Deutsche Wohnen makes good start to financial year 2022

• Increase of 18.2% in earnings after taxes
• Slight rise in NAV of 1.4% to EUR 55.17 per share
• FFO I per share solid at EUR 0.34 (previous year: EUR 0.45)
• Stable outlook and forecast confirmed

The business operations of Deutsche Wohnen SE continued to develop positively in the first quarter of 2022. Quarterly earnings after taxes were EUR 236.0 million – 18.2% higher than in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The key driver for this rise was an increase in the value of the property portfolio in the amount of EUR 156.1 million. This revaluation results from an organic development in the value of our holdings and is independent of transaction activity on the German residential property market.

Olaf Weber, CFO of Deutsche Wohnen: "Deutsche Wohnen can look back on a successful first quarter in 2022. The key business figures have developed positively and in line with our expectations. Moreover, we see the increase in the value of our holdings as proof that our investments in the quality of our portfolio are paying off. Against this background, we anticipate that our business operations will continue to develop positively in 2022."

At EUR 189.6 million, contracted rental income was approximately 13% below the figure for the previous year. The reason for this lower figure are last year’s portfolio sales, especially the sale of around 11,000 units to the State of Berlin. This transaction was agreed in September 2021 and was concluded at the turn of the year. Accordingly, the number of residential units in the holdings of Deutsche Wohnen was 140,590 as at 31 March 2022. Furthermore rental income in the first quarter of the previous year included back payment claims due to the decision of the German constitutional court on the invalidity of the Berlin rent freeze for residential properties (Gesetz zur Mietenbegrenzung im Wohnungswesen in Berlin – MietenWoG Bln) in the amount of EUR 11m. In the absence of these back payment claims the decrease of rental income amounts to 8%. At the same time, in-place rents rose moderately by 1.8% to an average of EUR 7.34 per sqm (on a like-for-like basis). The vacancy rate is unchanged at a very low level of 1.6%.

The development of other important business figures was also stable. At EUR 0.34, FFO I per share was in line with expectations and approximately 24,4% below the figure for the equivalent quarter of the previous year. The reason for this is the lower rent revenues following the portfolio sales, especially the sale of around 11,000 units to the State of Berlin on the one hand and furthermore the increase in the number of shares as part of the merger with Vonovia as convertible bonds with a total nominal value of around EUR 1.6bn were converted into shares. The adjusted NAV (formerly EPRA NTA) rose by 1.4% compared to the end of the previous year to EUR 55.17 per share. This is primarily a result of the positive development of the earnings for this quarter. At 28.3%, the loan-to-value ratio (LTV) continues to be low and will probably remain below 30% through to the end of the year.

Forecast confirmed

Based on the good start it has made to the financial year 2022, Deutsche Wohnen can confirm its forecast. Accordingly, an FFO I of around EUR 490 million and an adjusted EBITDA (without disposals) of around EUR 640 million are anticipated for the current year. Because the German residential property market continues to develop positively, particularly in the metropolitan regions, an increase in the NAV compared to the financial year 2021 is expected.