Reit – BT
Fitch Ratings has on Tuesday noted that the Australian Reit (A-Reit) reporting season has concluded with many A-Reits reporting significant declines in profitability due to a reassessment of the carrying values of underlying assets.
Current accounting standards require changes in asset values to flow through the profit & loss statement, resulting in a significant turnaround in A-Reit reported results.
Most A-Reits have revalued a significant proportion, if not all, properties within their portfolios, undertaken by either independent valuations or by directors’ valuations, and usually a combination of both.
As anticipated by the agency on 12 August 2008, Australian property capitalisation rates have begun to rise, and the impact of these rises has started to flow through to valuations of properties held by A-Reits.
While sales evidence remains low, valuers have begun to adjust their capitalisation rate expectations upwards and property valuations have begun to contract where rental rises are unable to offset the rises in capitalisation rates.
The recent increases in capitalisation rates have been generally at or below the lower end of the 50-150 basis point range predicted by the agency in August 2008.
This is a result of the market being at the early stages of a readjustment phase that will see further rises in capitalisation rates.
‘The property cycle has definitely peaked and Fitch expects further downward adjustments in A-Reit property values, particularly secondary properties, as the present credit crunch reaches out more broadly into the property markets, forcing a reappraisal of values,’ said David Carroll, Director with Fitch’s Reits team in Sydney.
With the global credit crunch affecting property markets and values, there has been a significant refocusing by the A-Reits to protect their current credit metrics.
The A-Reit reporting season has seen a re-evaluation of property values with some assets marked down, a lowering of growth expectations, reductions or deferments of developments, changes in distribution policies to pay distributions from cash earnings, changes in executive management and an increasing intent to sell non-core or secondary properties to focus on higher quality core properties that should better weather the changed market conditions.
This reporting season has also seen several A-Reits mark down carrying values of property related businesses purchased in markets outside Australia during a more expansionary market phase.
On a more positive note, Fitch is not seeing tenant defaults as yet and occupancy rates remain high in most Australian markets the agency monitors, allowing property generated cash flows to remain strong.
The recent interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank of Australia should assist debt coverage ratios to remain relatively stable, although this may be offset by rising debt margins as existing debt facilities mature and are rolled into new facilities that in most instances will see higher margins being charged.
Fitch will continue to monitor the credit metrics of the A-Reits sector and provide commentary and analysis of the sector as devel opments occur.
First Reit – BT
By LYNETTE KHOO
First REIT said on Monday it has signed an agreement to buy a healthcare logistics and distribution centre in Singapore for S$42 million.
This marks its first acquisition of a healthcare logistics and distribution centre and its fifth asset in Singapore, lifting its assets under management by 13 per cent to S$368 million.
The acquisition is expected to be completed three months after the temporary occupation permit (TOP) date, slated to be in July 2009.
Upon completion, First REIT will lease the centre back to the vendor Tech-Link Storage Engineering for six years at a commencement rental income of $3.23 million per annum with a built-in annual rental escalation and an option for Tech-Link to renew the lease for another seven years.
This is expected to provide an incremental annualised distribution per unit of S$0.33.
REITs – DMG
S-REITs: High But Not Dry, Cherry Picking The REITs (Overweight)
Respectable latest quarter operating performance, with robust DPU growth from the Office segment. Virtually all S-REITs have released their last quarter results. The sector as a whole chalked up a respectable 24.3% YoY and 6.4% QoQ gain in topline to S$777.0m, with NPI chugging along a similar direction, +24.6% YoY and +4.7% QoQ to S$566.4m. Sequentially, the Retail segment posted the highest growth in both topline and NPI, climbing 9.0% and 5.6% respectively. On a YoY comparison of the two metrics above, the Industrial, Office and Hospitality segments all notched a healthy 20 – 30% improvement. On the back of robust rental reversions, the Office segment was the quarter’s star performer, clocking a 46.1% YoY and 11.4% QoQ increase in DPU, outperforming that of the total DPU growth for the entire S-REITs sector, which measured a 23.0% YoY and 4.7% QoQ improvement.
Growth from within, earnings momentum to roll over into 2H08 and 2009. As a result of lease agreements which are typically signed for two to three years, most S-REITs should have already locked in their earnings at least until 2H08 and 2009, with some even beyond that, from our view. Coupled with 1H08 renewed leases contracted at significantly higher rates, we reckon that earnings momentum should continue into the next 1.5 years. For investors looking into high DPU growth potential for the current year, some of the REITs to watch out for include CDLHT (+24.7%) and MI-REIT (+21.0%). As for the subsequent year, two REITs which have the most DPU upside potential are CCT (+25.6%) and Suntec REIT (20.7%). Essentially, the core component of growth would be organic in nature.
Improved debt profiles and manageable financing costs for now, but refinancing concerns present themselves beyond 2008. The continued credit crunch notwithstanding, most S-REITs have managed to refinance their respective debts, as well as prolonging their debt expiry profiles. Aside from AiTrust, Fortune REIT and LMRT, we estimate that all-in-cost of financing for the remaining 17 S-REITs range from 2.5 – 4.0%, which is relatively healthy, from our angle. Aside from softening short-term interest rates, we believe this is also helped by the REIT managers’ prudent capital management skills. Additionally, the ability for S-REITs’ operating earnings to service their debt obligations remains strong, with virtually all of them having an interest coverage ratio of over 3X. However, as capital markets should continue to remain tight in 2009, or at least in 1H09, this spells heightened difficulties for REITs which need to refinance a major amount of debts due in 2009, including CDLHT, Allco REIT, MI-REIT, CIT, CCT and CMT.
Remain OVERWEIGHT on REITs sector, Suntec REIT as top pick. With unrelenting headwinds facing the property developers (-35.6% YTD), we continue to place our faith in SREITs for their earnings visibility, stable cash flows and defensive nature. Valuations have become more attractive, with the sector trading at a P/B of 0.82x. Further, the recent sector-wide correction of share prices and softening interest rates have led to S-REITs trading at 7.3%, representing a premium of 420 bps over 3.1% of 10-yr bonds. However, we believe that not all is nice and dowdy within the S-REITs space, and now is the ripe time to cherry pick. We prefer SREITs with robust organic boosters and resilient share price performances, namely Suntec REIT (Target price of S$1.87). For more risk-averse investors, we recommend Cambridge Industrial Trust (Target Price of S$0.79), which possesses long average lease tenures with built-in stepped up rentals.
Link – Table
REITs – DBS
Examining trough valuations
Going for high risk aversion. We re-iterate our view that the S-reit sector has been de-rated sufficiently for the prospects of slowing earnings growth momentum and possibility of capital value write-downs as well as refinancing concerns. The sector is trading at 7.6% FY08 yield or a 450bps above the current Singapore 10-year bond yield and a hefty 3.7% pt ahead of our projected peak bond yield of 3.9%. The 0.94x P/RNAV already reflects an average 20% cut in capital values across all property sub-segments. S-reits are also trading between 3.5-12% implied cap rates, as investors priced in a bear case scenario.
Office and hospitality sectors may lag: Granted that at this period of higher investor risk aversion, volatile capital value outlook and tight credit conditions, valuations are unlikely to approach previous highs in the short term, we believe that at the current level, much of the anticipated risks are factored in the S-reits lowered valuations. In terms of the various segments, the office and hospitality space poses the most downside risk given the former’s strong correlation to GDP growth and skewed supply/demand dynamics as well as limited earnings visibility in the short-stay accommodation segment.
Go for defensive: While we believe DCF-based measurements are still valid to give investors a longer term total return picture, we are ascribing a discount to these values to derive our price targets given current uncertain environment. Our strategy would be to prefer the more defensive S-reits, particularly those in the healthcare, industrial and retail space. Our top picks are Parkway Life Reit, which offers a highly defensive earnings model with minimal earnings downside risks and exposure into the growing aging population. While stock liquidity may be an issue, we believe this can likely be addressed progressively in the long term. Amongst the larger cap names, we maintain our buy rating on A-reit for its long lease expiry profile and CMT, Suntec and FCT as a suburban retail players with a diversified tenant base. Share prices of ART had been bashed down significantly and at the present level, we see value emerging given its steep discount to RNAVs.
Parkway Life Reit (PREIT SP, TP $1.35)
ParkwayLife REIT (PREIT) offers an exposure to the region’s growing need for healthcare facilities due to an aging population. It is currently trading at 0.8x of book NAV and offers a net dividend yield of 6.4% for FY08F and 6.8% for FY09F. Earnings downside risk is negligible thanks to its revenue model that is based on the higher of i) base rental of S$30m plus 3.8% of the adjusted hospital revenue; or, (ii) preceding year’s rental multiplied by [1+(1%+CPI of preceding year)]. Our DCF-derived target price of S$1.35 (6.3% WACC, 1% terminal growth) offers potential upside of 29%. In addition, refinancing risk is minimal with a low gearing of
10.2%. Maintain Buy.
CapitaMall Trust (CT SP, TP $2.96)
CMT remains one of our key picks due to its strong operational history with a proven expertise in optimizing asset yields through their various AEI activities. Moving forward, catalyst for growth will derive from I) rental reversion from the expiry of 69% of its portfolio income over FY09-10, ii) planned AEI activities amounting to $288m, largely from SSC and JEC, should boost bottomline in the medium term and iii) The Atrium purchase, which is pending completion, should grow NPI further when plans to re-position the asset is completed in 2010.
Ascendas REIT (AREIT SP, TP $2.33)
We like AREIT for its i) quality portfolio of industrial assets, which are enjoying occupancies in excess of 98%, ii) business and science parks exposure that is expected to remain robust on the back of over-spilling demand from office space crunch in the CBD. This segment makes up 25% of its total portfolio. iii) proven development capability which will are higher yielding compared to asset purchases. In this aspect, AREIT has S$309m worth of development assets in the pipeline. Iii) financial flexibility, AREIT management has adopted a prudent capital management strategy which is reflected in its gearing of 38.2%.
Frasers Centerpoint Trust (FCT SP, TP S$1.26)
Frasers Centerpoint Trust (FCT) offers exposure to Singapore’s suburban retail sector through its 3 sub-urban retail malls located in major population catchment areas in Singapore. Earnings should remain resilient given that it derives mainly from non-discretionary spending. In terms of portfolio growth, acquisition of Northpoint II scheduled to TOP by by 08/early 09 kickstarts its portfolio growth plans with other properties such as Yew Tee Mall and Bedok Mall to follow suit in 1H09 and 2010/11 respectively. FCT is expected to tap debt and capital markets for these purchases.
Suntec Reit (SUN SP, TP $1.55)
Suntec Reit offers investors exposure to a more defensive business model of office and retail assets through its portfolio of 1.9msf NLA. DPU growth over the next 2 years is derived from office lease reversions and higher retail rents. Plans to enhance Park Mall and add 67000sf of GFA could provide further upside to our projections in the medium term. Refinancing concerns have been largely allayed by putting in place a $420m club loan. Our price target offers total return of 15%.
Ascott Residence Trust (ART SP, TP S$0.94)
Ascott Residence Trust (ART), as the first Serviced Residence REIT, offers exposure to the Asean booming serviced residence industry. We believe ART presents the least earnings risks amongst the hospitality peers with a regional portfolio exposure that reduces country specific risks. In addition, its average portfolio lease of 8 months should delay an impact of a downside in spot rates. In addition, potential acquisition
Link – Table
MP REIT – BT
Moody’s downgrades MP Reit’s ratings
Moody’s Investor Services has on Monday downgraded the corporate family and unsecured ratings of Macquarie Prime Reit (MP Reit) to Baa2 and Baa3 respectively. The outlook for the ratings is stable.
The credit rating agency said this concludes the rating review for downgrade which commenced on Feb 26 2008 after MP Reit announced a comprehensive strategic review.
‘The downgrade reflects overall weaker financial flexibility for the trust, which has resulted in its recent refinancing requiring a second ranking security being granted over its assets, due to the strategic review’ says Kathleen Lee, Moody’s vice president and lead analyst for the trust.
‘In addition, whilst the refinancing is welcome, it highlights the relatively limited access the trust has to bank / debt markets given the security and the fact the new loan is only for two years,’ adds Ms Lee.
As a result over 90 per cent of its debt is now maturing at the end of 2010 in a rather unusual lumpy maturity profile and with a large exposure to the currently shut CMBS market.
‘The need for a second ranking security and the large amount of debt maturing at one time is highly unusual for an investment grade entity’, commented Ms Lee.
The rating downgrade was also in part driven by the ongoing strategic review which creates significant uncertainty surrounding the reit’s future operating and strategic profile.
On the other hand, the rating continues to be supported by MP Reit’s good quality asset profile, its ability to generate stable and recurring incomes and its sound financial metrics with TD/TA leverage at 28%, EBITDA/Interest at 4/0x and Debt/EBITDA at 8.3x. This operating profile and financial metrics remain solidly investment grade and counterbalance the weaknesses outlined.
The outlook is stable reflecting these strengths and the limited refinancing risk before 2010.
Upward pressure on the rating is unlikely in the next near term given the ongoing strategic review, the Reit’s limited financial flexibility and the lumpy debt maturity profile.
On the other hand, downward rating pressure could emerge if the strategic review results in asset sales narrowing the Reits operating profile or an increase in leverage.
Credit metrics that may evidence such pressure could include fixed-charge coverage (EBITDA/ interest) falling below 3.0x, debt to EBITDA exceeding 10.0x and total debt to assets exceeding 45% on a sustained basis. A change in the ownership of the manager or the relationship with Macquarie Bank might also be negative but would depend on who was replacing them.
MP Reit was listed on the main board of the Singapore Stock Exchange in September 2005. Its original portfolio consists of strata ownership of two parts of two landmark retail /office properties, Wisma Atria and Ngee Ann City, both on Orchard Road, Singapore’s premier street for shopping and tourism. In 2007, MP expanded its geographical reach by adding 7 retail properties in Japan and another retail property in Chengdu (China) which raised the value of its portfolio from S$1.93 billion to S$2.21 billion as at end-2007.