First REIT – Portfolio restructuring in progress

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Positives
+ Stable operating performance in local currency terms. 1Q26 income from Indonesia and
Singapore properties increased 4.7% and 2.0%, respectively, in local currency terms, while
Japan remained stable. The lease at Siloam Hospitals Lippo Cikarang (SHLC) has been
extended to 31 December 2026, with an option to extend to 30 June 2027. SHLC is part of
the potential divestments under the put option.

+ Stable capital management. The cost of debt declined 60bps QoQ to 3.9%, while ICR was
healthy at 4.4x. Gearing rose from 42.1% to 44.6% QoQ, following the drawdown of debt to
redeem the perpetual bond in January 2026. FIRT also extended its S$300mn term loan and
revolving credit facilities by one year to May 2027. Pending the divestment of its Indonesian
portfolio, we expect FY26 all-in cost of debt to remain stable below 4%, with 44.2% of
borrowings on fixed rates.

The Negative

- Rentals still owed by MPU. Full recovery remains pending in connection with the
transaction, with S$6.6mn outstanding as at 31 March 2026.

First REIT – Proposed divestment of Indonesian assets

 

Key Highlights
First tranche divestment. The proposed divestment comprises eight hospital assets for
IDR5.1tn (S$389.2mn) and three non-hospital assets for IDR1.1tn (S$82.4mn), bringing the
total consideration to S$471.5mn. This represents a 2.1% premium over the average of the
two latest independent valuations. In connection with the divestments, S$6.9mn in rental
arrears from MPU will be fully repaid.

Second tranche put option. FIRT has the right to divest the remaining six Indonesian
hospitals to Siloam for IDR3.9tn (S$294.8mn) by 31 Oct 2026. Completion of the put option
divestments is subject to certain conditions, including the completion of the first tranche
divestments and unitholders’ approval.

Financial impact. The manager will waive its S$2.4mn divestment fee to align with
unitholders’ interests. The c.S$9.7mn premium over appraised value will be distributed as
special dividends over the two quarters following completion. On a pro forma basis, FY25
DPU would have been 1.39 cents (1.85 cents including special dividends) vs 2.17 cents
reported, assuming completion on 1 Jan 2025. Aggregate leverage would have declined to
16.7% (FY25: 42.1%) assuming completion on 31 Dec 2025.

Use of proceeds. After accounting for associated divestment costs, aggregate net proceeds
of S$464.2mn will be primarily used to pare down debt (S$362.7mn or 78%), with S$9.7mn
(2.1%) committed to unitholders as special distributions. The remaining proceeds will be
allocated to capital expenditure and working capital. FIRT’s remaining debt will then largely
comprise JPY-denominated borrowings, which carry significantly lower interest costs.

What’s next? FIRT will continue to manage its Singapore and Japan assets while transitioning
toward developed markets, benefiting from lower equity risk premiums, lower debt costs,
and more stable currencies. Short-term challenges include finding assets that match
Indonesian yields, but longer-term expansion into developed markets could improve
portfolio quality and reduce exposure to emerging-market currencies.

Maintain ACCUMULATE with a lower TP of S$0.25 (prev. S$0.29).

 

First REIT – FX remains a drag

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Positives
+ Stable operating performance in local currency terms. FY25 income from Indonesia and
Singapore properties rose by 5.1% and 2.0%, respectively, in local currency terms, while
Japan remained stable.

+ Stable capital management. The cost of debt declined by 50bps YoY to 4.5%, while gearing
and ICR remained healthy at 42.1% and 3.7x, respectively. FIRT is in discussions to extend
and refinance S$260mn of loans due in 2026. We expect FY26e all-in cost of debt to remain
around 4.5%, with 46.1% of debt on fixed rates.

The Negative

- Rentals continue to be owed by MPU, with S$6.9mn outstanding as at 31 Dec 2025.
S$1.5mn was received in Jan 2026, reducing the amount owed to S$5.4mn.
- Decline in portfolio valuations. On a same-store basis, valuations fell 6.2%, primarily due
to FX headwinds. In local currency terms, the Indonesia portfolio rose 1.4% on higher rents,
while the Japan portfolio declined 0.7%. The Singapore portfolio declined by 5.8% due to
decreasing land tenure.

 

First REIT – Earnings stability tempered by FX

 

First REIT – Facing ongoing FX headwinds

 

First REIT – Stable operations undermined by FX

- 1Q25 DPU of 0.58 Singapore cents (-3.3% YoY) was slightly below our estimates, forming 23% of our FY25e forecast. The YoY decline in DPU was due to the depreciation of the IDR and JPY against the SGD, partially offset by higher rental income in local currency terms. 1Q25 DPU of 0.58 cents was unchanged QoQ.

- With 56.7% of its debt hedged to fixed rates, FIRT benefited from lower interest rates, bringing its all-in cost of debt down to 4.7% (Dec 24: 5.0%). After receiving S$2.4mn from MPU in 4Q24, no payments were made in 1Q25, bringing the total overdue rent to S$5.8mn as of 31 March 2025.

- Maintain BUY with an unchanged DDM-derived target price of S$0.32. We trim our FY25e/26e DPU estimates by 6%/4% to reflect ongoing FX headwinds. Despite this, FIRT is still trading at an attractive FY25e DPU yield of 9.2%. FIRT is undergoing a strategic review to assess Siloam's letter of intent (LOI) to acquire its hospital assets in Indonesia, with no material developments as of 1Q25. Organic growth will come from more Indonesian hospitals achieving performance-based rent.

 

 

 

First REIT – Impacted by FX headwinds

 

First REIT – A buyer for Indonesian hospitals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First REIT – Hurt by the weak IDR and JPY

First REIT – A stable quarter with stable DPU

• 1H24 DPU of 1.20 Singapore cents (-3.2% YoY) was in line with our expectations, forming 51% of our FY24e forecast. 1H24 DPU was lower YoY mainly due to the stronger SGD against the IDR and JPY. 2Q24 DPU was stable QoQ at 0.60 Singapore cents.

• 1H24 revenue in local currency terms grew 4.4% YoY for properties in Indonesia, 2% YoY for nursing homes in Singapore, and remained stable in Japan. Finance costs grew marginally by 0.8% (S$0.1mn) YoY due to good interest rate risk and currency risk management.

• Maintain BUY with an unchanged DDM-derived target price of S$0.30. First REIT is trading at an attractive 16% discount to NAV and a forward FY24e distribution yield of 9.3%.  Organic growth will stem from more Indonesian hospitals achieving performance-based rent. Potential catalysts include the successful divestment of non-core assets such as Imperial Aryaduta Hotel and Country Club (IAHCC) and recycling the proceeds to fund acquisitions in developed markets as part of its First REIT 2.0 growth strategy. Our estimates remained unchanged.

 

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