OUE REIT, the newly-renamed OUE LJ3 Commercial REIT TS0U , has maintained its 2HFY2023 distribution at 1.04 cents per unit.
Revenue in the same six months ended Dec 31, 2023 was up 16.4% over the year-earlier period and its net property income increased by 15.9% y-o-y.
However, the amount available for distribution was weighed down by higher finance costs. The REIT held back a bigger quantum for working capital; its share of joint venture results dropped as well.
The 2HFY2023 DPU brings its full-year distribution to 2.09 cents, down 1.4% y-o-y. Revenue for the full year was up 18% y-o-y to $285.1 million, with growth driven by the full reopening of its key hotel asset, Hilton Singapore Orchard. Net property income, meanwhile, was up 19.3% to $235 million.
"Over the past few years, we have successfully built a robust portfolio of commercial and hospitality properties in prime locations under one umbrella and are pleased that this diversified portfolio has allowed us to grow from strength to strength," says Han Khim Siew, CEO of the REIT's manager.
"Post-pandemic, our hospitality segment has been the key growth engine and has achieved remarkable performance following the successful rebranding of Hilton Singapore Orchard," he adds.
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In a bid to better capture the continued tourism recovery, OUE REIT in December last year completed the $22 million asset enhancement initiative for another hospitality asset, for Crowne Plaza Changi Airport.
The REIT will focus on both organic and inorganic growth across both the hospitality and commercial sectors in Singapore, and abroad. It will be looking at "suitable portfolio reconstitution opportunities,” he adds.
Due to active debt management, the REIT has no refinancing needs until the second half of 2025.
As of Dec 31, 2023, its aggregate leverage decreased to 38.2% while the weighted average cost of debt remained stable at 4.3% per annum.
The proportion of fixed-rate debt remains high at 66.3% and the weighted average term of debt stood at 2.4 years as of Dec 31, 2023.
OUE REIT closed at 28 cents on Jan 29, unchanged for the day but down 24.32% over the past year.
