General S-REITs Discussion Thread

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Shion

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S-REITs could embark on acquisition spree amid gradual recovery: DBS

S-REITs could embark on acquisition spree amid gradual recovery: DBS

https://www.theedgesingapore.com/ca...k-acquisition-spree-amid-gradual-recovery-dbs

As DBS Group Research sees signs of a gradual recovery in the real estate sector, the brokerage is expecting Singapore real estate investment trusts (REITs) to embark on an acquisition spree.

This could especially be the case for industrial and office REITs, it notes.

DBS says such opportunities will likely stem from their respective sponsors who may look to recycle capital to boost their respective return on equity.

This is supported by low interest rates and higher debt capacity with an enhanced MAS gearing limit of 50%, it adds.

“While managers were focused on battling the impact of the pandemic in 1H20, we believe that S-REITs are now ready to acquire and grow, taking advantage of any potential pricing dislocations in the geographical markets that they operate in,” DBS analysts Derek Tan and Dale Lai write in a note dated Sept 29.

According to DBS, close to $3.0 billion worth of acquired properties have been announced as at Sept 2020.

This compares with $10.2 billion and $10.5 billion worth of properties acquired in 2019 and 2018, respectively.
 
Shion

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Singapore office rents drop further in Q3, tenants asking for short-term renewals: Report

Singapore office rents drop further in Q3, tenants asking for short-term renewals: Report

https://www.straitstimes.com/busine...her-in-q3-tenants-ask-for-short-term-renewals

SINGAPORE (THE BUSINESS TIMES) - Leasing activity for Grade A offices in Singapore came to a halt during the circuit breaker period and remained sluggish during the third quarter of this year, according to a report by Cushman & Wakefield (C&W) on Tuesday (Oct 6).

Amid the worst recession on record due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Grade A Central Business District rents continued to decline, falling 5.1 per cent quarter on quarter to $9.84 per sq ft per month in the third quarter of this year, C&W said.

Additionally, in the face of business uncertainty, tenants with immediate lease expiry are seeking short-term renewals, it said.

And with office space underutilised as working from home remains the default, firms are conducting workplace strategy studies to determine their future office needs, C&W added.

"In the immediate to short term, the market is expecting a fraction of space to be returned vacant when occupiers renew their leases," the real estate services firm noted.

Nonetheless, some vacated spaces are being taken up by other occupiers that are "seizing the opportunity to lease prime space at more attractive rental rates", C&W said.

For instance, QBE Insurance is relocating to Guoco Tower and taking up 31,000 sq ft of space vacated by Grab, which is moving to one-north. Meanwhile, Amazon is leasing 90,000 sq ft across three floors at Asia Square Tower 1, which Citi is giving up.

Mr Mark Lampard, C&W's executive director and head of Singapore commercial leasing and regional tenant representation, noted that allowing half of an organisation's workforce to return to office is a "game changer" as this gives companies a "critical mass" to assess their agility model.

"Up to now, companies were not prepared to make decisions as no one was in the office. The market has taken the first step in the return to liquidity, driven by companies seeking smaller requirements and giving up space," he said.

One positive development is a new demand driver in the form of Chinese technology firms expanding in Singapore because of geopolitical tensions, it added.

For example, ByteDance is planning to make Singapore its regional hub for its expansion into the rest of Asia and has applied for a licence to operate a digital bank in the Republic. Similarly, Tencent has chosen Singapore as its hub for its growth in Asia and has plans to open a new office in the city-state.

Another bright spot is the upcoming redevelopments of AXA Tower and Fuji Xerox Tower in 2021, which will displace 700,000 sq ft and 354,000 sq ft of office space respectively, C&W added.

Going by the firm's estimates, there have been about 350,000 sq ft of new leases and expansions in office space by tech firms since the start of the year. C&W is projecting the take-up by tech firms to increase to between 400,000 sq ft and 500,000 sq ft next year.

Nonetheless, the Singapore office market heads into the fourth quarter with "significant challenges", C&W said.

In the short to medium term, the prevalence of staff working from home is expected to remain widespread. The office sector will also be reshaped by the increase in the remote-working trend due to structural impacts, which will affect the leasing demand in the next 12 to 18 months, according to the report.

In addition, there has been a rise in retrenchments due to the recession, with a number of firms such as banks giving up space. Accordingly, the full-year rental change is still projected to tumble 10 per cent this year, with a further decline to be expected in 2021, C&W said.

Overall, the downward pressure from the recession and a prolonged period of working from home have resulted in a net reduction in office take-up, Mr Lampard said.
 
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