logo
Starhill Global Reit H2 NPI flat at S$74.5 million

Starhill Global Reit H2 NPI flat at S$74.5 million

Business Times29-07-2025
[SINGAPORE] The manager of (real estate investment trust) posted a net property income (NPI) of S$74.5 million for the second half ended Jun 30, 2025, flat compared to the year-ago period.
The manager, in a bourse filing on Tuesday (Jul 29) attributed the lack of growth primarily to higher contributions from Singapore retail properties and net movement in foreign currencies, which were largely offset by loss of contribution from certain divested strata office lots in Wisma Atria and rental arrears provision for its China property.
Starhill Global Reit's Singapore retail portfolio comprises interests in Wisma Atria and Ngee Ann City in Orchard Road. It also owns assets in Japan.
Excluding the effects of divestment, its H2 FY24/25 NPI would have increased 0.6 per cent year on year.
Its revenue inched up 0.7 per cent to S$95.8 million from S$95.2 million previously.
Income available for distribution for H2 FY24/25 stood at S$44.5 million, an increase of 4 per cent from S$42.8 million in the year-ago period.
A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU
Tuesday, 12 pm Property Insights
Get an exclusive analysis of real estate and property news in Singapore and beyond.
Sign Up
Sign Up
The rise was mainly attributed to higher NPI, lower tax expenses and net finance costs, retention of part of the net divestment proceeds in the current period, as well as the one-off leasing commission in relation to its Toshin master lease renewal in the previous corresponding period. This was partially offset by higher legal and professional fees.
The Reit's manager will retain about S$2 million of income available for distribution for H2 FY24/25 for working capital requirements.
The Reit also posted a flat distribution per unit (DPU) of S$0.0185 in the second half ended Jun 30, 2025.
For the full year, DPU was 0.6 per cent higher at S$0.0365. This represented an annual yield of 7.2 per cent, based on the closing unit price of S$0.51 as at Jun 30, 2025.
The distribution reinvestment plan will apply for the H2 FY24/25 distribution, with the issue price of new units announced on or around Aug 6. Unitholders can expect to receive their H2 FY24/25 DPU on Sep 24.
Improved operational performance
The Reit's full-year NPI rose 0.8 per cent to S$150.2 million, mainly due to higher contributions from Singapore retail properties and Perth properties, as well as the appreciation of the Malaysian ringgit against the Singapore dollar.
This was partially offset by loss of contribution from the divestment of the Wisma Atria office strata units, rental arrears provision for China Property, higher operating expenses and the depreciation of Australian dollar against the Singapore dollar.
Revenue for the full year was up 1.2 per cent on year to S$192.1 million for FY2024/25, and income available for distribution for the period grew by 3.7 per cent to S$87.8 million.
The group's portfolio valuation remained stable at about S$2.8 billion. The figure would have reflected a 0.9 per cent year-on-year increase if not for the divested strata office lots in Wisma Atria in FY24/25. The gains were mainly due to the upward revaluation of its Ngee Ann City property, The Starhill, and Australian properties in June 2025, partially offset by net foreign currency movements.
Ho Sing, chief executive officer of Starhill Global Reit's manager, said the partial divestment of its office portfolio enabled the Reit manager to demonstrate the asset's value, strengthen financials and further improve liquidity amid ongoing market uncertainty.
'The improved operational performance for the year was mainly driven by our Singapore portfolio, which achieved full committed occupancy and delivered positive rental reversions,' he added.
Notably, at Wisma Atria, shopper traffic climbed 5 per cent year on year, although tenant sales declined 5.2 per cent. Starhill Global Reit owns the majority of units at the mall.
The Reit also renewed its current master lease at Ngee Ann City Property with Toshin ahead of expiry.
Gearing remained stable at 36 per cent, with a weighted average debt maturity of 3.1 years.
Units of Starhill Global Reit closed flat at S$0.55 on Tuesday.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Wee Hur jumps 6.5% to record high as Australia raises cap on foreign students
Wee Hur jumps 6.5% to record high as Australia raises cap on foreign students

Business Times

time19 hours ago

  • Business Times

Wee Hur jumps 6.5% to record high as Australia raises cap on foreign students

[SINGAPORE] Shares of student accommodation operator Wee Hur hit an all-time high on Wednesday (Aug 6), following news that Australia will lift its foreign student cap in 2026. As at 1.57 pm, the counter was trading at S$0.74, a record high according to Bloomberg data, with around 14.6 million shares changing hands. This was 6.5 per cent or S$0.045 above its Tuesday closing price of S$0.695. It ended Wednesday at S$0.74, with some 17.2 million shares transacted. The stock is up more than 15 per cent since the start of the trading week. On Monday, the Australian government announced that the country would raise its cap on foreign students by 9 per cent to 295,000 next year and prioritise applicants from South-east Asia. In the year to date, the counter has risen 76.2 per cent, from S$0.42 on the last trading day of 2024. Wee Hur has eight facilities for purpose-built student accommodation in Australia. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up It is one of 30 Singapore-listed stocks in the portfolio of US-based exchange-traded fund (ETF), Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF. As at Monday, the ETF had increased its stake in Wee Hur to 22.4 million shares, from 21.4 million shares on Jul 24. Rule relaxed Nearly 600,000 student visas were granted in Australia in FY2023. International students flocked to the country in record numbers following the Covid-19 pandemic, with those from China and India forming the largest cohorts. Limits on places for foreign students were announced in 2024. The Australian government also more than doubled the foreign student visa fee and pledged to close loopholes permitting students to continuously extend their stays. However, as efforts to lower foreign student numbers have been succeeding, an additional 25,000 places will be granted in 2026, the Australian government said on Monday. International Education Assistant Minister Julian Hill noted that the measures to curb migration were 'bearing fruit', allowing for the cap to be moderately raised next year, Reuters reported. Around two-thirds of places will be allocated to universities, and one-third to the vocational skills training sector. Additionally, larger, public universities must demonstrate that domestic and international students have 'access to safe and secure housing' and recruit more students from South-east Asia, the Australian government said. As Australia seeks to reduce economic reliance on China, South-east Asia relations have been a focus of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government. Hill noted that it was important for Australia's 'future soft power' that the country 'continues to bring the best and brightest from (its South-east Asian) neighbours to have a bit of Australia with them for the rest of their life'. Goh Wee Ping, chief executive of Wee Hur's fund management business, Wee Hur Capital, said: 'The government's decision to link international student intake with dedicated student accommodation is a smart and necessary step.' Beds offered by the student accommodation operator ease pressure on the private rental market, he added. 'This policy clarity gives providers like us the confidence to accelerate our pipeline, working alongside universities and cities to ensure international education growth is supported by purpose-built infrastructure – not squeezed into an already tight housing market.'

Singapore stocks rise for third straight day amid mixed regional showing; STI up 0.5%
Singapore stocks rise for third straight day amid mixed regional showing; STI up 0.5%

Straits Times

time19 hours ago

  • Straits Times

Singapore stocks rise for third straight day amid mixed regional showing; STI up 0.5%

Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE – Local stocks enjoyed a third straight day of gains on August 6 despite mixed regional markets and declines on Wall Street over concerns about the US faltering jobs market. The buoyant mood here lifted the Straits Times Index (STI) 0.5 per cent or 19.12 points to 4,227.70 with gainers besting losers 309 to 217 on solid trade of 1.5 billion securities worth $1.4 billion. Regional markets were not as sure-footed, with South Korea's Kospi and the Hang Seng in Hong Kong both flat while Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 0.6 per cent and Malaysian stocks advanced 0.2 per cent. Australia's ASX 200 was the standout performer, rising 0.8 per cent to a record close. A downbeat Wall Street overnight failed to inspire as tariff uncertainty continues to unnerve markets, particularly in the area of pharmaceuticals, that may be hit with huge levies. On the other hand, investors there are growing more confident that more interest rate cuts are coming, while a robust earnings season has lifted spirits. The S&P 500 fell 0.5 per cent and the Nasdaq dipped 0.65 per cent but both remain at near record highs. The Dow Industrials fell 0.14 per cent. The STI's gainers here were led by Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, which rose 2.3 per cent to $2.63, while Sembcorp came in at the bottom of the table, shedding 1.3 per cent to $7.70. The local banks ended in positive territory: DBS rose 1.3 per cent to $48.85; OCBC was up 0.4 per cent to $17.04; and UOB edged up 0.2 per cent to $36.45. Interactive Brokers senior economist Jose Torres noted that tension resulting from the US tariffs imposed on semiconductors, pharmaceutical equipment as well as on Moscow and New Delhi are 'generating some hesitation in markets during this weak seasonal period'. Mr Torres expects US equities across most sectors to face selling pressure, with cyclical commodities, except for natural gas, to trade lower. THE BUSINESS TIMES

Wee Hur jumps 6.5% to record high as Australia lifts cap on foreign students
Wee Hur jumps 6.5% to record high as Australia lifts cap on foreign students

Business Times

timea day ago

  • Business Times

Wee Hur jumps 6.5% to record high as Australia lifts cap on foreign students

[SINGAPORE] Shares of student accommodation operator Wee Hur hit an all-time high on Wednesday (Aug 6), following news that Australia will lift its foreign student cap in 2026. As at 1.57 pm, the counter was trading at S$0.74, a record high according to Bloomberg data, with around 14.6 million shares changing hands. This was 6.5 per cent or S$0.045 above its Tuesday closing price of S$0.695. By 2.12 pm, it had eased slightly to S$0.735, still up from Tuesday's close by 5.8 per cent or S$0.04, with some 14.8 million shares transacted. The stock is up more than 15 per cent since the start of the trading week. On Monday, the Australian government announced that the country would raise its cap on foreign students by 9 per cent to 295,000 next year and prioritise applicants from South-east Asia. In the year to date, the counter has risen 76.2 per cent, from S$0.42 on the last trading day of 2024. Wee Hur has eight facilities for purpose-built student accommodation in Australia. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up It is one of 30 Singapore-listed stocks in the portfolio of US-based exchange-traded fund (ETF), Avantis International Small Cap Value ETF. As of Monday, the ETF had increased its stake in Wee Hur to 22.4 million shares, from 21.4 million shares on Jul 24. Foreign student cap relaxed Nearly 600,000 student visas were granted in Australia in FY2023. International students flocked to the country in record numbers following the Covid-19 pandemic, with those from China and India forming the largest cohorts. Limits on places for foreign students were announced in 2024. The Australian government also more than doubled the foreign student visa fee and pledged to close loopholes permitting students to continuously extend their stays. However, as efforts to lower foreign student numbers have been succeeding, an additional 25,000 places will be granted in 2026, the Australian government said on Monday. International Education Assistant Minister Julian Hill noted that the measures to curb migration were 'bearing fruit', allowing for the cap to be moderately raised next year, Reuters reported. Around two-thirds of places will be allocated to universities, and one-third to the vocational skills training sector. Additionally, larger, public universities must demonstrate that domestic and international students have 'access to safe and secure housing' and recruit more students from South-east Asia, the Australian government said. As Australia seeks to reduce economic reliance on China, South-east Asia relations have been a focus of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's government. Hill noted that it was important for Australia's 'future soft power' that the country 'continue to bring the best and brightest from (its South-east Asian) neighbours to have a bit of Australia with them for the rest of their life'. Goh Wee Ping, chief executive of Wee Hur's fund management business, Wee Hur Capital, said: 'The government's decision to link international student intake with dedicated student accommodation is a smart and necessary step.' Beds offered by the student accommodation operator ease pressure on the private rental market, he added. 'This policy clarity gives providers like us the confidence to accelerate our pipeline, working alongside universities and cities to ensure international education growth is supported by purpose-built infrastructure – not squeezed into an already tight housing market.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store