$UOB APAC Green REIT ETF(GRN.SI)$
Why Invest?
Diversified property holdings: The Fund seeks to invest in high-quality and sustainable real estate across a wide range of sectors and markets. As of January 2023, the Fund’s Top Three sectors were retail, office, and diversified Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).
Rising opportunities in Asia: The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, estimates that by 2030, the green buildings sector within Emerging Markets will see US$24.7 trillion in business investment, driven by the expansion of building construction and the increasing urgency to achieve carbon neutrality1.
Change in investor requirements: This Fund meets the growing requirement by institutional real estate investors to adopt investment strategies that are more resilient, can minimize systematic risks, and are future-proof.
High demand for green buildings: According to Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated (JLL), over 70 percent of corporate occupiers in Asia Pacific are willing to pay a rental premium to lease certified green buildings as part of efforts to meet their decarbonization goals2.
Capable of delivering positive total returns: The Fund aims to deliver both high dividend yield and capital gains by selecting real estate assets with both good rentals and growth potential.
One Month Portfolio Review
The investment objective of the UOB APAC Green REIT3 ETF4 (the “Fund”) aims to replicate as closely as possible, before expense5, the performance of the iEdge-UOB APAC Yield Focus Green REIT Index (“Index”).
From its inception on 23 November 2021 to 31 January 2023, the Fund tracked the Index very closely with only very minor performance deviation that resulted from fees and initial deployment.
Annualised and Cumulative Returns
The Fund Net Asset Value (NAV) vs Index, 23 November 2021 – 31 January 2023
The Fund Net Asset Value (NAV) vs Index, 23 November 2021 – 31 January 2023
Source: UOBAM/Bloomberg, 31 January 2023
The Index outperformed its non-green peer S&P Asia Pacific REIT Index by 3.05 percent over the last year (31 January 2022 – 31 January 2023).
Source: UOBAM/Bloomberg, 31 January 2023
Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance. Performance numbers are not annualized
Market Review
Asian equity markets kicked off 2023 on a strong start (MSCI All Country Asia Pacific Index: 5.9 percent in SGD terms) buoyed by China's reopening and favourable policy shifts in China’s internet and gaming sectors. Investor sentiment was further given a boost as supportive US macro data on disinflation renewed expectations of an end to the rate-hiking cycle and the soft landing narrative. Commodity prices were mixed as the milder winter kept energy prices under pressure while metal prices rose on the back of economic activities picking up in China. Asian currencies appreciated against the US Dollar (USD), most in Australian Dollar (AUD), Indonesian Rupiah (IDR), Malaysian Ringgit (MYR), and SGD. The 10-year US Treasury (UST) yield fell to a low of 3.32 percent (last seen in September 2022) before retracing higher to 3.51 percent (month-on-month (m/m): -37 basis points (bps)).
The Bank of Japan (BOJ) maintained its monetary policy at status quo following its December 2022 Yield Curve Control (YCC) revisions (widening the trading band to +/-50bps from +/-25bps previously). The ‘dovish surprise’ against hawkish market expectations led to a strengthening in the Japanese Yen (against USD) (the Japanese yen appreciate 14.3 percent against USD from its peak in October 2022).
Australia’s fourth quarter 2022 headline inflation grew 1.9 percent quarter-on-quarter (q/q) (year-on-year (y/y): 7.8 percent) stronger than the market expectation of 1.6 percent q/q. Underlying inflationary pressures were broad-based especially domestic services inflation as led by a surge in holiday travel and accommodation. This also suggests labour cost inflation remained robust.
Singapore’s non-oil domestic exports (NODX) for December 2022 declined 20.6 percent y/y missing the market expectation of -16 percent y/y and owing to declines in both electronics and non-electronic exports. Core inflation for December 2022 was unchanged at 5.1 percent, while headline inflation eased to 6.5 percent y/y in December 2022 (from 6.7 percent in November 2022). For 2022 as a whole, core inflation averaged 4.1 percent (vs 2021: 0.9 percent), while headline inflation was 6.1 percent (vs 2021: 2.3 percent).
In China, the number of deaths from COVID-19 dropped by almost half towards the end of January 2023, even as travel surged to 90 percent of pre-pandemic levels over the Lunar New Year break. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) extended three monetary policy tools designed to encourage banks to support green tech and logistics. China’s manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) returned to the expansionary territory in January 2023 (+3.1 points to 50.1) as disruptions from reopening dissipated. Non-manufacturing PMI rebounded (+12.8 points to 54.4) as the services sector recorded a surge in retail, accommodation, and catering.
Outlook and Positioning
The REITs sector heavily underperformed in 2022 as inflation, rate hikes, and rising real yields dominated. Despite the macro-level headwinds, property-level fundamentals remain mostly supportive. Conditions supporting a healthy REITs sector earnings growth and outlook are largely favorable though certain segments and/or markets may enjoy better growth. Further, the US Federal Reserve (Fed) policy is a key watchpoint as it could potentially lift the valuation overhang on the sector. We continue to adopt a clear bias to companies leveraging the re-opening theme with compounding growth options or where valuations simply do not reflect the strength of the businesses.
The performance of the Fund was elevated by Australia market while Japan market was the main drag in January 2023.
The following chart shows the latest country allocation of the Fund as date of 31 January 2023.
Country Allocation
Source: UOBAM, 31 January 2023
The Fund aims to replicate as closely as possible, before expenses, the performance of the Index. The Index is reviewed semi-annually in March and September. Results from an Index review are implemented effectively on the fourth Monday of the review month. The latest Index review was on 26 September 2022, when the Fund’s rebalancing came into effect on the same day to track closely the Index. The Fund aims to have income distribution on a semi-annual basis. Distributions in SGD are not guaranteed. Distributions may be made out of income, capital gains and/or capital. This relates to the disclosed distribution policy as set out in the Fund’s prospectus. Please refer to www.uobam.com.sg for more information. The ex-date of the latest dividend distribution was on 29 December 2022.
ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Impact
Green Impact Dashboard
The Green Impact Dashboard (GID) measures the extent that green tilting6 provides the Fund with a positive sustainability impact. It compares the performance of the Fund against the Non-Green Tilt APAC REIT index. The two indices have the same holdings, but the latter does not include a green tilt. We measure the Fund’s green impact from 4 metrics: greenhouse gas emission, energy consumption, water consumption and Green building certification.
This dashboard indicates that green tilting provides the Fund with a positive green impact and our investors can easily monitor the concrete impact.
Source: UOBAM, GRESB, January 2023
*DCR: Valid green building certification obtained at the time of design, construction, and/or renovation
**OPS: Valid operational green building certification
1 IFC, “Green Buildings – A Finance and Policy Blueprint for Emerging Markets”, December 2019.
2 JLL Research Commentary, “Premium rental for green buildings in Asia Pacific- Occupiers in Asia Pacific are willing to pay a premium rental for green-certified buildings”, 16 November 2021.
3 Real Estate Investment Trust
4 Exchange Traded Fund
5 The expenses include costs, fees or other charges.
6 Green tilting refers to the weights of selected REITs within the ETF/Index. The weights of selected REITs can either increase, reduce or remain unchanged at each index review date based on the GRESB Environmental Performance and Development Components (“Environmental Score”) in addition to the overall GRESB Score as assessed by the independent research firm, GRESB, to reward greener REITs and penalize less greener REITs.
All statistics quoted in the write-up are sourced from Bloomberg as of 31 January 2023 unless otherwise stated.
Important Notice and Disclaimers
This document is for general information only. It does not constitute an offer or solicitation to deal in units (“Units”) in the UOB APAC Green REIT ETF (the ”Fund”) or investment advice or recommendation and was prepared without regard to the specific objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person who may receive it.
The information contained in this document, including any data, projections and underlying assumptions, are based upon certain assumptions, management forecasts and analysis of information available and reflects prevailing conditions and the views of UOB Asset Management Ltd (“UOBAM”) as of the date of this document, all of which are subject to change at any time without notice. In preparing this document, UOBAM has relied upon and assumed, without independent verification, the accuracy and completeness of all information available from public sources or which was otherwise reviewed by UOBAM. While the information provided herein is believed to be reliable, UOBAM makes no representation or warranty whether express or implied, and accepts no responsibility or liability for its completeness or accuracy. Nothing in this document shall, under any circumstances constitute a continuing representation or give rise to any implication that there has not been or there will not be any change affecting the Fund. No representation or promise as to the performance of the Fund or the return on your investment is made. Past performance of the Fund or UOBAM and any past performance or prediction, projection or forecast of the economic trends or securities market are not necessarily indicative of the future or likely performance of the Fund or UOBAM. The value of Units and the income from them, if any, may fall as well as rise, and is likely to have high volatility due to the investment policies and/or portfolio management techniques employed by the Fund. Investments in Units involve risks, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested, and are not obligations of, deposits in, or guaranteed or insured by United Overseas Bank Limited (“UOB”), UOBAM, or any of their subsidiary, associate or affiliate (“UOB Group”) or distributors of the Fund. The Fund may use or invest in financial derivative instruments and you should be aware of the risks associated with investments in financial derivative instruments which are described in the Fund's prospectus. The UOB Group may have interests in the Units and may also perform or seek to perform brokering and other investment or securities-related services for the Fund.
Investors should note that the Fund is not like a conventional unit trust in that an investor cannot redeem his Units directly with UOBAM and can only do so through the participating dealers, either directly or through a stockbroker if his redemption amount satisfies a prescribed minimum that will be comparatively larger than that required for redemptions of units in a conventional unit trust. The list of participating dealers can be found at www.uobam.com.sg. An investor may therefore only be able to realise the value of his Units by selling the Units on the Singapore Exchange Limited (“SGX”). Investors should also note that any listing and quotation of Units on the SGX does not guarantee a liquid market for the Units.
An investment in unit trusts is subject to investment risks and foreign exchange risks, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested. Investors should read the Fund’s prospectus, which is available and may be obtained from UOBAM or any of its appointed agents or distributors, before deciding whether to subscribe for or purchase any Units. You may wish to seek advice from a financial adviser before making a commitment to invest in any Units, and in the event that you choose not to do so, you should consider carefully whether the Fund is suitable for you.
The Fund is not in any way sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by and/or its affiliates and SGX and/or its affiliates make no warranty or representation whatsoever, expressly or impliedly, either as to the results to be obtained from the use of the iEdge-UOB APAC Yield Focus Green REIT Index (the “Index”) and/or the figure at which the Index stands at any particular time on any particular day or otherwise, The Index is administered, calculated and published by SGX. SGX shall not be liable (whether in negligence or otherwise) to any person for any error in the Fund and the Index and shall not be under any obligation to advise any person of any error therein.
“SGX” is a trade mark of SGX and is used by the Index under license. All intellectual property rights in the Index vest in SGX.
The use of UOB's name, logo or trademark on this document in relation to the Fund is not representative of the views of UOB. UOB is not the offeror or manager of the Fund and does not perform any investment nor advisory role to UOBAM as a consequence of the use of the word “UOB” in the Fund’s name. UOB is not responsible for the performance of the Fund nor is UOB involved in the manner with which UOBAM manages the Fund. No recommendation or advice is given by UOB of any kind and this document was prepared without regard to the specific objectives, financial situation or needs of any particular person who may receive it. UOB assumes no direct or consequential liability for any errors in or reliance upon this document.
This advertisement or publication has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
UOB Asset Management Ltd Co. Reg. No. 198600120Z
Comments