One United Properties (BVB: ONE), the leading green developer of residential, mixed-use and office real estate in Romania, posts a preliminary consolidated turnover of 306.6 million euros for 2023, a 30% increase compared to 2022. The gross profit reached 105.9 million euros, a 9% increase excluding the one-off gain from Bucur Obor’s bargain purchase of 19.1 million euros recognized in 2022. The net profit amounted to 89.6 million euros, an increase of 8% compared to 2022, excluding the one-off.
"Last year presented numerous challenges for the real estate sector globally, yet One United Properties thrived, as evidenced by our record number of deliveries and the high pre-sales level at the developments currently under construction. Our revenue recognition policy ensures that our residential sales are not merely instant gains but unfold into long-term profitability as we progress through the construction phases. This strategic approach, underpinned by our commitment to securing a minimum of 35% profit margin across all developments, is a testament to our robust investment potential. Despite the industry's hurdles, we maintained our loan-to-value ratio at 28%, significantly below the European real estate average of 50%. Our ability to sustain such low leverage throughout 2023 while expanding our portfolio is a clear indicator of our operational efficiency, strong balance sheet and prudent management, therefore setting excellent premises for 2024 as another year of sustained growth for our company", said Victor Căpitanu, co-CEO at One United Properties.
Revenues from the residential segment reached 226.9 million euros in 2023, a 45% year-on-year increase driven by a diverse residential offering. The value of residential sales, meaning the revenue recognized within the year for the sales made in prior years based on the level of the completion, is an absolute record for the Group, overpassing for the first time the 200 million euros mark within a single year.
At the level of sales and pre-sales of units, despite a 16%1 decrease in the number of residential sales in Bucharest in 2023, One United Properties defied market trends by increasing residential unit sales by 59% compared to 2022. The Group sold and pre-sold 953 apartments with a total surface of 80,757 sqm, as well as 1,584 parking spaces and other unit types, for a total of 274.9 million euros. By the end of 2023, 71% of the Group’s portfolio was sold and pre-sold, underlining a strong demand across all One United Properties developments. Based on the contracts signed with clients as of December 31st, 2023, One United Properties expects additional cash inflows of 295 million euros by 2025.
Nonetheless, the revenue and the profit of all sales made in 2023 are not fully reflected in the Group’s results for 2023 due to the revenue recognition applied by One United Properties. Consequently, the net margin of the residential segment reached 27.4% for 2023, a decrease vs 41.4% registered in 2022 as 3 new large-scale developments in the early stages of construction were added to the sales portfolio between Q4 2022 and Q3 2023, therefore temporarily affecting the net margin. The margin from residential sales is expected to continue increasing over the following years as these large-scale developments – One Lake Club, One High District and One Lake Club – progress. One United Properties targets a long-term margin of 35% across all its residential developments.
Rental income, including revenues from services to tenants, increased 62% to 25.9 million euros in 2023, driven by revenues from tenants at One Tower, One Cotroceni Park Office 1, One Victoriei Plaza, and Bucur Obor. One United Properties leased and pre-leased 34,200 sqm of office and retail spaces in 2023, an 8% year-on-year increase driven by the record agreement signed with Infineon Technologies for a 20,000 sqm turnkey office development. Additionally, One United Properties exited four rental properties in 2023, totalling 41.7 million euros, generating 5 times multiple on the capital invested, with IRR ranging between 30%+ to 60%+ per exit.
The Group closed 2023 with a strong cash position of 84.6 million euros, down 26% versus 2022, due to significant development activity carried out in 2023, with developments under construction amounting to more than 1.2 billion euros in gross development value as of yearend. In 2023, One United Properties completed 4 developments with a GDV of 350.4 million euros and managed 9 other construction sites with future developments of 4,241 units and over 15,000 sqm of commercial spaces. As a result, the combined value of projects completed and under construction exceeded 1.5 billion euros in 2023.
"In 2023, One United Properties didn't just achieve record sales; we also significantly increased our development activity to meet the growing customer demand. With more than 21,000 people working on for our developments in Bucharest last year, we are not only improving the skyline of the city, but we also contribute and actively drive the growth of Bucharest economy. The total value of our developments under construction in 2023, which reached a staggering 1.5 billion euros in gross development value, showcases more than just an increase in our scale. It demonstrates our ability to effectively manage and execute multiple projects without compromising quality. This approach not only contributes to our financial achievements but also reinforces One United Properties' reputation for reliability and timeliness, which is even more appreciated by clients in times of global economical and geopolitical uncertainties as the ones we experienced over the last two years", said Andrei Diaconescu, co-CEO at One United Properties.
The gross loan-to-value ratio of One United Properties amounted to 28% as of the end of 2023, stable since 2022, proving solid financials and low leverage of the Group compared with the European peers. As of December 31st, 2023, net debt was 122 million euros, 12% of the total assets, which reached the historical value of 1 billion euros.
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ONE UNITED PROPERTIES (BVB: ONE) is the leading green investor and developer of residential, mixed-use, and commercial real estate in Bucharest, Romania. One United Properties is an innovative company dedicated to accelerating the adoption of construction practices for safe, energy-efficient, sustainable, and healthy buildings, and has received numerous awards and recognitions for its superior sustainability, energy efficiency, and wellness. The company is publicly traded on the Bucharest Stock Exchange, and its shares are included in multiple indices such as BET, STOXX, MSCI, FTSE, ROTX and CEEplus.
1 Data for 2023 according to the Romanian National Cadastre and Real Estate Advertising Agency.
