Immofinanz has received a building permit for the newest planned project under the Stop Shop brand in Zielona Góra. The beginning of construction works is planned in the nearest future and the completion of the new Stop Shop Zielona Góra retail park is scheduled for the turn of 2021/2022.  

Immofinanz is continuing the expansion of its Stop Shop retail park brand, as announced, and has added eight locations to the portfolio shortly before the end of the year. Six fully rented retail parks in Serbia and the Czech Republic with roughly 43,000 sqm were purchased from Mitiska REIM, a Belgian investor specialised in these types of commercial properties. In addition, Immofinanz closed the purchase of a fully rented retail park (approx. 5,500 sqm) in Voitsberg, Austria, during the fourth quarter of 2020. The portfolio in Croatia will be increased by one property in the city of Ludbreg.

Immofinanz has sold another 3 ha plot of the former IUS industrial platform in Brașov, to an undisclosed real estate developer. The price is estimated at around €7 million, according to economica.net.

Immofinanz recorded an increase in rental income and in the results of asset management and property sales during the first three quarters of 2020 despite the COVID-19 crisis. FFO 1 (before tax) was only slightly lower than the previous year at €89.2 million. After an adjustment for the straight-lining of a bond coupon payment in Q1 2020 over 12 months, FFO 1 improved by 10.1% to €92.4 million. The capital measures carried out in Q3 2020 strengthened the equity ratio and reduced the net LTV to 38.4%. The strong cash position of €601.9 million at the end of September was increased to approximately €1.2 billion by the benchmark bond issued in October and an undrawn credit line.

Immofinanz has appointed Savills as sole property manager for its portfolio of seven office buildings in Prague, Czech Republic, with effect from January 2021. The total floor area of the assets is approximately 123,000 sqm.

Immofinanz successfully placed €500 million fixed-rate senior unsecured notes with a 7-year maturity and a 2.50% fixed coupon on 8 October 2020. The net proceeds of the issue of the notes will be used to refinance existing debt, capitalize on value-creating growth opportunities, and for general corporate purposes. The issuance was oversubscribed around 2 times with strong demand by more than 110 investors.

spaceOS has announced a new capital raise totalling €2.5 million. The latest funding comes after Austrian commercial real estate group Immofinanz took a €2 million stake in spaceOS, further strengthening the firms’ partnership, following a deal in December to roll-out the spaceOS platform across the group’s entire portfolio. Existing investors BeyondBuild also contributed an additional €0.5 million to this funding round.

Immofinanz started the 2020 financial year with strong operational performance, but the development of business in the second quarter was negatively influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Rental income rose by 10.4% to €145.5 million due to the expansion of the portfolio through acquisitions and completions, but a crisis-related increase in receivables write-offs led to substantially higher property expenses.

The Supervisory Board of Immofinanz extended the Executive Board appointments for COO Dietmar Reindl and CFO Stefan Schönauer for a period of five years as of 1 May 2021, i.e. to 30 April 2026. The composition of the Executive Board remains unchanged with Ronny Pecik (CEO), Dietmar Reindl (COO) and Stefan Schönauer (CFO).

Immofinanz’s rental income in Q1 2020 rose by 13.4% to € 74.0 million, above all due to the expansion of the portfolio through acquisitions and completions as well as a growth of 1.9% in like-for-like rental income. The results of asset management increased by 18.1% to €59.5 million, and the results of operations were 18.0% higher at €43.5 million. However, the revaluation results of €-45.0 million from standing investments and goodwill reflect the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Net profit for Q1 2020 was, therefore, negative at €-37.6 million.