MapleTree – SGX
MAPLETREELOG ACQUIRES SINGAPORE PROPERTY FOR S$10.4 MILLION
The vendor of the property, located at 21 Tai Seng Drive, is Trivec Singapore Pte Ltd (“Trivec”), who will lease back the property for 5 years, with an option to extend for a further 5 years. The acquisition will be accretive to MapletreeLog’s distribution per unit (“DPU”). The pro forma financial effect of the acquisition on the DPU for the financial year ended 31 December 2006 is an additional 0.03 Singapore cents per unit1.
Rationale for the acquisition
Mr. Chua Tiow Chye, Chief Executive Officer of MLTM, said, “This acquisition marks the broadening relationship we have with Trivec. It is the second sale and leaseback transaction with Trivec, with thefirst one having been completed in September 2006. We are happy to partner Trivec in their expansion plans and to be able to provide them with a range of real-estate solutions.”
“We are very pleased with this acquisition, which is the Trust’s second property, in the established logistics and industrial zone in the Paya Lebar area. The estate is easily accessible via the Pan Island Expressway, the Central Expressway as well as the soon to be completed Circle Line,” Mr. Chua said.
“This accretive asset adds to the Trust’s stable core of Singapore properties, which will generate
long-term and stable returns for unitholders. Furthermore, given the tight supply situation for high quality logistics real-estate in good locations, rentals and capital values are expected to remain firm.”
Colliers International, in its May 2007 “Asia Pacific Industrial Market Overview”, highlighted the industry-friendly tax incentives as well as the strong demand coupled with tightening supply as the main factors that will generate and underpin demand for warehouse space in Singapore.
On 9August 2007, the Ministry of Trade and Industry raised its full year growth forecast for 2007 to between 7 and 8 percent. Unemployment has dropped to a 6-year low of 2.4%. Asia’s medium-term fundamentals remain strong and Singapore is well-positioned to harness the economic and trade growth of the region.
Funding
The acquisition is expected to be completed by 4Q 2007. T he Manager is confident that at its completion, MapletreeLog will have sufficient debt capacity to fund the acquisition wholly by debt.
However, this does not preclude the Manager from exploring alternative means of funding should the need arise.
General Description of the property
The property is a 5-storey warehouse in Paya Lebar, Singapore. The Paya Lebar area is an established industrial and commercial area. The property has easy access to major transportation infrastructure including MRT stations (existing Eunos MRT station and the soon to be completed Tai Seng MRT station on the Circle Line) and expressways (Pan Island Expressway and Central Expressway). It has a GFA of approximately 6,223 sqm and is located on leasehold land measuring about 3,054 sqm. The property has been valued at S$10.6 million by CKS Property Consultants Pte Ltd, dated 15th July 2007.
1 Assuming MapletreeLog has purchased, held and operated the property for the financial year ended 31 December 2006 (based on 41 properties) and that the acquisition is 100% debt-funded.