REG - MJ Gleeson Plc - Trading Update

MJ GLEESONAnnouncement

15/06/2020 07:01

RNS Number : 8882P
  
MJ Gleeson PLC
  
15 June 2020
  
 

MJ Gleeson plc (GLE.L)
("Gleeson" or "the Company")
 
For immediate release                            
 
15 June 2020
 
 
Update on financial year ending 30 June 2020 ("FY2020")
 
 
The Company announced on 14 May 2020 that it would begin to implement its plan for a phased restart of activity on sites. Sites are re-opening as planned and customer demand is recovering strongly.
 
Of our 67 build sites 62 have so far re-opened and construction activity has recommenced on 43 sites with activity initially focussed on preparing site infrastructure and ground-level works. Plot build activity is recommencing in a phased and controlled manner. By the end of this month plot build activity will have recommenced on the majority of sites. 
 
Current safe-working protocols are, as expected, having an impact on productivity and build rate. However, we believe there is scope to improve productivity and build rate by the introduction of new working practices within the Covid-19 Secure protocols.
 
Sales offices and show homes have reopened on 40 sites and will reopen on a further 15 sites by the end of this month. Virtual show home tours have been launched on the Company's website and the Gleeson Key Worker Priority Programme launched in May 2020 is generating strong interest.
 
Reservation levels, which had, in the past months, fallen to 25% of pre-Covid levels, have increased significantly in the last two weeks with reservations at 70% of pre-Covid levels. We continue to see price increases being achieved on newly released plots for sale on most sites and incentives remaining low. We have not experienced any impact on lender valuations.
 
The Company enabled 43 customers to complete their purchase and move into their homes during April and May bringing year to date sales to 1,037 homes by 31 May 2020. Completions are expected to continue at a similar pace during June. 
 
To date, the Company has brought back from furlough 275 of the 456 staff furloughed in April. In total, 30% of staff remain furloughed but the Company expects that all staff will have returned to work by 30 July 2020.
 
The Board, therefore, expects group revenue for FY2020 will be circa £145m (FY2019: £249.9m).
 
The forward order book for sales in the next financial year currently stands at £135.2m on 940 plots (30 June 2019: £87.6m on 677 plots). 
 
Pre Covid-19, the Company had planned to open 17 new sites during the final quarter of this financial year. Three new sites have been opened and a further site is expected to open in the next two weeks bringing the total number of build sites to 71 by 30 June 2020 (30 June 2019: 69 build sites). 
 
Gleeson Strategic Land completed the sale of two small sites before the end of March and will not complete any more sales before 30 June 2020.
 
Gleeson will provide a post year end update on 9 July 2020.
 
 
ENDS
 
Enquiries:



Instinctif Partners








Mark Garraway 07771 860938
 












This announcement is released by MJ Gleeson plc and contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (MAR), and is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of MAR. Upon the publication of this announcement, this information is considered to be in the public domain.
 
For the purposes of MAR and Article 2 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1055, this announcement is being made on behalf of the Company by Stefan Allanson, Chief Financial Officer.
 
LEI: 21380064K7N2W7FD6434
 


This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
 
  END
 
 
TSTGPUWCQUPUGRC