Argosy Property, the country's fifth-biggest listed property investor by market value, increased first-half earnings 22 per cent as it benefited from the rising value of its portfolio and extra cash from the surrender of a lease agreement.
Profit rose to $56.2 million, or 6.9 cents per share, in the six months ended September 30, from $46.1m, or 5.74 cents, in the year earlier period, the Auckland-based company said in a statement. Net property income rose 11 per cent to $53.7m, which included a $5.4m benefit from New Zealand Post's move to surrender a lease agreement for three floors of New Zealand Post House in Wellington.
The property investor also recorded a $35.8m gain on the value of its properties in the first half, ahead of a $27.6m gain in the year earlier period.
Argosy has been rejigging its $1.4 billion property portfolio, and aims to have core long-term investments make up between 75 per cent and 85 per cent of the value of the portfolio, with the remaining assets designated as value add. The company has earmarked about $55m of property for sale which it deems neither 'core' nor 'value add'. In the first half it agreed to sell a Palmerston North property for $3.3m in December, and an Auckland property for $6m in June next year. Since balance date, it's agreed to sell another Auckland property for $7.6m in March next year.
"The first half of the financial year has seen Argosy take further steps towards advancing the quality of the portfolio," said chief executive Peter Mence. "We are making the most of a very buoyant economy and property market."
