Last close As at 05/08/2026
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Research: Real Estate
The Berlin residential property market remained resilient in H220 despite COVID-19 and introduction of the rent cap. Phoenix Spree Deutschland (PSD) saw a 6.3% like-for-like increase in FY20 valuations, supporting strong growth in EPRA NAV per share, above our forecast. As discussed in detail in our December initiation note, pending a resolution of the rent cap legal challenge, PSD has sought to mitigate the effects while maintaining strategic flexibility; a resolution, which PSD expects by mid-year, will determine the strategy for extracting the value embedded in its portfolio.
Phoenix Spree Deutschland |
H220 valuation growth and NAV exceeds forecast |
Valuation and NAV update |
Real estate |
5 February 2021 |
Share price performance
Business description
Next events
Analyst
Phoenix Spree Deutschland is a research client of Edison Investment Research Limited |
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The Berlin residential property market remained resilient in H220 despite COVID-19 and introduction of the rent cap. Phoenix Spree Deutschland (PSD) saw a 6.3% like-for-like increase in FY20 valuations, supporting strong growth in EPRA NAV per share, above our forecast. As discussed in detail in our December initiation note, pending a resolution of the rent cap legal challenge, PSD has sought to mitigate the effects while maintaining strategic flexibility; a resolution, which PSD expects by mid-year, will determine the strategy for extracting the value embedded in its portfolio.
Year end |
Gross profit***(€m) |
EPS |
EPRA NAV/ |
DPS |
P/E |
P/NAV |
Yield |
12/19 |
8.4 |
22 |
4.92 |
7.5 |
16.2 |
0.77 |
2.1 |
12/20e* |
8.8 |
19 |
5.14 |
7.5 |
18.4 |
0.72 |
2.1 |
12/21s** |
9.9 |
33 |
5.48 |
7.5 |
10.6 |
0.69 |
2.1 |
Note: *FY20 forecast unchanged. **12/21s is our ‘no Mietendeckel’ scenario. Our initiation note also includes a ‘continuing Mietendeckel’ scenario. ***Revenues less total property expenses (including property management expenses, repairs and maintenance, direct property costs and investment adviser fees.
Portfolio value increasing despite rent cap
PSD’s portfolio was externally valued at c €768m at end-FY20 (end-FY19: c €730m) and assumes the rent cap is in place for a full five years. Annualised growth of 6.3% on a like-for-like basis (of which 3.6% in H220) reflects yield compression and low interest rates. Based on this valuation and including the effects of accretive share buybacks, the company expects end-FY20 EPRA NAV per share in a range of €5.27–5.33, above our €5.14 forecast. This would represent an EPRA NAV total return of 8.6–9.9%. As previously disclosed, the vast majority of the Berlin portfolio is now legally split into condominiums and H220 notarised sales increased to 30 units with a value €10.5m, or 20.2% above book value. We will review our forecasts and scenarios with the full-year results in March.
Outcome will determine strategy for realising value
Resolution of the legal challenge to the Berlin rent-cap law (the Mietendeckel) will determine PSD’s ongoing strategy for extracting the value embedded in its portfolio and, until resolved, accurate forecasting is not possible. Our initiation note provides scenario analysis based on the potential outcomes. PSD and its advisers firmly believe the cap is unconstitutional and will ultimately be repealed and, in this case, we expect a return to focusing on reversionary rent capture to drive income and capital growth (reflected in the FY21 scenario above, not updated for the provisional FY20 data). If not repealed, we expect a significant reduction in rent income and a focus on accelerated condominium sales to harvest value embedded in the portfolio. Positively, by limiting investment, the cap may aggravate the housing shortage and support growth in free market rents and capital values.
Valuation: Well above average P/NAV discount
A more than 30% discount to FY20e EPRA NAV per share compares with an average of 8% since IPO; it is more than 40% on our estimated ‘condominium’ valuation that we expect to be in focus if the rent cap is not repealed.
Berlin residential property
PSD is a Jersey-based closed-ended investment company, listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. It targets an attractive total return from investment in residential property in Berlin, the most populous city in Germany, and represents the largest rental housing market in the country. It is externally managed by QSix (formerly PMM Residential), an independent and owner-managed alternative asset manager with an experienced team of property and investment professionals and established track record in the German residential property market.
With strong demand for housing in Berlin driven by net migration and a relative lack of supply, rents and capital values have steadily increased. Against this background, PSD has built a strong track record of creating value by acquiring under-rented apartment blocks at low valuations and actively managing them to capture reversionary rent potential and drive income and capital growth, supplemented by the division and subsequent resale of selected apartment blocks as private units (condominiums) at market valuations. The average annualised EPRA NAV total return over the five years to end-FY19 of 20.4% per year was well ahead of the 8–10% per year target. PSD estimates the average free-market value of rents for the portfolio at €12–12.5 per sqm per month, well ahead of the H120 average contracted level of €9.1 and local demand for accommodation significantly outstrips supply.
Mietendeckel outcome will determine strategy for value capture
Reflecting concern at the pace of rent growth over recent years and a desire by local authorities to maintain Berlin as a city of affordable rented accommodation, the Berlin rent cap (Mietendeckel) was introduced in stages during 2020, becoming fully effective in November. PSD and its legal advisers firmly believe the Mietendeckel legislation will ultimately be ruled unconstitutional and overturned; the timing of this remains uncertain but PSD expects a resolution by mid-2021. As things stand, the rent cap and rent reductions introduced in November will have a material financial effect in FY21, but while legal challenges to the cap are in process, PSD has sought to mitigate its effects while maintaining strategic flexibility. If not repealed, the rent cap seems likely to limit investment in the sector, aggravate the housing shortage, support further growth in free market rents and capital values, but will require a change in PSD’s strategy to realise this value.
Anticipating the strategic response
Although we incline to agree with the company’s view that eventual repeal is the most likely outcome, the uncertainty around this, particularly in terms of timing, renders an accurate prediction for the next 12 months impossible. For that reason, in our initiation note we embedded the potential strategic responses and financial effects into two scenarios, intended to illustrate the alternative strategic paths that the company may take and the financial implications of these on an annualised basis. We would strongly encourage readers that have not seen the initiation note to examine the details of these scenarios. The first scenario (illustrated at the start of this report) assumes the Mietendeckel is repealed, strategy returns to its normal focus on reversionary rent capture and this is fully effective throughout FY21. If a repeal comes in FY21, it is likely to be back dated but it is also possible the terms of any repeal may not be effective until FY22. An alternative scenario assumes no repeal and captures the likely strategic response and financial implications of accelerated condominium sales to realise value embedded in the portfolio. It also assumes this is effective throughout FY21, but because management is unlikely to commit to a full strategic shift until the rent cap challenge is settled, it may also be FY22 before the full effect is seen.
Assuming a rent cap repeal and return to the traditional strategy based on reversionary rent capture, the FY21 scenario indicates an EPRA NAV total return of 8.1%, within the company’s long-term 8–10% return target range. Relative to the low rates of return prevailing in market, taking account of the historically low volatility displayed by residential assets and considering the near 30% discount to FY20e EPRA NAV, we believe this is attractive.
If there is no repeal, we expect investors to focus on the significant value embedded in the portfolio, to be realised on an accelerated basis through significantly increased condominium sales. Almost 90% of the Berlin portfolio may soon be legally split into condominiums and our analysis indicates that the discount to underlying NAV, adjusting asset values to reflect market-level condominium pricing, is likely to be c 40%.
Exhibit 1: Financial summary
Year ending 31 December, €m unless stated otherwise |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020e |
‘Mietendeckel repealed’ scenario* 2021 |
INCOME STATEMENT |
|||||
Revenue |
23.7 |
22.7 |
22.6 |
24.1 |
24.8 |
Total property expenses |
(12.6) |
(15.8) |
(14.2) |
(15.3) |
(14.8) |
Gross profit |
11.1 |
6.9 |
8.4 |
8.8 |
9.9 |
Administrative expenses |
(3.0) |
(3.2) |
(3.1) |
(3.7) |
(3.3) |
Gain on disposal of investment property |
5.3 |
1.0 |
0.9 |
2.0 |
1.9 |
Fair value movement on investment property |
157.4 |
66.1 |
41.5 |
24.4 |
39.1 |
Property advisor performance fee |
(26.3) |
(4.0) |
(2.8) |
1.9 |
(0.2) |
Separately disclosed items |
0.0 |
(1.0) |
(0.3) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Operating profit |
144.5 |
65.9 |
44.6 |
33.4 |
47.4 |
Net finance charge |
(6.0) |
(9.5) |
(16.0) |
(9.7) |
(6.8) |
Gain on financial asset |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Profit before tax |
138.5 |
56.4 |
28.6 |
23.7 |
40.7 |
Tax |
(26.2) |
(11.1) |
(5.8) |
(4.4) |
(7.8) |
Profit after tax |
112.3 |
45.4 |
22.7 |
19.2 |
32.8 |
Non-controlling interest |
(0.8) |
(0.3) |
(0.5) |
(0.3) |
(0.5) |
Attributable profit after tax |
111.5 |
45.1 |
22.3 |
18.9 |
32.3 |
Closing basic number of shares (m) |
92.5 |
100.8 |
97.8 |
96.1 |
96.1 |
Average diluted number of shares (m) |
100.2 |
99.0 |
102.1 |
98.7 |
97.3 |
IFRS EPS, diluted (c) |
111.35 |
45.57 |
21.83 |
19.18 |
33.25 |
DPS declared (c) |
6.9 |
7.5 |
7.5 |
7.5 |
7.5 |
DPS declared (Sterling pence equivalent) |
6.4 |
6.7 |
6.5 |
6.8 |
6.8 |
EPRA NAV total return |
52.6% |
13.1% |
9.3% |
5.9% |
8.1% |
BALANCE SHEET |
|||||
Investment properties |
502.4 |
632.9 |
719.5 |
738.9 |
771.1 |
Other non-current assets |
2.9 |
3.4 |
3.5 |
3.9 |
3.9 |
Total non-current assets |
505.3 |
636.4 |
723.0 |
742.8 |
775.0 |
Investment properties held for sale |
106.9 |
12.7 |
10.6 |
7.5 |
7.5 |
Cash & equivalents |
27.2 |
26.9 |
42.4 |
33.4 |
35.0 |
Other current assets |
14.4 |
7.5 |
9.5 |
9.6 |
10.1 |
Total current assets |
148.5 |
47.1 |
62.6 |
50.5 |
52.6 |
Borrowings |
(2.6) |
(3.6) |
(17.8) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Other current liabilities |
(9.4) |
(13.2) |
(15.6) |
(8.4) |
(8.8) |
Total current liabilities |
(12.1) |
(16.8) |
(33.4) |
(8.4) |
(8.8) |
Borrowings |
(219.6) |
(191.6) |
(258.5) |
(279.9) |
(280.4) |
Other non-current liabilities |
(54.1) |
(65.2) |
(76.8) |
(83.9) |
(91.8) |
Total non-current liabilities |
(273.8) |
(256.9) |
(335.3) |
(363.9) |
(372.2) |
Net assets |
367.9 |
409.8 |
416.9 |
421.0 |
446.5 |
Non-controlling interest |
(1.7) |
(2.0) |
(3.0) |
(3.3) |
(3.8) |
Net attributable assets |
366.2 |
407.9 |
413.9 |
417.7 |
442.7 |
Adjust for: |
|||||
Deferred tax assets & liabilities |
44.6 |
52.5 |
58.3 |
62.8 |
70.6 |
Derivative financial instruments |
3.3 |
6.0 |
16.0 |
18.3 |
18.3 |
Other EPRA adjustments |
(34.0) |
(5.4) |
(6.8) |
(4.9) |
(5.1) |
EPRA net assets |
380.2 |
461.0 |
481.4 |
493.8 |
526.5 |
IFRS NAV per share (€) |
3.96 |
4.05 |
4.23 |
4.35 |
4.61 |
EPRA NAV per share (€) |
4.11 |
4.58 |
4.92 |
5.14 |
5.48 |
CASH-FLOW |
|||||
Cash flow from operating activity |
5.9 |
13.2 |
1.5 |
6.0 |
6.6 |
Income tax paid |
(0.1) |
(4.7) |
(0.0) |
(1.4) |
0.0 |
Net cash flow from operating activity |
5.8 |
8.5 |
1.4 |
4.7 |
6.6 |
Property additions |
(76.5) |
(47.3) |
(32.2) |
0.0 |
0.0 |
Proceeds from disposal of investment property |
60.4 |
86.0 |
13.5 |
13.2 |
15.9 |
Capital expenditure on investment property |
(6.7) |
(7.9) |
(6.5) |
(4.5) |
(7.0) |
Other cash flow from investing activity |
0.0 |
0.0 |
0.1 |
(5.8) |
0.0 |
Cash flow from investing activity |
(22.7) |
30.8 |
(25.1) |
2.9 |
8.9 |
Interest paid |
(5.1) |
(5.1) |
(6.2) |
(6.8) |
(6.4) |
Bank debt drawn/(repaid) |
36.7 |
(27.0) |
64.6 |
3.4 |
0.0 |
Share issuance/repurchase |
0.0 |
0.0 |
(11.5) |
(6.1) |
(0.3) |
Dividends paid |
(6.0) |
(7.5) |
(7.7) |
(7.2) |
(7.2) |
Cash flow from financing activity |
25.6 |
(39.6) |
39.2 |
(16.6) |
(13.8) |
Change in cash |
8.7 |
(0.3) |
15.5 |
(9.0) |
1.6 |
FX |
(0.0) |
(0.0) |
(0.0) |
(0.0) |
0.0 |
Opening cash |
18.5 |
27.2 |
26.9 |
42.4 |
33.4 |
Closing cash |
27.2 |
26.9 |
42.4 |
33.4 |
35.0 |
Closing debt |
(222.3) |
(195.3) |
(280.2) |
(283.6) |
(283.6) |
Closing net debt |
(195.1) |
(168.4) |
(237.8) |
(250.2) |
(248.6) |
LTV |
32.0% |
26.1% |
32.6% |
33.5% |
31.9% |
Source: Phoenix Spree historical data, Edison Investment Research forecasts. Note: *As described within this report.
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