CCT acquires Asia Square Tower 2 in Singapore’s Marina Bay for S$2,094.0 million or S$2,689 per square foot
Strategic addition of premium Grade A property solidifies CCT’s position as Singapore’s largest prime office landlord
Singapore, 21 September 2017 – CapitaLand Commercial Trust (CCT or the Trust), is acquiring Asia Square Tower 21 from BlackRock Asia Property Fund III L.P. for an agreed property value of S$2,094 million or S$2,689 per square foot. The net property income (NPI) yield is expected to be 3.6%2 per annum (p.a.), based on a committed occupancy rate of 88.7% as at 30 June 2017. CCT will fund this acquisition through a combination of a fully-underwritten and renounceable 166 for 1,000 rights issue to raise gross proceeds of approximately S$700.0 million, external bank borrowings of S$1,120.0 million, and proceeds of approximately S$340.1 million from the divestments of One George Street (50.0% stake), Golden Shoe Car Park and Wilkie Edge.
Located in the heart of Singapore’s Marina Bay, Asia Square Tower 2 is a 46-storey integrated commercial development comprising a premium quality Grade
Mr Soo Kok Leng, Chairman of the Manager, said: “The addition of Asia Square Tower 2 is a strategic move that is in line with our portfolio reconstitution strategy to rejuvenate CCT’s portfolio with the addition of newer and higher yielding Grade A assets."
"One George Street (50.0% stake) and Wilkie Edge which were divested at exit yields of 3.2%3 and 3.4%4 p.a. respectively, are replaced with the acquisition of a higher yielding Asia Square Tower 2 at an initial yield of 3.6% p.a. With this acquisition, CCT is now well anchored in all the key sub-markets in Singapore’s Central Business District: Marina Bay, Raffles Place, Tanjong Pagar and City Hall; cementing its position as the largest landlord of prime office assets in Singapore. Offering about 0.7 million sq ft of NLA, Asia Square Tower 2 enlarges CCT’s attributable office5 NLA to 3.5 million sq ft. This enhanced office portfolio places us in a strong position to generate respectable returns for unitholders over the long term.”
Ms Lynette Leong, Chief Executive Officer of the Manager, said: “We seized the opportunity to acquire a premium Grade A property at an attractive price and entry yield. Market statistics have shown that Singapore’s office market rents have reached a trough; hence, the acquisition will position CCT to benefit from the expected market uptick in Grade A office rents. Given our track record of successful leasing strategies, we will be able to capture further rental income upside from increasing the property’s 88.7% occupancy in a rising market.”
Ms Leong added: “Asia Square Tower 2 has a robust office tenant base comprising 36 high quality and reputable office tenants engaged in diversified businesses, and 24 retail tenants offering vibrant food & beverage options and lifestyle services. It will substantially enhance the quality, resilience and diversity of CCT’s portfolio. Post-acquisition, CCT’s portfolio value will increase from S$8.0 billion to S$10.1 billion. The contribution from Grade A buildings will significantly increase from S$4.9 billion to S$7.0 billion and augment the quality of our portfolio for
The total acquisition cost of S$2,150.5 million comprises the agreed property value of S$2,094.0 million, which was negotiated on a willing-buyer and willing-seller basis, estimated net cash, receivables and payables of S$21.7 million, acquisition fee and transaction costs of S$34.8 million. The agreed property value is lower than the appraised value of S$2,110.0 million or S$2,710 per square foot based on an independent valuation conducted by Knight Frank Pte Ltd, using the discounted cash flow analysis and
The completion of the acquisition is expected to take place in November 2017 or a date to be agreed between CCT and BlackRock Asia Property Fund III L.P.
Rights Issue
Approximately 513.5 million rights units will be issued based on the issue price of S$1.363 per rights unit to raise gross proceeds of S$700.0 million. DBS Bank Ltd., J.P. Morgan (S.E.A.) Limited and The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, Singapore Branch have been appointed as the joint lead managers and underwriters for the rights issue. To demonstrate its support for CCT and the rights issue, CapitaLand Singapore Limited (CLS) has provided an irrevocable undertaking to the Manager and the joint lead managers and underwriters that it will procure its subsidiaries to subscribe and pay in full for their total provisional allotment of rights units. This commitment by CLS represents in aggregate approximately 31.0% of the rights units to be issued pursuant to the rights issue.
The 166 for 1,000 rights issue provides eligible unitholders with the opportunity to subscribe for their pro rata entitlement to the rights units at an issue price of S$1.363 per rights unit (Issue Price) which is at a discount of (i) approximately 19.6% to the closing price of S$1.695 per unit as at 20 September 2017 and (ii) approximately 17.3% to the ‘theoretical ex-rights price’ or TERP6 of S$1.648 per unit.
On completion of the acquisition, and on the bases and assumptions stated in an Offer Information Statement lodged with the Monetary Authority of Singapore today, CCT’s pro forma aggregate leverage would be 37.1%, which is significantly below the regulatory limit of 45.0%. This would allow CCT to maintain financial flexibility for future growth opportunities including the redevelopment of Golden Shoe Car Park.
The Trust’s pro forma DPU yield for the first half of FY2017, which is computed on CCT’s pro forma annualised 1H 2017 DPU of 4.23 cents, would be 6.2% based on the Issue Price and 5.1% based on TERP.
Existing unitholders who participate in the rights issue will not experience a dilution in their unitholdings if they were to subscribe for their pro rata entitlement to the rights issue. The books closure date to determine the rights entitlement of eligible unitholders is 29 September 2017. Eligible unitholders who do not wish to subscribe for the rights units may choose to sell their rights entitlements during the “nil-paid” rights trading period to realise the value of their rights entitlements. CCT unitholders are advised to refer to the ‘Launch of Rights Issue’ document available on CCT’s website for more details and the indicative timetable.
Please see below for more information on Asia Square Tower 2.
1 Acquisition comprises Asia Square Tower 2 excluding the hotel premises owned by an unrelated third party.
2 Based on an annualised NPI for pro forma 1H 2017 and using the committed occupancy of 88.7%, which includes committed leases with tenants that will commence on 1 March 2018, and the agreed property value of S$2,094.0 million.
3 Based on the NPI of S$38.0 million for the 12 months preceding 31 March 2017 and the agreed value of S$1,183.2 million for the divestment of One George Street to One George Street LLP (OGS LLP). CCT owns 50.0% stake of OGS LLP.
4 Based on the NPI of S$9.5 million for the 12 months preceding 31 March 2017 and the sale consideration of S$280.0 million for the divestment of Wilkie Edge.
5 Attributable office portfolio includes 60.0% of Raffles City Tower, 50.0% of One George Street and the rest of CCT’s office properties in the CBD but excludes Raffles City Shopping Centre, Wilkie Edge, Bugis Village and Golden Shoe Car Park.