City Developments Ltd – Record revenue driven by property development

The Positives

The Negatives

City Developments Limited – Business as usual

 

The Positives

 

 

 

 

 

The Negatives

City Developments Limited – Anticipating stronger growth in hospitality

 

The Positives

 

 

The Negatives

 

City Developments Limited – Hospitality segment to drive growth

 

Investment Highlights

 

 

 

 

Outlook

Prices of private residential properties continued to increase in 1Q23 by 3.3%, its 12th consecutive increase QoQ. Due to red-hot property prices, we expect more cooling measures to come. However, the recent cooling measures primarily target high-end/luxury properties with a greater proportion of foreign demand, rather than the mass and mid-tier segments that are predominantly sought by local buyers and SPRs. If this trend continues, CDL will be less impacted as its upcoming launches are mostly in the mid-tier segment (apart from Newport Residences).

 

Maintain ACCUMULATE with a lower RNAV TP of $8.33

We view CDL as proxy for the Singapore residential market and hospitality recovery. CDL is trading at an attractive 52% discount to our RNAV/share of S$15.13. Asset monetisation, unlocking value through AEIs and redevelopments, and faster-than-expected recovery in the hospitality portfolio are potential catalysts for CDL, which could help narrow the discount between CDL’s share price and RNAV.

City Developments Limited – Hospitality lifts overall profitability

 

 

The Positives

 

 

 

The Negative

City Developments Limited – Lifted by hospitality and divestment gains

 

 

 

The Positives

 

 

 

The Negative

 

Outlook

Healthy inventory levels allow for more conservative bidding

Cumulative launch pipeline of 1,931 units with the next launch Copen Grand (Tengah Garden Walk EC, 639 units) targeted for 4Q22. CDL also picked up three more sites which will add ~1,458 units to the pipeline. CDL’s inventory levels are healthy, allowing it to be more selective and conservative when bidding for new sites. The site at Upper Bukit Timah Road was purchased in an off-market deal from Tan Chong Realty for S$126.3mn or S$603 psf, and could yield 603 units. On 26 Jan 2022, CDL won the tender for the Jalan Tembusu GLS with a bid of S$589.9mn or S$1,302 psf, adding 640 units to the pipeline. Given the higher land prices and cost of construction, CDL is aiming for margins of at least 10% for new projects.

 

Strategic review of global hospitality portfolio

CDL has launched a strategic review of its global hospitality portfolio that should help narrow the discount to its RNAV. Its restructuring plans for its hotel business, Millennium & Copthorne, in the next few years should help the Group crystalise value for its assets. These restructuring plans may include asset divestments, portfolio optimisation as well as a rebranding of its hotels to improve earnings and drive upside to NAV.

City Developments Limited – Promising turnaround

The Positives

 

 

 

The Negative

 

Outlook

Healthy inventory levels allow for more conservative bidding

Three residential launches totalling 1,291 units are in the pipeline for 2022. CDL also picked up two more sites which will add 1,048 units to the pipeline, bringing unsold inventory to 3,047 as at 31 Dec 2021. CDL’s inventory levels are healthy, allowing it to be more selective and conservative when bidding for new sites. The site at Upper Bukit Timah Road was purchased in an off-market deal from Tan Chong Realty for S$126.3mn or S$603 psf and could yield 603 units. On 26 Jan 2022, CDL won the tender for the Jalan Tembusu GLS with a bid of S$589.9mn or S$1,302 psf, adding 640 units to the pipeline. Given the higher land prices and cost of construction, CDL is aiming for margins of at least 10% for new projects.

 

Unlocking value through strategic redevelopments

CDL entered into a put and call option agreement with Far East Hospitality REIT (FEHT SP, not rated) to acquire Central Square, a 99-year leasehold commercial and residential development, with a remaining lease tenure of approximately 72 years, for S$315mn. Central Square is adjacent to CDL's Central Mall. The purchase of Central Square is expected to be completed in Mar22. The enlarged site, comprising Central Mall's office component, Central Mall conservation shophouses and Central Square, will be redeveloped under URA’s Strategic Development Incentive Scheme, yielding a GFA uplift of 67%, from 441,650 sq ft presently to 735,00 sq ft. The proposed mixed-use development will comprise commercial, hotel and service apartment components, subject to CDL getting planning approval for residential use. Phased completion for this redevelopment is expected in 2027.

 

City House, which is located along Robinson Road and Cross Street, falls under the CBD Incentive Scheme, which could potentially unlock additional GFA. Similar to the Fuji Xerox redevelopment, the redeveloped site could benefit from GFA uplift if CDL decides to undertake the redevelopment to convert the assets into a mixed-use development. The management is currently evaluating the merits of undertaking a redevelopment and has not announced any plans presently.

 

Distribution in Specie hints at more active recycling of hospitality assets

CDL has proposed distribution in specie (DIS) of CDLHT valued at 19.1 Scts, allowing shareholders to take park in the recovery of the hospitality sector. The DIS will reduce CDL's stake in CDLHT from 38.7% to 27%, resulting in a deconsolidation of CDLHT. CDL will recognise an estimated accounting gain of c.S$467.5mn on the deconsolidation of CDLHT and gearing will improve from 61% to 55% on a pro forma basis. The deconsolidation will allow CDL to recognise gains on any future sale of assets to CDLHT should the transaction value exceed the carrying book value of the assets while allowing unitholders to benefit from the recovery in the hospitality sector. This could be the start of more active recycling of hospitality assets to CDLHT. The DIS will be subjected to shareholder approval during the AGM on 28 April 2022.

 

Maintain BUY and RNAV TP of S$9.19

We view CDL as proxy for the Singapore residential market and hospitality recovery play. While land prices have trended up in recent years, redevelopment and off-market purchases should provide better margins, allowing to replenish its inventory and participate in the peaking Singapore residential market. CDL is trading at an attractive 48% discount to our RNAV/share of S$14.14. Asset monetisation, unlocking value through AEIs and redevelopments, and faster-than-expected recovery in hospitality portfolio are potential catalyst for CDL, which could help narrow the discount between CDL’s share price and RNAV.

City Developments Limited – Recovery and assets monetisation underway

Investment Thesis

  1. Catching Singapore property upcycle with a strong development pipeline. CDL picked up two plots of land YTD – the Northumberland Road GLS and the Tengah Gardens EC site. Residential units from its redevelopment projects, Canninghill Piers (Liang Court) and Fuji Xerox, brings CDL’s unlaunched pipeline to 1,121 units, which will be launch over the next two years. Based on our forecasts, these two redevelopment projects should yield CDL respectable margins above 30%. Including the unsold units from earlier launches, we estimate that CDL has 1,746 units to be monetised, translating to FY22e/23e GDV of S$2.1b/S$1.0bn.

 

  1. Impending recovery of hospitality sector. CDL’s hotel segment contributed S$192/178mn or 16.2%/15.8% of EBITDA in 2018/19. COVID-19 severely impacted the hospitality portfolio in FY20. Portfolio occupancy fell from 74% to 39%, resulting in a 64.5% nosedive in RevPAR. Revenue for the segment is expected to recovery gradually, in tandem with the sector. CDL’s cost containment initiatives to reduce duplication of roles and digitalisation efforts to lower manning cost should help improve margins, hastening its return to profitability. Keeping our forecast conservate, we projected 20% revenue CAGR for FY21e-FY25e. We expect the segment to turn NPI positive by 2024, before recovering to pre-pandemic levels in 2025.

 

  1. Listing of UK Commercial REIT to improve balance sheet. CDL applied for the initial public offering of UK commercial SREIT in June 2021. We understand that that CDL will co-sponsor the SREIT. Assuming a 20-25% stake for CDL, the injection of 125 Old Broad Street and Aldgate House into a 38%-geared S$3.5bn SREIT portfolio could unlock S$526-633mn for the group.

Outlook

 

Closing the chapter on Sincere. CDL provided a S$1.7bn write down on its exposure to Sincere in 2H20, fully impairing its equity stake in Sincere. The sale of the equity stake in Sincere for US$1, which was announced on 10 September 2021, is CDL’s final attempt to turn the page on this chapter. In the announcement, CDL also reported the transfer of Sincere’s 10% effective stake in Shenzhen Longgang Tusincere Tech Park to the group, as partial repayment of loans extended to Sincere. This further reduces CDL’s exposure to Sincere to approximately S$85mn, while increasing CDL’s stake in Tusincere to 65% (Figure 1 and 2). CDL acquired its initial 55% stake in Feb21. As of 20 February 2021, 2224,933 sqm or 54% of the saleable area of Phase1-3 have been pre-sold, translating to sales proceeds of RMB7.2bn (c.S$1,477mn). Construction of Phase 4, the self-held office block, has not commenced.

 

 

Re-initiate with BUY and RNAV TP of S$9.19

CDL is trading at an attractive 49% discount to our RNAV/share of S$14.14. Asset monetisation and faster-than-expected recovery in hospitality portfolio are potential catalyst for CDL while recent AEIs and redevelopments should strengthen income stream and portfolio.

 

 

City Developments Limited – Near-term pain but focused on the future

 

The Positives

+ Respectable 356 units sold in SG in 1H20 (-29.5%, 1H19: 505 units), despite 10 weeks of showroom closures. Sales value was 68.8% lower at $514.7K (1H19: $1.55mn), contributed by mass-market projects with lower margin, in contrast to the ultra-luxury projects sold in 1H19. CDL replenished its landbank in Jan20 through the successful tender of the GLS at Irwell Bank (540 units, est. launch 1H21). The Group will launch its JV project, Penrose Drive (566 units) in 3Q20.

+ Unlocking additional GFA through redevelopment of Fuji Xerox and Central Mall. Tapping on the CDB Incentive Scheme, plans for Fuji Xerox Towers’ redevelopment includes a 25% GFA uplift, with demolition works slated for 2H21. Plans for Central Mall include a 240K sq ft uplift in GFA, with a 70% commercial and 30% hotel or serviced apartment component. Plans for both developments are still pending approvals from the URA.

 

The Negatives

- All segments impacted by COVID-19; Hospitality segment hardest high with losses expected to continue despite cost cutting measures implemented. The Hospitality segment recorded a pre-tax loss of $208.2mn due to the temporary closure of 28% of the Group’s 152 hotels, $33.9mn in impairment losses on 8 hotels (6 in US, 1 in UK and 1 in Europe), and $7.0mn in doubtful receivables for 2 hotels which have payment difficulties due to COVID-19. RevPAR was down 56.6% as global hotel occupancy fell to 39.4%. The management guided that losses for this segment are likely to continue for the rest of the year due to the muted global recovery in international tourism.

 

Outlook

Following the privatisation of Millennium & Copthorne (M&C) and acquisition of 51.0% stake in Sincere Property Group (Sincere), the Group is focused on streamlining and restructuring operations. More divestment can be expected as expected as the Group reviews possible divestments of non-core hotel assets and China retail asset.

CDL is still eyeing the listing of a UK commercial REIT, which may materialise after the market volatility subsides, likely in 2021.

 

Maintain BUY with lower TP of S$10.68 (prev. S$11.82).

We cut our FY20e/21e EPS by 26.1% and 7.2% to factor in the protracted recovery in the hospitality segment. Our TP is lowered by 10.2% to $10.68.

City Developments Limited – Shoring up recurring income

 

The Positives

+ Sold 1,554 units totalling S$3.3bn in sales in SG in FY19, accounting for 37% of total units in new projects. The 6 new launches in 2019 resulted in a 40% and 49% increase in the number of units sold by the group and its JV and associates in FY18 (1,113 units, sales value of S$2.2bn).

+ Focused on growing recurring revenue and geographical diversification. CDL’s recurring revenue increased by 22.3% due to the full year contributions from acquisitions, AEIs and the opening of HLCC’s mall and office components in FY18. In FY19, CDL acquired 4 rental apartment projects (S$69.3mn) in Osaka and Shanghai Hongqiao Sincere Centre Phase 2 (S$344mn). Investment properties grew by 13.9% from S$5,761mn to S$6,562mn as at end 2019, which will help to grow recurring income.

 

The Negatives

- Hotel segment in the red largely due to S$58.2mn in impairment losses and S$26mn privatisation cost and closure of hotels for refurbishment. This is the second consecutive year of impairment for the segment (FY18: S$94m). Revenue for the segment was up 4.6%/1.5% in 4Q19/FY19 due to the acquisition of W Singapore. The group has earmarked S$140mn in their 2020 Capex programme which will go towards refurbishments for selected hotel in New York, UK, Paris and Singapore which should help to lift RevPAR post completion.

 

Outlook

Renegotiation of the acquisition of 24% stake in Sincere Property Group which was announced in May 2019 due to changes in economic conditions since negotiation of the deal. CDL remains positive on its long-term view of China and remains keen on the investment.

CDL’s Fund Management AUM target of S$5bn by 2023 will help to grow recurring income. The group has plans to create a new REIT to hold its UK properties (Aldgate House and 125 Broad Street) and is one step closer to its’ fund management ambitions with the obtainment of Capital Market Services (CMS) License in 3Q19, allowing the group to set up a private fund and/or REIT.

Of the two assets located in the CBD that could qualify for the plot intensification incentives under the Master Plan, CDL is assessing the feasibility of redeveloping Fuji Xerox Towers, which could unlock up to 25% uplift in GFA and rejuvenate CDL’s portfolio.

Covid19’s impact was more pronounced in SG hotel operations, where occupancy is currently in the 40-50% region, and lower take-up of high-end residential projects by foreigner.

 

Maintain BUY with higher TP of S$11.89 (prev. S$11.82).

Our RNAV-derived target price represents 0.98x FY20e P/NAV. Rerating catalyst would be sustained sell-through rates and pick-up in the hotel business.

 

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