CCT achieved higher DPU of 2.07 cents in 2Q 2013
Singapore, 17 July 2013 – CapitaCommercial Trust Management Limited, the Manager of CapitaCommercial Trust (CCT or Trust), is pleased to announce a distribution per unit (DPU) of 2.071 cents for the
The 2Q 2013 distributable income to unitholders of S$59.6 million was 1.9% above the S$58.5 million achieved in 2Q 2012 due to higher revenue and lower interest expenses. Gross revenue in 2Q 2013 increased by 1.8% to S$97.5 million from 2Q 2012 largely due to better performance from Six Battery Road and higher rental contribution from HSBC Building.
The estimated DPU for the financial period 1 January 2013 to 30 June 2013 (1H 2013) was 4.01 cents1, which was 1.3% above the 3.96 cents reported for the same period last year. The Trust pays out its distributable income semi-annually in February and August. With the books closure date for 1H 2013
CCT’s investment properties were assessed by independent valuers to be worth S$6.5 billion as at 30 June 2013, resulting in a net fair value gain of S$85.3 million. Including CapitaGreen, the investment property under construction, and other assets, CCT’s total asset size increased to S$7.06 billion. The net asset value per unit was S$1.65 after excluding the 1H 2013 distributable income to unitholders.
The Trust’s unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for 2Q 2013 and 1H 2013 results are available on its website (www.cct.com.sg) and on SGXNet (www.sgx.com).
Summary of CCT’s 2Q 2013 and 1H 2013 Results
|
2Q 2013 |
2Q 2012 |
Change % |
1H 2013 |
1H 2012 |
Change % |
Gross Revenue (S$’000) Net Property Income (S$’000) Distributable Income (S$’000) |
97,511 74,861 59,557 |
95,759 75,246 58,466 |
1.8 (0.5) 1.9 |
193,426 149,771 115,260 |
183,192 145,182 112,380 |
5.6 3.2 2.6 |
Distribution Per Unit - For the period |
2.07¢1 |
2.06¢ |
0.5 |
4.01¢1 |
3.96¢ |
1.3 |
Mr Kee Teck Koon, Chairman of the Manager, said, “CCT delivered a good set of results with higher DPU from positive rent reversions and savings from lower interest cost. The Trust’s consistent strategy of proactive asset and portfolio management has generated higher revenue. Given the positive feedback from tenants and better financial performance arising from the ongoing revitalisation of Six Battery Road and Raffles City Tower, we have decided to embark on the upgrading of the common areas and certain technical specifications of Capital Tower. Costing S$40.0 million, Capital Tower’s upgrading programme is expected to generate a projected return on investment of 7.8%.”
Mr Kee added, “CCT’s balance sheet is robust with a low gearing of 28.9% and an average cost of debt at 2.8% per annum. 76% of our total borrowings are
Ms Lynette Leong, Chief Executive Officer of the Manager, said, “We saw active leasing at CCT’s properties, resulting in an increase in portfolio occupancy to 95.8% in 2Q 2013, from 95.3% in 1Q 2013. Of the total net lettable area of 191,700 square feet committed in 2Q 2013 for both office and retail spaces, 58% were renewals and the remaining were new leases. We signed a higher average effective Grade A rent of S$9.93 per square foot per month for the new and renewed office leases compared to the average Grade A market rent of S$9.55 per square foot per month for the second quarter. Overall, CCT’s average committed rent for the office portfolio continued to increase in 2Q 2013 from S$7.83 per square foot per month to S$7.96 per square foot per month as a result of the cumulative positive rent reversions from leases signed.”
Ms Leong added, “In particular, we are encouraged by the leasing progress of our three Grade
New tenants signed in 2Q 2013 included AIMS AMP Capital Industrial REIT Management Limited and Mitsubishi UFJ Lease (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. Renewals were completed with tenants such as Bryan Cave International Consulting (Asia Pacific) Pte. Ltd, CBRE Pte. Ltd., and Noonday Asset Management Asia Pte Ltd. Demand in 2Q 2013 was supported by leasing interest from business sectors including Banking, Insurance and Financial Services, Business Consultancy, IT Media and Telecommunications and Manufacturing and Distribution.
Asset Enhancement Initiatives (AEIs) Updates
(1) Capital Tower
To maintain its
(2) Raffles City Tower
Raffles City Tower’s AEI at the main lobby, entrance lay-by (drop-off area), installation of security turnstiles, and Phases 1 and 2 of the complete makeover of the upper lift lobbies were completed in June 2013. The entire upgrading will end by 2Q 2014, targeting a return on investment of 8.6%. The office tower’s occupancy rate remains at 100% as at end-June 2013.
(3) Six Battery Road
The AEI at Six Battery Road is on track to be completed by end-2013. Of the 171,000 square feet targeted for upgrading in 2013, about 54% was upgraded by end-June 2013. The target return on investment is 8.1%, which we expect to exceed.
Prudent Capital Management
Prudent capital management is one of the key thrusts for the Manager particularly in the midst of volatile capital market conditions. We have repaid the remaining debt outstanding in 2013, the S$50.0 million 3.5%
Singapore Central Business District (CBD) Office Market
Occupancy rate in Singapore’s core Central Business District (“CBD”) rose from 93.2% to 95.1% as a result of higher net absorption. The average monthly Grade
Outlook
Looking ahead, Singapore CBD’s annual new office supply from 2013 to 2016 is expected to average about 1 million square feet. This compares favourably with the 20-year historical average annual new supply and average net absorption of 1.1 million square feet and 1.0 million square feet respectively. Office leasing activities are expected to remain healthy, providing an opportunity for average market rentals to be strengthened. This will benefit CCT given its lease expiry profile: the office leases that are due for renewal over the course of 2014 and an office lease that is due for review to market rent level in January 2014. For the month of June 2013, these leases contributed 12.7% and 4.1% of CCT’s gross rental income respectively.
1 DPU for 2Q 2013 and 1H 2013 were computed on the basis that none of the convertible bonds due 2015 or convertible bonds due 2017 collectively known as “Convertible Bonds”, is converted into CCT units (“Units”). Accordingly, the actual quantum of DPU may differ if any of these Convertible Bonds is converted into Units on or before books closure date. If all of the Convertible Bonds were to be converted into Units on or before books closure date, the DPU for 2Q 2013 and 1H 2013 would be reduced by 0.17 cents and 0.34 cents respectively.
2 Assuming all new leases in 2H 2013 would be signed at S$9.20