6 days ago
Westlite dorm owner Centurion unveils $1.8b portfolio for new accommodation Reit to be listed on SGX
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
SINGAPORE – Accommodation provider Centurion Corp unveiled on July 14 its $1.8 billion portfolio of a new real-estate investment trust which it had earlier applied to be listed on the Singapore Exchange mainboard.
In a July 14 bourse filing, mainboard-listed Centurion, which owns and operates the Westlite group of workers' dormitories among other properties, named the Reit as Centurion Accommodation Reit.
The new Reit comprises 14 properties: five purpose-built worker accommodation assets in Singapore, eight purpose-built student accommodation assets in the United Kingdom, and one in Australia.
It will subsequently acquire one more student property, located in Sydney, Australia, when it is ready for occupation, bringing the total to 15. This property is estimated to be operational in 2026 and its acquisition will raise the portfolio value to $2.1 billion.
The Reit will invest in a portfolio of income-producing real estate assets which are primarily used as purpose-built worker accommodation, student accommodation or other longer-stay purposes.
Centurion will hold units of the Reit worth around $687 million and intends to disburse some of these units to its shareholder s in dividends after its next annual general meeting in 2026.
Centurion called for a trading halt on July 14.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Singapore to train more aviation and maritime officials from around the world
Business Singapore's economy sees surprise expansion in Q2 despite US tariff uncertainty: Advance estimate
Singapore Same person, but different S'porean Chinese names? How have such naming practices evolved?
Singapore Jail for woman who opened bank accounts that received over $640m including scam proceeds
Business From wellness zone to neurodivergent room: How companies are creating inviting, inclusive offices
Singapore Swift action needed to stop vaping's slide from health risk to drug epidemic
Singapore Govt will continue to support families, including growing group of seniors: PM Wong at PCF Family Day
Singapore Art by Pathlight students to be displayed along Singapore River
It had previously announced on June 10 its Reit listing application to SGX and the Monetary Authority of Singapore. The proposed listing is subject to SGX and MAS approval .
Centurion Asset Management, which Centurion will wholly own, will be the Reit manager, while Perpetual (Asia) will be the trustee.
In the latest announcement, Centurion also outlined various agreements it made to allow the Westlite Mandai, Westlite Juniper and Westlite Ubi dorms to be included in the Reit portfolio.
Centurion will divest its 100 per cent interest in Westlite Toh Guan, 100 per cent interest in Westlite Woodlands and 51 per cent interest in Westlite Ubi to the Reit. Lian Beng Group will divest the remaining 49 per cent interest in Westlite Ubi to the Reit too.
For Westlite Mandai, Lian Beng-Centurion (Dormitory) will surrender its existing lease to Lian Beng-Centurion (Mandai), which Centurion owns 45 per cent. In turn, Lian Beng-Centurion (Mandai) will grant a 32-year lease to the Reit, with an option to renew for 30 years.
For Westlite Juniper, also located in Mandai, the Reit will be granted a 50-year lease.
The Reit will also take over the existing tenancy agreements at Westlite Mandai and Westlite Juniper.
The Centurion group will divest its 100 per cent stake in East End Adelaide in Australia to the Reit too.
Centurion also said that based on a preliminary assessment of its unaudited consolidated management accounts for the half year ended 30 June 2025 and information currently available, it is expected to report a significant profit increase.
This increase arises from fair value gain on the group's investment properties compared with the valuations on its books as at 31 December 2024, it said.
Centurion's move comes amid a flurry of renewed investor interest in Reits buoyed by soaring property prices and a moderating interest rate environment, spurring large distribution yields.
Centurion shares closed flat at $1.46 before the trading halt.
