Some time ago, I mentioned that due to the relatively high gearing level, I expected further acquisitions made by Croesus Retail Trust to be funded through new equity or a blend of new equity and debt.
In their acquisition of another mall in Japan, Torius in Fukuoka, funds will be raised partially through a rights issue.
Some details:
1. 114,222,677 Rights Units.
2. Issue price of S$0.610 per Rights Unit.
3. 22 Rights Units for every 100 existing Units held.
I very much prefer a Rights issue to a share placement because the former allows all unit holders to participate. I also like Rights issues if the money is used to purchase good quality income producing assets which would lead to DPU accretion.
Based on the purchase price, the NPI yield of Torius is 7.8% while Croesus Retail Trust's portfolio's NPI yield is 5.3%. So, the purchase is NPI yield accretive. However, due to the enlarged float, post Rights issue, we would see only a slight increase in DPU.
By subscribing to the Rights, I am putting my trust in the management to extract more value from the property as they have hinted at AEIs and future positive rental reversions.
I will fully subscribe to my Rights entitlement at 61c per Rights Unit and I will also apply for excess Rights, as usual. If I am successful in getting some excess Rights, it would improve the distribution yield of my investment in the Trust.
During the one week or so when nil-paid Rights are being traded (9 Oct to 19 Oct), we could see some weakness in the Trust's unit price. That could be an opportunity to accumulate.
Also, if the nil-paid Rights are priced attractively, I could buy more. For example, if we think that, post acquisition and Rights issue, a fairly good unit price to pay for Croesus Retail Trust is 80c a unit, then, if the nil-paid Rights should trade at anything lower than 19c a piece, it could be a good deal (80c - 61c).
I certainly hope that this rights issue would present opportunities for me to add to my investment in Croesus Retail Trust at more attractive prices.
Read announcement: here.
See Press Release: here.
"Nil-paid" Rights trading period from 9 October 2015 to 19 October 2015. The closing date and time for subscription for Rights Units by Unitholders is 23 October 2015 at 5:00 p.m. (9.30 p.m. for Electronic Applications through ATMs of Participating Banks).
Related post:
Croesus Retail Trust: ONE'S MALL.