CCT deepens presence in Frankfurt with acquisition of 94.9% interest in Main Airport Center for €251.5 million
Accretive acquisition will grow CCT’s overseas exposure to 8% of portfolio property value
Singapore, 17 July 2019 – CapitaLand Commercial Trust Management Limited (CCTML), the Manager of CapitaLand Commercial Trust (CCT), today announced that CCT has entered into an agreement to acquire an effective 94.9% interest in the holding companies of Main Airport Center (MAC) – a freehold office property in Frankfurt, Germany – from CapitaLand Limited and Lum Chang Holdings Limited. CapitaLand will continue to hold a 5.1% interest in the holding companies post-transaction. This accretive acquisition will mark CCT’s second asset acquisition in Frankfurt1 and increase CCT’s overseas exposure from 5% to 8% of its portfolio property value.
The proposed transaction is based on an agreed property value of €265.0 million (about S$407.8 million2) for MAC on a 100% basis, which translates to €251.5 million (about S$387.1 million2) for the 94.9% interest. Including acquisition-related expenses, CCT’s total acquisition outlay is estimated at €253.4 million3 (about S$390.0 million2). CCT will fund the acquisition fully with Euro debt facilities or a combination of equity and Euro debt facilities and the transaction is expected to be DPU accretive in the range of 1.0% to 2.5%4, based on pro forma 1H 2019 DPU. The resultant pro forma aggregate leverage for CCT would be 35.0% to 37.0% as at 30 June 2019. The acquisition is conditional upon CCT’s Unitholders’ approval, which is expected to be obtained in September 2019.
Strategically located close to Frankfurt Airport and a mere 20-minute drive to Frankfurt’s Central Business District, MAC is a multi-tenanted office building with a total net lettable area (NLA) of approximately 60,200 square metres (sqm). Of this, approximately 53,900 sqm is high-specification office space and the remaining 6,300 sqm is ancillary space housing a conference hall, meeting rooms and 1,510 car park lots. The committed occupancy of the property was approximately 90%5 as at 30 June 2019.
Mr Soo Kok Leng, Chairman of CCTML, said: “CCT made its maiden entry into Frankfurt last year with Gallileo, adding a new market that complements its established platform in Singapore where it is the largest office landlord in Central Business District by net lettable area. The proposed acquisition of MAC represents a continuation of our value creation efforts to grow CCT’s portfolio with quality assets that have long-term growth potential and create depth in markets where we are present. It increases CCT’s overall portfolio value and supports the geographical and income diversification of its portfolio mix.”
“Post-acquisition, the proportion of Singapore assets in CCT’s portfolio will stand at 92%, while overseas exposure will rise to 8% from 5% previously. This is aligned with our guidance of having up to 20% of CCT’s portfolio property value overseas in our pursuit for sustained growth. CCT remains predominantly Singapore-focused. Following the completion of CapitaLand’s merger with Ascendas-Singbridge, in addition to CapitaSpring, CCT can look forward to a larger pipeline of projects in Singapore from its sponsor.”
Mr Kevin Chee, Chief Executive Officer of CCTML said: “The proposed acquisition of MAC is a strategic fit with CCT’s existing portfolio. We are scaling up in a familiar and resilient market with strong property market fundamentals. Frankfurt’s office vacancy rate has seen a steady decline over the years. Average office rents in the city have risen steadily in recent years and are expected to continue their upward trajectory in the coming years in light of low vacancy rates. The joint venture structure with CapitaLand allows us to leverage our sponsor’s real estate expertise and network to deepen our presence in Frankfurt.”
“Offering income stability with a quality and diverse tenant base, the acquisition of MAC delivers an attractive net property income yield of 4.0%. Post-acquisition, CCT’s portfolio property value will increase from S$10.7 billion to S$11.1 billion.”
Key conditions for acquisition and valuation
As CapitaLand is a controlling Unitholder of CCT, CCT’s proposed acquisition of an effective 94.9% interest in the holding companies of MAC will be an interested person/party transaction (IPT) under the Listing Manual of Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (SGX) and the Property Funds Appendix of the Code of Collective Investment Schemes. As such, the acquisition is subject to the approval of CCT’s Unitholders at an extraordinary general meeting to be held at an appropriate time, during which CapitaLand has to abstain from voting.
According to the Property Funds Appendix, in the case of an IPT, two independent valuations of the property must be obtained, with one of the valuers commissioned independently by the trustee of CCT. CBRE – an independent property valuer appointed by CCTML, and Cushman & Wakefield – an independent property valuer appointed by the trustee of CCT, have valued MAC at €265.0 million (94.9% of which is €251.5 million) and €267.3 million (94.9% of which is €253.7 million) respectively as at 30 June 2019.
Please refer to the Annex for property details of MAC.
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CapitaLand to divest 89.8% interest in holding companies of Main Airport Center in Frankfurt to CapitaLand Commercial Trust
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1 In May 2018, CCT acquired a 94.9% interest in Gallileo, a freehold Grade A office property in Frankfurt’s prime Banking District CBD. CapitaLand holds the remaining 5.1% in Gallileo
2 Based on the exchange rate of €1.00 = S$1.539 as at 28 June 2019
3 Total acquisition outlay includes acquisition fee which will be paid in the form of CCT units
4 Based on illustrative loan-to-value range of 40%-100% for the acquisition and indicative interest costs of 1.1% p.a. for Euro denominated borrowings
5 Committed occupancy as at 30 June 2019 after adjusting for expired leases and inclusion of newly committed leases