UBM Development AG: Significant earnings growth (EBT) of 21% in the first quarter of 2018

Wien (pta011/30.05.2018/08:15 UTC+2) - Profit before tax of EUR 8.2m and earnings per share of EUR 0.91
- Total Output almost doubles to EUR 220m
- Net debt at record low - normalised level EUR 400m
- "Pure Play Program PPP" - substantial reduction in standing assets portfolio
- Guidance confirmed - record year expected in 2018

Vienna, 30 May 2018 - UBM Development continued its strong operating performance during the first quarter of 2018. Earnings before taxes (EBT) rose by 21.4% quarter-on-quarter, and earnings per share even exceeded the past year by 39.2%. "As the first quarter confirms, we are in for a record 2018", said Thomas G. Winkler, CEO of UBM Development.

UBM also consistently pursued its strategic goals, and the transformation into a pure real estate developer through the "Pure Play Program PPP" gained momentum. Standing assets with a combined value of approximately EUR 65m were sold during the first three months alone, and additional sales with a volume of more than EUR 100m are expected by mid-2019. The resources released by these sales can be used for the further reduction of net debt and/or for new development projects. The clear focus on real estate development will also be reflected in an uniform branding for the entire Group: starting in mid-June, all subsidiaries - like Strauss & Partner in Austria and Münchner Grund in Germany - will carry the name "UBM Development". "Whether our customers buy an office complex in Munich, apartments in Vienna or a hotel in Danzig, they can rely on a uniform UBM quality", added Thomas G. Winkler.

Total Output nearly doubles and earnings increase significantly
UBM Development recorded an increase of 88.8% in Total Output to EUR 219.9m in the first quarter of 2018, above all due to the sound increase in property sales. The standing assets portfolio was substantially reduced by the sale of an office property in Breslau and a hotel property in Linz. The largest sale in the development area was the Twarda hotel project in Warsaw, but the residential property sales also increased during the reporting period. Earnings before taxes (EBT) amounted to EUR 8.2m in the first quarter and were 21.4% higher than the comparable prior year value. Net profit rose by 19.2% to EUR 6.4m. Earnings per share equalled EUR 0.91 in the first quarter of 2018 compared with EUR 0.65 in the previous year, which represents an increase of 39.2%.

Further reduction in net debt
Net debt fell by a significant EUR 157.7m during the reporting period to EUR 320.2m as of 31 March 2018. This reduction was supported by a high level of sales and also by the February 2018 issue of a EUR 100m hybrid bond which is attributable to equity. Half of this capital was used to repay the outstanding mezzanine capital provided by PORR at the beginning of April 2018, i.e. during the second quarter, which will reduce financial cost by EUR 0.5m annually. Including this repayment, the normalised level of net debt would be approximately EUR 400m. Equity totalled EUR 466.9m as of 31 March 2018, whereby an adjustment for the mezzanine capital repayment would result in a normalised equity level of over EUR 400m. The normalised equity rate would then equal roughly 35%.

Guidance for 2018 confirmed
The experts are predicting further strong demand on the European real estate markets in 2018, which should also continue into 2019. In view of the positive market environment and the high earnings visibility created by the 75% share of forward sales, UBM expects Total Output and earnings will exceed 2015, the previous record year in the company's history. The Management Board confirms the guidance for 2018 with Total Output of over EUR 750m and profit before tax (EBT) of over EUR 50m. Earnings per share should top the five euro-mark in 2018.

Key figures

Key earnings figures (in EURm)	Q1 2018	Q1 2017	Change
Total Output*	219.9	116.5	88.8%
Revenue	176.1	85.9	105.0%
EBT	8.2	6.8	21.4%
Net Profit	6.4	5.3	19.2%

Key assets and financial figures (in EURm)	31.3.2018	31.12.2017	Change
Total assets	1,128.7	1,1309	-0.2%
Equity	466.9	355.4	31.4%
Equtiy ratio (in %)	41.4	31.4	10.0PP
Net debt	320.2	477.9	-33.0%

Key share data and staff	31.3.2018	31.12.2017	Change
Earnings per share (in EUR)**	0.91	0.65	39.2%
Dividend per share (in EUR)***	2.00	1.60	25.0%
Market capitalisation (in EURm)	305.6	304.9	0.2%
Staff****	784	748	4.8%

* Total Output corresponds to the revenue generated by fully consolidated companies and companies consolidated at equity as well as the sale
proceeds from share deals in proportion to the stake held by UBM.
** The specified values and the change relate to the periods Q1 / 2018 and Q1 / 2017.
*** The dividend is paid in the respective financial year, but is based on profit for the previous financial year.
**** Distribution: Development 302 and Hotel 482 (31.3.2018); Development 309 and Hotel 439 (31.12.2017)

UBM Development is the leading hotel developer in Europe. Its strategic focus is on the three clearly defined asset classes Hotel, Office and Residential and the three core markets Germany, Austria and Poland. With 145 years of experience, UBM focuses on its core competency, the development of real estate. The Group acts as a one-stop provider for the entire value chain from initial planning all the way to marketing the property. UBM's shares are listed in the Prime Market segment of the Vienna Stock Exchange.

(end)