Urban Splash talks to banks about future covenant breach

Urban Splash is in talks with its lenders to avoid breaching its banking covenants as a result of the property market collapse.

The firm specialises in brownfield regeneration schemes in the Midlands and the north of England and said its loan-to-value covenant could be broken by the falling value of its assets. That, in turn, could theoretically see the banks pull the plug.

In its results for the year to 31 March 2008, released this week, it said: “Based on the status of these negotiations, the directors are confident that any potential breach will be resolved. The group is forecast to comply with all other covenants.”

The company finished the financial year with net debt of £202m (2007: £129.4m) and equity of £92.7m, which gave it a gearing level (that is, debt divided by equity) of 218%, which was described by one accounting source as “uncomfortably high”. It sold 431 units, including 189 in Birmingham’s Rotunda (pictured).

The company also concluded a five-year, £101.2m overdraft deal with HSBC this month and confirmed that it was in talks with RBS and the Co-op Bank about renewing other loans.

A company statement indicated the situation has got worse since 2008. It said: “The severe lack of mortgages has deepened and prolonged the downturn. As a consequence, the sales of homes by the group in this financial year are significantly below those levels contemplated.”

It is currently writing down the value of its assets for the year ended 31 March 2009.

In the year to 31 March 2008, Urban Splash boosted turnover 20% from £62.1m to £74.6m and pre-tax profit rose 10% from £2.9m to £3.2m.

The pay of the highest paid director rose 67% from £430,880 to £717,950. The pay of majority shareholder and chairman Tom Bloxham remained broadly flat at £149,000.