Preliminary Results.
Highlights
· Contracts exchanged for the sale of 460 open market properties, an increase of 25 per cent (2011: 368)
· Number of open market properties completed ahead of expectations at 314 (2011: 281)
· Increase in gross profit margin to 17.6 per cent (2011: 15.1 per cent) and operating margin to 6.2 per cent (2011: 5.2 per cent) with further improvements anticipated
· Profit before tax and exceptional items ahead of market expectations at £3.0 million (2011: £2.5 million)
· Substantial increase in profit expected for the year to 31 March 2013 with over 65 per cent of open market homes expected to complete already pre-sold
· Reaffirmed intention to pay a progressive dividend year-on-year and as such final dividend proposed of 1.5 pence making a total of 3.0 pence for the year (2011: 2.5 pence)
· Over 50 per cent of open market completions in the year to 31 March 2012 were sold to UK buyers, predominantly owner-occupiers
· Complemented by continuing overseas investor demand attracted by high rental yields and the fundamental strengths of the London market
· Agreed to purchase nearly £50 million of land since 1 April 2011 with a focus on locations where demand is stronger and less reliant on mortgage constrained buyers