This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on October 6, 2017 - October 12, 2017

Al-Salam Real Estate Investment Trust
(Oct 5, RM1.00)
Maintain buy recommendation with a target price (TP) of RM1.15: We are mildly positive on Al-Salam Real Estate Investment Trust’s (Al-Salam REIT) proposed acquisition of a hypermarket asset in Terengganu as the leaseback will be based on a triple net lease structure.

Al-Salam REIT has proposed to acquire Mydin Hypermarket Gong Badak building in Kuala Terengganu from its vendor, Mydin Wholesale Cash and Carry Sdn Bhd, for RM155 million in cash (excluding acquisition expenses of RM2.6 million) — 2% below the appraised market value of RM158 million.

The deal also entails a leaseback arrangement of 30 years with rental step-up (5% every two years; monthly/annual rental not disclosed) and a triple net lease structure. The acquisition will be funded by borrowings and is expected to be completed in first quarter of 2018. The vendor is primarily engaged in the operations of a hypermarket, supermarket and emporium, as well as franchising, wholesale business and mall management.

We are mildly positive on the deal as a triple net lease structure would provide stable, recurring rental income to Al-Salam REIT with low occupancy risks. Based on our ballpark calculation, assuming a net property yield of 6% and borrowing cost of 5.2%, the hypermarket asset could raise our earnings per unit and distribution per unit forecasts for FY18/FY19/FY20 by 12%/4%/6% respectively.

The purchase could increase AL-Salam REIT’s gross gearing to 0.44 times and total property value by 17% to RM1.077 billion.

We maintain our earnings forecasts pending further disclosures from Al-Salam REIT. We continue to like Al-Salam REIT for its balanced portfolio consisting of stable assets on long and triple net leases, and the Komtar JBCC mall which provides earnings upside. — MaybankIB Research, Oct 4