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/starhill-global-reit" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:10791" rel="noopener">Starhill Global REIT (SGREIT SP)</a> 3Q22 Business Updates – Occupancy holding up strong; AEI works at Wisma Completed</li><li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/mapletree-logistics-trust" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:16035" rel="noopener">Mapletree Logistics Trust (MLT SP)</a> 4Q22 DPU +5.0% YoY; Healthy reversions and higher DPU and NAV due to acquisitions</li><li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cdl-hospitality-trusts" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:936" rel="noopener">CDL Hospitality Trusts (CDREIT SP)</a> 1Q22 Business Updates – Recovery story intact with SG portfolio leading the way</li></ul>

Starhill Global REIT (SGREIT SP) 3Q22 Business Updates – Occupancy holding up strong; AEI works at Wisma CompletedMapletree Logistics Trust (MLT SP) 4Q22 DPU +5.0% YoY; Healthy reversions and higher DPU and NAV due to acquisitionsCDL Hospitality Trusts (CDREIT SP) 1Q22 Business Updates – Recovery story intact with SG portfolio leading the way

ASEAN Builder's Scoop (29Apr22) - SGREIT Robust Occupancy

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.

With about 40% of listed companies and over 80% of listed bonds originating outside of Singapore as well as established linkages across the region and in Europe, SGX is Asia’s most international and connected exchange. Offering a full suite of derivatives products across Asian equity indices, commodities and currencies, SGX is the world’s most liquid international market for the benchmark equity indices of China, India, Japan and ASEAN.

As Asia’s pioneering central counterparty, SGX is globally recognised for its risk management and clearing capabilities, and was one of the first globally to adopt the Principles for Financial Market Infrastructure.

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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<html><body>Singapore's Central Business District (CBD) saw Grade A office rents record the fastest quarterly growth since rents turned around in Q2 2021, according to JLL Singapore in a recent report. 
Grade A office rents in the CBD rose 2.3 per cent to S$10.46 per square foot (psf) per month (pm) in the latest quarter, up from Q4 2021's S$10.23. Rental rates have recovered by 6.9 per cent from its recent lows in Q1 2021. 
Office Reits may also be poised to benefit from a growth in demand for office space as up to 75 per cent of office workers are allowed to return to their workplaces, even as hybrid working continues. 
Listed on SGX are 5 S-Reits with Singapore office properties in their portfolios. They are, Keppel Reit which is a pure-play office S-Reit, and diversified S-Reits CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (CICT), Suntec Reit, Mapletree Commercial Trust (MCT), and OUE Commercial Reit (OUE C-Reit). Keppel Reit in FY21 had a tenant retention rate of 62 per cent and noted that a majority of new and expansion leases were in Singapore. 
Its weighted average signing rent for Singapore office leases was approximately S$10.56 psf pm. 
Building valuations for Marina Bay Financial Centre Towers 1 &amp; 2, One Raffles Quay and Keppel Bay Tower increased due to higher rental rates. 
OUE C-Reit which has a portfolio of 3 office properties in Singapore's CBD noted in its FY21 results that average passing rents of Singapore office properties at Dec 2021 were higher year on year, with OUE Bayfront hitting a high of S$12.49 psf due to the successful renewal of an anchor tenant. The Reit expects positive leasing momentum to continue in 2022, supported by the technology sector amid a limited supply pipeline. 
CICT recently announced its proposed acquisition of 70 per cent interest in 79 Robinson Road which has a building occupancy rate of 92.9 per cent. The acquisition is expected to offer pro forma annualised net property income yield of 4 per cent, distribution per unit accretion of 2.9 per cent, and is expected to complete in Q2 2022. 
Across the broader S-Reits sector, S-Reits demonstrated resiliency amid the backdrop of rising inflation and a rate hike cycle with the iEdge S-Reit Index posting 1.3 per cent total returns in Q1 2022, outperforming the average decline of 4.9 per cent across global Reit hubs. 
Despite rising interest rates, S-Reits have an average distribution yield of 6.3 per cent, around 400 bps spread over Singapore's 10-year government bond yields. The sector has an average gearing ratio of about 37 per cent (current regulatory ceiling is 50 per cent) and has an average 75 per cent of their borrowings pegged at fixed rates (entered directly in fixed rates or hedged through floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps). 
The top 5 performing S-Reits and property trusts in Q1 2022 averaged 14.1 per cent total returns, outperforming STI's 9.6 per cent, and are mainly from the hospitality and office sub-segments. They are: Suntec Reit (+17.6 per cent), Frasers Hospitality Trust (+15.1 per cent), Far East Hospitality Trust (+13.1 per cent), CDL Hospitality Trusts (+13.0 per cent), and Ascott Residence Trust (+11.5 per cent). 
Drivers that potentially drove the sub-segments were the continued reopening theme and relaxation of Covid measures across Singapore and the region, as well as the positive momentum in office rental rates.  REIT Watch is a weekly column on The Business Times,<a href="https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/singapore-office-s-reits-poised-to-benefit-from-positive-rental-momentum-0"> read </a>the original version.</body></html>


      
    
    SREIT asset

Singapore's Central Business District (CBD) saw Grade A office rents record the fastest quarterly growth since rents turned around in Q2 2021, according to JLL Singapore in a recent report.  
Grade A office rents in the CBD rose 2.3 per cent to S$10.46 per square foot (psf) per month (pm) in the latest quarter, up from Q4 2021's S$10.23. Rental rates have recovered by 6.9 per cent from its recent lows in Q1 2021.  
Office Reits may also be poised to benefit from a growth in demand for office space as up to 75 per cent of office workers are allowed to return to their workplaces, even as hybrid working continues.  
Listed on SGX are 5 S-Reits with Singapore office properties in their portfolios. They are, Keppel Reit which is a pure-play office S-Reit, and diversified S-Reits CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (CICT), Suntec Reit, Mapletree Commercial Trust (MCT), and OUE Commercial Reit (OUE C-Reit). Keppel Reit in FY21 had a tenant retention rate of 62 per cent and noted that a majority of new and expansion leases were in Singapore.  
Its weighted average signing rent for Singapore office leases was approximately S$10.56 psf pm.  
Building valuations for Marina Bay Financial Centre Towers 1 &amp; 2, One Raffles Quay and Keppel Bay Tower increased due to higher rental rates.  
OUE C-Reit which has a portfolio of 3 office properties in Singapore's CBD noted in its FY21 results that average passing rents of Singapore office properties at Dec 2021 were higher year on year, with OUE Bayfront hitting a high of S$12.49 psf due to the successful renewal of an anchor tenant. The Reit expects positive leasing momentum to continue in 2022, supported by the technology sector amid a limited supply pipeline.  
CICT recently announced its proposed acquisition of 70 per cent interest in 79 Robinson Road which has a building occupancy rate of 92.9 per cent. The acquisition is expected to offer pro forma annualised net property income yield of 4 per cent, distribution per unit accretion of 2.9 per cent, and is expected to complete in Q2 2022.  
Across the broader S-Reits sector, S-Reits demonstrated resiliency amid the backdrop of rising inflation and a rate hike cycle with the iEdge S-Reit Index posting 1.3 per cent total returns in Q1 2022, outperforming the average decline of 4.9 per cent across global Reit hubs.  
Despite rising interest rates, S-Reits have an average distribution yield of 6.3 per cent, around 400 bps spread over Singapore's 10-year government bond yields. The sector has an average gearing ratio of about 37 per cent (current regulatory ceiling is 50 per cent) and has an average 75 per cent of their borrowings pegged at fixed rates (entered directly in fixed rates or hedged through floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps).  
The top 5 performing S-Reits and property trusts in Q1 2022 averaged 14.1 per cent total returns, outperforming STI's 9.6 per cent, and are mainly from the hospitality and office sub-segments. They are: Suntec Reit (+17.6 per cent), Frasers Hospitality Trust (+15.1 per cent), Far East Hospitality Trust (+13.1 per cent), CDL Hospitality Trusts (+13.0 per cent), and Ascott Residence Trust (+11.5 per cent).  
Drivers that potentially drove the sub-segments were the continued reopening theme and relaxation of Covid measures across Singapore and the region, as well as the positive momentum in office rental rates.   REIT Watch is a weekly column on The Business Times, read the original version.


REIT Watch - Singapore office S-Reits poised to benefit from positive rental momentum

Far East Hospitality Trust / Equity Bottom-Up

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Singapore announced the easing of Covid-19 measures on March 24 as the country takes a "decisive but measured step forward" towards living with Covid-19.

With the risk of outdoor transmission significantly lower, it will soon be optional to wear masks outdoors in Singapore while the maximum group size for social gatherings as well as dining in will double from 5 to 10. Certain large-scale social gatherings are also permitted to resume.

Office spaces are expected to be filled up again, as up to 75 per cent of those who can work from home are now allowed to return to their workplaces, up from 50 per cent previously. 
Cross-border travel is also expected to ease substantially from Apr 1, as travellers no longer have to take designated vaccinated travel lanes (VTL) to enter Singapore quarantine-free. 
Such moves will help to "reconnect Singapore with the world" and "give a much-needed boost to businesses, particularly the tourism sector, and help Singapore reclaim its position as a business and aviation hub" said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during his speech. 
Following the announcement, the Straits Times Index (STI) gained 1.1 per cent during Thursday's (Mar 24) trading session, driven by a rally in aviation, transport, tourism and retail-related stocks. 
Similarly, S-Reits recorded gains, with the iEdge S-Reit Index increasing 1 per cent in the trading session, led by trusts with significant exposure to Singapore related retail, hospitality, and office assets.

Hospitality S-Reits gained 3.5 per cent while retail S-Reits gained 1.5 per cent. More notably, hospitality and retail S-Reits saw a surge in trading activities on Thursday with S$27.4 million and S$21.4 million in traded value respectively.

This represents over 211 per cent and 58 per cent increases respectively, against their 3-month average daily traded value. 
Diversified S-REITs also gained an average of 1.8 per cent over Thursday, led by trusts (Lendlease Global Commercial REIT, OUE Commercial REIT and Suntec REIT) with substantial exposure to the retail and office segments in Singapore. 
Lendlease Global Commercial Reit (LReit), which owns prime retail properties in Singapore and grade-A office buildings in Milan, was the top performer for the day with over 7 per cent gains. 
In February, LReit proposed to acquire the remaining interest in JEM mall for close to S$2 billion. 
LReit expects the acquisition to further boost the Reit's portfolio income diversification and provide approximately 10.5 per cent distribution per unit (DPU) accretion upon completion. 
Post-acquisition, LReit's exposure to the resilient suburban retail sector is expected to increase from 16.3 per cent to 46.8 per cent and its Singapore-centric asset base to be close to 88 per cent of its total portfolio value. 
CDL Hospitality Trusts (CDLHT), which owns hotel properties across Asia Pacific and Europe, rose 6 per cent over the trading day following the announcement of easing travel restrictions. 
CDLHT's Singapore portfolio (approximately 64.9 per cent by total portfolio valuation) continued to be impacted by the absence of major meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) events, large wedding banquets and social functions in FY 2021.

The trust remains optimistic in Singapore's commitment to reopening and returning to normalcy. 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/retail-hotel-office-s-reits-gain-with-relaxed-covid-rules-0">read</a><a href="https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/pure-play-china-s-reits-record-strong-2021-growth-0"> </a>the original version.
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    Top 10 performing SREITs


Singapore announced the easing of Covid-19 measures on March 24 as the country takes a "decisive but measured step forward" towards living with Covid-19.

With the risk of outdoor transmission significantly lower, it will soon be optional to wear masks outdoors in Singapore while the maximum group size for social gatherings as well as dining in will double from 5 to 10. Certain large-scale social gatherings are also permitted to resume.

Office spaces are expected to be filled up again, as up to 75 per cent of those who can work from home are now allowed to return to their workplaces, up from 50 per cent previously.  
Cross-border travel is also expected to ease substantially from Apr 1, as travellers no longer have to take designated vaccinated travel lanes (VTL) to enter Singapore quarantine-free.  
Such moves will help to "reconnect Singapore with the world" and "give a much-needed boost to businesses, particularly the tourism sector, and help Singapore reclaim its position as a business and aviation hub" said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong during his speech.  
Following the announcement, the Straits Times Index (STI) gained 1.1 per cent during Thursday's (Mar 24) trading session, driven by a rally in aviation, transport, tourism and retail-related stocks.  
Similarly, S-Reits recorded gains, with the iEdge S-Reit Index increasing 1 per cent in the trading session, led by trusts with significant exposure to Singapore related retail, hospitality, and office assets.

Hospitality S-Reits gained 3.5 per cent while retail S-Reits gained 1.5 per cent. More notably, hospitality and retail S-Reits saw a surge in trading activities on Thursday with S$27.4 million and S$21.4 million in traded value respectively.

This represents over 211 per cent and 58 per cent increases respectively, against their 3-month average daily traded value.  
Diversified S-REITs also gained an average of 1.8 per cent over Thursday, led by trusts (Lendlease Global Commercial REIT, OUE Commercial REIT and Suntec REIT) with substantial exposure to the retail and office segments in Singapore.  
Lendlease Global Commercial Reit (LReit), which owns prime retail properties in Singapore and grade-A office buildings in Milan, was the top performer for the day with over 7 per cent gains.  
In February, LReit proposed to acquire the remaining interest in JEM mall for close to S$2 billion.  
LReit expects the acquisition to further boost the Reit's portfolio income diversification and provide approximately 10.5 per cent distribution per unit (DPU) accretion upon completion.  
Post-acquisition, LReit's exposure to the resilient suburban retail sector is expected to increase from 16.3 per cent to 46.8 per cent and its Singapore-centric asset base to be close to 88 per cent of its total portfolio value.  
CDL Hospitality Trusts (CDLHT), which owns hotel properties across Asia Pacific and Europe, rose 6 per cent over the trading day following the announcement of easing travel restrictions.  
CDLHT's Singapore portfolio (approximately 64.9 per cent by total portfolio valuation) continued to be impacted by the absence of major meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) events, large wedding banquets and social functions in FY 2021.

The trust remains optimistic in Singapore's commitment to reopening and returning to normalcy.  REIT Watch is a weekly column on The Business Times, read the original version.



REIT Watch - Retail, hotel, office S-Reits gain with relaxed Covid rules

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<div class="content-caption">Insti investors continue to net buy sreits</div>

The iEdge S-Reit Index recovered 2.5 per cent in total returns over the past 5 sessions (Feb 25, 2022 through to Mar 3, 2022), after a 2 per cent decline seen last Thursday (Feb 24) as global markets saw major moves amid the market volatility.
Despite the dip, the iEdge S-Reit Index has returned 0.6 per cent in total returns for the whole period from Feb 24, 2022 through to Mar 3, 2022.
This means it outperformed the FTSE EPRA Nareit Asia ex-Japan Index which declined 0.7 per cent during the same period. Within the S-Reit sub-sectors, gainers were led by the specialised, healthcare and office Reits while decliners were led by hospitality, retail and diversified Reits.
During the period, institutional investors have been a key driver in S-Reits' fund flow activities, accumulating net institutional inflows of S$30.4 million.
Retail investors on the other hand, net sold S$42.6 million for the sector. In terms of sub-sectors, institutional flows were driven by inflows seen in diversified S-Reits (+S$16.7 million), specialised/data centre S-Reits (+S$6.9 million), and office S-Reits (+S$6.7 million).
The largest retail outflows were seen in diversified S-Reits (-S$22.8 million), office S-Reits (-S$6.6 million), and industrial S-Reits (-S$5.5 million).
On a year-to-date basis, S-Reits have seen a 2 per cent decline, against the Straits Times Index's 4.4 per cent total returns, while the FTSE EPRA Nareit Asia ex-Japan Index has seen a decline of 2.3 per cent.
Interest rates continue to be a key focus for the sector, as expectations of a rate hike grow.
As the earnings season concludes for the sector, broad based distribution per unit growth and healthy occupancy rates remain a common theme. 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" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;</a><a href="https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/institutional-investors-continue-to-net-buy-s-reits" target="_blank" rel="noopener">read&nbsp;</a>the original version.


Insti investors continue to net buy sreits

The iEdge S-Reit Index recovered 2.5 per cent in total returns over the past 5 sessions (Feb 25, 2022 through to Mar 3, 2022), after a 2 per cent decline seen last Thursday (Feb 24) as global markets saw major moves amid the market volatility.
Despite the dip, the iEdge S-Reit Index has returned 0.6 per cent in total returns for the whole period from Feb 24, 2022 through to Mar 3, 2022.
This means it outperformed the FTSE EPRA Nareit Asia ex-Japan Index which declined 0.7 per cent during the same period.  Within the S-Reit sub-sectors, gainers were led by the specialised, healthcare and office Reits while decliners were led by hospitality, retail and diversified Reits.
During the period, institutional investors have been a key driver in S-Reits' fund flow activities, accumulating net institutional inflows of S$30.4 million.
Retail investors on the other hand, net sold S$42.6 million for the sector.  In terms of sub-sectors, institutional flows were driven by inflows seen in diversified S-Reits (+S$16.7 million), specialised/data centre S-Reits (+S$6.9 million), and office S-Reits (+S$6.7 million).
The largest retail outflows were seen in diversified S-Reits (-S$22.8 million), office S-Reits (-S$6.6 million), and industrial S-Reits (-S$5.5 million).
On a year-to-date basis, S-Reits have seen a 2 per cent decline, against the Straits Times Index's 4.4 per cent total returns, while the FTSE EPRA Nareit Asia ex-Japan Index has seen a decline of 2.3 per cent.
Interest rates continue to be a key focus for the sector, as expectations of a rate hike grow.
As the earnings season concludes for the sector, broad based distribution per unit growth and healthy occupancy rates remain a common theme.  REIT Watch is a weekly column on The Business Times,&nbsp;read&nbsp;the original version.

REIT Watch - Institutional Investors Continue to Net Buy S-Reits

<ul><li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/cdl-hospitality-trusts" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:936" rel="noopener">CDL Hospitality Trusts (CDREIT SP)</a> acquires Hotel Brooklyn in Manchester, UK; ~1.1% accretion to DPU</li><li>Joint investment of Sumitomo units and ARA invest S$297m in Capital Square</li><li><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sm-prime-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:89" rel="noopener">Sm Prime Holdings (SMPH PM)</a> earnings surprise on the upside (Regina Capital)</li></ul>

CDL Hospitality Trusts (CDREIT SP) acquires Hotel Brooklyn in Manchester, UK; ~1.1% accretion to DPUJoint investment of Sumitomo units and ARA invest S$297m in Capital SquareSm Prime Holdings (SMPH PM) earnings surprise on the upside (Regina Capital)

ASEAN Builder's Scoop 22Feb22 - CDREIT Buys Manchester Hotel

Singapore

CDL Hospitality Trusts is a stapled group compromising H-REIT and HBT. H-REIT is a real estate investment trust that invest in a portfolio of income-producing properties and HBT is a business trust.

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CDL Hospitality Trusts (CDREIT SP)

ASEAN Builder's Scoop (29Apr22) - SGREIT Robust Occupancy

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REIT Watch - Singapore office S-Reits poised to benefit from positive rental momentum

Singapore's Central Business District (CBD) saw Grade A office rents record the fastest quarterly growth since rents turned...

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

REIT Watch - Retail, hotel, office S-Reits gain with relaxed Covid rules

Singapore announced the easing of Covid-19 measures on March 24 as the country takes a "decisive but measured step forward"...

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

REIT Watch - Institutional Investors Continue to Net Buy S-Reits

The iEdge S-Reit Index recovered 2.5 per cent in total returns over the past 5 sessions (Feb 25, 2022 through to Mar 3, 2022), after a 2 per...

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

ASEAN Builder's Scoop 22Feb22 - CDREIT Buys Manchester Hotel

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SCCM Asia Research

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