Ascott REIT's FY 2016 unitholders' distribution rises 9% to record high of S$135 million
Distribution per unit increases 4% to 8.27 cents
Singapore, 24 January 2017 – Ascott Residence Trust’s (Ascott Reit) Unitholders’ distribution for FY 2016 grew 9% to a record high of S$135 million. Distribution per unit (DPU) rose 4% to 8.27 cents. The increase in Unitholders’ distribution was mainly due to a net realised exchange gain of S$8.8 million from the repayment of foreign currency bank loans with the divestment proceeds from Fortune Garden Apartments and repayment of shareholders’ loan.
Revenue for FY 2016 increased 13% to S$475.6 million and gross profit grew 9% to S$222.2 million, mainly contributed by Ascott Reit’s acquisitions in 2015 and 2016. Revenue per available unit (RevPAU) climbed 5% to S$140.
Mr Bob Tan, Ascott Residence Trust Management Limited’s (
“As a leading global serviced residence REIT with the most diversified portfolio in key cities around the world, Ascott Reit will continue to enhance its portfolio and focus on providing stable returns to Unitholders. We are actively seeking accretive acquisitions in gateway cities in markets such as Australia, Japan, Europe and the U.S. We will also look at divesting properties with limited growth potential and
Mr Tan said: “In Singapore, Ascott Reit is the largest hospitality REIT with an asset size of S$4.8 billion. Our acquisition of Ascott Orchard Singapore, which soft opened in December 2016, is on track to complete this year and it will further boost Ascott Reit’s asset size to S$5.2 billion.”
Mr Ronald Tay, ARTML’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “In 4Q 2016, RevPAU for the United Kingdom grew 3%1 due to stronger corporate demand and average occupancy remain stable at above 80%. More leisure travellers at our serviced residences in Japan also lifted RevPAU by 2%1. Performance at our Vietnam properties is improving because of higher commercial rent and more guests on
“We are constantly looking at ways to upgrade Ascott Reit’s properties to enhance
Mr Tay added: “Through our proactive capital management strategy, Ascott Reit’s gearing lowered from 41% in 3Q 2016 to 39.8% in 4Q 2016. We have maintained 82% of our total borrowing on fixed interest rates to mitigate interest rate volatility. We will continue to tap the debt capital market to diversify our funding sources and secure longer term financing at an optimal cost.”
Summary of Results
FY 2016 vs. FY 2015
FY 2016 | FY 2015 |
Change (%) |
|
Revenue (S$ million) |
475.6 |
421.1 |
+5 |
Gross Profilt (S$ million) |
222.2 |
204.6 |
+9 |
Unitholders’ Distribution (S$ million) |
8.27 | 7.99 |
+4 |
DPU (S cents) |
8.31 |
7.99 |
+4 |
DPU (S cents) |
7.73 |
8.06 |
-4 |
DPU (S cents) (Adjusted for equity placement and one-off item) |
7.78 | 8.06 | -3 |
Revenue Per Available Unit (RevPAU) S$/day |
140 | 133 | +5 |
- Revenue for FY 2016 increased mainly due to the additional contribution of S$75.9 million from Ascott Reit’s acquisitions in 2015 and 2016. The increase was partially offset by a decrease in revenue of S$2.5 million from the divestment of six rental housing properties in 3Q 2015 and a decrease in revenue of S$18.9 million from the existing properties.
- Unitholders’ distribution for FY 2016 included a net realised exchange gain of S$8.8 million from the repayment of foreign currency bank loans with the divestment proceeds from Fortune Garden Apartments and repayment of shareholders’ loan.
- Unitholders’ distribution for FY 2015 included a one-off item of approximately S$1.2 million.
- RevPAU grew 5% because of the acquisitions in 2015 and 2016.
4Q 2016 vs. 4Q 2015
- Revenue for 4Q 2016 increased mainly due to the additional revenue of S$11.9 million from Ascott Reit’s acquisition of Sheraton Tribeca New York Hotel in 2016. The increase was partially offset by a decrease in revenue of S$4.4 million from the existing properties, mainly in China and United Kingdom (due to
depreciation of pound against Singapore dollar). - Unitholders’ distribution for 4Q 2016 included a net realised exchange gain of S$2.0 million arising from
repayment of foreign currency bank loans with the divestment proceeds from Fortune Garden Apartments and repayment of shareholders’ loan from the Group’s subsidiaries. - RevPAU grew 2% because of the higher average daily rate from Sheraton
Tribcea New York Hotel as compared to the existing properties.
Distribution
Ascott Reit’s distributions are made on a semi-annual basis, with the amount calculated as at 30 June and 31 December each year.
Distribution | For 1 January 2016 to 22 March 2016 (following Ascott Reit’s equity placement on 14 March 2016) |
For 23 March 2016 to 30 June 2016 |
For 1 July 2016 to 31 December 2016 |
Distribution Rate |
1.585 cents per unit |
2.290 cents per unit |
4.392 cents per unit |
Last Day of Trading on "cum" Basis |
17 March 2016 |
25 July 2016 |
27 January 2017 |
Ex-Date |
18 March 2016 |
26 July 2016 |
31 January 2017 |
Book Closure Date |
22 March 2016 |
28 July 2016 |
2 February 2017 |
Payment Date |
27 April 2016 |
24 August 2016 |
28 February 2017 |
For Ascott Reit’s FY 2016 financial statement and presentation slides, please visit www.ascottreit.com.
1 Based on RevPAU in local currencies