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Redefine jacks up 13% after placing faith in fundamentals

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AN upturn in revenue from its property assets, rand hedge gains and good results from international investments were some of the factors that helped Redefine Properties distributions surge 13% for the six months ended February 2014.

South Africa's second-biggest property fund listed on JSE, Redefine Properties, on Thursday said it had achieved 13% increase in distributable income, which translates into an increase of 8% in distribution per linked unit for the period of 36.4 cents.

“The Rand hedges in our portfolio made a strong contribution to results with our offshore assets comprising 14.7% of our total property base generating 19.3% of the total distribution,” says Marc Wainer, CEO of Redefine. “Currently, property investment potential in some international territories is looking attractive relative to many local opportunities.”

During the period, Redefine increased its equity interest in Fountainhead to 65.9%. Redefine and Fountainhead are at an early stage of engagement about the possible terms of a potential merger. Redefine also disposed of its remaining holding in Hyprop during the review period. The company’s credit rating by Moody’s remained unchanged during the period.

Redefine’s debt represented 37.6% of the value of its property assets and the average cost of funding is 7,8%, marginally lower than a year ago. Interest rates are fixed on 81% of its borrowings for an average period of four years.

Redefine also made strides to launch an American Depositary Receipt Programme in September 2013 for international investors.

The company is also in the process of converting its existing linked unit capital structure into an all share capital structure and should complete this process by the end of the company’s financial year.

“This aligns Redefine’s capital structure with the REIT standard in South Africa and complies with the JSE Listings Requirements for REITs,” says Wainer.

Despite a challenging domestic trading environment, with disproportionate increases in utility costs and ongoing financial market volatility, Wainer notes Redefine is well focused on managing the variables within its control.

Redefine has a market capitalisation in excess of R30 billion and controls a diversified portfolio of property assets of R44.5 billion. The company’s local investment assets comprise 253 diversified directly held properties valued at R25.4 billion, while Fountainhead Property Trust, in which Redefine has a 65.9% equity interest, has an R11.8 billion retail-focused property portfolio.

Redefine is geographically diversified with R6.6 billion invested offshore. The 32.9% stake in Redefine International P.L.C which is listed on both the London Stock Exchange and JSE, is valued at R3.4 billion. Redefine has a R3.2 billion presence in the Australian property market through a direct 50% interest in North Sydney’s landmark tower, Northpoint, and holds 12.8% in Cromwell Property Group, which is listed on the ASX - and an indirect holding of a further 13.4% through RI PLC.

The continuing portfolio improvement was achieved with strategic acquisitions, prudent disposals and value-enhancing developments and redevelopments. The strategy also helped improve vacancies in lettable space to 4,9%. Redefine concluded property acquisitions totalling R2 billion during the period, the largest of which was it’s stake in Maponya Mall which transferred subsequent to the half year.

“There are a limited number of suitable, attractively priced assets available for acquisition in the domestic market right now. So, development provides an important area for growth, especially given that we own a number of existing well located properties” says Wainer. “Redefine has adopted a renewed focus on redevelopment, with R700 million already in progress. We have also secured a new development pipeline covering 157,000sqm in gross lettable area, or R2.8 billion in development cost.”

With the structural change in listed property yields, Redefine has reconsidered its position on its Government-tenanted properties and put the sale of this portfolio on hold. “In terms of Government policy, Redefine is having leases renewed for three-year periods whereas previously many of these properties were on monthly tenancies or one-year leases,” explains Wainer.

Redefine identified attractive opportunities, in line with the increase in corporate activity in the REIT sector over recent months. Shortly after the period end, it reached an agreement to acquire the entire issued capital of Annuity Properties by way of a scheme of arrangement together with its asset and property management companies at a cost of R103 million. Annuity unitholders will receive 57,752 Redefine units for every 100 Annuity units held, which places a R2.1 billion value on the portfolio.  The transaction is effective from 1 March 2014 and is subject to various conditions precedent.