CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust: Strong Singapore Inc

Rachel TAN7 Feb 2024
  • FY23 DPU +1.6% y-o-y to 10.75 Scts, in line with our estimates. 4Q23 NPI +5% q-o-q, held up by office portfolio
  • Key positives: i) Estimated 4Q23 reversions remain high; ii) more than half of office leases expiring in FY24 now in advance negotiations; iii) retail occupancy cost still has room to grow
  • Key factors to watch: i) Galileo AEI, lasting 18 months from Feb 24; ii) potential asset recycling
  • Maintain BUY; TP of S$2.30
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FY2023 performance was in line with our estimates, gearing trended down marginally, with improved valuation mainly from Singapore assets; more than half of the office leases expiring in FY24 are currently in advance negotiation.
  • CICT’s FY23 DPU +1.6% y-o-y to 10.75 Scts, in line with our estimates. This was led by revenue and NPI growth of 8% y-o-y and 7% y-o-y, respectively.
  • 4Q23 revenue and NPI grew 4% y-o-y (0.7% q-o-q) and 8% y-o-y (5% q-o-q), respectively.
  • 4Q23 portfolio NPI was held up mainly by office (+26% y-o-y; 19% q-o-q) while retail was stable (+1.6% y-o-y; flat q-o-q) and integrated development was down (-5% y-o-y; -5% q-o-q).
  • FY23 EBIT was +7% y-o-y, in line with NPI growth. 2H23 EBIT was +4% y-o-y (+2% q-o-q), also in line with NPI growth, mainly contributed by the office portfolio.
  • Gearing improved to 39.9%, vs. 40.8% in 3Q23, mainly due to a slight increase in portfolio valuation (+2% y-o-y) while average cost of debt inched up marginally q-o-q to 3.4% (vs. 3.3% in 3Q23). ICR remained stable at 3.1x.
  • Debt ratio ([D+P]/A) improved marginally h-o-h to 38.3% from 38.9% in 1H23 and 41.9% in 2H22, led by the improved portfolio valuation. EBITDA ICR held stable, at healthy levels of 3.1x (vs. 3.2x in 1H23 and 3.4x in 2H22).
  • Portfolio valuation was mainly held up by Singapore assets (+2% y-o-y; retail +2.9%; office +0.8%) despite stable cap rates. Australia assets -10% y-o-y with a 37bps to 87bps cap rate expansion, while German office valuation -10% with terminal yield expanding 1.45% to 1.9%.

Key highlights from operations
  • Portfolio occupancy stable q-o-q at 97.3%
  • Estimated reversions were higher for both retail (11%) and office (9%) in 4Q23 (retail reversions were mainly from suburban portfolio [+12%])
  • Tenant sales +2% y-o-y, led by downtown malls (+3% y-o-y)
  • Occupancy cost was at 16.3%, with room to grow
  • CICT is in advance negotiation for more than half of the office leases expiring in FY24 (4.5% of 8.3% of leases expiring) and 12% of retail leases (1.5% of 12.3% of leases expiring)
  • AEI at Clarke Quay was completed with launch targeted for 2Q24, with a refreshed look and 50% new tenants. Occupancy is currently at c.85%
  • Average office signing rents inched higher to S$10.49psf vs. S$10.45psf in 3Q23

Key highlights from the briefing
  • Management expects retail reversions to be resilient at a high single digit while office reversions could be at a mid-single digit.
  • Average cost of debt could stay flattish at c.3.5% in FY24, assuming no further interest rate hikes.
  • Management observed more activity in the transaction market in Singapore and believes they may look at asset recycling to pare down gearing. The ideal gearing level would be 37% to 38%.
  • Post the completion of the Clarke Quay AEI, CICT now embarks on new AEI projects. IMM and North Sydney are to drive short-term growth while the AEI at Galileo post the departure of its tenant at the end of Jan 24 will likely drive medium-term growth.
  • IMM AEI is expected to be S$48m with a target ROI of c.8%. The AEI is targeted for completion by 2Q2025, and pre-committed occupancy for phases 1 & 2 is at c.70% (including advance negotiations).
  • CICT has begun a c.AU$9m transformation at 101 Miller Street to attract potential tenants and retain existing tenants. It is also partnering with The Work Project to provide concierge services and flexible workspace solutions at the ground-level lobby and L10 at 100 Arthur Street.
  • Post the departure of the tenant by the end of Jan 24, AEI work at Galileo will commence in Feb 24 and is expected to take at least 18 months. The estimated capex (debt funded) is €175m to €215m. It is currently in advance negotiations with a prospective tenant for the majority of the space. Management expects an uplift in rents.

Maintain BUY; TP of S$2.30. We maintain our BUY rating and TP of S$2.30. We expect Singapore assets will likely remain stable with upside from retail and office, riding on the strong positive reversions over the past year. However, overall growth could moderate with the AEI plans at Galileo. Recent news reports point at potential asset recycling by CICT to pare down gearing levels, which could bode well for investors, in our view. With more than 90% of its portfolio comprising Singapore assets, we believe CICT is a close proxy of the resilient Singapore economy.


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