
Cash generation and liquidity
During the year, we continued our targeted investment into the business
toenhance quality, efficiency and returns as we build a more sustainable
business. Our long-standing financial discipline will continue to maintain
ourrobust balance sheet.
At 31 December 2024, the Group had a cash balance of £258.6m
(2023:£420.1m) with land creditors of £423.2m (2023: £372.0m),
ofwhichc.£240m are expected to be settled during 2025.
The Group generated £419.6m of cash from operating activities in the year
(2023: £360.1m), before investing £232.7m in working capital (being
principally £113.4m in net land and a £57.3m utilisation of the legacy
buildings provision) and returning £191.8m of capital to shareholders
throughdividend payments (2023: £255.4m).
The Group’s shared equity loans have generated £4.6m of cash in the year
(2023: £5.7m). The carrying value of these outstanding shared equity loans,
reported as ‘shared equity loan receivables’, is £29.0m at 31 December
2024 (2023: £32.1m).
During the year the Group’s banking facility was extended by 12 months to
July 2029, with the possibility of a further extension to 2030. The RCF is a
‘sustainability linked’ facility within the banks’ finance frameworks, with ESG
targets across the facility’s term. The targets are consistent with the Group’s
science-based operational carbon reduction targets, our commitment to
deliver net zero homes in use by 2030 and our long-standing ambition to
deliver excellent development opportunities for our colleagues.
The Group’s defined benefit pension asset has increased to £130.7m at
31December 2024 (2023: £127.1m), the increase reflecting an increase in
the discount rate assumptions applied to the scheme obligations offset in part
by the underperformance of asset returns from that expected at the start of
theyear.
Capital allocation
The Group’s Capital Allocation Policy is to invest in future growth through
disciplined expansion of our land portfolio while maintaining a strong
balance sheet and delivering sustainable returns to shareholders.
For 2024, the Board proposes a final dividend of 40p per share to be paid
on 11 July 2025 to shareholders on the register on 20 June 2025, following
shareholder approval at the AGM. This dividend is in addition to the interim
dividend of 20p per share paid on 8 November 2024 to shareholders on the
register on 18 October 2024 to give a total dividend of 60p per share in
respect of the financial year 2024 (2023: 60p).
Balance sheet continued
Land holdings continued
At the end of the year, the Group had owned and under control land holdings
of 82,084 (2023: 82,235) representing 7.7 years of forward supply at 2024
volumes. Owned plots totalled 69,189 (2023: 66,742) of which 40,430 have
a detailed implementable planning consent, a 5% year on year increase,
providing excellent visibility. The Group’s owned land holdings represent 6.5
years of forward supply at 2024 volumes, with an overall pro-forma site
gross margin
8
of c.29% (2023: c.29%) and a land cost to revenue ratio of
11.9 %
9
(2023: 11.5%) which provides good confidence for future margin
progression.
In addition to its owned plots, the Group controls 12,895 plots (2023: 15,493)
through exchanged contracts. These contracts to acquire the site will be
completed once all outstanding unfulfilled planning conditions have been
satisfied. Cash invested in these under control plots is limited to deposits paid
on the exchange of contracts and fees associated with progressing the sites
through the planning system. During the year, the Group secured detailed or
reserved matters planning for 13,064 plots (2023: 10,809).
The Group incurred net land spend of £437.0m during 2024 (2023: £397.8m),
including £210.6m of payments in satisfaction of deferred land commitments
(2023: £253.0m).
In 2024, the Group acquired interests in a further c.6,900 potential plots of
strategic land opportunities resulting in a total of c.70,000 plots at 31
December 2024 (2023: c.79,500 plots). This will provide a long-term supply
of forward plots for future development by the Group.
Work in progress
At 31 December 2024, the Group had work in progress of 3,684 equivalent
units of new homes under construction, 12% lower than the position we
entered the year in (2023: 4,170). This decrease reflects the strong volume
ofcompletions in 2024, ahead of expectations, alongside good control of
working capital. On average, overall weekly build rates tracked 2% higher
inthe year, with an average of 201 equivalent units of build per week,
compared to 198 per week in 2023.
Our work in progress investment at 31 December 2024 of £1.43bn was
inline with the prior year (2023: £1.43bn).
As at 31 December 2024, we owned 739 part exchange properties
(2023:591 properties) at a value of £154.4m (2023: £114.6m). Part
exchange continues to be a key sales incentive for our customers, and we
areprogressing sales of part exchange properties promptly at around
expected values.
Financial review continued
1. The Group’s total revenues include the fair value of consideration received or receivable
on the sale of part exchange properties and income from the provision of broadband
internet services. New housing revenues are the revenues generated on the sale of newly
built residential properties only.
2. Land cost value for the plot divided by the revenue of the new home sold.
3. Stated before a net exceptional charge of £2.0m (2023: £nil), andbased on new housing
revenue (2024: £2.86bn; 2023: £2.54bn).
4. Stated before a net exceptional charge of £2.0m (2023: £nil).
5. Stated before a net exceptional charge of £34.4m (2023: £nil), andgoodwill impairment
(2024: £1.6m; 2023: £7.6m).
6. Stated before a net exceptional charge of £34.4m (2023: £nil), andgoodwill impairment
(2024: £1.6m; 2023: £7.6m) and based on new housing revenue (2024: £2.86bn; 2023:
£2.54bn).
7. 12-month rolling average calculated on underlying operating profit and total capital
employed. Underlying operating profit is stated before net exceptional charge of £34.4m
(2023: £nil), and goodwill impairment (2024: £1.6m; 2023: £7.6m). Capital employed
being the Group’s net assets less cash and cash equivalents plus land creditors. ROCE
excluding land creditors is calculated on capital employed being the Group’s net assets
less cash and cash equivalents excluding land creditors. Statutory ROCE including land
creditors is calculated on reported operating profit and capital employed with capital
employed being the Group’s net assets less cash and cash equivalents plus land creditors.
8. Estimated weighted average site gross margin based on assumed revenues and costs at
31December 2024 and normalised output levels.
9. Land cost value for the plot divided by the anticipated future revenue of the new home sold.
As we deliver on our medium-term growth ambitions, coupled with further
progress on our fire safety remediation programme, we anticipate increasing
our returns to shareholders.
2025 outlook
Although we are mindful of the potential impact from ongoing
macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties, the underlying market
fundamentals remain strong. Our current private forward sales position stands
at £1.15bn, a 27% increase year on year (2024: £0.90bn). With this
progress in our forward order book and an expected rise in the delivery of
affordable homes, we are targeting 11,000-11,500 completions for 2025.
Benefiting from our improved operational capabilities and disciplined investment
in our land holdings, we aim to achieve further growth in profit and returns, as
well as an improved underlying operating margin to between 14.2% and
14.5% for 2025.
The next two years are expected to see peak expenditure on our building
safety remediation programme, with approximately £100m anticipated to be
spent in 2025. The net cash position at the end of 2025 is currently forecast to
be between £nil and £200m.
Andrew Duxbury
Chief Financial Officer
10 March 2025
Persimmon Plc Annual Report 202422