Accelerate Property Fund bowls their maiden over
Fourways Mall owner, Accelerate Property Fund, which made an entry on the JSE last year December, on Monday declared its maiden distribution of 13.77289 cents per linked unit.
The results were marginally higher than the forecast of 13.71818 cents per share, for the year ending March ahead of its prelisting forecast.
The retail-focused property group‚ said profit after tax amounted to R552.8m, considerably higher than the prelisting forecast of R123m.
Management said the variation is largely a result of a fair value adjustment to the fund’s property portfolio. The year under review incorporates the four-month trading period since Accelerate’s listing in early December.
Although Accelerate garnered plenty of market support before its JSE debut, raising a substantial R1.9bn in a private placement, the stock has underperformed the property sector in terms of share price growth in the year to date.
CEO Michael Georgiou said that investors had probably adopted a wait-and-see approach given that the fund was an unproven entity and new to the listings game. “However, the fact that we have delivered on our performance forecast has hopefully pleased the market. The fund is now well-positioned to create shareholder value as we unlock our future growth plans.”
He noted that construction in the redevelopment of the Fourways Mall is set to start in the first quarter of next year. The massive 90,000m² extension will take the centre to 175,000m², positioning it as one of the country’s largest malls.
Mr Georgiou said despite mounting pressure on consumer spending, it appeared that retailers still have appetite to increase their store space, with Fourways Mall tenants having signed up for 70% of the additional lettable area. Management is also in talks with a number of international retailers who are keen to set up shop in the extended mall.
Accelerate’s R6.15bn property portfolio includes other Fourways shopping centres such as Cedar Square, Fourways View, The Buzz Shopping Centre and the Leaping Frog. The company also has first right of refusal on the development pipeline of the Bloemfontein-based Georgiou family, one of the largest private property owners in SA. This includes an option to acquire a 50% undivided share in the Loch Logan Waterfront development in Bloemfontein, the largest shopping centre in central SA, in 2016.
Mr Georgiou said Accelerate has a strong balance sheet, with 90% of its debt fixed for three years at an allin cost of only 7.1%.
Analysts believe the stock offers a buying opportunity at current levels of R5.10. It was yesterday trading at a forward yield of around 9.6%, a substantial premium to the sector's average yield of 7.7%.
“Accelerate offers great value at current levels. Things appear to be on track. We are particularly excited about the prospects of Fourways Mall,” said Stanlib listed property head Keillen Ndlovu.