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Replacement in Legal and Adminstrative Fields

FEATURE

Patrick Ma, Director, Listed Products and Research, Admiral Investment Limited

This year we have seen the rise of generative AI, artificial intelligence that can generate output in various formats, such as text, images, or videos, by providing the same or different forms of input (prompts). Tools including ChatGPT, Stable Diffusion, DALL-E, and Bard are popular amongst both IT professionals and the general public for work purposes as well as investment themes. And so, what is the implications for the real estate sector?

Asia REITS Dividend Returns

FEATURE

Patrick Ma, Director, Listed Products and Research, Admiral Investment Limited

Asia Pacific REITs’ dividend returns ranged from 3.8% to 9.8%, with an average yield of 6.0% between 2000 and 2020. Given the wide-ranging payout rate, an active approach is required to enhance investment portfolio return.

Osaka

INTERVIEW

Japan’s real estate security token market is expected to reach 2.5 trillion yen (US$18 billion) in value by 2030, with Kenedix and Mitsui and Co. Digital Asset Management (Mitsui & Co. DAM) seen as particularly active, according to the Nikkei Real Estate Market Report.

INTERVIEW

A series of credit rating downgrades have hit Lippo Malls Indonesia Retail Trust (LMIRT) in the past six months. Fitch recently downgraded LMIRT to ‘B-‘with a negative outlook in November 2022, just four months after they downgraded LMIRT to ‘B’ with a stable outlook.

A large part of the reason for the rating downgrade is refinancing risk.

Serena Teo

INTERVIEW

Chief Executive Officer of the Managers of CapitaLand Ascott Trust Serena Teo tells REIT AsiaPac that ART’s low borrowing cost and largely fixed-rate debt will help to mitigate rising interest rates.

“CLAS also remains resilient against any potential economic volatility, including inflation or recessionary concerns, given our geographically diversified, predominantly long-stay portfolio and the strength of our balance sheet. Our stable income sources contributed 68% of our gross profit in 1H 2022. Some of our properties that are on master leases have rents subject to annual indexation, allowing us to receive higher rents in an inflationary environment. Furthermore, our rental housing and student accommodation properties are counter-cyclical asset classes which will provide downside protection in an economic downturn.”

Magazine
FIRST-QUARTER 2022

To see full magazine click on cover page

In our latest issue, Admiral Investment’s Patrick Ma shared his views on how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine pushed investors towards safe haven assets. 

We also spoke with Oliver Tan, the President and CEO of the Philippines’ first sustainable energy REIT, Citicore, about the prospects of clean energy in the market.

Junnosuke Shinkawa at Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Singapore discussed how REIT plays shifted towards the industrial sector amid supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions, and rising energy costs. 

 Sigrid Zialcita, Asia Pacific Real Assets Association (APREA) CEO, shared her thoughts on how C-REITs are exposed to a further round of policies that are crucial to sustaining the development of the asset class.

Yardi Systems’ Bernie Devine, meanwhile, discussed changing attitudes to proptech in recent years.

MARKET

Patrick Ma, Director, Listed Products and Research, Admiral Investment Limited

Safe-haven markets such as Singapore and Australia could see capital inflows.

Admiral Investments Director Patrick Ma shares valuable insights on how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine sparked a search for defensive assets.

INTERVIEW

Recent global developments have highlighted the need for renewable energy sources across the globe.

In the Philippines, where the REIT market is at its infancy and is predominantly focused on office assets, the country’s first renewable energy REIT entered the market in March. REITAsiaPac talks to the President and CEO of the Philippines’ first sustainable energy REIT about the prospects of clean energy in the market.

INTERVIEW

As global developments such as supply chain disruptions, geopolitical tensions, and rising energy costs keep global inflation elevated, REIT plays turn to the industrial sector. 

REITAsiaPac talks to Junnosuke Shinkawa, Chief Analyst at Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Singapore, about his views on rising rates, inflation, and REITs’ outlook in Asia.



OPINION

By Sigrid Zialcita, Asia Pacific Real Assets Association (APREA) CEO

After passing the first lithmus test in their debut, C-REITs are now exposed to a further round of policies crucial to sustaining the development of the asset class

In the aftermath of the listing frenzy, momentum on the policy front continues to be sustained. The set of developments appears promising, and we can expect more C-REIT listings this year.

OPINION

By Bernie Devine, Regional Director, Yardi

Almost everyone in the property sector agrees that technology will, in one way or the other, affect the real estate space. However, resistance to change remains the biggest barrier to proptech adoption, outstripping cost, resources, time or confidence.

Yardi Regional Director Bernie Devine discusses changing attitudes to proptech in recent years.

FEATURE

This post-Covid-19 trend saw higher vacancy rates for larger offices. But demand for logistics space continues to rise. 

While large-scale offices saw higher vacancies as companies downscale amid the post-pandemic recovery, the logistics facility supply-demand balance continued to tighten in 2021.

Magazine
THIRD-QUARTER 2021

To see full magazine click on cover page

With the pandemic seen likely to extend well into next year, we asked REITs about their recovery strategies. In our latest issue,  Lendlease Global Commercial REIT Management Chief Executive Office Kelvin Chow tells us about the resilience of malls and office assets during and post pandemic.  

We also spoke with  Yasushi Ohta, the Head of Investor Relations at Ichigo Investment Advisors, about how the hotel REIT is battling the downturn due to Covid-19.

Amid developments in Asia’s REIT markets, Admiral Investments’ Patrick Ma analysed the implications of recent rule changes aimed at reviving the Hong Kong REIT industry.  B&I Capital Managing Director Christian Bernasconi discussed South Korea’s REIT sector expansion and highlighted the areas for improvement. We also featured a list of recent consolidations in Singapore following ESR’s proposal to acquire ARA Asset Management.

With ESG at the top of companies’ agenda, Yardi Systems Regional Director for Asia Pacific Bernie Devine analysed the challenges to keep data centres energy efficient. His comments came as Tokyo saw an increase in data centre investments.

INTERVIEW

Retail and office assets are bound for recovery after being affected significantly by Covid-19.

Lendlease Global Commercial Property Management Chief Executive Office Kelvin Chow tells REIT AsiaPac that suburban malls remain a resilient segment while its decentralised office assets will see support from flexible work arrangements during and post pandemic.

INTERVIEW

The Japanese hospitality market hit bottom in May 2020 due to the effects of the global health crisis.

With next year’s average daily room (ADR) rates projected to be 40-50% below the 2019 level, REITAsiaPac asked Yasushi Ohta, the Head of Investor Relations at Ichigo Investment Advisors, how the hotel REIT is battling the downturn.

OPINION

By Patrick Ma, Director, Listed Products and Research, Admiral Investment Limited

While Hong Kong has taken steps to revitalise its REIT market, there’s still more to do to catch up with other regional regimes.

The Hong Kong REIT market has seen significant events in the past twelve months that have changed the dynamics of the sector.

It is clear from the Hong Kong government’s recent policy changes that it wants the Hong Kong REIT market to increase its depth in terms of asset types and geography while tapping fund flows from mainland Chinese investors.

FEATURE

By Christian Bernasconi, Managing Director at B&I Capital

As South Korea’s REIT market expands, its secondary fund-raising offerings process could be simplified and streamlined to help bolster growth.

While there have only been a few IPOs and secondary offerings in the country, all the main listings have been successful, which has helped to build a track record.

MARKET

Six notable REIT mergers commenced in Singapore in the last three years, ESR REIT and ARA Logos Logistics Trust being the latest.

The latest merger will create the largest real asset manager in the Asia-Pacific with a combined asset under management of US$131 billion.

 

OPINION

By Bernie Devine, Regional Director, Yardi Systems

Investments in data centres are booming, but the challenge is how to keep these complex buildings cool and energy efficient.

An even bigger challenge is responding and adapting to climate change in an era of exponential data growth.

How do data centre operators chase net zero in the zettabyte era?

FEATURE

Tokyo welcomes a wave of “new economy” assets as the number large-scale data centres in the area rises rapidly in recent months

Big names in the tech industry like Google and Amazon are setting-up shop in the Tokyo metropolitan area as data centres, and this is projected to continue until 2025. 

Magazine
Second-QUARTER 2021

To see full magazine click on cover page

For our Q2 issue, ESG takes centre stage, as the pandemic instils emphasis on corporate sustainability and ESG on REITs.

We interviewed Manulife US REIT Manager’s CEO Jill Smith about the REIT’s ESG framework. investment strategy, as well as economic recovery in the US through Biden’s tax and budget proposals.

We spoke with KPMG Director of Sustainability Services Cherine Fok about shared accountability.  

Yardi Systems Regional Director for Asia Pacific Bernie Devine shared his insights about rethinking sustainability in the property sector while B&I Capital Managing Director Christian Bernasconi discussed the impact of Biden’s administration on Asian real estate and REITs.  

Finally, CenterSquare Investment Management’s Joachim Kehr and Uma Pattarkine discussed how ESG integration is good for risk management and the soul, while Admiral Investment Limited’s Director for Listed Products and Research Patrick Ma shared his insights on the outlook for property and whether the rising vaccination rates and recovery in the west support Asia Pacific REITs..

We also featured charts from Global Property Research showing that global sustainable REITs rose in the past year alongside equities.

Jill Smith, CEO, Manulife US Real Estate Management Pte. Ltd.

INTERVIEW

The Covid-19 pandemic has heightened the awareness of ESG and has, in part, spurred the integration of ESG criteria into asset management. This shift is accelerating, and REITs that do not integrate ESG into their portfolios risk losing out as investors increasingly demand it.

We spoke to Jill Smith, the CEO of Manulife US Real Estate Management Pte. Ltd., the manager of Manulife US REIT (MUST), on the REIT’s ESG and investment strategy as well as her views on the recovery in the US and President Biden’s budget and tax proposals.

FEATURE

The pandemic and a growing emphasis on corporate sustainability and ESG mandates have been catalysts for REITs to reposition their portfolios to include greener options.

At the height of the global health crisis in 2020, Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) in the region saw an increase in green bond issuance.

These schemes and efforts come as the corporate commitments towards net-zero carbon emission gain traction globally. According to a JLL survey of 550 corporate real estate leaders released in June, 70% of Asia Pacific corporations indicated that they were willing to pay a rental premium to lease sustainability-certified buildings in the future.

Regulators are also catching up. In mid-June, the Singapore Exchange (SGX) launched what it calls the world’s first environmental, social and governance (ESG) REIT derivatives. These derivatives aim to meet rising demand for integrating ESG considerations into investment portfolios.

Global Property Research

CHART

June 2020 to June 2021

The selection of stocks included in the GPR IPCM LFFS Sustainable GERS Index is based on the companies having a ranking based on the Inflection Point Capital Management (IPCM) proprietary sustainability ESG model, in cooperation with the La Francaise Securities team.

Companies rated in the top two quartiles of the investment universe (currently a subset of around 340 global real estate securities companies) are eligible for inclusion and capped at a maximum of 150 constituents in order to keep a differentiated qualitative angle of this subset of global universe.

By Christian Bernasconi, Managing Director at B&I Capital

OPINION

By Christian Bernasconi, Managing Director at B&I Capital

Asia Pacific REITs stand to benefit in the near term as the new administration pushes for economic recovery.

The impact of Biden’s administration on Asian Real Estate and REITs is likely to be more positive than negative.

First of all, a more engaged US with the leaders in the Asia Pacific after four years of the Trump administration that tore up conventions and agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership can only be seen as positive.

Upon taking the helm as the US President, several analysts have noted that Biden has appointed several experts on Asia in his foreign policy team.

The appointment of Kurt Campbell as the National Security Council’s Indo-Pacific affairs coordinator, according to many, shows the administration’s seriousness to engage the Asia Pacific in his term.

Bernie Devine, Regional Director Asia Pacific, Yardi Systems

OPINION

By Bernie Devine, Regional Director Asia Pacific, Yardi Systems

How Do You Ensure Sustainable Customer Relationships Through Sustainable Outcomes

E-S-G. How can three little letters carry such a big burden for so many real estate companies?

Environmental, social and governance investing has exploded over the last few years, as investors zero in on a host of issues from climate change to human rights.

Green bonds issuance tipped over the magic US$1 trillion mark in 2020, according to Climate Bonds Initiative. PwC research has found that 77% of institutional investors plan to stop buying non-ESG products by the end of 2022. So it’s no surprise that pension funds and private equity firms are hiring sustainability teams to scrutinise their investments through an ESG lens.

At the same time, asset managers are upping their game. Real estate companies across the Asia Pacific are setting ambitious net-zero targets. The Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance, representing US$32 trillion or roughly a third of the world’s assets, has committed to decarbonisation by 2050.

Cherine Fok, KPMG
Cherine Fok, Director of Sustainability Services and KPMG IMPACT for KPMG in Singapore

INTERVIEW

Globally, climate change and environment risk are making their impact felt on asset valuations. Long term investors have started to consider climate change risk in their strategies. In particular, insurers are looking at flood risk from rising sea levels, while sovereign wealth and pension funds are pricing in carbon risk.

Against this backdrop, in December 2020, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) issued guidelines on environmental risk management for asset managers.

REITAsiaPac caught up with Cherine Fok, Director of Sustainability Services and KPMG IMPACT for KPMG in Singapore, on the current climate of environmental consciousness in the property market and how the green revolution will change the investment strategies of asset managers and real estate investment trust (REIT) managers.

Patrick Ma, Directors, Listed Products and Research, Admiral Investment Limited

OPINION

By Patrick Ma, Director, Listed Products and Research, Admiral Investment Limited

The outlook for property is divergent with logistics seen likely to see a boost from transpacific trade.

The coronavirus pandemic has so far lasted more than a year and a half, much longer than most of us would have liked.

While the pandemic ravaged North America and Europe for most of 2020 and early 2021, Asia saw a relatively more controlled situation. However, in recent months, Asia has been grappling with rising numbers of new cases, most notably Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, driven by the spread of new strains of the virus that was initially found in India. Although cases in India have started to decline, the situation in Asia remain uncertain.

The current wave of new coronavirus cases, together with the Asia’s low vaccination rates relative to the west, illustrates the dilemma faced by Asia-Pacific countries about reopening their borders and economies.

OPINION

By Uma Pattarkine and Joachim Kehr of CenterSquare Investment Management

Incorporating ESG factors provides a compelling values-based proposition for investors seeking to make an difference with their capital.

Philadelphia-based CenterSquare, which manages approximately US$14 billion in real assets, sees US$15 to US$20 trillion entering the ESG space over the next two decades. 

 CenterSquare Investment Management Asia Pacific Regional Head Joachim Kehr and Investment Strategy Analyst Uma Pattarkine talks about  ESG integration within the real estate investment framework and the potential positive impact on performance from high-quality governance, environmentally friendly assets, and societal contribution. 

Australia Real Estate

FEATURE

Decentralisation and social distancing trends highlighted the need for alternative business districts, says Founder and Chairman Maha Sinnathamby.

With work-from-home seen to be an entrenched trend post-Covid, Springfield City Group’s Founder and Chairman Maha has embarked on an ambitious plan to build a second CBD in Australia’s Queensland, with offices and homes that are more spacious and open.

Springfield, southwest of the Brisbane central metropolitan area, is the first privately built city in Australia and the country’s largest master-planned community.

Built on a 2860-hectare parcel of land Sinnathamby bought in 1992 for A$8 million (US$6.2 million), Sinnathamby aims to create a “futuristic city” that combines residential, health, IT hubs and education in one sustainable community. He projected that the city will have a forecasted value of A$88 billion (US$68 billion) once it is completed.

The plan is to be Brisbane’s ‘second centre’, with the critical components of a business district integrated into a master-planned liveable, modern, innovative and sustainable area, Sinnathamby said in an interview with ReitAsiaPac.

Magazine
FIRST-QUARTER 2021

To see full magazine click on cover page

For our latest issue, we interviewed Philippines’ AREIT CEO Carol Mills to discuss sectoral opportunities. AREIT is a unit of property giant Ayala and is the country’s first REIT

We also spoke with industry leaders from Sabana REIT, Sasseur REIT, and Centresquare to get their insights on what 2021 holds for the REIT industry.

On page 12, we ranked REITs across the region and presented the best and worst performers in charts. We also took a closer look at First REIT, which is the worst performer despite the healthcare sector’s strong growth last year.

Also in this issue, Admiral Investment’s Director for Listed Products and Research Patrick Ma, talked about the bright spots for REITs this year. Finally, Christina Tubb of Proxyclick, Roddy Allan of JLL, Deng Yuying of Esevel, Bernie Devine of Yardi, and Christian Bernasconi of B&I Capital who spoke at our December 10 webinar shared their outlook for real estate’s recovery in 2021.

Ayala North Exchange 2

INTERVIEW

The first REIT in the Philippines sees opportunities in office and industrial assets and stressed the importance of corporate governance.

The Philippine government announced the establishment of a revised framework for real estate investment trusts (REITs) in January 2020. Shortly after, Ayala Land – one of the Philippines largest property development firms – said it planned to form Ayala REIT (AREIT) as the country’s first REIT.

REITAsiaPac talked to Carol Mills, President of AREIT Inc., on the prospects of the Philippine REIT market in 2021 as global and local markets recover from the disruption caused by travel, movements and operational restrictions to curb the spread of the pandemic.

Asia Pacific Real Estate

OUTLOOK

Despite the rollout of vaccinations across the globe, a resurgence of Covid-19 infections and the discovery of new variants threaten to derail the global economy’s fragile recovery. REIT AsiaPac asked experts from Sabana REIT, Sasseur REIT, from Centresquare for their views on 2021.

Source of data: Global Property Research

CHARTS

Unsurprisingly, REITS with logistics and diversified portfolios were the top gainers in Asia Pacific in 2020.

Australia’s Goodman group was the best performing with its listed units up 58.02% for the year. According to its annual report, the company’s top three global customers by net income last year were Amazon, Deutsche Bank (DHL) and Japan Post.

This was followed by Singapore’s Lendlease Global Commercial REIT, which owns prime retail mall 313@Somerset in Singapore, and two other freehold office assets in Milan. Lendlease Global Commercial REIT listed units climbed 44.08% in 2020.

Source of data: Global Property Research

CHARTS

The worst performers in the Asia Pacific REIT sector in 2020 were largely in the retail and hospitality sector.

Although, First REIT — the worst performing REIT — is in the healthcare sector. It posted a 74.12% decline compared to 2019. First REIT is restructuring its 11 master lease agreements (MLA) with Lippo Karawachi (LK), which risks defaulting on its obligations. In FY2019, the 11 MLAs constituted about 72% of First REIT’s rental income. LK is an Indonesian-based homebuilder and the global economic slowdown as well as the weakness in Rupiah has affected its performance.

Australia’s US Masters Residential Property Fund was the second worst-performer with a 69.72% decline in performance.

First REIT chart
First REIT unit price chart

FEATURE

First REIT units were the worst-performing in 2020. The next 18 months will be keenly watched by investors, but the REIT’s manager is confident about Indonesia’s recovery.

While most healthcare assets have seen growth in capital values amid the pandemic, the unit price of First Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), which has hospital assets mainly in Indonesia, languished at record lows. 

Its units last traded (March 3) at S$0.21, down from S$0.89 a year ago. Rental income in the last financial year ended December 31 fell 30.9% to about S$79.6 million while its distribution per unit halved to S$4.15. Like most other REITs, tenant rental relief and the overall decline in economic conditions during the pandemic dealt a heavy blow to income. 

However, First REIT’s demise is mainly due to Lippo Karawaci, its former parent and one of Indonesia’s largest real estate company, which has 11 hospital master lease agreements (MLAs) with First REIT. These leases contributed about 72% of First REIT’s income in the financial year 2019.

Australian real estate market

OPINION

By Patrick Ma, Director, Listed Products and Research, Admiral Investments

Australian office, industrial, Japan hospitality, Hong Kong retail may shine in the year ahead.

The outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic has affected the global economy in more ways than one. Most governments have implemented measures such as closing borders and social distancing, which have adversely affected transportation, retail, and tourism-related industries. At the same time, such developments have encouraged the rapid adoption of technologies and accelerated trends such as working from home and online shopping and entertainment.

These trends will likely persist in the post-pandemic era and will support demand for logistics assets and data centres. As a result, we believe that these sectors will stay resilient going forward. Meanwhile, the retail and office sectors will have to re-adjust to a new era.

FEATURE

Proptech professionals share their thoughts about real estate market fundamentals.

While the post-pandemic recovery of the real estate industry remains uncertain, experts who spoke at a REITAsiaPac Webinar held on December 10 were unanimous on one aspect: that the global health crisis will spur greater innovation and the adoption of technology.

Recovery across all real estate sectors will remain uneven in 2021, the experts said. Logistics will most likely continue to be an outperformer this year. Meanwhile, the retail and hotel industry will have to maintain operational flexibility to regain tenants after leases expire. The outlook for office occupancy, on the other hand, will be uncertain as remote working brings the prospect of smaller space requirements.

Across all sectors, the experts said property owners will have to rethink how they operate to evolve and adapt to the changing needs of tenants and the economy.

Magazine
November 2020

To see full magazine click on cover page

For our latest issue, we look into the future of proptech and its progress against other techs. We also interviewed ARA-backed Minterest CEO Charis Liau to discuss her views on innovations in real estate financing and proptech.

KPMG Singapore’s Frederic Hoo tells us how we should start to examine proptech metrics to increase rents, optimise space use, and maximise occupancy rates, and Real Capital Analytics’ David Green Morgan talks about the evolving role of data in real estate investing. Twenty years after the rise of proptech, its adoption is continuously evolving and Admiral Investment’s Patrick Ma tells us how proptech will advance in sales, transaction, and asset management.

K Hotel Group’s CFO Noel Neo deep dives into how did real estate sector’s most famous proptech, WeWork, fail. Finally, Christian Bernasconi, Managing Director, B&I Capital, provides us with an analysis of the growth returns of REITs with exposure to technology such as data centres and cell towers.

FEATURE

In the US, the National Real Estate Investor said funding of US proptech companies dropped 69% in the first quarter of 2020 compared to a year earlier.

With the rapid adoption of e-commerce and digital work solutions as well as rising awareness of climate change and health, technologies such as fintech, healthtech, and greentech have seen significant investment during the pandemic. In contrast, growth in proptech, which encompasses innovations in real estate fintech, the sharing economy, and smart buildings, has seen somewhat slower progress. Undoubtedly, the broader global economic downturn and work from home arrangements have cast a shadow on the outlook for the real estate sector.

In a recent REITAsiaPac’s proptech discussion with Yardi Systems, Regional Director Bernie Devine said the sector faces two critical challenges during the pandemic: firstly, reduced funding due to an uncertain business environment; and secondly, the sector’s ability to create solutions that meet customers’ needs at a time when the market is ready to adopt such solutions.

Minterest Team
Minterest Team

INTERVIEW

Technology is an important enabler, however, understanding the fundamentals of finance is equally critical to create a functional algorithm, says Minterest.

Minterest, a Singapore-based company formed in 2016, is a crowdfunding platform that links corporate and individual borrowers with international lenders who are keen to invest into real estate or SME loans. It was started by Charis Liau, who currently serves as CEO, and Ronnie Chia, as COO. Both Liau and Chia are from the banking and finance industry and former colleagues at an international bank.

To date, Minterest has facilitated a cumulative origination volume of over S$145 million (US$108 million) in Singapore across its corporate and consumer businesses. It has also raised over S$43 million for three real estate products so far.

REITAsiaPac sat down with Liau to discuss her views on innovations in real estate financing and Proptech.

Frederic Hoo, Director, Sectors and Solutions, KPMG in Singapore

OPINION

By Frederic Hoo, Director, Sectors and Solutions, KPMG in Singapore

“Besides financial data, we should start to examine the technology levers used to increase rents, optimise space use, maximise occupancy rates, together with a REIT’s acquisition and overall management plans.”

Human progress is inevitable. In every imaginable facet of our lives today, we are constantly bombarded by the change brought to us by technology. Technology adoption is changing our everyday expectations and is slowly shifting our behaviour towards instant gratification.

In the last decade, technology has permeated the built environment. Real estate now has to be human-centric in design—the indoor temperature must be optimal, the lighting comfortable, and the selection of shops needs to be interesting to the visitors.

In addition to design, technology is also changing the other pillars of the built industry: fabrication, construction, and asset management. Asset owners can employ cutting-edge developments in video analytics, Internet-of-Things, 5G, digital twin, and wearables to help manage the asset in ways which were not possible previously. We can now measure who is using the space and how space is used, which contributes to the customisation of the building as a service to the users in the way they want it. In short, data is now the new currency because it will enable the analytics to improve performance.

Patrick Ma, Director of Listed Securities and Research, Admiral Investment Limited

FEATURE

By Patrick Ma, Director of Listed Securities and Research, Admiral Investment Limited

Proptech funding reached a new peak of US$8.86 billion in 2019. Post pandemic will see more sophisticated tools as competition intensifies and funding increases.

 

Proptech started after the 2000s, following the dawn of the Internet era, as customers went online to search for real estate information and became more adapted to online transactions.

As the demand for digital news and real estate e-commerce starts to rise, the early-stage portals were similar to online activities and transactions in other areas of e-commerce. And so, it is no surprise that the mainstay proptech businesses that emerged at the time were online portals and aggregators for real estate markets, such as Zillow and Trulia in the US and Propertyguru.com and Lianjia.com in Asia.

As the potential of proptech application expands, investments in proptech have risen in tandem. According to CB Insights, proptech funding reached a new peak of US$8.86 billion in 2019. For the first eight months of 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic, new funding for proptech was at US$5.22 billion.

David Green Morgan, Managing Director, Real Capital Analytics

OPINION

By David Green Morgan, Managing Director, Real Capital Analytics

A significant difference between this downturn and the GFC is the availability of capital to be invested, with most groups in a strong financial position.”

 

This Covid-19 period will live long in the memory, with many of us having set individual records for not leaving the house.  But as the daily uncertainty extends into weeks and months and possibly even years, the need to get on and grow the business becomes ever more important.  This is as true for Real Capital Analytics (RCA) as it is for any other company within the real estate industry and being a data provider who needs to provide a 24/7 service the challenges of home working has been significant.  While the first few weeks were difficult, everyone has now settled into their ways of operating and continuing to provide our clients with the information and service they expect and require.

In recent years, using big data to provide predictive analytics has seen rising prominence. At RCA, our focus is on delivering reliable, accurate and timely data to our clients. The number of assumptions needed to provide forecasts is constantly increasing and changing, and thus we have decided not to move down that path at this time.

 

Noel Neo, CFO, K Hotel Group

OPINION

By Noel Neo, CFO, K Hotel Group

How did the real estate sector’s most famous proptech, WeWork, fail?

Venture Capital’s (VC) search for the next unicorn surprisingly led them to the staid world of property management. At its height, WeWork was valued at $47 billion. This staggering value was perhaps predicated on the perceived scalability of its business model, based on the assumption that using VC funds to quickly accumulate a vast global footprint, either bought or leased at competitive prices, would eventually translate to an extensive volume of paying clients. It could also be due to investors and the media drawing similarities with unicorns like Airbnb, which has just filed for an IPO in November and is valued at $30 billion.

Whatever the justification, the money did flow to poster-boy WeWork, where the then CEO , Adam Neumann, convinced investors they were buying into a “physical social network” replete with community managers at each of WeWork’s locations. And the flow of funds did not stop at WeWork as a slew of co-working, co-living and hospitality operator startups also benefitted from the euphoria of the shared economy.

Christian Bernasconi, Managing Director, B&I Capital

MARKET ANALYSIS

By Christian Bernasconi, Managing Director, B&I Capital

Private equity funds have flocked to build data centres, causing potential capacity concerns, while cell towers are less affected by supply issues

The outbreak saw a further strengthening of REITs that were beneficiaries of rising data usage as more corporates outsourced data storage to cloud providers. As a result, data centres (DC) and cell towers, alongside logistics REITs, benefitting from secular growth, saw demand trends accelerate during the pandemic.

As a result of these secular trends and increased demand during the pandemic, valuations for DC have reached very high levels, and it is very likely capacity will rise as private equity, and others, rushed to raise capital to develop the facilities to meet demand.

Recently, new funds have been launched to develop greenfield sites into new DCs. However, not all DCs are created equal. REITs that own DCs span those that have “moat-and-operate” businesses, facilities that just lease racks, operators that provide simple core and shell and power to the tenant, hyperscale DC owners and edge DCs.

Magazine
AUGUST 2020

To see full magazine click on cover page

For our latest issue, B&I Capital Senior Analyst Matthew Schmidt explains China’s REIT structure ahead of its launch later this year. Amid Hong Kong’s unsettling outlook,  we ask Timbercreek Investment Management’s Dr. Daniel Feldmannwho is based in the territoryto share his insights about the impact of China’s national security law. Admiral Investments’ Victor Yeung tells us how Covid-19 impacted property types differently. We also attempted to answer the question “Is officentricity over?

Finally, B&I’s Managing Director Christian Bernasconi explains why J-REITs’ secondary offering process still needs improvement.

GPR/APREA Composite REIT Index

FEATURE

By Matthew Schmidt, Senior Analyst, B&I Capital Ltd.

The announced structure differs in many ways from established regimes in other countries, and all eyes will be on the first batch of C-REITs to be launched in the second half of this year.

China published the structure for a pilot REIT programme and its corresponding draft guidance on April 30, 2020.

In this new programme, C-REITs will be equity REITs managed by mutual funds. The structure will afford investors returns through both dividends and capital gains while providing greater trading liquidity than is currently available with the existing on-shore “pre-REIT” structures. C-REITs will be required to pay out 90% of core earnings to investors in the form of dividends.

Hong Kong REITs underperformed the Hang Seng Index

INTERVIEW

China has come under fire from countries, including the UK, US and Japan, over its controversial national security laws for Hong Kong. Concerns are rife that the laws could jeopardise the city’s special autonomy and freedoms. The new law has contributed to worsening US-China tensions with President Trump threatening sanctions against Chinese financial institutions as well as officials who contributed to undermining Hong Kong. China has also said it plans to restrict visas for Americans whom it deemed might have gone too far on matters related to the territory.

REITAsiaPac talks to Dr. Daniel Feldmann, Director, Public Real Estate Investments at Hazelview Investments (formerly Timbercreek Equities Corp), which manages US$10 billion in assets, to get a grip on what is the current investment climate in Hong Kong amid these tensions and uncertainties.

Covid-19 Global Pandemic

SURVEY

REIT AsiaPac conducted a mini survey in the second quarter of this year in which we asked Asia-Pacific REIT fund managers and market participants for their thoughts on the sector’s fundamentals amid the on-going impact of the pandemic. Among the key findings were the fact that investors favour Australia and Japan with balance sheet health seen as a crucial factor for consideration. 

Find out the respondents’ different perspectives.

Covid-19 Crisis

SURVEY

In the second part of REIT AsiaPac’s mini survey on the REIT sector’s recovery from Covid-19, REIT fund managers and market participants shared their views on the potential for REITs to breach leverage limits and the issuance of secondary offerings intended to improve balance sheets. They also shared their different perspectives on the balance of power between landlords and tenants, rental rebates, and the future of real estate.

Victor Yeung- Admiral Investments
Victor Yeung, Chief Investment Officer, Admiral Investments

OPINION

By Victor Yeung, Chief Investment Officer, Admiral Investments

Residential REITs claim three of the current top seven REITs on the GPR REIT 250 list.  As of June, none of the top five REITs in the index is office or retail.

Global REIT prices have dropped by about 20% year-to-date. As a result, dividend yield across the board has now become more attractive. The dividend yield of the GPR Global REIT 250 index has widened from 4.0% on December 31, 2019, to 4.8% on June 30, 2020, while the GPR/APREA Investable REIT Index is trading at 4.7%, versus 4.1% at the end of 2019.

Office Rent in Asia

FEATURE

Morgan Stanley expects office rent in Asia to decline 10-15% over the next three years, but with big corporations embracing working from home set-ups, rental reductions may increase

In Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward, home to many IT firms who can easily implement teleworking, cancellation of lease contracts by tenants in large office buildings have ramped up since June, according to the August issue of the Nikkei Real Estate Market report. The vacancy rate in Shibuya Ward climbed 0.83 percentage points to 3.38% as at the end of June, the highest in the five central wards of Tokyo.  In Singapore, a similar trend is emerging as a global skincare brand, among other companies, is also cutting the space it requires as it renegotiates its lease.

Global Tourism and Leisure Industry

FEATURE

Mergers and acquisitions in the global tourism and leisure industry reportedly plunged 71.8% in the second quarter of this year, from the previous quarter, to $3.64 billion. The drop, compared with the last four-quarter average of $18.59 billion, was 80.4%.

The top country in terms of M&A transaction activity in Q2 2020 was the US with 35 deals, followed by the UK with 15 and China ten.

“Globally, we continue to see a limited appetite for those sectors hit hardest by the pandemic, namely retail and hotels,” JLL said in its most recent Global Capital Flows report.

Japan REITs Offer Secondary Offerings

OPINION

By Christian Bernasconi, Managing Director, B&I Capital

In January 2019, we wrote an article titled “J-REITs Secondary Offerings Unfairly impact Issuers and Investors.” In the article, we argued that the lengthy offering periods for secondary offerings by J-REITs led to underperformance of the issuer, a higher cost of equity due to a discount and price erosion during the offering period which could impact the metrics of the transaction. We wrote that accelerated bookbuilds (ABB) would be a more efficient way for J-REITs to issue equity to fund acquisitions.

While we recognise that there are problems to include retail investors in overnight offerings, a solution, as we argued in the original article, would be to retain a portion for retail investor commensurate to the size of their holdings and to have either investors or an investment bank underwrite the portion in the case retail investors chose not to participate.

RMS Queen Mary

FEATURE

There is no assurance that EHT will be able to continue operating as a going concern, says CEO Salvatore Gregory Takoushian. Virtual AGM to be held on August 31.

Eagle Hospitality Trust (EHT), which is being investigated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore over governance and disclosure issues, posted a loss of US$38 million in the first-half of this year. The trust, which operates 18 hotels in the U.S., said in its earnings statement that “there is material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt on EHT’s ability to continue as a going concern.”

 

 

Magazine
FIRST-QUARTER 2020

To see full magazine click on cover page

Asia Pacific REITs posted their worst performance ever in the first quarter of this year.  Lockdowns and travel restrictions dealt a heavy blow to hotels and retail properties.  ARA US Hospitality Trust, for instance, has shut about 28 of its 38 Hyatt-branded hotels in the U.S as occupancy fell below 40%.

For our first-quarter issue, we spoke to REIT investors and analysts regarding their thoughts on the outlook and expected dividend payments. We also interviewed Elite Commercial REIT about any potential impact in the UK because its core tenant is the country’s largest public service department.

As the global pandemic  wrecked REITs’ income stream and brought previously lofty asset prices crashing, we ask the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and KPMG about valuations and standards that have sparked disputes in the region.

Finally the world of work has changed and we ask a Hong Kong REIT expert the implications on rent. Separately, we followed up with REIT developments in the Philippines prior to the country’s lockdown.

Asia Pacific REITs

COVER STORY

Asia Pacific REITs posted their weakest performance on record in the first quarter of this year, but experts do not expect REITs to scrap dividends, with some saying the recent sell-off might be overdone.

Here’s what some asset managers and analysts say about distributions, rentals, government austerity measures and the outlook for the sector.

Chris Nicholl, Managing Director Southeast Asia, Australasia and Japan for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

INTERVIEW

Asia Pacific REITs have come of age as an established asset class after close to two decades of history. During this period, management track records and certain market practices have come under scrutiny.

In recent years, we have seen minority investors contest management’s performance and particularly their decisions to acquire assets. These debates have often centered around the valuations at which REITs acquire assets and the basis on which these valuations are concluded.

Looking into the future, would technology in the form of algorithms and digital valuations replace the need for a valuer’s expertise?

We asked Chris Nicholl, Managing Director Southeast Asia, Australasia and Japan for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors,  to address some of these issues.

Asia Pacific Real Estate

FEATURE

As REITs’ valuation come under scrutiny, we look into some of the recent cases involving Asia Pacific REITs which prompted such debates.

One of the most vocal in these debates has been PAG, which had contested Hong Kong-listed Spring REIT’s proposed acquisition of Huamao Place shopping mall in China. In Singapore, retail investors have led the charge in contesting valuations at Sabana REIT. More recently, Bonitas Research issued a short sell report on Australia’s Rural Farms Group on the basis Rural Farms was holding assets at inflated value.

 

Read Also:

PAG Says Spring Needs To Disclose Related-party Transactions And Improve Performance

Spring Says It Is Normal for Sponsor to Inject Assets into REIT; PAG’s Offer Was Too Low

Charles Isaac, Founding Partner, B&I Capital

Opinion

By Charles Isaac, Founding Partner, B&I Capital

Another year has passed without a Philippine REIT being launched and since we wrote the article, “Are REITs Finally About To Take Off In The Philippines?

This means it has now been 11 years since REIT legislation was passed, and all we can say today is that we are certainly closer than a year ago with some positive developments. However, don’t hold your breath. A run of adverse global and Philippine-specific events has clouded the outlook culminating in COVID-19 which has put everything on hold.

Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Society of Financial Analysts

FEATURE

COVID-19 is forcing the world of work to move online. As homes become offices, questions are asked: is part of this shift permanent, and what is the repercussions on commercial offices?

Victor Yeung, the Chief Investment Officer of Admiral Investment, discusses how Hong Kong businesses have moved online and the implications for rents in suburban and city offices.

Elite Commercial REIT Team
From left to right: Chief Investment Officer Jonathan Edmunds, Chief Financial Officer Joel Cheah, Chief Executive Officer Shaldine Wang, Senior Manager of Investor Relations Leng Tong Yan.

INTERVIEW

As REITs globally brace for further fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Elite Commercial REIT remains optimistic that it could weather the downturn.

REITAsiaPac spoke with the REIT Manager’s Chief Executive Officer Shaldine Wang, Chief Investment Officer Jonathan Edmunds, Chief Financial Officer Joel Cheah and Senior Manager of Investor Relations Leng Tong Yan.

Stephen Williams, FRICS, Director, Deal Advisory, Valuation Services with KPMG Singapore

OPINION

By Stephen Williams, FRICS, Director, Deal Advisory, Valuation Services with KPMG Singapore

Valuation is a necessary part of investing in real estate. The opinion of a professional valuer is used to underpin the acquisition of an asset, as well as inform ongoing decision making, financial reporting and disposal. It is fair to say that a significant level of risk is placed on the shoulders of the valuer.

An Auditor’s perspective

Over the past few years, I have reviewed valuation reports for various purposes, both as a regulator and as an auditor, covering large and small practices across the Asia Pacific and beyond. I have often come across reports that exclude various pieces of critical information, which may include comparable evidence (including the analysis), or the rationale as to why and how the valuer has adopted the various inputs and reached their conclusion. In some cases, the interest being valued has been omitted, or information about the surrounding area has been insufficient. Both are key drivers of value.

Magazine
SEPTEMBER 2019

REIT AsiaPac Q3
To see full magazine click on cover page

 

In this issue, we speak to Star Asia about their unprecedented takeover of Sakura Sogo. The J-REIT has succeeded in its bid by using for the first time a rule that allows a unitholder having a minimum of 3% stake to call for a shareholder meeting.

It remains to be seen if the takeover, which was regarded as a test of the J-REIT framework, would lead to other comparable efforts to acquire under-performing J-REITs.

Hong Kong’s protests made headlines in the last three months. We sought Admiral Investment’s insights on the future of the territory, particularly what will happen after 2047.

We also asked B&I Capital to share its views on how ESG standards affect REITs’ bottom line.

Finally, we discussed mergers and acquisitions in the Australian and Singapore markets.

Star Asia's Macolm MacLean

COVER STORY

The successful outcome should encourage better corporate governance and could spark similar takeovers of underperforming J-REITs.

Star Asia Group has succeeded in its bid for Sakura Sogo by using for the first time a rule that allows a unitholder having a minimum of 3% stake for a minimum of six months to call for an extraordinary meeting and propose management changes.

 

For our interviews with Sakura Sogo and Star Asia before the August 30 meeting, please click here:
Sakura Sogo: Approach taken by Star Asia creates dangerous precedents for the J-REIT sector

Star Asia Taps Japan’s REIT Rule For First Time In Sakura Sogo Bid

 

For the timeline of events leading to this takeover, please click here:

TIMELINE: Tracking The Developments Of Star Asia’s Controversial Bid For Sakura Sogo

Hong Kong Protests

OUTLOOK

By Victor Yeung, Chief Investment Officer, Admiral Investment

The territory, once known as the pearl of the orient, is fast losing its shine. Hong Kong REITs have fallen 16% since the protests started.

June 2019 will go down in history as an important month for Hong Kong. Protests that initially targeted a law regarding extradition have evolved into a general movement about the political future of Hong Kong. At the time of writing, the protests are entering their third month. Multiple activities have been organised for each weekend for up to a month in advance. Because of this turmoil, we have received numerous enquiries from investors about the investment sentiment in Hong Kong.

MARKET

Retail REITs exposed to large shopping centres are trading below Net Asset Value.

The Australian REIT market has seen active merger and acquisition (M&A) activities in the last two years. While views are mixed on whether the trend will persist, the consensus is that retail assets have fallen out of favour.

“Currently, REITs are trading at significant premia to net tangible assets driven by the low interest rate environment and strong investor interest. Unless we see a reversal in that trend, it will make it difficult for mergers and acquisitions between REITs to stack up in the near term,” says Angelo Scasserra, Managing Director, Head of Real Estate at Credit Suisse.

Ascott Residence Trust (Ascott REIT) is merging with Ascendas Hospitality Trust (A-HTrust)

FEATURE

Analysts expect increased consolidation to fuel Singapore-REITs’ next phase of growth.

Mergers and acquisitions are ways to lower the cost of capital and improve performance, but not all mergers are the same.

One issue relates to the cost of the manager, says Charlene-Jayne Chang, Head of Capital Markets & Investor Relations, ESR-REIT. The industrial asset-focused REIT merged with Viva Industrial Trust last year in a deal worth about S$936.75 million (US$674.93 million).

“Acquirers tend not to want to pay for the manager,” says Chang. However, in the case of a merger between two REITs that have a common manager or sponsor, the negotiations are typically more straightforward.

OPINION

By Christian Bernasconi, Managing Director, B&I Capital

Today, every fund manager is confronted with the question: “How does your firm integrate environment, social and governance (ESG) standards into your company and your investment process?”

We conduct hundreds of one-on-one meetings with REITs in our universe. These meetings give us the ability to assess management in a way that third-party ESG rating firms cannot as they often rely on self-reporting from the companies that they assess.

Our assessments here at B&I make us believe that REITs with the best corporate governance will also voluntarily invest in their properties to reduce environmental impacts. They will also invest in their employees and will support their communities as management teams understand that sustainability will lead to strong performance. These ESG frameworks translate not only to reputational value but also to the company’s bottom line.

ANALYSIS

Star Asia Group’s bid for Sakura Sogo is seen as a legal test of Japan’s REIT framework. August 30 will be a key date for Sakura Sogo unitholders and regulators. We asked fund managers for their views on the controversial merger. 

“Whatever the outcome, J-REITs that are facing challenges in achieving growth on their own and have low market assessments of the value of their property holdings could also become the subjects of takeover proposals,” says UBS’s Tokyo-based analyst Kazufumi Takeuchi.

Peter Murphy, Head of Asia - Sakura Real Estate Funds Management Inc

INTERVIEW

REIT AsiaPac interviewed Peter Murphy, Head of Asia — Sakura Real Estate Funds Management Inc., about his views of Star Asia Group’s unsolicited takeover bid for Sakura Sogo REIT.  

“We believe this is a loophole that has been taken advantage of by Lion Partners and Star Asia. It represents the abuse of minority unitholders rights to complete a hostile takeover. The reason why minority unitholders have these rights is certainly not to achieve the outcome set out by Star Asia.”

To follow the events, please click here

TIMELINE: Tracking the developments of Star Asia’s controversial bid for Sakura Sogo.

Malcolm MacLean, Founder and Managing Partner, Star Asia Group

INTERVIEW

The rule allows a unitholder with a 3% holding to propose changes and call for an extraordinary meeting. A separate provision regards non-votes to count as “yes” votes.

On May 10, Star Asia Group launched a takeover bid for Sakura Sogo, utilising for the first time a provision in the J-REIT legislation that allows a unitholder that has at least a 3% holding for a minimum of six months to table a proposal and call for an extraordinary meeting.

Magazine
june 2019

To see full magazine click on cover page

In this issue, we focused on India with a sidebar on the Philippines. We interviewed Embassy REIT and asked them about the conditions that led to them becoming the first REIT in India, and how they see the future of real estate growth in one of the world’s fastest-growing economy. For REITs to thrive, conducive regulations are critical, and we sought APREA’s views about rules on tax and governance in India’s new REIT regime and the relative pros and cons of an India-focused REIT listing versus offshore. We also asked Singapore-listed Ascendas India Trust if they would consider moving their listing to India. 

As the REIT structure continues to gain global investor favour, B&I Capital looks what has been holding back REIT development in the Philippines,. Other stories include the return of funds to Australian REITs and the impact of Japan’s potential consumption tax hike. 

Mike Holland, CEO of the Manager, Embassy Office Parks REIT

INTERVIEW

The 47.50 billion rupee ($690 million) initial public offering by the Embassy Office Parks REIT. India’s first REIT, was approximately 2.6 times oversubscribed on the last day of the offer on March 20, 2019. The REIT’s unit price has since risen over 10% from its debut price on the National Stock Exchange and the Bombay Stock Exchange.

A joint venture between India’s Embassy Group and Blackstone Group, the REIT owns offices and business parks that house multinational tenants such as JP Morgan, IBM, Wells Fargo, and Google.

REIT AsiaPac spoke to Mike Holland, CEO of the Manager to the Embassy Office Parks REIT, and asked him about the REIT’s leverage strategy, dividend payouts and potential growth.

Sanjeev Dasgupta, CEO, Ascendas India Trust

FEATURE

Chief Executive Officer Sanjeev Dasgupta remains positive about growth in India as a-iTrust aims to expand its commercial space in the country by 60% in the next 3-4 years. However,  a-iTrust, listed in Singapore in 2007, has no immediate plans to move its listing to India because the process will entail considerable risks and costs.

Sigrid Zialcita, CEO, APREA

INTERVIEW

India’s first Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InViTs) was listed in 2017. While India’s REIT market has growth potential, it “still has to ride the wave of teaching people what REITs are,” says Sigrid Zialcita, APREA’s newly appointed CEO.

In this interview, she elaborates on the tax implications for investors and the relative pros and cons of an India-focused REIT listing in India versus offshore.

Charles Isaac, Founding Partner, B&I Capital

COLUMN

By Charles Isaac, Founding Partner, B&I Capital

REIT legislation was passed in the Philippines ten years ago. However, to-date, no REITs have been launched due to two major hurdles that developers have not been willing to accept. Firstly, a 12% property transfer tax, and secondly, a 67% required minimum public ownership (MPO).

There has been a flurry of activity in the last six months with most commentators expecting these hurdles to be finally cleared. The latest regulatory move was on March 22nd when the Philippine Stock Exchange issued a public consultation paper on proposed amendments to the REIT listing rules, suggesting there is ongoing momentum.

Japan Real Estate

FEATURE

Japan looks set to go ahead with a controversial rise in consumption tax in October after its economy unexpectedly grew by an annualised 2.1% in the first quarter of 2019. Although speculation remains that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe could postpone the hike, which is aimed at reducing the national debt for a third time, as economic conditions deteriorate due to the U.S.-China trade war. The Japanese central bank will release the quarterly business confidence survey on July 1. The report, among other indicators, will shed light on market conditions, which will help the central bank decide if it should go ahead with the hike. 

Pete Morrissey, Fund Manager, APN Property Group Limited

COLUMN

REITs’ performance decoupled with the underlying property sector in the fourth quarter of 2018, but have since bounced back.

The Australian office sector is a tale of two halves with Sydney and Melbourne seeing strong growth while in Perth, the vacancy rate recently peaked at 25%.   Meanwhile, the retail and residential sectors have remained in the doldrums with industrial properties showing robust performance as rent climbed above historic highs. APN Property Group explains the return of funds to the REIT sector.

Tan Kok Keong, Co-Founder, FundPlaces

COLUMN

By Tan Kok Keong, Co-Founder, FundPlaces

Blockchain has come under scrutiny following recent security breaches at Bitcoin exchanges. However, its proponents would regard the incidents as a blip in the journey of a technology whose use would eventually become the norm. For instance, developments in tokenisation—the process of converting an asset into a token that can be transacted on a blockchain—have continued to gain pace.

A tokenized property would be to a REIT with much more flexibility and minimal fees for intermediaries. Tan Kok Keong, Co-Founder of FundPlaces, explains how to finance, build, and lease a hotel with three types of tokens.

Hong Kong CBD

FEATURE

As businesses continue to decentralise from Hong Kong’s CBD, REIT managers are re-branding and refurbishing their assets in the outskirts with a focus on environment and wellness to attract demand.

Sunlight REIT discusses their strategies as  professional services companies, including banks and law firms, no longer see areas such as Hong Kong East as back-office locations. With improved transportation infrastructure, accessibility, lower rent, and advanced technology, the tenant profiles in the decentralised zones are increasingly aligned with those in Central Hong Kong. Meanwhile, co-working operators are adding to demand growth.

Magazine
january 2019

To see full magazine click on cover page

We went heavy on shareholder activism in our fourth-quarter 2018 issue. We interviewed PAG and Spring REIT about their recent takeover battle. While PAG’s bid did not succeed, the process put the spotlight on imperfections in the Asia Pacific REIT structure.

Among the issues raised were related-party transactions and links between sponsor and manager. In this issue, Japan’s Invincible also explained its rationale on dilutive-share offerings. B&I Capital provided us with an analysis of how J-REITs units fall on secondary offerings.

We also looked at Lippo Group’s troubles in Indonesia and asked Malaysian REITs how they have been coping in the current bearish environment.

Broderick Storie, Partner & Managing Director, PAG Real Estate

INTERVIEW

On 26 September 2018, alternative investment management firm PAG launched a takeover to acquire all the units it doesn’t already own of Hong Kong-listed Spring REIT.  PAG’s final offer was HK$5.30 for each unit of Spring REIT, a 76.7% premium to Spring REIT’s 24 September 2018 closing price. PAG’s offer was rejected and the company has also expressed concerns about Spring REIT’s performance and management.

To bring unique insights into this milestone in shareholder activism about the REIT structure in Asia Pacific, we spoke to PAG Real Estate Partner and Managing Director Broderick Storie. Please also see responses from Spring REIT below.

Kevin Leung, Spring REIT Managing Director

INTERVIEW

Following our interview with PAG, we spoke to Spring REIT Managing Director Kevin Leung to ask about his views of PAG’s concerns over Spring’s related third-party transactions and the company’s management and its recent share price performance.

“If you consider our performance relative to peers, we are trading at about a 40% discount to a NAV (Net Asset Value), in line with many other property investment companies in Hong Kong. This may not be satisfactory for some of our investors, and while we would like to narrow the gap, the emphasis has always been to improve the REIT’s cash flow,” says Leung.

 

Shibuya crossing in Tokyo

INTERVIEW

Links between the manager of the REIT and its major shareholder (sponsor) spark management fee and related party-transaction debate.  

While companies such as GLP J-REIT, Ichigo Hotel REIT, and Kenedix Retail REIT have focused on improving their Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards, others have remained less prominent in their efforts in integrating these factors into their investment process.

“An example is a tendency for some J-REITs to issue dilutive equity to fund property acquisitions often under the influence of heavyhanded sponsors,” explains Rico Kanthatham, Managing Director and Portfolio Manager at Barings.

(Please see Invincible’s response about their dilutive offerings below.) 

INTERVIEW

                                   

REITS’ Tendency to Issue Dilutive Equity for Acquisitions Hurts Shareholders.

Fund managers whom REIT AsiaPac Media spoke with say Invincible Investment Corporation, among others, has a track record of sponsor-driven dilutive issuances. These dilutive offerings have led to investors abandoning the J-REIT, causing the discount to NAV for the company to worsen. This, in turn, makes it more difficult for the REIT to fund future acquisitions.

One of the cheapest J-REITs, Invincible Investment Corporation’s shares trade at a 7.4% dividend yield – 350 basis points (bps) wider than the J-REITs’ average and 260 bps higher than the Hotel J-REIT average.

Unit price falls about 4% from the closing on secondary offering announcements

OPINION

                                   By Christian Bernasconi, Managing Director, B&I Capital

J-REIT secondary offerings often involve an unnecessarily lengthy process which negatively impacts both the issuer and existing investors. 

In most markets, REITs can suspend their units for the day on which they decide to issue new units, and a book of demand is built overnight or even within a few hours. Bookbuilding is a process through which a company generates and records investor demand when raising capital to achieve the best price. Generally, the discounts are quite small, and the units resume trading the following day. 

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Japan House

INTERVIEW

                                   

Given the issues raised about J-REITs’ corporate governance, we asked what should be done, and what has been the impact for those who have embarked on ESG initiatives. Below are the responses from analysts, J-REITs and fund managers:

“In most governance matters, JREITs have operated under soft rules rather than hard rules. Therefore, it is difficult for shareholders and external party to judge whether the REIT’s management is making any endeavours to avoid conflict of interests…”

The Lippo Centre in Hong Kong

FEATURE

Proceeds from Lippo Karawaci’s asset sales said to provide only temporary relief.

 

The recent bribery probe by the Indonesian anti-graft agency into Lippo Group Deputy Chairman James Riady involving a $21 billion Meikarta’s construction project, touted as the “Shenzhen of Indonesia,” has shaken investor confidence about the performance of the group’s related companies.

Notably, risk is seen in Singapore-listed Lippo Malls Indonesia Retail Trust (LMIRT) and First REIT because their sponsor – Indonesian-listed PT Lippo Karawaci, which owned companies in charge of Meikarta’s development, had also been downgraded several times by credit rating agencies as a result of stretched liquidity.

Dato’ Hisham bin Othman, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hektar REIT

FEATURE

Longer-term, the establishment of the world’s first airport REIT will be game-changer for the industry.

 

Malaysian Real Estate Investment Trusts, or M-REITs, may see an increase in transaction volume in 2019 as some funds dispose of properties to de-leverage and improve cash flow while others seek acquisitions at a more attractive yield in an oversupplied commercial real estate market.

The top two performing M-REITs last year were Axis REIT and Pavilion REIT, whose total return gained 9.4% and 7.1% respectively. The top losers, measured by total return, were CapitaLand Malaysia Mall Trust (- 37.9%), Tower REIT (-18.1%) and AmFIRST REIT (-14.2%).

Vacancy Data from the Property Council of Australia

OPINION

By Victor Yeung, Chief Investment Officer, Admiral Investment

“Hong Kong and  Singapore faces pressures from a less open global trade landscape,” says Victor Yeung. However, Hong Kong Office REITs with exposure to non-CBD locations and Singapore Industrials are seen likely to withstanding any headwinds in the wider economy. 

Admiral’s top country picks are Australia and Japan. 

Bernie Devine, Regional Director (Asia), Yardi Systems

OPINION

By Bernie Devine, Regional Director (Asia), Yardi Systems

Tokenisation is the most radical innovation in the real estate industry since the introduction of REITs in 1960. It is a way of using a Blockchain to represent ownership.

Tokenisation is maturing with some ventures succeeding in the most challenging aspect — compliance. But what are the hurdles preventing its full-scale adoption? Here, Bernie Devine compares the attributes of REITs, private equity and tokens.

Magazine
October 2018

To see full magazine click on cover page

INTERVIEW

Grant Kelley, the former CEO of Singapore’s City Developments Limited, joined Vicinity Centres in January 2018. Since then, the company has embarked on an ambitious three-pronged strategy focused on creating destination assets, expanding its wholesale funds’ platform by around A$1 billion and realising an estimated A$1 billion upside in value from mixed-use projects. So far, the company has sold more than A$2.5 billion of non-core assets, significantly reshaping its portfolio. With some A$27 billion in assets under management across approximately 70 shopping centres, Kelley discusses the company’s future, Amazon’s entry into Australia and the benefits of sustainability.

Malaysian REITs

FEATURE

While industrial facilities are in demand, office, retail and hotels are in the doldrums.

 

Amid challenges in the Malaysian real estate market, REITs in the country are looking towards Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s first budget since his return to power for supportive policy initiatives.

 
Japan REITs

OPINION

By Christian Bernasconi, Managing Director, B&I Capital

Asian REIT markets have had mixed results thus far in 2018 with Japanese REITs (J-REITs) delivering total YTD (year-to-date) returns of 10.1% in USD versus declines of 7.17% for SREIT and 7.17% by the Australian REITs in USD terms.  There are many reasons to be sanguine about REITs in Asia going forward as balance sheets are not overly stretched, and REIT managements have been locking in long-term debt to reduce earnings and refinancing risk in a potentially rising rate environment.  Despite the strong performance year to date we continue to find many sectors in Japan that have appeal and will discuss them below.
Buybacks are sensible when the REIT trades at a discount to NAV.

FEATURE

Abenomics has triggered share buybacks by J-REITS—a move welcomed by fund managers and shareholders. But what happens after the end of Quantitative Easing and are buybacks a good use of capital?

 

Japan’s REIT market has been a beneficiary of Abenomics. Besides a significant yield pick-up in an era of Quantitative Easing (QE), which pushed short-term interest rates into the negative, J-REIT equity has gained from Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) asset purchase programme. The BOJ buys 90 billion yen (US$809 million) of REIT units annually as part of its stimulus programme.

Daniel Feldmann, Senior Analyst at Timbercreek Asset Management

FEATURE

Asset management firms have cut down on brokerage services and are organising client meetings and roadshows using in-house investor relations teams.

 

Asia Pacific has seen a fall in investment research headcount, and the region’s REITs have reported reduced investor meetings since the revised Markets in Financial Instruments Directive, also known as MiFID II, came into effect on January 3 this year.
Kay Van-Petersen, Global Macro Strategist at Saxo Capital Markets

FEATURE

Chinese and U.S. firms operating in sectors subject to tariffs occupy about 20% of Grade A office space in mainland China. However, leasing remains unscathed.

 

The U.S.-China trade conflict has prompted some occupiers in mainland China’s industrial sector to consider shifting production to Southeast Asia. However, the impact on the local office market has stayed relatively benign so far.

Winners of the PropTech Hackathon

OPINION

By Paul Chen, Head of Asia for RealFoundations

In August, I helped run “Asia PropTech Innovathon (www.innovathon-asiaprop.tech),” a hackathon held in Hong Kong. Participants were expected to come up with technology-based solutions for a given problem within 24 hours. Teams were vying for cash prizes of HK$20,000 (US$2,500), HK$15,000, and HK$5,000, along with a multitude of mentorship opportunities. 

Participants were grouped into 15 teams, and they were asked to tackle three challenges:

1) Address the land and housing supply shortage in Hong Kong.

2) Optimise retail operations to enhance convenience and accessibility.

3) Improve residential operations to enhance the end-to-end customer experience.

 

Victor Yeung, CIO, Admiral Investment
Victor Yeung, CIO, Admiral Investment

OPINION

By Victor Yeung, Chief Investment Officer, Admiral Investment

Australian and Japanese REITs are adopting solar panels as core to their investment plans.

On October 6, 2018, the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a special report in support of a global response to keep global warming to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Energy production and use is the largest source of greenhouse-gas emissions, and our industry is a significant energy user. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the sector is responsible for approximately 50% of greenhouse gas emissions and about 75% of electricity consumption.

Using Hong Kong as an example, according to the “Hong Kong Energy End-Use Data 2017” report published by the Government’s Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, residential and commercial activities contribute 21% and 43% of overall energy usage respectively.