Heijmans: good first quarter, challenging market conditions
May 08 2020 - 12:20AM
Heijmans: good first quarter, challenging market conditions
Highlights:
- Revenue and result in Q1 higher than in same period 2019
- Cash position remains strong, credit facility as yet unused in
2020
- Order book remains at a healthy level, at € 2.0 billion
- 666 homes sold through April 2020 (479 in 2019), with 289 of
these homes B2B sales
- Impact Covid-19 limited to date
Ton Hillen, CEO Heijmans N.V “Heijmans’
revenue, result and cash position exceeded expectations in Q1 and
that has laid a strong foundation for the 2020 full-year results.
We made a strong start to the year on the back of a mild winter
with high production levels. Our efforts to improve risk management
and increase predictability are proving effective. Our current
financial position and the composition of our order book mean we
are in a solid position to weather challenging market
conditions.
Thanks to the efforts of our people, the Covid-19 virus outbreak
has had limited impact on the progress in projects. Safety of our
people and our stakeholders, is always priority. In line with the
‘Building safely together’ (Samen veilig bouwen) protocol, we have
managed to get a lot of work done, while taking the
one-and-a-half-metre society into account, and so far the financial
damage has been limited.
We are disappointed with the specific measures the government
has announced for the construction sector in the context of the
nitrogen deposits. They are not enough. Our sector is
disproportionately impacted by the demise of the Integrated
Approach to Nitrogen (PAS), while the construction sector accounts
for a minor portion of the nitrogen problem. The current measures
could result in continued delays to the start of large Infra
tenders. This will have a negative impact on the sector.
Despite the fact that we are facing challenges in the market, I
remain confident. Thanks to the need to increase sustainability and
the continued shortage of homes, there is continued high demand for
Heijmans’ expertise and services.”
Results per sector
Heijmans InfraThe balanced composition of the
current order book combined with the mild weather conditions
resulted in good results at Infra in the first quarter of the year.
The Heijmans/Siemens Mobility combination won the contract for
the renovations of the Piet Hein tunnel in Amsterdam. The contract
from the Amsterdam municipality is worth around € 70 million. The
Piet Hein tunnel was opened in 1997 and is an important link in the
Amsterdam road network. After 20 years of intensive use, with
traffic of some 30,000 vehicles a day, the tunnel is ready for a
thorough renovation.
The work on the Wilhelmina locks in Zaandam is progressing
steadily. Heijmans successfully installed two bridge components in
the past month. The project is on schedule for completion later
this year.
The principals in the Zuidasdok project have decided on a
different approach and the project is set to be divided up into
smaller projects. Heijmans is pleased that we now have clarity on
this project. The contract (€ 140 million) will no longer be
included in the order book. The principals will put out new tenders
for the project and Heijmans can now decide whether to resubmit a
bid for the new sub-projects.
Heijmans Building & TechnologyBuilding
& technology performed in line with expectations in Q1. The
impact of the Covid-19 outbreak varies in this business unit. The
residential building activities are largely organised on a local
scale. Although we have to take specific measures for the
one-and-a-half-metre society into account, especially in the final
construction phase, we have been able to keep up with the planned
production. This also applies to our Services activities. On the
non-residential projects font, we are seeing projects affected by
the closure of borders. We are seeing reduced availability of
international employees and the delivery of materials has come
under pressure in some instances. This is particularly noticeable
in the construction of the new courthouse in Amsterdam (the NACH
project), where some delays are to be expected.
The Central Government Building Agency (Rijksvastgoedbedrijf)
and Heijmans signed an agreement in April for the renovation of the
Binnenhof (the houses of parliament) in The Hague. This contract
covers the buildings of the Upper House of Parliament and the
Council of State. Heijmans is involved in this first phase as a
consultant in the drawing up of a definitive plan for the
renovations.
In line with our strategic theme ‘Smarter’, we had already
launched a number of initiatives that are an excellent fit with the
measures to be introduced for the one-and-a-half-metre society.
Heijmans has noticed a growing demand for support for a healthy
working and living climate. Ranging from our digital technologies
for measuring use and occupancy - which simplify the monitoring of
compliance with the measures - to climate technology in buildings
and homes. Our data platform BeSense is a response to this growing
demand.
Heijmans Property Development Home
sales were higher in the first quarter of 2020, compared with the
same period of 2019, thanks to a single investment transaction
involving 190 homes. Sales to private buyers remained at a
comparable level to last year.
The commercial spaces at the Hart van Zuid swimming pool in
Rotterdam were successfully sold in the first quarter, as were the
retail units in the Plan Koningsoord shopping centre in Berkel
Enschot. Thanks to this positive development, the new neighbourhood
will now have a fully-fledged shopping centre. In the Vertical
project in Amsterdam-Sloterdijk, all the ground floor commercial
units have been sold. Heijmans has started construction of the
residential tower, which is expected to be completed in 2022.
For the Rotterdam municipality, we are developing 137
energy-efficient homes in the Hoogvliet area, with a value of € 37
million. Realisation began in the first quarter. In Eindhoven,
housing corporation Woonbedrijf has selected Heijmans as its
partner for the new-build project in the Gestel neighbourhood, with
500 rental and owner-occupied homes and a value in excess of € 100
million.
OutlookThe market developments currently make
it impossible to provide a clear forecast at this time. The
expected revenue for 2020 is largely in our portfolio. We will be
able to realise this revenue if we can maintain current production
levels.
In the coming year, our results will also depend on the economic
consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the moment, it is not
clear how the virus will impact the spending of public and private
sector principals, and consumer confidence. In addition, the
government will have to take measures to limit the impact of the
nitrogen issue, especially on the infra sector. We consider the
measures the government announced last week as insufficient.
Heijmans has a strong financial foundation, partly thanks to the
good performance in the first quarter and a - to date unused -
committed credit facility of € 121 million. The Netherlands
continues to face the huge task of increasing sustainability and
dealing with housing shortages. Demand for our activities remains
high and this provides us with a solid foundation for the
future. About Heijmans Heijmans is a
listed company that combines activities related to property
development, building & technology, roads and civil engineering
in the areas living, working and connecting. Our constant focus on
quality improvements, innovation and integrated solutions enables
us to generate added value for our clients. Heijmans realises
projects for private consumers, companies and public sector bodies,
and together we are building the spatial contours of tomorrow. You
will find additional information at our website:
www.heijmans.nl.
For more information / not for publication:
Media Marjolein Boer Head of corporate
communications +31 73 543 52
17marjoleinboer@heijmans.nlAnalysts Guido Peters
Investor Relations + 31 73 543 52 17 gpeters@heijmans.nl
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