SINGAPORE (Nov 10): The manager of IREIT Global has announced a distribution per unit (DPU) of 1.42 cents for 3Q17, down 9.6% from its 3Q16 DPU of 1.57 cents.
This comes after taking into consideration forward foreign currency exchange contracts entered into to hedge the currency risk for distribution to unitholders, as well as the retention of part of the REIT’s distributable income for the period.
Without factoring in retention, DPU for 3Q would have been 1.6 cents, up 1.9% from 1.57 cents a year ago.
In euro terms, total distribution per unit for the quarter was 10.7% lower at 0.92 € cent compared to 1.03 € cents in 3Q16, after factoring retention.
Gross revenue for the quarter grew 1.7% to €8.7 million as net property income (NPI) increased to €7.9 million, up 2.3% from €7.7 million in the previous year, underpinned by firm rental contribution from its portfolio of five office assets in Germany.
Similarly, distributable income rose by 1.6% year-on-year for 3Q17.
As at end-Sept, IREIT’s overall portfolio occupancy rate was close to 100% with a weighted average lease expiry of 5.3 years.
In a Thursday filing, the manager says one of IREIT’s key tenants at Concor Park has exercised its prolongation option to extend its lease for another three years, one year ahead of its lease expiry.
It adds that the REIT has undertaken further hedging in respect of its distribution for FY18
IREIT Global has also established a formal currency hedging policy for its income to be repatriated from overseas to Singapore starting from FY19 which will based on the use of currency forwards on a quarterly basis to hedge approximately 80% of the expected EUR-denominated income to be repatriated, one year in advance.
“Looking ahead, we will forge ahead with our growth strategy to grow and diversify our portfolio across Europe to enhance IREIT’s long-term income and returns for unitholders,” says Aymeric Thibord, CEO of the manager.
Units in IREIT Global closed 0.65% lower at 76 cents on Thursday.
