Sharechat Logo

NPT lifts earnings on Christchurch insurance payout

Thursday 24th May 2012

Text too small?

NPT, the property company formally known as National Property Trust, reported a 12.5 percent increase in fiscal year profit as an insurance reimbursement payment from the Christchurch earthquakes made up for a decline in gross rental income.

Trading profit was $9.94 million in the year ended March 31, up from $8.80 million, the company said in a statement.

Gross rental income fell 15 percent to $20 million from $23.5 million. Net rental income rose 6.9 percent to $16.5 million on higher insurance rental recoveries.

NPT said it narrowed its first-half net loss after tax to $2.29 million from $14.67 million, a year earlier.

The company is still awaiting an insurance settlement on its material damage at Natcoll House.

NPT has spent $13.8 million on earthquake repairs and reconstruction of the Eastgate shopping centre and in March accepted a full and final insurance settlement of $18 million. In April, the Canterbury Earthquake Authority confirmed the shopping mall met the new stricter seismic standards.

"The 2012-13 year looks encouraging," said Kerry Hitchcock, acting chief executive, adding that "most of the challenges of the last financial year are behind us."

"There is significant leasing activity underway in a number of properties which will have material impact on our weighted annual lease term, create positive cash flow for the company and add value for shareholders," he also said.

The Christchurch-based company will pay, on July 4, a final dividend of 1.75 cents a share for the quarter ended March 31, for a total 2011-2012 distribution of 4 cents. That compares with an earlier forecast of 3 cents for the year.

Shares in the company are currently up 3.7 percent on the day, trading at 56 cents. The stock has risen about 10 percent this year.

BusinessDesk.co.nz



  General Finance Advertising    

Comments from our readers

No comments yet

Add your comment:
Your name:
Your email:
Not displayed to the public
Comment:
Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved.

Related News:

NPT turns to profit in 2013 on insurance payouts, property valuation gains
NPT returns to profit in first half as Eastgate mall revives
NPT 1H loss narrows to $9.8M, says likely to abandon Natcoll House
National Property trims dividend forecast on challenging lease market
NPT's latest plan could save $550k a year
National Property manager bows to pressure to step aside
National Property Trust to maintain dividends as property values drop
NPT manager to put case for keeping contract ahead of rebel vote
NPT unit holder group pushes for removal of manager
NPT posts $9.1m loss