SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income, Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Geoff Howie

SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income

Asia’s leading multi-asset exchange

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Singapore Exchange is Asia’s leading and trusted market infrastructure, facilitating the exchange of capital and ideas to create value for people, businesses and economies. As a multi-asset exchange operating equity, fixed income and derivatives markets to the highest regulatory standards, SGX is a vertically integrated business that provides listing, trading, clearing, settlement, depository and data services.

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Headquartered in AAA-rated Singapore, SGX has over 800 employees including offices in Beijing, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, New York, Mumbai, San Francisco, Shanghai and Tokyo.

Equity Bottom-Up

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The iEdge S-Reit Index declined 3 per cent in total returns in 2022 year to date (YTD), amid geopolitical escalations, macro uncertainty and increasing expectations of a potential rate hike.

Despite the decline, it remained one of the most defensive Reit indices globally, with the FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed Index declining 7 per cent during the same period.

Interest rates have always been a key driver for the sector, given the impact on yield spreads and borrowing costs. 
S-Reits have been actively managing their interest rate exposures.

On average, close to 75 per cent of S-Reits' current debts are entered directly in fixed rates or hedged through floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps.

S-Reits currently have an average gearing ratio of 37.4 per cent, based on latest company filings, well below the regulatory threshold of 50 per cent. 
This translates into approximately S$24.6 billion (based on Bloomberg data for total assets multiplied by company-reported gearing ratio) of potential debt headroom for the sector, to fund capital-intensive acquisitions. 
The five S-REITs that maintain the lowest gearing ratios are Sasseur REIT, Digital Core REIT, SPH REIT, IREIT Global and Lendlease Global Commercial REIT. Sasseur REIT reported a gearing of 26.1 per cent as of 31 Dec 2021, lowest amongst all S-REITs. 
The Reit noted that this demonstrated strong fundamentals of the portfolio as well as prudent capital management, with an expanded debt headroom to pursue potential acquisition opportunities.

With an average debt maturity of 1.2 years as at Dec 31, 2021, the Reit is actively exploring refinancing opportunities with a view to de-risk the current debt profile by staggering its debt maturity and amount.

Sasseur Reit posted FY2021 distribution per unit (DPU) of 7.104 Singapore cents, up 8.5 per cent year on year. The Reit's 4 outlets in China recorded total sales of almost 4.2 billion yuan in FY2021, representing a growth of 12.3 per cent year on year.

The Reit also observed continued robust consumption trends in the cities where its outlets are located, coupled with intensive promotional efforts in close collaboration with tenants which led to the higher sales.

Listed in 2021, Digital Core Reit is a pure-play data centre Reit with an initial public offering (IPO) portfolio of 10 quality freehold data centres located across the United States and Canada.

The Reit reported a gearing of 27 per cent as at IPO, noting ample debt headroom and potential to fuel outsized growth prospects.

In its FY2021 financial release, SPH Reit reported a gearing of 30.3 per cent with revolving credit facility lines of S$225 million undrawn as at Aug 31, 2021, providing ample debt headroom and additional liquidity if needed.

The Reit noted that its loans were refinanced in FY2021 at a lower interest rate, resulting in lower average cost of debt of 1.84 per cent, compared to 2.66 per cent in FY2020.

As at Nov 30, 2022, the Reit's average cost of debt is at 1.68 per cent and has a weighted average term to maturity of 2.7 years.  REIT Watch is a weekly column on The Business Times,<a href="https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/green-shoots-for-retail-and-hospitality-s-reits-amid-new-pandemic-phase"> </a><a href="https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/s-reits-hedge-against-rising-interest-rates-0">read </a>the original version.
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    5 sreits with lower gearing ratios


The iEdge S-Reit Index declined 3 per cent in total returns in 2022 year to date (YTD), amid geopolitical escalations, macro uncertainty and increasing expectations of a potential rate hike.

Despite the decline, it remained one of the most defensive Reit indices globally, with the FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed Index declining 7 per cent during the same period.

Interest rates have always been a key driver for the sector, given the impact on yield spreads and borrowing costs.  
S-Reits have been actively managing their interest rate exposures.

On average, close to 75 per cent of S-Reits' current debts are entered directly in fixed rates or hedged through floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps.

S-Reits currently have an average gearing ratio of 37.4 per cent, based on latest company filings, well below the regulatory threshold of 50 per cent.  
This translates into approximately S$24.6 billion (based on Bloomberg data for total assets multiplied by company-reported gearing ratio) of potential debt headroom for the sector, to fund capital-intensive acquisitions.  
The five S-REITs that maintain the lowest gearing ratios are Sasseur REIT, Digital Core REIT, SPH REIT, IREIT Global and Lendlease Global Commercial REIT. Sasseur REIT reported a gearing of 26.1 per cent as of 31 Dec 2021, lowest amongst all S-REITs.  
The Reit noted that this demonstrated strong fundamentals of the portfolio as well as prudent capital management, with an expanded debt headroom to pursue potential acquisition opportunities.

With an average debt maturity of 1.2 years as at Dec 31, 2021, the Reit is actively exploring refinancing opportunities with a view to de-risk the current debt profile by staggering its debt maturity and amount.

Sasseur Reit posted FY2021 distribution per unit (DPU) of 7.104 Singapore cents, up 8.5 per cent year on year. The Reit's 4 outlets in China recorded total sales of almost 4.2 billion yuan in FY2021, representing a growth of 12.3 per cent year on year.

The Reit also observed continued robust consumption trends in the cities where its outlets are located, coupled with intensive promotional efforts in close collaboration with tenants which led to the higher sales.

Listed in 2021, Digital Core Reit is a pure-play data centre Reit with an initial public offering (IPO) portfolio of 10 quality freehold data centres located across the United States and Canada.

The Reit reported a gearing of 27 per cent as at IPO, noting ample debt headroom and potential to fuel outsized growth prospects.

In its FY2021 financial release, SPH Reit reported a gearing of 30.3 per cent with revolving credit facility lines of S$225 million undrawn as at Aug 31, 2021, providing ample debt headroom and additional liquidity if needed.

The Reit noted that its loans were refinanced in FY2021 at a lower interest rate, resulting in lower average cost of debt of 1.84 per cent, compared to 2.66 per cent in FY2020.

As at Nov 30, 2022, the Reit's average cost of debt is at 1.68 per cent and has a weighted average term to maturity of 2.7 years.   REIT Watch is a weekly column on The Business Times, read the original version.



REIT Watch - S-Reits hedge against rising interest rates

Research from SooChow CSSD Capital Markets (Asia), SCCM Asia Research

SCCM Asia Research

Research from SooChow CSSD Capital Markets (Asia)

Headquartered in Singapore, SooChow CSSD Capital Markets (Asia) is an investment bank focusing on emerging growth companies across Asia, providing a full suite of investment banking services, including corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions advisory, equity capital markets, institutional equities sales and trading and equities research.

SooChow CSSD Capital Markets (Asia)

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul><li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/dasin-retail-trust" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:23743" rel="noopener">Dasin Retail Trust (DASIN SP)</a> 2H21 DPU +10.9% YoY; All eyes remain on the hefty 2022 refinancing burden</li><li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/bhg-retail-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:21021" rel="noopener">BHG Retail REIT (BHGREIT SP)</a> 2H21 DPU -0.9% YoY; Steady as she goes with occupancy rates inching higher</li><li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ireit-global" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10596" rel="noopener">IREIT Global (IREIT SP)</a> 2H21 DPU +7.9% YoY; Continued to trade ~25% below book value despite an attractive 7+% yield</li></ul>

Dasin Retail Trust (DASIN SP) 2H21 DPU +10.9% YoY; All eyes remain on the hefty 2022 refinancing burdenBHG Retail REIT (BHGREIT SP) 2H21 DPU -0.9% YoY; Steady as she goes with occupancy rates inching higherIREIT Global (IREIT SP) 2H21 DPU +7.9% YoY; Continued to trade ~25% below book value despite an attractive 7+% yield

ASEAN Builder's Scoop 28Feb22 - DASIN All Eyes on Mar22 Loan Refinancing

<ul><li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/lhn-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27234" rel="noopener">LHN Ltd (LHN SP)</a> FY21 results boosted by facilities management and logistics services; Maintains S$0.01 DPS</li><li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ireit-global" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10596" rel="noopener">IREIT Global (IREIT SP)</a> to achieve 100% occupancy rate for Münster Campus by Sep22 onwards</li><li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/daiwa-house-logistics-trust" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:35020" rel="noopener">Daiwa House Logistics Trust (DHLT SP)</a> IPO sees healthy demand; Listing on 3Dec</li></ul>

LHN Ltd (LHN SP) FY21 results boosted by facilities management and logistics services; Maintains S$0.01 DPSIREIT Global (IREIT SP) to achieve 100% occupancy rate for Münster Campus by Sep22 onwardsDaiwa House Logistics Trust (DHLT SP) IPO sees healthy demand; Listing on 3Dec

ASEAN Builder's Scoop (29Nov21) - LHN Boosted by Facilities and Logistics Services

<ul><li>Frasers Logistics &amp; Commercial Trust (FLT SP) 2H21 DPU +6.3% YoY; Weak reversions though occupancy remains steady</li><li>IREIT Global (IREIT SP) 3Q21 Business Updates – Leasing improvements reduce risk, dual currency trading and EUR distribution +ve</li><li>United Hampshire US REIT (UHU SP) 3Q21 Business Updates – Lower rental rates despite occupancy holding up</li></ul>

Frasers Logistics &amp; Commercial Trust (FLT SP) 2H21 DPU +6.3% YoY; Weak reversions though occupancy remains steadyIREIT Global (IREIT SP) 3Q21 Business Updates – Leasing improvements reduce risk, dual currency trading and EUR distribution +veUnited Hampshire US REIT (UHU SP) 3Q21 Business Updates – Lower rental rates despite occupancy holding up

ASEAN Builder's Scoop (11Nov21) - FLT Weak Reversions

<h2>Singapore  </h2><h3><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/ireit-global" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10596" rel="noopener">IREIT Global (IREIT SP)</a> master tenant vacating Darmstadt Campus on 29Nov22</h3>An IREIT tenant intends to vacate a property that accounts for about 11% of total GRI. This will be when the lease expires on 29Nov22. As such, the manager does not expect any material impact on DPU for FY21 and FY22. GMG Generalmietgesellschaft is the sole tenant at Darmstadt Campus. The space to be vacated there constitutes 7.9% of IREIT's total portfolio lettable area as at 30Sep. GMG, a unit of Deutsche Telekom AG, is also a tenant in Bonn Campus and Munster Campus. Its Darmstadt Campus lease is independent and separate from these other 2 leases. It will now start marketing the Darmstadt Campus and is exploring a multi-let approach to broaden the tenant mix at the property and reduce the reliance on any one single tenant. With the 1-year notice period, there is adequate time to re-let the property to new tenants, as the property is in a prime office location and within a short walking distance to Darmstadt's main railway station.

Singapore  IREIT Global (IREIT SP) master tenant vacating Darmstadt Campus on 29Nov22An IREIT tenant intends to vacate a property that accounts for about 11% of total GRI. This will be when the lease expires on 29Nov22. As such, the manager does not expect any material impact on DPU for FY21 and FY22. GMG Generalmietgesellschaft is the sole tenant at Darmstadt Campus. The space to be vacated there constitutes 7.9% of IREIT's total portfolio lettable area as at 30Sep. GMG, a unit of Deutsche Telekom AG, is also a tenant in Bonn Campus and Munster Campus. Its Darmstadt Campus lease is independent and separate from these other 2 leases. It will now start marketing the Darmstadt Campus and is exploring a multi-let approach to broaden the tenant mix at the property and reduce the reliance on any one single tenant. With the 1-year notice period, there is adequate time to re-let the property to new tenants, as the property is in a prime office location and within a short walking distance to Darmstadt's main railway station.

Singapore

IREIT Global is the first Singapore-listed real estate investment trust with the investment strategy of principally investing, directly or indirectly, in a portfolio of income-producing real estate in Europe which is used primarily for office, retail and industrial (including logistics) purposes, as well as real estate-related assets.

IREIT Global’s current portfolio comprises 5 freehold office properties in Germany, 5 freehold office properties in Spain and 27 freehold retail properties in France, with a total lettable area of approximately 384,000 sqm and a portfolio valuation of approximately €974.9 million.

IREIT Global is managed by IREIT Global Group Pte. Ltd., which is jointly owned by Tikehau Capital and City Developments Limited ("CDL"). Tikehau Capital is a global alternative asset management group listed in France, while CDL is a leading global real estate company listed in Singapore.

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IREIT Global (IREIT SP)

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