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Charter Hall Long WALE REIT (ASX:CLW) (the REIT) today announced its FY18 results for the period 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018.
Financial highlights:
Operational performance:
Avi Anger, Charter Hall Long WALE REIT Fund Manager, commented:
“This solid result reflects our ability to actively manage and grow the REIT through strategic, long WALE acquisition opportunities. In its first full year of operations, we are pleased to announce that the REIT has delivered an Operating EPS of 26.4 cents, in line with guidance and reflecting 3.9% annual growth on annualised FY17 EPS of 25.4 cents. This proactive management approach is consistent with the REIT’s strategy of providing investors with stable and secure income and targeting both income and capital growth, via an exposure to a high-quality portfolio of long WALE properties.”
Portfolio activity
During the period, CLW successfully completed $101 million of new property acquisitions and $4.1 million of divestments. This comprised of:
Acquisitions:
Divestments:
Post balance date, the REIT will divest the Grace Worldwide facility in Brisbane for $38.7 million and will re-invest sale proceeds into a 50% interest in a Brisbane CBD office asset at 40 Tank Street for $46.5 million (CLW interest). The transactions will improve portfolio quality with the introduction of the Queensland State Government and Care Park as tenants.
Mr Anger commented:
“This acquisition demonstrates our capacity to recycle the Grace asset sale proceeds into a higher quality, longer WALE investment which provides CLW with a stronger tenant quality and a more secure and diverse income stream.”
Also post balance date, CLW has contracted to sell a 50% interest in 12-26 Franklin Street, Adelaide. The sale will reduce CLW’s exposure to the Adelaide office market and release $135 million of proceeds, which the REIT will look to invest over the course of FY19 into high quality, long WALE real estate.
Overall, the portfolio valuation has increased by $128 million to $1.53 billion for the period driven by net acquisitions and $32.2 million in gross property revaluations. This has seen NTA per security at 30 June 2018 increase to $4.05, reflecting 2.9% increase from the NTA at 30 June 2017 of $3.93 per security.
At the end of the period, the REIT’s diversified portfolio remains 100% occupied and comprises 81 properties with a WALE of 10.8 years. Over the period, the portfolio’s weighted average capitalisation rate firmed by 7bps to 6.13%.
Strengthened the REIT’s capital position
During FY18, CLW completed a number of capital management initiatives, including:
Post balance date, the REIT has refinanced $100 million of its balance sheet debt facility with a new lender, extending the weighted average debt maturity to 4.5 years. The refinance further strengthens CLW’s debt platform and introduces a new lender for the REIT, diversifying its lending sources.
Strategy and outlook
CLW continues to focus on actively managing the portfolio and acquiring assets with long leases to high quality tenants to create value and deliver sustainable and growing returns for investors.
Barring any unforeseen events and no material change in current market conditions, CLW’s guidance for FY19 Operating EPS is between 26.4 – 26.6 cents per security, subject to the re-investment of proceeds from the sale of 50% of the ATO Adelaide office building.
The target distribution payout ratio remains at 100% of Operating Earnings.