LMIR: Proposed 1 for 1 rights issue.

I read with great interest the 1 for 1 rights issue proposed by LMIR. As regular readers know, I much prefer rights issue to private share placements as the former allows all unitholders to take part in the enlarged capital base of the REIT.

This rights issue is to raise some S$337m to help fund the purchase of two malls in Indonesia: Pluit Village and Medan Fair.  Pluit Village is to be purchased from the REIT's sponsor while Medan Fair is from an independent third party.

Pluit Village
Consideration: S$234m
Occupancy: 78.1%
NPI yield: 10.8%

Medan Fair
Consideration: $154m
Occupancy: 91.2%
NPI yield: 7.4%

Total purchase consideration is S$388m.  The proposed 1 for 1 rights issue at 31c per unit will raise some S$337m. The balance required for the proposed purchases will be funded by internal resources or debt.

LMIR's current NPI yield is 7.5%.  So, its purchase of Pluit Village is NPI yield accretive while that of Medan Fair is not. However, as the former is of a much larger value, it more than compensates for the latter. In aggregate, the purchase of the two properties is NPI yield accretive.

Now, is this rights issue good for unitholders?

The annualised distribution per unit (DPU) is estimated at 4c per annum currently. At the current unit price of 54c, that is a distribution yield of 7.4%. Subscribing to the rights issue at 31c per unit will give us an average unit price of 42.5c per unit. The number of units in issue will double while back of the envelope calculations show distributable income will increase only approximately 40%.

Therefore, DPU is likely to decrease to 2.8c per annum which will give us a pro forma distribution yield of only 6.59% based on the post rights unit price of 42.5c. So, this rights issue is not a good idea for unitholders who are investing for income. In terms of distribution yield, it is regressive.

Even if the management were to improve the occupancy of Pluit Village from the current 78.1% to 90%, it would not really make a difference.

This rights issue could be good in the longer run as it will probably send the REIT's gearing level to under 10% which will give it more debt headroom for future growth. It is perfectly reasonable to then question, with already such low gearing level in the first instance, why the REIT has to resort to such a large rights issue for these proposed purchases?

I have always thought of LMIR as a bullet proof REIT, a stable passive income generator. However, I have also been unhappy with their hedging policy which to me seems to suggest a mediocre management. I hope this rights issue is not going to prove me right (pun unintended).

Read announcement here.

Related post:
LMIR: Thoughts on partial divestment.