RDC Properties eyes control over Zambian lodge
Pauline Dikuelo | Tuesday May 24, 2022 03:33
Strategically located on the Zambian side of the Victoria Falls the hotel includes 77 rooms, a spa, and a conference centre.
Commenting on the group’s 2021 annual report, the group’s executive chair, Guido Giachetti said RDC is concluding various agreements; following which, it should be able to acquire.
“The David Livingstone Safari Lodge and Spa investment will include a cession by Development Bank of South Africa of the loan due to it by the present owners at a substantial discount and a capital restructure to enable RDC to acquire a controlling stake in the business. The transaction would be concluded in the second quarter of this year. The property will then be refurbished to compete with international standards,” he said.
Giachetti said portfolio diversification is a significant step towards driving long term shareholder value and creating a more resilient, stronger, and 'proudly Botswana' company with a global reach. He said the diversification strategy has de-risked the portfolio, reducing their exposure to offices and hospitality, and introducing some premium cross border retail assets as well as a number of growth opportunities in the different sub-sectors.
“The group continues to pursue a clearly defined vision and strategy of being an owner of strategic assets that add value to the communities we serve. We will continue to strive to be an exceptionally entrepreneurial group, operating internationally with a niche market focus and creating growth opportunities through our property holdings. The immediate focus of management is portfolio optimisation and asset improvement,” he said.
RDC Properties business has grown from a portfolio of just over P1.1 billion in 2015 to a portfolio of P5.82 billion in 2021, with the equity attributable to the owners growing by some P1.58 billion in the same period, from P927 million in 2015 to P2.45 billion in 2021.
As at December 31, 2021, the investment portfolio is 53% located in South Africa, 25% in Botswana, 19% in Croatia, and two percent in the US. Unitholders will be benefiting from deeper and wider markets with strong growth prospects. The number of properties has increased from 37 to 79.
The portfolio has continued to be hampered by vacancies, notwithstanding 25 new leases, and an additional 13 renewals having been concluded during 2021. The group’s vacancy factor of 13.9% of Gross Lettable Area, inclusive of the committed space at Westlake, is a key metric in the portfolio’s underperformance. The South African office vacancy rate reached an all-time high in the fourth quarter of 2021 of 16% (South African Property Owners Association), which represents available space of 3,000,000 square metres.