Singapore, August 08, 2016 -- Moody's Investors Service has affirmed Suntec Real Estate Investment
Trust's (Suntec REIT) Baa2 issuer rating
Moody's has also affirmed the provisional (P)Baa2 senior unsecured
rating on the euro medium term note (EMTN) program established by Suntec
REIT MTN Pte Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Suntec REIT,
and the Baa2 ratings on the senior unsecured notes issued under the program.
At the same time, Moody's has changed the outlook on all ratings
to negative from stable.
The change in outlook follows Suntec REIT's announcement on 5 August
2016 that Southgate Trust (unrated), in which it holds a 50%
indirect interest, will acquire a 50% interest in Southgate
Complex -- a Melbourne property comprising office and retail
-- from a sub-trust of Dexus Property Group (A3,
stable).
RATINGS RATIONALE
"The change in outlook to negative reflects our expectations that
Suntec REIT's credit metrics will weaken following the proposed
debt-funded acquisition of Southgate Complex, which will
in turn reduce headroom at its Baa2 ratings," says Rachel
Chua, a Moody's Analyst.
Under the transaction, Suntec REIT will acquire an effective 25%
stake in Southgate Complex for a total acquisition cost of AUD154.9
million (approximately SGD159.5 million). The acquisition
will be fully funded with debt.
Southgate Complex is a freehold, landmark waterfront integrated
development in Melbourne comprising two A-Grade office towers,
a 3-storey retail podium and a car park with 1,026 lots.
"We expect Suntec REIT's leverage -- as measured
by net debt/EBITDA -- will remain elevated at 11x-12x
over the next three years which is high relative to its global Baa-rated
peers. Our projections assume the trust will acquire an additional
50% stake of Southgate Complex in 2017 which will also be fully
funded with debt," adds Chua, who is also Moody's
lead analyst for Suntec REIT.
Moody's also expects the trust's adjusted debt/deposited assets
ratio will weaken to 38%-40% in 2016-18 from
36.3% in 2015, while EBITDA/interest coverage will
decline to around 3.6x over the same period from 4x in 2015.
Southgate Trust is jointly owned by Suntec REIT (through wholly-owned
subsidiaries) and PIP Southgate Sub-Trust (unrated) in an equal
50:50 proportion.
Southgate Trust has the option to purchase the remaining 50% of
the property from Dexus. If Southgate Trust does not exercise that
option, Suntec Southgate Trust (which is indirectly wholly-owned
by Suntec REIT) will have the right to purchase the full 50% remaining
interest in Southgate Complex.
Against the backdrop of slowing economic growth in Singapore, Moody's
believes the negative outlook also reflects Suntec REIT's exposure
to weakening leasing space demand and the potential for lower property
valuations, which could further increase its debt leverage.
Suntec REIT's Baa2 ratings continue to underpin the trust's stable and
recurring income from its portfolio of high-quality and centrally-located
assets in Singapore and Australia. Although the trust derives the
bulk of its income from its largest asset -- Suntec City,
concentration risk is mitigated by the diversified asset types (retail,
office and convention centre) and a good quality tenant base.
The ratings also reflect Suntec REIT's strong track record of access to
funding via both the debt and equity markets.
At the same time, Suntec REIT's ratings are constrained by its partial
ownership in its assets which limits operational control over the properties.
The ratings are also constrained by the inherent liquidity risks associated
with S-REITs, as a result of their high dividend payout ratios
and minimum cash balances.
As of 30 June 2016, Suntec REIT had cash and cash equivalents of
SGD130.1 million and total debt of SGD3.0 billion.
As of 8 August 2016, Suntec REIT had no debt maturing within the
next 12 months.
Given the negative outlook, upgrade pressure is unlikely.
However, the outlook could return to stable if Suntec REIT successfully
improves its credit profile such that its net debt/deposited assets recovers
to below 10x while maintaining adjusted debt/deposited assets below 40%.
Suntec REIT's rating could be pressured downwards if: (1) the operating
environment deteriorates, leading to higher vacancy levels and declines
in operating cash flows, and/or (2) the trust's financial metrics
weaken, with adjusted debt/deposited assets exceeding 40%,
net debt/EBITDA staying above 10x, EBITDA interest coverage falling
below 3x or secured debt/total deposited assets exceeding 15%-20%
on a sustained basis.
The principal methodology used in these ratings was Global Rating Methodology
for REITs and Other Commercial Property Firms published in July 2010.
Please see the Ratings Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of this methodology.
Suntec Real Estate Investment Trust (Suntec REIT) is a Singapore-focused
Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), listed on the Singapore Exchange
Securities Trading Limited in December 2004. It has a portfolio
of five commercial properties -- four assets in Singapore including
the joint venture for redevelopment of Park Mall and one asset in North
Sydney. The total appraised value of its assets was approximately
SGD8.8 billion as of 31 December 2015. Suntec REIT is managed
by an external manager, ARA Trust Management (Suntec) Limited (unrated).
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For ratings issued on a program, series or category/class of debt,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to each rating of a subsequently issued bond or note of the same series
or category/class of debt or pursuant to a program for which the ratings
are derived exclusively from existing ratings in accordance with Moody's
rating practices. For ratings issued on a support provider,
this announcement provides certain regulatory disclosures in relation
to the credit rating action on the support provider and in relation to
each particular credit rating action for securities that derive their
credit ratings from the support provider's credit rating.
For provisional ratings, this announcement provides certain regulatory
disclosures in relation to the provisional rating assigned, and
in relation to a definitive rating that may be assigned subsequent to
the final issuance of the debt, in each case where the transaction
structure and terms have not changed prior to the assignment of the definitive
rating in a manner that would have affected the rating. For further
information please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page for the
respective issuer on www.moodys.com.
For any affected securities or rated entities receiving direct credit
support from the primary entity(ies) of this credit rating action,
and whose ratings may change as a result of this credit rating action,
the associated regulatory disclosures will be those of the guarantor entity.
Exceptions to this approach exist for the following disclosures,
if applicable to jurisdiction: Ancillary Services, Disclosure
to rated entity, Disclosure from rated entity.
Regulatory disclosures contained in this press release apply to the credit
rating and, if applicable, the related rating outlook or rating
review.
Please see www.moodys.com for any updates on changes to
the lead rating analyst and to the Moody's legal entity that has issued
the rating.
Please see the ratings tab on the issuer/entity page on www.moodys.com
for additional regulatory disclosures for each credit rating.
Rachel Chua
Analyst
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd.
50 Raffles Place #23-06
Singapore Land Tower
Singapore 48623
Singapore
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Laura Acres
MD - Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: (852) 3758 -1350
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Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd.
50 Raffles Place #23-06
Singapore Land Tower
Singapore 48623
Singapore
JOURNALISTS: (852) 3758 -1350
SUBSCRIBERS: (852) 3551-3077