Unitholders gain as CIT cuts fee for manager
New formula cuts performance fee by up to 50 per cent
Published on Apr 18, 2014 1:33 AM
CIT'S PORTFOLIO INCLUDES: Cambridge Industrial Trust, an independent Reit, has a portfolio of 48 properties in Singapore, including a six-storey building at 30, Marsiling Industrial Estate Road 8 and a five-storey block at 16, Tai Seng Street (above). -- PHOTOS: CAMBRIDGE INDUSTRIAL TRUST
By Rachael Boon
CAMBRIDGE Industrial Trust (CIT) is slashing its manager's performance fee by millions of dollars so more cash can go back to unitholders.
The manager, Cambridge Industrial Trust Management, said yesterday that it will change the formula it uses to calculate the half-yearly fees.
It is made up of two "tiers". Tier 2 will be cut from 15 per cent to 5 per cent, a move that will reduce the overall performance fee by up to 50 per cent.
Under the old formula, performance fees for the six months to June 30 last year would have been $27.7 million - a sizeable amount considering that CIT's gross revenue during the period was $49.4 million.
The manager waived half of what it was entitled to and accepted payment of $13.9 million on July 7 last year.
Under the new formula, the performance fees would have amounted to $14.1 million.
Board chairman Chua Yong Hai said: "As you can recall, the trust strongly outperformed the benchmark index last year, we were entitled to a performance fee of $27.7 million. The board took the decision to reduce this by 50 per cent to $13.9 million."
He said the board's decision was in response to feedback from unitholders over the performance fees in the first half of 2013.
CIT, an independent industrial real estate investment trust (Reit), has a portfolio of 48 properties in Singapore, including a five-storey block at 16, Tai Seng Street, and a six-storey building at 30, Marsiling Industrial Estate Road 8.
Ms Caroline Fong, CIT head of investor relations and corporate communications, said there was some feedback about the difference in methodology for the performance fee calculations compared with other Reits.
"Instead of being rewarded by our own merits, we are benchmarked against nine of the largest Singapore Reits that make up majority of the Singapore Reit market cap. To outperform them, the total returns - share price appreciation plus dividends paid - of CIT must exceed that of the benchmark index for the same period."
The manager is entitled to the fee when CIT's total return exceeds the benchmark index.
She added that the adjustment ensures a more equitable distribution when the trust outperforms.
But Mr Loi Pok Yen, group chief executive of logistics firm CWT, which has a stake in CIT, feels that the performance fee should be measured based on what can be attributed to the Reit, such as distribution per unit (DPU), gross revenue or rental.
"If you benchmark it against another Reit and fall, then what? In terms of absolute returns to the shareholders, they are still down. This is a Reit, not an equity fund.
"I'm sure they've got their own reasons (for the change). At the end of the day, all the unitholders will have to make the decision to vote on it.
"Cambridge is doing quite well... as long it doesn't propose anything which is hugely detrimental and dilutive to shareholders, I'm all in favour of it."
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Background story
CIT'S PORTFOLIO INCLUDES: HALVED
As you can recall, the trust strongly outperformed the benchmark index last year, we were entitled to a performance fee of $27.7 million. The board took the decision to reduce this by 50 per cent to $13.9 million.
- Board chairman Chua Yong Hai