S-Reits' YTD asset acquisitions exceed S$5 billion

SINGAPORE real estate investment trusts (S-Reits) and property trusts continue to increase assets under management (AUMs).

This year, 15 acquisitions have been announced valued at over S$5 billion. Of these, 11 were industrial and logistics-related properties.

Three of the largest announced were by Mapletree Industrial Trust (MIT), Ascendas Reit and Frasers Logistics & Commercial Trust (FLCT).

MIT proposed in May to buy 29 data centres across 18 states in the United States for close to S$1.8 billion. MIT said the acquisition aligns with its strategy to increase its portfolio of data centres, and diversifies MIT's footprint across US data centre markets. Its portfolio of data centres will increase to S$4.6 billion (or 53.6 per cent of its total portfolio) post-acquisition, making MIT one of the largest owners of data centres among Asia-Pacific-listed Reits by AUM.

Ascendas Reit announced in March the acquisition of 11 data centres across the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France and Switzerland for S$904.6 million. Ninety-three per cent of the acquired portfolio is located in key European data centre markets that benefit from being close and connected to large population centres. The acquisition expands the Reit's existing data centre portfolio from 4 per cent to 10 per cent.

FLCT proposed in May to buy six properties in Germany, the Netherlands and the UK for S$548.7 million. The six properties include four logistics and industrial properties in Germany and the Netherlands, and a logistics and industrial property as well as a business park in the UK. This marks the Reit's maiden entry into the UK logistics sector. SGX RESEARCH

• For more research and information on Singapore's Reit sector, visit sgx.com/research-education/sectors for the monthly S-Reits & Property Trusts Chartbook.
• Source: SGX Research S-Reits & Property Trusts Chartbook.