DEAR
STAKEHOLDERS,
As we reflect on the financial year 2024, I am filled with immense
pride and gratitude for the journey we have embarked upon together. In the current
environment, wherein the world is marked with a host of uncertainties, India's
economic resilience has stood out. Despite the significant interest rate hikes in FY23 and
continued global geopolitical concerns in FY24, the Indian economy remained resilient. The
foundation of India's economic resilience has been strengthened in recent times by
its prudent fiscal policies, evidenced by controlled fiscal deficits, current account
deficit management and inflation containment. Moderate inflation and stable business
environment will attract significant private investment thus unleashing the true potential
of the Indian economy.
India's GDP growth estimates have seen consistent upgrades by most
of the global agencies. Business and consumer sentiments have remained upbeat as seen in
various high-frequency indicators such as record GST collection, sustained growth in forex
reserves, rising capacity utilizations and other such data points. With the success of
various PLI schemes and significant infrastructure push,
India's growth is now driven by the twin engines of services and
infrastructure, with manufacturing also gradually scaling up. Employees across most
sectors remain optimistic about their job prospects, which bolsters consumer confidence
and contributes to a robust housing market in a structural uptrend. Moreover, with the
results of general elections, there is an expectation of continuity in policy
implementation further supporting private investment and growth in the economy.
STRUCTURAL HOUSING BOOM - RIDING THE ONCE IN A COUNTRY'S
LIFETIME' OPPORTUNITY
It is heartening to note that India's likely transition in this
decade from being a low income economy to a mid-income economy is now widely acknowledged
by global think tanks and policy makers. This transition, akin to those witnessed in major
economies such as the USA and China, is significantly led by the housing sector. With
India reaching an inflection point in income levels, there is a significant surge in
demand for quality housing which is expected to continue growing. The growth in housing
absorption in FY24, inspite of the headwind of persistence of the significant increase in
mortgage rates which took place in FY23, is evidence of the resilient nature of
India's housing growth outlook.
Estimates suggest that as per capita incomes doubles to US$ 5,000 by
the end of the decade, the aggregate demand (2021-2030) could be close to 100 million
units against the current annual primary supply of ~600,000 units (FY24). India's
housing demand stems from structural factors: robust job creation, growing incomes, good
affordability, and growing desire for high quality living spaces. These drivers,
increasingly recognised by industry participants, suggest a prolonged housing growth
cycle, much longer than the typical 5-7 year housing cycle. Furthermore, when the mortgage
rate cycle reverses, coupled with government's intent to support entry level home
buyers, the industry could enjoy even stronger growth tailwinds.
This favourable environment, coupled with the continuing supply side
consolidation in favour of the better governed and better capitalized players presents a
prime opportunity for a brand like Lodha to thrive, leveraging its brand reputation,
execution capability and management depth.
The pre-sales soared to an all-time high of over J145 Bn, presenting a
remarkable 20% increase from the previous year.
LOW RISK, PREDICTABLE GROWTH
I am delighted to share that the past fiscal year marked another
milestone for our Company, achieving record-breaking results across the board. The
pre-sales soared to an all-time high of over H 145 Bn, presenting a remarkable 20%
increase from the previous year. We successfully sold 8,741 homes covering an area of 11.1
Mn square feet and handed over 8,144 homes, delighting our customers. Our diverse
pre-sales across segments, locations, and cities highlight the sustainability and
predictability of our growth trajectory, a rarity in the real estate industry.
Furthermore, our strong pre-sales performance translated into record collections of H
112.6 Bn during the year, resulting in impressive Operating cash flow of H 57.2 Bn. We
added 10 new projects with a combined GDV of H 203 Bn, once again setting a new record in
project additions.
During the year, Our Company also successfully concluded a Qualified
Institutional Placement (QIP) and raised H ~33 Bn of fresh capital.
Our ability to generate strong operating cash flow which supports both
growth investment and debt moderation is unique in the Indian housing industry. We remain
committed to deliver growth while being prudent on our capital structure. I am pleased to
note that on the back of the strong cash flow generation and fresh capital raised, our
Company has also achieved its objective of bringing the net debt below 0.5x of equity.
Hereon, our Company intends to maintain net debt below the said ceiling of 0.5x of equity,
significantly de-risking our business.
SIGNIFICANT GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES AHEAD
Our strategy to expand into under-represented micro-markets of MMR and
Pune has seen commendable progress. Our Company achieved nearly 9x
On the back of the strong cash flow generation and fresh capital
raised, net debt reduced to H30.1 Bn, with Net D/E well below ceiling of 0.5x.
growth in Pune from about
H 2 Bn of pre-sales in FY21 to nearly H 18 Bn of pre-sales in FY24.
Similarly, from not being present at all in the Eastern suburbs of MMR in FY21, our
Company grew its pre-sales to H ~20 Bn in FY24. The year also marked the successful launch
of two projects in the city of Bengaluru where the Company has been in pilot
phase' for the last two years focusing on building its brand, strengthening its local
capabilities and understanding the consumer. The Company achieved pre-sales of H~12 Bn
from Bengaluru a strong performance in its first year of operations. This has set
the foundation for accelerating growth in Bengaluru in years to come.
Over the next three years, we plan to focus on delivering our target
growth primarily from our existing cities of operations i.e. MMR, Pune and Bengaluru. We
will also look at entering one or two cities in pilot phase' over this period.
We clearly see that our Company is now set on a path to consistently deliver 20% pre-sales
growth with improving profitability and ~20% ROE. In the near term, our focus will be to
achieve pre-sales of H 175 Bn in FY 25 and add new projects with aggregate GDV of H 210
Bn, yet keep our net debt well below our ceiling of 0.5x equity.
EMERGING AS A TRULY SUSTAINABLE ENTERPRISE
Our purpose is to leverage our capabilities to enhance India's
economic strength and whole heartedly contribute to its transformation into a developed
nation by 2047. With the Do Good, Do Well' philosophy, the Company firmly
believes that sustainable growth is imperative, interweaving progress with responsibility,
ensuring that every step taken is with consideration for the well-being of our society and
the environment.
The environmental sustainability strategy of the Company is anchored on
resilience and decarbonisation and significant strides have been taken towards a
low-carbon transition over the past year. In December 2023, our Company proudly became the
first real estate company in India to have its overall net-zero targets validated by the
Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Near-term objectives include reducing absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions by 97.9% by FY28 and reducing scope 3 GHG emissions by 51.6% per
square meter of developed area by FY30, both based on a FY 22 baseline. In the long-term,
we have committed to achieve net-zero across Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions by FY 50. I am
pleased to share that, starting March 2024, we have achieved carbon neutrality in our
operations (Scope 1 & 2), marking a significant milestone in our journey towards
achieving net-zero by FY 50.
The Lodha Net Zero Urban Accelerator released its report "Building
India's Dymaxion" during the inaugural RMI-Lodha sustainability conclave,
uniting visionaries dedicated to reshaping India's built environment. Furthermore,
our strategic partnerships have been instrumental in advancing our sustainable development
goals. This year, we entered into two separate Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs): one with
IIT Delhi for piloting the new LC3 concrete at commercial scale and another with Third
Derivative, the start-up incubation arm of RMI, to foster innovation in the Built
Environment. These partnerships exemplify our commitment to innovation and sustainability.
Our green certified portfolio exceeded 50 Mn Sq ft, earning us the prestigious "Green
Champion Award" from Indian Green Building Council. Our culture emphasizes the
importance of not only taking care of ourselves and our families but also of society and
Over the next three years, we plan to focus on delivering our target
growth primarily from our existing cities of operations i.e. MMR, Pune and Bengaluru. We
will also look at entering one or two cities in pilot phase' over this period.
the nation. We have embarked on a journey to do well in our business
and are committed to applying our intellect, work force, and growth to do good that
contributes positively to India.
In line with that thought, we are breaking stereotypes both within and
beyond the real estate industry by cultivating more inclusive work environments. Our
flagship Lodha Unnati initiative is championed at the Company, industry and community
level. We have established an all-women construction management team to drive emergence of
women work force in the formal work environment. At the community level, we are targeting
a challenging goal to have ~2,000 women placed in formal jobs within a 30 minute commute
from their homes across Mumbai this year.
Our commitment to nation-building and nurturing the potential of young
minds through the Lodha Genius Programme in partnership with Ashoka University also had a
promising start and continues to expand its reach and impact. From 800 applicant base from
13 states last year we moved to ~3,000 applicants from 27 states this year. Our intake
increased from 144 students to 232 students. Last year, we had 20 faculty members from
prestigious institutions such as Stanford, Yale, and IIT Delhi and affiliations or
partnerships with corporations such as Ziess and Google. This number has grown to 30 this
year with the addition of institutions such as Chennai Mathematical Institute, Apple, HP
etc.
These initiatives, among others, have enabled our Company to
We have established an all-women construction management team and the
Women in Construction Network to drive emergence of women work force in formal work
environment.
consistently rank at the top tier of global sustainability benchmarks.
We are proud to have been included in esteemed indices such as the Dow Jones
Sustainability Index and FTSE4Good Index, reflecting our exceptional performance in
related sustainability assessments. Additionally, being recognized as a Global Sector
Leader in residential development by the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark
(GRESB) reaffirms our dedication to driving sustainable practices across our industry.
Together, we are shaping a brighter, more sustainable future for India and beyond.
In line with our dividend policy, I am pleased to share that our
Company has decided to reward shareholders with H 2.25/ share of dividend against H
1/share paid last year which is a significant growth to the previous year. This showcases
the operating and financial strength of our Company which enables it to reward its
shareholders while having significant growth as well as a very conservative leverage.
I would like to thank our 4,500+ associates who have contributed
significantly in creating this extraordinary Company. They have worked tirelessly to bring
smiles to our home owners by superior product and service delivery thus enhancing the
trust in brand Lodha. I would like to thank my fellow board members for their valuable
guidance and support.
Above all, I would like to thank you, our shareholders, for your
continued support as well as confidence in your Company and I look forward to meeting you
at our annual shareholders' meeting.
Thank you! |
Abhishek Lodha |
Managing Director & CEO |