This article was recently published on Calvin Yeo's blog, www.investinpassiveincome.com, and is reproduced with permission.
RECENTLY, THE price of Suntec REIT units dropped dramatically - from the $1.50 level in August 2011 to close at $1.175 last Friday - and is one of the poorer performers among commercial REITs.
As a result, Suntec REIT is currently trading at a whopping 35% discount to its Net Asset Value (NAV)! Why has it fallen out of favour with investors?
Suntec City Mall and Convention Center which makes up approximately 80% of the asset base is more than 10 years old. It’s one of those places I used to hang out at when I was a student.
I remember the days when lots of people would queue up to go into the fountain area and touch the water and take photographs. Now, it is no longer the hip destination it once was.
There are many other new cool spots to replace it such as ION Orchard and Vivocity.
Asset Enhancement Initiatives (AEI)
I thought it's about time they did something about Suntec! So they did, with an announcement of a $410 million makeover.
The project which will take place from mid-2012 to 2015 will increase the net lettable area for retail by 14%, increasing Distribution Per Unit income from the retail segment.
Newer, hipper tenants will be introduced, and more F&B and watering holes which will definitely be more attractive.
Overall stabilized rentals are projected to increase by 25%. Best of all, the capital expenditures on the Asset Enhancement Initiatives (AEIs) will be supported by the proceeds from the sale of CHIJMES and from borrowings, with no equity raising expected.
We have all seen how AEIs conducted by CapitaMall Trust and Fraser Centerpoint Trust can revitalize malls and boost rental DPU, I expect no less from Suntec REIT.
Managed by Listed Management Firm ARA
Suntec REIT is currently managed by listed company ARA Asset Management, which is also the manager of other REITs such as Prospertiy REIT, Fortune REIT, Cache Logistics Trust and more.
ARA is established and was recently named one of “Asia’s 200 Best Under A Billion” by Forbes Asia in September 2011. It is an affiliate of Cheung Kong (Li Ka Shing).
Attractive Valuations, High Dividend Yields, Sound Financials
As I pointed out earlier, Suntec REIT is trading at a deep discount of 35% to NAV. Its dividend yield of close to 7% is very high for a retail/office REIT in Singapore, compared to CMT at 5.4%, FCT at 5.6%, MCT at approx. 6%.
Leverage ratio is at approximately 40%, which is comparable to other REITs. As a hybrid, retail income contributes 53% while office income contributes 47%, giving it a good balance of defensiveness and growth.
Occupancy is very high for both retail and office, exceeding 97%; which is better than most of the other grade A offices. While average passing rents for Suntec City has only increased slightly over the past few years, the AEI will provide a significant upgrade to rent.
Infrastructure Improvements, Developments Nearby To Boost Suntec City Profile
Suntec City is now served by the newly opened Circle Line which will bring more and more traffic to a more easily accessible Suntec City as compared to last time where one had to walk a long distance from City Hall MRT.
Its proximity to new developments at Esplanade, Marina Bay Sands and Marina Bay Financial Center will also boost the profile for Suntec City. When fully developed, Suntec City will be a part of a new vibrant shopping, financial hub at Marina Bay.
I initiated a long position on Suntec REIT last week at $1.155, confident of the future prospects of the REIT. While it depends on how effective the AEIs are, I believe that ARA will do a good job.
While Marina Bay Sands has a new Expo center, Suntec Expo can still cater to the smaller and niche Expos. It will be a long wait until at least 2013 to see results from the AEI, but I think current valuations already look rather attractive to include Suntec as a small part of my Singapore Stock Portfolio.
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Calvin Yeo spent the last 5 years researching and perfecting his passive income tools. He is in the process of setting up his family and realizes that it’s not enough to just provide for the family. You need to have time to spend with your family, especially children as they grow up. He has examined his own life and knew he had to take action now to invest for his future and his dreams.
Calvin graduated with a Business Major in Finance and Accounting and spent a few years working in an investment bank. The knowledge from his studies and working experience serve as a good base for him to grasp the ideas for passive income generation.