by winston » Wed Jun 08, 2011 2:15 pm
Vested
Initiate as our key sector BUY; CapitaLand, but 10 years ago
We initiate OUE with a BUY and a S$4.16 target, implying an upside of 39%. Our TP is pegged at 15% discount to S$4.89/share RNAV estimate.
OUE’s strategy of building strong recurring income, while enhancing old assets and identifying undervalued assets in the market is similar to what CapitaLand did especially between 2004 and 2006, over which period the stock returned 65% pa.
Furthermore, office and hospitality remain our most preferred segments in the property sector. Asset recycling, through the establishment of office and hospitality REITs, are potential share price catalysts.
Lippo still holds 67% stake; share pledge is behind us
Lippo Group, the controlling shareholder, owns 67% stake of OUE. However, its direct stake in OUE was reduced to 61.6% after pledging 53.2m shares to Credit Suisse (CS) in January as part of its loan refinancing. Lippo has the option to purchase back the shares at market value within the next six years from CS in an agreement.
Management has realised the confusion caused by the share pledge, and has said it will not repeat this. However, it has indirectly created an additional free float, since CS has placed out most of the shares. The share price fell 14% in one month, as a results (Refer to Fig 2).
Investment risks
One of the key risks to our positive view on the stock is the slower-than expected commercial leasing activities. OUE has yet to find tenants for One Raffles Place Tower 2, which will be completed by end of this year.
Furthermore, the large amount of leases expiring in Mandarin Gallery in 2012 (57% of NLA) and DBS Building in 2013 (61%) acts as a double-edged sword.
The commercial leasing demand is highly dependent on the economic outlook at that point. On the hospitality front, we are mindful of the volatility nature of the business, which can be adversely affected by external factors (ie. natural disasters, pandemics and terrorists attacks).
On its one and only residential development, Twin Peaks, we believe OUE will find it challenging to sell in the current environment. Sales in the 462-unit condo have been slow with 8% sold to date since its September-2010 launch. The policy overhang in the Singapore residential market has also affected the outlook of high-end homes.
Source: CLSA
It's all about "how much you made when you were right" & "how little you lost when you were wrong"