UBS real estate funds feel the market downturn
The three funds Direct Residential, Direct Urban and PF Europe increased their rental income in the past financial year. However, they cannot completely escape the negative market trend.
UBS Direct Residential with negative performance
The share price of UBS Direct Residential fell from CHF 17.10 to CHF 16.60 over the course of the 2022/2023 financial year. The share premium decreased from 18.2% to 14.0% in the same period. Including the distribution (CHF 0.42), the fund's performance amounted to CHF -0.4%.
The net asset value per unit rose slightly by 0.7% from CHF 14.46 to CHF 14.56. UBS cites the increase in the market value of new construction projects as the main reason for this. Value-enhancing renovations also contributed to the positive development. The value of the real estate portfolio increased by around 5% or CHF 42 million to CHF 955.7 million (previous year: CHF 914.5 million). The fund rounded off a commercial area in Biberist (SO), and acquisitions were made in Niederhasli (ZH) and Wittenbach (SG).
Rental income increased by 11% or CHF 3.7 million to CHF 38.8 million. According to the fund management, a reduction in the rental loss rate from 3.4% to 3.1% and additional income from new residential construction projects contributed to this growth.
UBS Direct Urban increases share price
The market price of UBS Direct Urban increased from CHF 11.80 to CHF 12.85 in the 2022/2023 financial year. The share premium climbed from -1.0% to 9.7%. Including the distribution (CHF 0.33/unit), the fund posted a performance of CHF 11.9% (previous year: CHF -19.3%). The net asset value per unit fell from CHF 11.92 to CHF 11.72 (-1.7%) in the reporting period, which the fund management attributes to the rise in interest rates and the resulting decrease in market values in the existing portfolio. As in the previous year, the fund's property portfolio comprises 23 properties in eleven cantons; there were no acquisitions or sales in the reporting year. The value of the portfolio fell by 0.7% from CHF 588.2 million to CHF 584.0 million.
Rental income increased by 5% to CHF 21.2 million (previous year: CHF 20.3 million). The fund also intends to leverage future potential through index and reference interest rate increases.
The cumulative rental loss rate fell year-on-year from EUR 7.31TP3 thousand to EUR 5.61TP3 thousand and, according to the fund management company, includes not only vacancies of EUR 5.41TP3 thousand but also loss offsets of EUR 0.21TP3 thousand due to the bankruptcy of mainly one commercial tenant in Dietikon. Around 60% of the total vacancy rate is attributable to a single retail property in Granges-Paccot.
UBS PF Europe with stock market performance of -5.3 percent
UBS PF Europe has been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since November 10, 2022. However, the share price fell from the opening price of CHF 11.25 to CHF 10.65 by the end of the 2022/23 financial year. This corresponds to a stock market performance of -5.3% since listing. The distribution is expected to be CHF 0.24 per share.
The market value of the portfolio was EUR 280.3 million as at June 30 (previous year: EUR 276.3 million). The net asset value per unit fell from CHF 10.83 to CHF 10.34 in the past year (-4.5%), which according to the fund management is due to the devaluation of market values driven by interest rate developments and unrealized foreign currency effects.
Rental income increased to EUR 11.3 million (previous year: EUR 9.4 million) and several rental agreements were extended or expanded. Due to the high level of indexation of the rental agreements and further lettings, the target rent rose by 6.6% (excluding the new property in Neuenburg am Rhein) to 11.5 million euros over the course of the financial year. The occupancy rate remains at almost 100% and the weighted average lease term is around 6.9 years, UBS also reported.
In the reporting period, the fund acquired a logistics property in Germany and secured another residential property in Aachen. The portfolio will therefore comprise 14 properties from the 2023/24 financial year. Further acquisitions, including a consolidation, are at an "advanced stage of examination", the report continues. (ah)