the existing management team and the Gazeley brand. The 3 million square meter (“sqm”) (32 million square feet (“sq ft”)) portfolio is concentrated in Europe’s key logistics markets, namely the UK (57%), Germany (25%), France (14%) and the Netherlands (4%).

GLP has a strong balance sheet and has access to diversified capital sources to fund its total expected equity commitment of US$240 million3. GLP’s business model provides a platform to recycle capital, including potential new funds and REITs, syndication of new and existing portfolios, including Europe, and further asset sales to the J-REIT.

2Q FY18 Financial and Operational Highlights

The Group’s average lease ratio increased 1% quarter-on-quarter to 91% as of 30 September 2017. GLP signed 4.6 million sqm (50 million sq ft) of new and renewal leases in 2Q FY18, up 38% year-on-year. Rent growth in the global portfolio remained healthy, with the Group recording 4.6% growth in same-property net operating income (“NOI”) and 9.1% rent growth on renewal leases year-to-date.

The Company’s development program is driven by customer demand and GLP continues to maintain strong investment discipline. The Company has met 25% and 49% of its FY18 development starts (US$2.2 billion) and completions (US$1.7 billion) targets respectively and remains confident it will meet its full year targets.

1H FY18 fund management fees were US$98 million, up 9% year-on-year. GLP’s fund management platform stood at US$39 billion of assets under management as of 30 September 2017 and the Company expects to continue leveraging the platform for strategic expansion, including establishing potential China acquisition and income funds.

Executive Committee Update

GLP today announced several executive appointments that will support its long-term global growth strategy. The appointments reflect GLP’s commitment to further strengthen its global leadership position in logistics solutions and fund management.

  • Heather Xie has been appointed Chairman and CEO of GLP Financial Services, based in Shanghai. Heather will be responsible for overseeing the suite of financial solutions that GLP provides to customers in China.
  • Kaz Tsutsumi has been appointed Chief Financial Officer of GLP, based in Tokyo, effective January 1, 2018. Kaz will be responsible for global corporate finance, including treasury and financial planning and reporting. Kaz will continue to be Global Treasurer for GLP and Chief Financial Officer of GLP Japan.
  • Steve Schutte, Chief Operating Officer of GLP, will relocate to Chicago from Singapore. Steve’s move supports the expansion of GLP’s business in the US and Europe and he will continue to oversee global operations.
  • Alan Yang has been appointed Chief Investment Officer, based in Los Angeles. Alan will oversee all investment activity across GLP and continue to chair the Investment Committee.

Heather Xie, GLP’s current Chief Financial Officer, said: “Kaz is well equipped to become our next global CFO. While working with Kaz on the strategy to financially position GLP for further global growth, I have seen his experience and commitment first-hand. At the same time, I am very much looking forward to my next challenge as Chairman and CEO of GLP Financial Services, a key element of our goal to create a logistics ecosystem.”

Proposed Privatization

The Company has dispatched its scheme document dated 27 October 2017 (the “Scheme Document”) to shareholders, setting out, inter alia, the terms and other details of the proposed privatization of the Company by way of a scheme of arrangement (the “Scheme”), the recommendation of the Independent Directors, the advice of the Evercore, the Independent Financial Adviser (the “IFA”) and the notice of the Scheme Meeting

The Scheme Meeting will be held on Thursday, 30 November 2017 at 10.00 a.m. (Singapore time). Shareholders may attend in person or send in their vote4

The Scheme will require, among others, approvals from the following:<

  • More than 50% of the total number of shareholders present and voting in person or by proxy at the Scheme Meeting;
  • The High Court of Singapore

If shareholders approve the Scheme at the Scheme Meeting, and subject to the satisfaction of the other Scheme conditions, Shareholders will receive S$3.38 in cash per share by 19 January 20185.

The IFA has advised that the Scheme Consideration is fair and reasonable from a financial point of view and that the Independent Directors recommend shareholders vote in favor of the Scheme. The Independent Directors concur with the recommendation of the IFA in respect of the Scheme and have unanimously recommended that shareholders vote in favor of the Scheme6.

Shareholders are advised to refrain from taking any action in relation to their shares which may be prejudicial to their interests until they or their advisers have considered the information set out in the Scheme Document.

Earnings Call/Webcast Information

A briefing for investors and analysts is scheduled for Friday, 10 November 2017 at 9.00 am (Singapore time). Please visit our website (ir.glprop.com) to access our webcast for the event. Questions may be submitted during the live webcast and a replay of the briefing will also be available on our website.

About GLP (www.glprop.com)

GLP is the leading global provider of modern logistics facilities. Through its network of strategically-located properties and ecosystem partners, GLP is able to offer both space and integrated solutions to drive value for its customers. Domestic consumption is a key driver of demand for GLP. The Company is also one of the world’s largest real estate fund managers, with assets under management of approximately US$39 billion.

GLP is listed on the Mainboard of Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (SGX stock code: MC0.SI; Reuters ticker: GLPL.SI; Bloomberg ticker: GLP SP).

GLP Investor Relations & Media Contact:

Ambika Goel, CFA

SVP- Capital Markets and Investor Relations

Tel: +65 6643 6372

Email: agoel@glprop.co


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This press release is not an offer of securities for sale or a solicitation of an offer to purchase securities. The information in this press release may not contain, and you may not rely on this press release as providing, all material information concerning the condition (financial or other), earnings, business affairs, business prospects, properties or results of operations of GLP or its subsidiaries. Please refer to our unaudited financial statements for a complete report of our financial performance and position. This release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the intent, belief and current expectations of GLP or its officers with respect to various matters. When used in this press release, the words "expects," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "may," "will," "should," “intends,” “foresees,” “estimates,” “projects,” and similar expressions, and the negatives thereof, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Similarly, statements that describe objectives, plans or goals also are forward-looking statements. Actual future performance, outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Representative examples of these factors include (without limitation) general industry and economic conditions, interest rate trends, cost of capital and capital availability, availability of real estate properties, competition from other companies and venues for the sale/distribution of goods and services, shifts in customer demands, customers and partners, changes in operating expenses, including employee wages, benefits and training, governmental and public policy changes, and the continued availability of financing in the amounts and the terms necessary to support future business. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are based on the current view of management on future events and speak only as of the date of this press release. GLP does not undertake to revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances. No assurance can be given that future events will occur, that projections will be achieved, or that GLP’s assumptions are correct. The directors of the Company (including any who may have delegated detailed supervision of the preparation of this press release) have taken all reasonable care to ensure that the facts stated and all opinions expressed in this press release in each case which relate to the Company (excluding the recommendation of the Independent Financial Adviser (the “IFA”), information relating to the Offeror or any opinion expressed by the Offeror) are fair and accurate and that, where appropriate, no material facts which relate to the Company have been omitted from this press release, and the directors of the Company jointly and severally accept responsibility accordingly. For the avoidance of doubt, Mr. Ming Z. Mei and Mr. Fang Fenglei take no responsibility for the recommendation of the Independent Directors of the Company on the Scheme set out in paragraph 12.2 of the Letter to Shareholders in the Scheme Document dated 27 October 2017. Where any information which relates to the Company has been extracted or reproduced from published or otherwise publicly available sources or obtained from the Offeror or the IFA, the sole responsibility of the directors of the Company has been to ensure that, through reasonable enquiries, such information is accurately extracted from such sources or, as the case may be, reflected or reproduced in this press release. The directors of the Company do not accept any responsibility for any information relating to the Offeror, the IFA or any opinion expressed by the Offeror or the IFA.

 


1 Payment of the Scheme Consideration to be within seven (7) Business Days from the date the Scheme becomes effective. Dates are indicative and subject to change. Actual dates will be announced by GLP in due course

2 Core earnings includes revaluation changes related to development profit (recurring part of GLP's earnings stream) and NOI growth. To enable comparability, core earnings adjusts for non-recurring items such as revaluation changes related to cap rate and discount rate adjustments, foreign exchange gains/losses and gains/losses from dispositions. Please refer to page 11 of the 2Q FY18 supplemental for further information

3 Assuming GLP’s post-syndication stake of approximately 15% in the Gazeley portfolio

4 Appoint a proxy to vote on your behalf at the Scheme Meeting

5 Payment of the Scheme Consideration to be within seven (7) Business Days from the date the Scheme becomes effective. Dates are indicative and subject to change. Actual dates will be announced by GLP in due course

6 It is important that these extracts of the IFA’s recommendation and the Independent Directors’ recommendation are read together with and in the context of the IFA Letter in full and the Letter to Shareholders in full respectively, bot h of which are set out in the Scheme Document dated 27 October 2017. Shareholders are advised against relying solely on the above extracts