Singapore, February 18, 2022 -- Moody's Investors Service has assigned a senior unsecured rating of A3
to the proposed HKD-denominated notes to be issued by Ascendas
Real Estate Investment Trust (Ascendas REIT, A3 stable) under its
existing euro medium-term securities program, which is rated
(P)A3.
Ascendas REIT will use the proceeds from the notes for general working
capital purposes.
RATINGS RATIONALE
Ascendas REIT's A3 issuer rating is underpinned by its (1) diversified
portfolio of high-quality industrial assets across Singapore,
Australia, Europe, the UK and the US; (2) established
market position as one of the largest industrial REITs in Singapore;
(3) stable operating track record and resilient income from its properties
that capture the growth in the third-party logistics, e-commerce,
pharmaceutical, medical and IT sectors; and (4) prudent financial
policies in maintaining healthy credit metrics while growing through acquisitions.
At the same time, Ascendas REIT's rating is constrained by its acquisitive
growth strategy and use of short-term revolving credit facilities.
The trust completed SGD1.7 billion of acquisitions over the past
12 months, of which SGD853 million was funded by equity and SGD145
million by asset divestments. The transactions have improved the
geographic diversification of Ascendas REIT's portfolio as around
69% of the SGD1.7 billion acquisitions were for overseas
assets. As of 31 December 2021, investment properties in
Singapore accounted for 61% of the trust's $16.3
billion portfolio.
Moody's expects Ascendas REIT's credit metrics to remain within the A3
rating parameters over the next 12-18 months, with adjusted
net debt/EBITDA at 7.6x-7.9x and adjusted EBITDA/interest
expense at 4.8x-5.1x.
Ascendas REIT's liquidity is inadequate over the next 12-18 months.
Nonetheless, the trust's track record of funding access and established
banking relationships will likely mitigate this refinancing risk.
As of 31 December 2021, the trust had cash and cash equivalents
of SGD369 million, compared to SGD627 million of utilized revolving
credit facilities as well as SGD624 million of medium-term notes
and term loans maturing over the next 18 months.
In terms of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors,
Moody's has considered the governance risk stemming from related-party
transactions between Ascendas REIT and its sponsor, CapitaLand Investment
Limited. This risk is mitigated by the regulatory oversight provided
by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and exercised through the board,
which consists mostly of independent directors. Further,
there is an alignment of interest between Ascendas REIT and CapitaLand
Investment Limited because the latter has an 18% stake in the trust.
FACTORS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN UPGRADE OR DOWNGRADE OF THE RATING
Moody's could upgrade the rating if Ascendas REIT continues to improve
its geographic diversification while strengthening its credit metrics,
such that its adjusted debt/total deposited assets falls below 35%
and its adjusted net debt/EBITDA drops below 6.0x on a sustained
basis.
On the other hand, Moody's could downgrade Ascendas REIT's rating
if (1) the operating environment deteriorates, leading to higher
vacancy levels and a decline in the trust's operating cash flow or a fall
in asset valuations; or (2) the trust's credit metrics weaken,
such that its adjusted net debt/EBITDA rises above 8.0x or its
adjusted EBITDA/interest coverage falls below 3.5x.
In addition, a material change in Ascendas REIT's business risk
profile resulting from an expansion into higher-risk jurisdictions
could also pressure the trust's rating.
The principal methodology used in this rating was REITs and Other Commercial
Real Estate Firms Methodology published in July 2021 and available at
https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1272320.
Alternatively, please see the Rating Methodologies page on www.moodys.com
for a copy of this methodology.
Ascendas Real Estate Investment Trust (Ascendas REIT) was listed on the
Singapore Stock Exchange in November 2002. As of 31 December 2021,
the trust had a diversified portfolio of 93 properties in Singapore,
34 in Australia, 49 in the UK and Europe as well as 41 in the US,
with a total valuation of SGD16.3 billion.
The trust's sponsor, CapitaLand Investment Limited, is a 52%-owned
subsidiary of Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited (Aaa stable), which
is wholly owned by the Government of Singapore (Aaa stable). As
of 31 December 2021, CapitaLand Investment Limited held an 18%
stake in Ascendas REIT.
REGULATORY DISCLOSURES
For further specification of Moody's key rating assumptions and
sensitivity analysis, see the sections Methodology Assumptions and
Sensitivity to Assumptions in the disclosure form. Moody's
Rating Symbols and Definitions can be found at: https://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_79004.
For ratings issued on a program, series, category/class of
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same series, category/class of debt, security or pursuant
to a program for which the ratings are derived exclusively from existing
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issued on a support provider, this announcement provides certain
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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
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Moody's general principles for assessing environmental, social
and governance (ESG) risks in our credit analysis can be found at http://www.moodys.com/researchdocumentcontentpage.aspx?docid=PBC_1288235.
The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was
issued by one of Moody's affiliates outside the EU and is endorsed
by Moody's Deutschland GmbH, An der Welle 5, Frankfurt
am Main 60322, Germany, in accordance with Art.4 paragraph
3 of the Regulation (EC) No 1060/2009 on Credit Rating Agencies.
Further information on the EU endorsement status and on the Moody's
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The Global Scale Credit Rating on this Credit Rating Announcement was
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Hui Ting Sim
Analyst
Corporate Finance Group
Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd.
50 Raffles Place #23-06
Singapore Land Tower
Singapore 48623
Singapore
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
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Vikas Halan
Associate Managing Director
Corporate Finance Group
JOURNALISTS: 852 3758 1350
Client Service: 852 3551 3077
Releasing Office:
Moody's Investors Service Singapore Pte. Ltd.
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