EC WORLD REIT: Uh-oh! Spanner in the works

Excerpts from DBS Research report

Analysts: Dale LAI & Derek TAN

Throwing a spanner in the works

What happened?

What’s New
• Divestments to face potential delay with Purchaser’s failure to obtain Transaction Financing

EC WORLD REIT
Share price: S$0.48	Target: S$0.40

• A delay in divestment implies a breach in conditions to refinance expiring loans

• Worst case scenario a termination of the divestment and a need for equity fund raising

• Downgrade to FULLY VALUED on uncertainties surrounding ECWREIT; lower TP of S$0.40.

Investment Thesis
Fresh doubts cast on its ability to refinance loans. It was recently announced that the proposed divestments of two of its assets may potentially be delayed. A delay in the divestments could lead to a breach by ECWREIT’s lenders to refinance both offshore and onshore loans due on 30 April 2023.

ECWorldChair CEO3.18 (L-R): EC World REIT Chairman Zhang Guobiao with CEO Goh Toh Sim. (Mr Zhang is also chairman of the REIT's sponsor, Forchn Holdings Group).
NextInsight file photo.We have adjusted our TP and recommendation to account for this uncertainty.

Will the proposed divestment to sponsor pass the shareholder test? With the manager entering into an MOU with the sponsor for the sale of two assets totalling about S$432.8m (at last valuation), funds received by the REIT will be more than sufficient to pare down its loans (25% by end-Dec 22) and pay a special dividend to unitholders.

Given that it’s an interested party transaction (IPT), we envision unitholders only accepting a deal that is valued close to NAV.

Inherent organic growth in the portfolio underpinned by master leases. Rental escalations ranging from 1.0% to 2.5% built into its master leases ensures organic growth in ECWREIT’s earnings.

Moreover, multi-tenanted assets that cater to the fast-growing logistics industry also have the potential to deliver revenue growth.

Valuation:
Our TP of S$0.40 is based on a DCF valuation and considers ECWREIT’s historical P/NAV multiple and risks arising from uncertainties in refinancing outstanding loans.

Where we differ:
In addition to the one-off pre-termination compensation to be paid in FY22, we have also assumed a slight increase in all-in financing costs when maturing loans are refinanced next year.

Key Risks to Our View:
Key risks include those that are sponsor-related, such as a failure to extend master lease agreements and challenges in maintaining occupancy.

EC WORLD REIT: Uh-oh! Spanner in the works

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