Higher gearing limits will improve Reits' DPU

Singapore

THE proposed higher leverage limits for real estate investment trusts (Reits) could lower overall cost of capital for the asset class, and allow room for portfolio growth, given the greater certainty of deal completions.

In addition, distribution to unitholders could also increase, as debt-funded property acquisitions are likely to be accretive to distribution per unit (DPU) since the rental yields of the acquired assets will probably exceed the interest rate of borrowings.

Higher leverage limits could also reduce the incidences of Reits issuing perpetual securities (perps) to raise funds. Perps - essentially bonds with no maturity date…