Wrap Text
Pre-close operational update
EMIRA PROPERTY FUND LIMITED
Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa
(Registration number 2014/130842/06)
JSE share code: EMI ISIN: ZAE000203063
JSE bond company code: EMII
LEI Number: 3789005E23C6259EAE70
(Approved as a REIT by the JSE)
("Emira", "the Company" or "the Fund")
PRE-CLOSE OPERATIONAL UPDATE
Shareholders and noteholders are referred to the Fund's half-year results announcement for the six
months ended 30 September 2024 ("interim results"), released on SENS on 13 November 2024. The
Company wishes to provide an update to investors regarding the operational performance of its
investments.
SA Direct local portfolio
Commercial portfolio
Despite a challenging economic environment, the local commercial portfolio, consisting of retail,
industrial, and office properties, has delivered a resilient performance, meeting expectations for the
10 months ended 31 January 2025 ("the period"). Total vacancies across the portfolio increased to
6,8% (by GLA) at the end of January 2025 (September 2024: 3,9%). The increase was primarily due to
RTT at RTT Acsa Park reducing their space from 46 673m² to 30 833m² and the impact of disposals
over the period. Tenant retention remains a key focus, with 77.5% (by Gross rental) of matured leases
being retained. The weighted average total reversions for the period have improved at an overall
-4,2% (September 2024: -6,8%).
The Fund's weighted average lease expiry ("WALE") at the end of the period remained stable at 2,8
years (September 2024: 2,8 years), while average annual lease escalations remained similar at 6,4%
(September 2024: 6,5%).
Collections vs billings for the period were 97.5%
During the period, 26 properties were transferred out of the Fund, generating total gross proceeds of
R2.4 billion. These disposals comprised 5 retail properties, 10 office buildings, and 11 industrial
parks.
Emira's experience on the key individual sectors is as follows:
Retail:
Retail vacancies at the end of the period increased slightly to 4,4% (September 2024: 4,2%).
The WALE is similar at 3,1 years (September 2024: 3,2 years) and 81,9% (by gross rental) of
maturing leases in the period were retained. Total weighted average reversions for the period
have improved to -0.9% (September 2024: -4,0%).
Emira's retail portfolio of 12 properties consist mainly of grocer-anchored neighbourhood
and community shopping centres, the largest being Wonderpark, a 91 038m² dominant
regional shopping centre located in Karen Park, Pretoria North.
Office:
Office vacancies at the end of the period increased to 9,7% (September 2024: 9,4%). The
WALE has improved slightly to 2,6 years (September 2024: 2,5 years) and 57,0% (by gross
rental) of maturing leases in the period were retained. Total weighted average reversions for
the period have improved to -5,8% (September 2024: -9,6%).
Emira's office portfolio consists of 10 properties, the majority of which are P- and A-grade
properties. The sector's fundamentals remain depressed, with low demand continuing to
limit real rental growth.
Industrial:
Industrial vacancies at the end of the period increased to 7,8% (September 2024: 0,7%) due
to RTT at RTT Acsa Park reducing their space requirements. The WALE has decreased to 2,7
years (September 2024: 2,9 years) and 73,2% (by gross rental) of maturing leases in the
period were retained. Total weighted average reversions for the period have declined to -
10,8% (September 2024: -7,9%).
Emira's 21 industrial properties are split between single-tenant light industrial and
warehouse facilities and multi-tenant midi- and mini-unit industrial parks.
Residential portfolio
The residential portfolio consists of 3 389 units (September 2024: 3 588) located in Gauteng and
Cape Town.
Vacancies across the residential portfolio were 4.0% (by units) as at 31 January 2025 (September
2024: 5,0%), which was higher due to the held-for-sale units, and if these held for sale units are
excluded, the vacancies were 2,9%.
Collections vs billings for the period under review were 98,4%.
In line with the Fund's recycling strategy 386 residential units have transferred during the period,
realising gross disposal proceeds of R312,9m.
USA
The US portfolio now comprises 11 equity investments, down from 12 in September 2024, in grocery
anchored, value orientated, open air power centres. During the period, Emira and its co-investors
successfully completed the sale of San Antonio Crossing, realising gross proceeds of USD28,2m (an
8.87% premium to book value) upon transfer on 18 December 2024. Emira held a 49,50% equity
stake in San Antonio Crossing.
As at 31 January 2025, vacancies across the remaining 11 properties had increased to 3,9%
(September 2024: 3,5%), mainly due to the bankruptcy of Conn's (40 120 SF), the home goods
retailer at Wheatland Towne Centre. The underlying properties are performing in line with
expectations.
DL Invest Group S.A ("DL Invest")
DL Invest is a Luxembourg-headquartered Polish property company. Through its subsidiaries
(collectively the "DL Group"), it develops and holds logistics centres, mixed use/office centres, and
retail parks across Poland. Through its internal structure, which includes approximately 230
employees, the DL Group's business model assumes full implementation of the investment process
and actively manages projects as a long-term owner.
Following shareholder approval at the general meeting on 17 March 2025, Emira exercised its
Tranche 2 Subscription Option, and on 20 March 2025 subscribed for an additional 113 new B Shares
and 113 9% Loan Notes, with each Loan Note linked to a B Share to form a Linked Unit (the "Tranche
2 Subscription"). This increased Emira's stake to 45% of the total DL Invest shares. The total
consideration for the Tranche 2 Subscription was €44.5m, comprising €8.9m for the B Share
subscription and €35.6m for the Loan Notes. The Tranche 2 Subscription was funded through a new
5-year Euro debt facility, with a fixed interest rate of 4,71%.
As at 31 December 2024, the DL Group holds a portfolio of 38 properties (excluding land and
properties under development) with an estimated value of approximately €670m. This portfolio
consists of logistics/industrial properties (67% by value), retail properties (11% by value), and mixed-
use properties (22% by value). Additionally, as of the same date, the DL Group owned land and
properties under development with a combined carrying value of €182m.
As at the 31 December 2024, total vacancies across the DL Invest portfolio increased to 3,2%
(September 2024: 2,0%), while the WALE remained at 5,5 years.
Capital management and liquidity
As at 28 February 2025 the Fund had unutilised debt facilities of R1,09b together with cash-on-hand
of R349,2m. This was bolstered in March 2025 by a new 5 year €45m term debt facility from Rand
Merchant Bank to fund the DL Invest Tranche 2 Subscription.
The Fund's loan-to value ratio ("LTV") decreased to circa 34,1% as at 28 February 2025 (September
2024: 42,0%) because of disposal proceeds received on properties that transferred post 30
September 2024 being used to reduce debt. Following the DL Invest Tranche 2 Subscription the LTV
has increased and is expected to close at c. 36% - 37% by 31 March 2025.
Conclusion
The Fund is on track to exceed its objectives for FY25.
Emira expects to release its results for the full year ended 31 March 2025 on Wednesday, 28 May
2025.
This information is the responsibility of the Directors and has not been reviewed or reported on by
our external auditors.
Bryanston
31 March 2025
Date: 31-03-2025 01:30:00
Produced by the JSE SENS Department. The SENS service is an information dissemination service administered by the JSE Limited ('JSE').
The JSE does not, whether expressly, tacitly or implicitly, represent, warrant or in any way guarantee the truth, accuracy or completeness of
the information published on SENS. The JSE, their officers, employees and agents accept no liability for (or in respect of) any direct,
indirect, incidental or consequential loss or damage of any kind or nature, howsoever arising, from the use of SENS or the use of, or reliance on,
information disseminated through SENS.
Sharenet Sites 
