CRCT Income For Distribution 8.5% Higher Than Forecast

Source : The Business Times, April 25, 2008

CAPITARETAIL China Trust (CRCT) has announced income available for distribution to unit-holders of $6.3 million for the period Feb 5 to March 31 - $0.5 million or 8.5 per cent higher than its forecast of $5.8 million.

Available distribution per unit (DPU) for the period is 1.02 cents (6.66 cents on an annualised basis), which is 8.5 per cent higher than its forecast of 0.94 cents (6.14 cents on an annualised basis). This translates to 9 per cent year-on- year DPU growth.

Based on the unit price of $1.50 on April 23, the distribution yield works out to 4.44 per cent.

CRCT explained that the last distribution was scheduled to take place in respect of its semi-annual distributable income for the period July 1 to Dec 31, 2007. 'In order to ensure fairness to unit-holders in issue on the day immediately prior to Feb 5, 2008, the day on which the new units are issued under the equity fund-raising for the acquisition of Xizhimen Mall, the manager has made a cumulative distribution of 4.04 cents for the period July 1, 2007 to Feb 4, 2008,' it added.

Lim Beng Chee, CEO of CRCT manager CapitaRetail China Trust Management, said: 'Following a year of proactive asset management of our portfolio, the malls have registered robust top-line growth, with Wangjing Mall and Qibao Mall delivering a year-on-year revenue increase of 18.8 per cent and 45.6 per cent respectively. Tenants have also enjoyed remarkable sales growth, with same-store sales at Wangjing Mall, Qibao Mall and Xinwu Mall growing 30.9 per cent, 27.4 per cent and 51.8 per cent respectively.'

Gross revenue for Q1 2008 was 116.3 million yuan(S$22.5 million), representing a y-o-y increase of 29.8 million yuan or 34.4 per cent. This was mainly attributed to revenue from Xizhimen Mall, which was acquired on Feb 5, as well as occupancy growth at Wangjing Mall and Qibao Mall. Excluding Xizhimen Mall, gross revenue for Q1 2008 was 95 million yuan, a y-o-y increase of 8.5 million yuan or 9.8 per cent.

Net property income (NPI) for the quarter was 72.7 million yuan, a y-o-y increase of 18.5 million yuan or 34.2 per cent. Excluding Xizhimen Mall, NPI for the quarter was 59.2 million yuan, a y-o-y increase of 5 million yuan or 9.2 per cent.

CRCT's unit price closed 10 cents higher at $1.60 yesterday.