CapitaLand Ascott Trust (CLAS) recently announced its acquisition of two freehold limited-service hotels in Japan for a total cost of JPY21 billion ($178.5 million). The hotels, ibis Styles Tokyo Ginza and Chisun Budget Kanazawa Ekimae, were purchased at an 8.3% discount to independent valuation and are expected to provide a 1.6% increase in distribution per stapled security (DPS) on a FY2024 pro forma basis. The blended net operating income (NOI) yield of the acquisition is forecasted to be 4.3% in FY2024.
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The acquisition was financed through JPY-denominated debt and proceeds from CLAS’ divestment of four properties in Japan. This approach serves as a natural hedge against currency fluctuations. The ibis Styles Tokyo Ginza is located in the bustling shopping and entertainment district of Japan’s capital city. The 224-unit hotel is situated near Ginza Six, a popular high-end retail mall, and Uniqlo’s global flagship store. The iconic Ginza Wako clock tower is also just a short walk away.
On the other hand, the 392-unit Chisun Budget Kanazawa Ekimae is located in Kanazawa, a city known for its historical attractions and traditional Japanese gardens. The hotel provides easy access to popular tourist destinations such as Kanazawa Castle, Kenrokuen Garden, and the geisha and samurai districts featuring traditional architectural designs from the Edo period.
The acquisition of these two properties adds to CLAS’ portfolio of investments, which includes the recently acquired Teriha Ocean Stage in Fukuoka and the remaining 10% stake in Standard at Columbia in the United States. In total, CLAS has completed more than $530 million of investments in the past 12 months at higher yields than the divestments. This has resulted in an increase in income distribution for CLAS’ stapled security holders.
CLAS’ divestments in 2024, which amounted to over $500 million, have also unlocked around $74 million in net gains. This portfolio reconstitution strategy is part of CLAS’ plan to enhance the quality of its portfolio and deliver stable returns to its stapled security holders. According to CEO Serena Teo, the FY2024 NOI yield of the two hotels is 230 basis points higher than the exit yield of approximately 2.0% for the four previous divestments in Japan. She also notes that by quickly reinvesting proceeds from the divestments into higher-yielding assets, CLAS has fully replaced the income from the four divested properties.
On the stock market, CapitaLand Ascott Trust closed at 90 cents per unit.…