Operator
I would now like to hand the call over to the Managing Director of BWP, Mr. Mark Scatena.
Mark Scatena
Thank you, and good morning, everyone, and thanks for joining us. My name is Mark Scatena, Managing Director of BWP, and I'm joining you from Perth.
With me today is Andrew Ross, Head of Property, and David Hawkins, our Chief Financial Officer. Today we're pleased to present BWP Group's results for the half year ending 31 December 2025.
BWP has released to the ASX this morning its half year results announcement, half year report incorporating the 4D, and investor briefing presentation. I'll now take you through the key aspects of the presentation before we take questions.
Turning to slide 3. To commence today, we acknowledge the traditional owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land and waterways upon which we depend.
We pay our respects to their elders, past and present. Turning to slide 6 and portfolio highlights.
The half year results reflect continued progress across BWP's strategic pillars of portfolio optimization, profitable growth, and portfolio renewal. Portfolio optimization outcomes were underpinned by the completion of management internalization and progress on the Bunnings lease reset, resulting in an extension of the portfolio weighted average lease expiry to 7.5 years, an increase of 3.1 years on the prior corresponding period.
Like-for-like rental growth for the 12 months to 31 December 2025 was 2.6%, supported by strong leasing outcomes in the large format retail portfolio, where leasing spreads increased by an average of 7.6%. The portfolio recorded a valuation uplift of $155.9 million, reflecting improved rental income and a firming of the weighted average cap rate of 13 basis points to 5.27%.
Developments and repurposing activities, namely at Fountain Gate and Broadmeadows in Victoria and Noarlunga in South Australia, were advanced during the period. Supporting profitable growth, the group completed the acquisition of HomeCentre Morayfield in Queensland for $48 million at a market capitalization rate of 5.75%.
The fully leased large format retail center was acquired off-market, funded from existing debt facilities, and was earnings accretive from settlement, further increasing BWP's exposure to large format retail. Reflecting the group's operating performance, an interim distribution of 9.58 cents per security has been declared and will be paid on the 27th of February 2026 to securityholders on BWP's register at 5:00 p.m.
Western Standard Time on 31 December 2025. BWP today reaffirms full year distribution guidance, subject to no major disruption of the Australian economy or material change in market conditions, expecting total distributions for the year ending 30 June 2026 of 19.41 cents per security, representing a 4.1% increase on the prior year's distribution of 18.65 cents.
Portfolio renewal and capital management activity also progressed during the half, including the divestment of a non-core asset at Morley in Western Australia. Post the balance date, the divestment of Port Kennedy in Western Australia was completed, and the group also entered into an unconditional contract for the sale of Chadstone in Victoria for $86 million, with settlement expected in June 2026.
In October 2025, the group completed a successful debt refinancing, issuing a $300 million, 5-year Australian medium-term note, which was strongly supported by both domestic and offshore investors, further diversifying our funding base and enhancing balance sheet flexibility. Moody's revision of our credit rating upwards to A3 Stable further underscores the strength and resilience of the balance sheet, positioning the group well to support future growth opportunities.
Turning to slide 7 and key portfolio metrics. Statutory profit after fair value movements and income tax was $221.8 million, compared with $157.1 million in the prior period, an increase of 41.2%.
Profit before fair value movements and tax of $66.4 million was largely in line with the prior corresponding period, with increased rental income offset by one-off transaction costs associated with the internalization and lease reset. The underlying net tangible asset backing of BWP's securities increased during the period to $4 per security at 31 December 2025, reflecting the unrealized gains on revaluation of investment properties and the increased number of securities on issue post the internalization.
Turning to slide 9 and financial performance. While I won't spend time on slides 9 and 10, they do provide an overview of financial performance for the half, with key metrics focused on income, expenses, portfolio valuation, distributions, investments, and cash generation and our capital structure.
Turning to slide 11 and funds from operations. Funds from operations increased to $70.4 million, 6%, up 6% on the prior corresponding period, with the distribution reflecting 98.6% of FFO.
Distributions for the half were fully supported by cash generation, despite increased repurposing activity providing a headwind to rental income. BWP continues to target a distribution payout ratio of 90 to 110% of FFO, providing flexibility to accommodate the impacts of activities such as development and repurposing.
Turning to slide 13 and portfolio evolution. This slide summarizes the evolution of the BWP portfolio and reflects the contribution of site repurposing, Bunnings upgrades and expansions, and increasing participation in the large format retail, or LFR, sector to the composition of BWP's portfolio.
Whilst investment in Bunnings Warehouses remains BWP's primary focus, large format retail has become an increasingly important component of our portfolio. Since 2020, BWP's LFR portfolio has grown to approximately $1.2 billion, driven by rental growth, acquisitions, and asset repurposing, placing BWP as Australia's fourth largest owner of LFR assets.
Importantly, leveraging the post-internalization reduction in the cost of capital provides BWP with increased capacity to continue growing all aspects of the portfolio, including LFR, and supported by tenant-led expansion and site repurposing pipeline of approximately $100 million. Turning to slide 14 and large format retail dynamics.
Continued tenant strength, together with an undersupply of lettable area, is driving an attractive rental growth outlook for large format retail. Population growth, rising residential property values, and low unemployment have underpinned strong retailer performance, with listed large format retailers continuing to demonstrate resilient sales growth.
Given this context, with cumulative lease expiries within the LFR portfolio to the end of financial year 2029 representing some 10% of annual portfolio income, opportunities exist to drive positive leasing spreads through effective portfolio optimization and tenant curation. Turning to slide 15 and portfolio composition.
The large format retail market is material in size, with an estimated value of $25 billion, and importantly exhibits strong ongoing transaction activity, or asset churn, that supports portfolio growth through asset recycling and acquisitions accretive to BWP's cost of capital. Whilst BWP's market share of the LFR market is significantly less than its share in Bunnings Warehouse ownership, the addressable market size and the higher rates of churn present an opportunity for BWP to grow its portfolio over time, leveraging the group's asset management and development capability, supported by its balance sheet strength and post-internalization cost of capital reduction.
Turning to slide 16 and an update on the transition to an internalized model. Upon completion of the internalization transaction on the 1st of August 2025, BWP has prioritized systems enablement, team employment arrangements, and resourcing to support growth and improve the delivery of investor relations and sustainability initiatives.
Collaboration with Wesfarmers to support the transition to an internalized model has been effective, with expansion planning and upgrade principle development advanced with Bunnings during the half. The internalized model remains a key enabler of BWP's strategy, supporting a lower cost of capital, improved alignment with securityholder interests, and greater operational flexibility to pursue value-accretive growth opportunities.
Turning to slide 18. Activity across the portfolio continued to be underpinned by strong tenant covenant quality, extended lease duration, and disciplined asset management.
The reset and extension of 62 Bunnings leases materially increased portfolio WALE to 7.5 years as at 31 December 2025, while leasing activity within the large format retail portfolio continued to support income growth. Occupancy of 96.7% reflects the impact of stores vacated for repurposing at sites including Fountain Gate in Victoria and Noarlunga in South Australia.
BWP's rental income continues to be supported by high-quality covenant mix, with approximately 97% of income derived from Wesfarmers Group and other national retailers. Turning to slide 19.
Rental income growth for the portfolio reflects the benefits of a balanced lease structure and the increasing contribution from large format retail assets. For the 12 months to 31 December 2025, like-for-like rental growth was 2.6%.
Growth was driven by fixed and CPI-linked rent reviews across the portfolio and strong leasing spreads in large format retail lease renewals, partially offset by market rent reviews on two Bunnings leases, being Chadstone and Hawthorn in Victoria. Turning to slide 20.
Leasing activity within the large format retail portfolio delivered positive outcomes, with leasing spreads across eight large format retail tenancies averaging 7.6%, reflecting strong rental reversion. Also, incentives remained low during the half, reflecting both tenant demand and the quality of BWP's portfolio.
These outcomes continue to support income growth, despite increased repurposing activity during the half. Moving to slide 21 and cap rates and valuations.
The entire portfolio was revalued during the period, resulting in a weighted average capitalization rate of 5.27%, representing compression of 13 basis points over the half. Net fair value gains for the period totaled $155.9 million, with this valuation uplift driven by both improved rental income and cap rate compression.
Market transaction activity increased during the period, reflecting improved alignment of buyer and seller expectations and continued investor appetite for assets underpinned by strong covenant quality. Turning to slide 22 and repurposing.
During the half, BWP's repurposing activity gained momentum, with construction commenced at both Fountain Gate in Victoria and Noarlunga in South Australia, and progress also made on the Broadmeadows Homemaker Centre expansion in Victoria. These projects reflect deep BWP's capability to execute across feasibility, planning, construction, and leasing, with a strong focus on pre-leasing outcomes and disciplined capital deployment.
Repurposing activity remains a driver of future income growth and portfolio renewal, enabling the group to reposition assets to higher and better use, while maintaining balance sheet flexibility. Moving to slide 24 and tenant expansion activity.
As a key driver of profitable growth, BWP continued to progress agreed tenant-led expansion projects, comprising total commitments of $81 million across a number of sites. Key projects include the $14 million expansion at Bunnings Pakenham in Victoria and the $11 million car showroom redevelopment and expansion at Midland in Western Australia, both expected to commence prior to 30 June 2026.
These projects are characterized by long lease terms, attractive rentalization rates, and strong tenant alignment, and reflect BWP's strategy of deploying capital into lower-risk, income-accretive opportunities within the existing portfolio. Pleasingly, planning has advanced regarding the five Bunnings store expansion projects agreed as part of the internalization, Bunnings as part of the internalization and Bunnings lease reset and capital investment transaction.
Turning to slide 25 and acquisition activity. During the half, the group acquired HomeCentre Morayfield in Queensland for $48 million at a 5.75% market cap rate from an unrelated third party.
The fully leased retail center offers approximately 12,100 square meters of lettable area, with tenants such as Amart Furniture, Nick Scali, Supercheap Auto, and Sydney Tools. The off-market acquisition was funded from existing debt facilities and was earnings accretive from settlement, further increasing BWP's exposure to the large format retail sector, which continues to benefit from favorable supply and demand dynamics.
Turning to slide 27 and portfolio renewal. Portfolio renewal activity during the half focused on actively recycling capital through the divestment of non-core assets and redeploying capital into opportunities and projects that enhance portfolio quality and growth.
The sale of the ex-Bunnings Morley property in Western Australia for $19.5 million and the ex-Bunnings Port Kennedy property, also in Western Australia, for $14.3 million were both completed at premiums to book value. Subsequent to period end, the group also executed an unconditional contract for the sale of the Chadstone Home Plus Homemaker Centre in Victoria for $86.0 million, with settlement expected in June 2026.
The divestment followed the negotiation of a lease extension with Bunnings to July 2030 and an extensive public sales campaign, achieving a realized internal rate of return of 15.2% since its introduction to the BWP portfolio via the NPR transaction. The proceeds of the Chadstone sale will initially be applied to reduce drawn debt.
These transactions demonstrate BWP's disciplined approach to capital recycling and the ability to capture value through active asset management. Moving to slide 28.
BWP's capital position remains strong, supported by diversified funding sources, extended debt maturities, and investment-grade credit ratings from both S&P and Moody's. During the half, the group further diversified its funding sources and extended debt maturities, supporting increased balance sheet flexibility.
Gearing at 31 December 2025 was 24.7%, which remains well within the board's preferred range of 20 to 30%, while the weighted average cost of debt remains stable at 4.4%. On to slide 29.
The group completed a new $300 million, 5-year bond issuance, further diversifying funding sources and extending the weighted average maturity of debt. The group has sufficient available liquidity to address upcoming debt maturities, including the $150 million bond maturing in April 2026.
BWP's diversified mix of domestic and international bank facilities and capital market funding positions the group well to support ongoing repurposing and tenant-led expansion activity and future portfolio growth opportunities. Turning to slide 31 and governance.
As disclosed in November 2025, our Chair, Tony Howarth AO, has retired from our board, with the current Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee, Ms. Fiona Harris AM, to succeed Tony as Chair.
Fiona's appointment as Chair reflects strong board support and alignment and will provide valuable continuity as BWP transitions to its new role as an internally managed business. On behalf of the management team and investors, I'd like to acknowledge and thank Tony for his significant contribution, strong stewardship, wise and commercial counsel, and effective leadership of the board.
Tony is leaving BWP well positioned following the recent internalization and lease reset and extension transaction. Turning to slides 33 and 34 and our outlook.
For the balance of the 2026 financial year, BWP will continue to deliver on its strategic agenda of portfolio optimization, profitable growth, and portfolio renewal. The group will remain focused on embedding the internalized model, with initiatives centered on systems enablement, remuneration alignment with securityholder interests, and also additional resourcing, particularly in areas supporting growth, being investor relations and sustainability.
The second half of the 2026 financial year will see the progression of material capital expenditure commitments, reflecting significant site repurposing activity and tenant-led expansion projects, with capital expenditure of between $60 million and $70 million expected for the 2026 financial year, subject to construction progress and project timing. BWP will continue to assess and pursue accretive growth opportunities, leveraging the reduction in the cost of capital achieved post-internalization and the group's diversified funding position.
Large format retail remains a key focus area, with favorable market conditions, including low rates of new supply and strong tenant performance, expected to support portfolio optimization through tenant mix curation and leasing spread opportunities. BWP's largest tenant, Bunnings, remains well positioned, supported by its external operating environment and its continued focus on expanding and innovating its addressable market.
Rent reviews are expected to contribute incrementally to property income in the second half, with 93 leases scheduled for CPI-linked or fixed percentage increases, incremental to the 73 completed in the first half. In addition, three market rent reviews of Bunnings Warehouses are in the process of being finalized and are expected to be completed during the second half.
Finally, and subject to no major disruption of the Australian economy or material change in market conditions, BWP affirms total distribution per security guidance for the 2026 financial year of 19.41 cents, or 4.1% above last year. That concludes our prepared remarks, and I'll now hand back to the moderator to facilitate any questions, where myself, Andrew Ross, BWP's Head of Property, and David Hawkins, BWP's Chief Financial Officer, are available.
Thank you.
Operator
Thank you. We will now begin the question and answer session.
If you would like to ask a question, please press star one on your telephone and wait for your name to be announced. If you would like to cancel your request, please press star two.
If you are on a speakerphone, please pick up the handset to ask your question. Your first question today comes from Cody Shield from UBS.
Please go ahead.
Cody Shield
Morning, Mark and team. Thanks for your time.
You've got the expansion and repositioning capex here. You're talking about more LFR acquisitions potentially.
Where do you guys see gearing landing over the next 12 to 18 months, and where would you like that to sit? Hi.
Mark Scatena
Thanks, Cody. Look, we guided clearly to capex in terms of the outlook.
We have that capex profile to deploy this year, which we're very pleased to deploy into some very, very strongly performing incremental investments for repurposing and expansions. We're very pleased with that.
There's some more capital to deploy to complete some of that activity into FY '27. If you think about the headroom and availability we have, we expect gearing probably to approximate kind of what it currently is, perhaps trend a little bit lower over time.
That's of course absent any inorganic activity that might play out. I think if we deploy into the existing pipeline of asset repurposing, I think you'd probably expect gearing to broadly remain consistent.
Cody Shield
That's clear. Then just on the CPI escalations, they look a touch light for the period.
What kind of lag do you have on the CPI that goes into that?
Mark Scatena
Can you just repeat that question, Cody? Sorry, just missed that.
Cody Shield
Just on the CPI-linked escalations, to 2.6%, what kind of lag have you got on the mechanisms, just thinking course of CPI over the last, let's say, 6 months to December '25?
Mark Scatena
Look, it's about 3 3 months lag.
Cody Shield
Okay. That 2.6%, it's a touch light, isn't it?
Mark Scatena
I think the one thing we'd probably point to on that, and we call this out, I think, on slide 21, and that is if you just look at the composition of that lease outcome mix for the year, you can see we disaggregated that Sorry, I should say slide 22. No, sorry.
Slide 19, apologies, slide 19. No, we disaggregated that, we did that to give a little bit more flavor to the composition of that leasehold mix and the outcomes for the half.
You can see the composition there in regards to both CPI and fixed movements, and we've split that across the Bunnings leases, and then we've had the LFR as a separate component there, and then we've given the aggregate in that fourth column. We've also pointed to market rent reviews, and we have a footnote there that refers to two market rent reviews in the Bunnings market rent reviews, which had a cumulative outcome of 4.4% down for those assets.
I think one of those was Chadstone, which is a disposal asset, with if you add back essentially those market rent reviews, again, one of those is now or will, subject to completion, not be within the portfolio, that the overall growth in terms of income for an all-lease portfolio for the half was 3%. Again, essentially that, some strong leasing spread outcomes in LFR offset by two market rent reviews in Bunnings, knowing that we've got 62 leases that we reset through the lease reset at the start of the half.
Cody Shield
Oh, okay, sure. All right, that's all from me.
Thanks.
Operator
Thank you. Your next question comes from Tom Bodor from Jarden.
Please go ahead.
Tom Bodor
Morning, Mark, Andrew, and David. Just picking up on that CPI question and the difference between the Bunnings CPI indexation at 2.5% and the LFR at 2.9%, were there some caps on some of those Bunnings leases that had CPI escalations?
Mark Scatena
Yes. Tom, there were.
Andrew Ross
Yep. There's a few leases in the portfolio that have got that cap in there.
Just so everyone knows, these are actual actioned CPIs during the period. Yeah.
For
Tom Bodor
those ones that were capped, though, they were just 2.5% because the cap's 2.5%?
Mark Scatena
Correct.
Andrew Ross
Right, Tom.
Tom Bodor
Clear. Just on the guidance, at the full year, you said $5.6 million of capital profits released is an assumption sitting behind your guidance on DPU.
Has your expectations changed around this $5.6 million number?
Mark Scatena
Tom, I think it's a good question in the sense that we guided to that headwind, which was the repurposing shortfall in comparable rental income given, as I said, that repurposing activity. We wanted to be really clear on that.
Clearly, we have some transaction costs as well, which we bore in the half. I think if you look at essentially the FFO uplift at 6% and the distribution and the payout being slightly less than that, I think, again, we're providing for some flexibility in the second half.
I think that guides to that. We're pleased with that FFO growth, we're pleased with broadly that underlying set of earnings.
At this point, Tom, there's a lot to play for in the second half, as there always is, we're hopeful that that level of capital profit release isn't required. I think there's some flexibility in that guidance.
Tom Bodor
Are you tracking ahead of the 5.6 where we sit today compared to what you thought 6 months ago?
Mark Scatena
We are, but, again, a fair bit of activity, Tom, we just want to make sure where we're holding that.
Tom Bodor
Clear. Then just a final one, I guess.
Maybe be interested in how the relationship with Wesfarmers has evolved post-internalization. Obviously, you've said they've been constructive in terms of internalizing and the process there, but what about just sort of broader discussions around their needs and wants as a tenant?
Mark Scatena
I suppose there are two components there, Tom. There's the Wesfarmers shared service agreement, and that is going very well, and that's entirely to expectation.
They've been very supportive and enabling as it relates to continued strong technology support, continued strong insurance program support as we run off into our own program. Again, very pleased with that.
As it relates to Bunnings, I think as we called out during much of the lease reset and internalization discussion, our topics of interest and our topics of mutual discussion have moved into upgrades and expansions, and we're spending a lot more time discussing those prospects as a part of that transaction element. I would say that relationship is positive, still commercial and robust, as it always is, but I think it's pleasing that we have more of a focus on expanding our tenant's portfolio, which is incredibly important as a good landlord, and we've diverted some of that activity away that we were spending on market rent review.
There's also a very positive impact to that as well outside the Wesfarmers relationship, and that is that the asset management team, leasing team have more time to spend on perhaps the non-Bunnings part of the portfolio, and we're very hopeful that we deploying that released effort into good activity. We talked a lot about leasing spreads, etc., in the LFR portfolio, so that's a key focus of the team.
Tom Bodor
Thanks very much.
Operator
Thank you. Your next question comes from Lauren Berry from Morgan Stanley.
Please go ahead.
Lauren Berry
Hey, good morning, guys. I just wanted to pick up on the payout ratio guidance that you've given as a range of 90 to 110% of FFO.
If you look at the top and bottom end of that range, it's about a $25 to $30 million swing factor between those bookends. Just wondering why you've given yourself such a large range to play in there, and if there's any I guess read-through to how you're seeing the next couple of years downtime from redevelopments?
Mark Scatena
Thanks, Lauren. I wouldn't read too much through that.
I think you've seen for the half, we've paid out just shy of 99%. I think, historically, that has broadly approximated 100, that's our intent going forward.
I think we just wanted to have some flexibility, Lauren, on the basis that we've been a little bit more active. There are some timing differences coming through the FFO line, for example, given some transaction activity.
I think it's more the flexibility and agility to meet, I suppose, some of that activity, Lauren. Our intention most certainly is to pay out as fully as we can in terms of FFO.
I think it just gives us some flexibility, Lauren, that, given the upweighted activity, we just wanted to give some allowance for that.
Lauren Berry
Sure. Do you foresee more of these timing differences occurring in FY '27, or will '26 kind of be the bulk of them?
Mark Scatena
No, most of the repurposing activity is happening essentially this half. That will carry forward into the first half of '27.
I think we've guided to Fountain Gate's completion in September, and then Noarlunga a little after that, and then our Broadmeadows Homemaker Centre a little after that into the first half of the calendar year. Yes, we'd expect most of that repurposing timing difference to be completed in the first half of the next financial year.
Lauren Berry
Great. Just on developments, are you able to give us a little bit more color on kind of yield on cost you're looking at for the LFR opportunities?
Mark Scatena
I suppose there are a couple of things, and if it's the yield on cost you're talking about the repurposing, Lauren, I think that the deployment of that $60 to $80 million we've guided well, the $70 million we guided to. I think what we've always said that there's a hierarchy, and the hierarchy, we really like to deploy capital into that repurposing activity.
Expectation there is that yield on cost is 10% and above. That's our expectation.
Then you can see clearly we then deploy into existing tenant expansion and upgrade activity, and that has typically a lower yield. Then, of course, we've got the inorganic M&A activity.
That's the hierarchy. In terms of that repurposing, we'd expect kind of double-digit yield on costs.
Lauren Berry
Double-digit. When you've got the development costs, say of Fountain Gate, $32 million, you're saying that the yield on cost on that would be double digits?
Mark Scatena
Yes, on the capex.
Lauren Berry
Cool. Then just final one from me.
You've given a lot more on LFR as it relates to your portfolio. Do you see a certain portfolio split evolving over time for your exposure to LFR versus standalone Bunnings?
Mark Scatena
No, we don't have a pie diagram expectation, a pro forma that we, for example, tried to showcase on slide 13. I think it's more we'll deploy capital, Lauren, into activity that we think is very good for securityholders and support our objective, of course, of improving income and the portfolio over time.
That's the premise. What we've called out is that we are a relatively decent player in that segment and in that sector.
We think we have some skill. We understand the lease structures, the tenant mix, and how we put capital into those assets.
The important thing is that the market is larger than the Bunnings Warehouse consolidated market, and it churns at a faster rate. That means opportunities perhaps become more available in that portfolio.
That growth we expect to be more attainable over time. We want to point the market to that.
We really like the sector. We absolutely love Bunnings Warehouses.
We'd love to participate in both, of course. It's more just the addressable market and the churn of opportunity, and we wanted to explain that.
Lauren Berry
Right, very clear. Thanks, guys.
Operator
Thank you. Your next question comes from Andrew Dodds from Jefferies.
Please go ahead.
Andrew Dodds
Oh, good morning, guys. Thank you for taking my questions.
I'd just be interested to hear your comments around the three assets that were excluded from the Bunnings lease reset. I think, from memory, these were Rocklea, Wagga Wagga, and Geraldton.
I think one or two of them might have had expiries coming up. Just any color you can provide on those three would be great.
Andrew Ross
Sure, and it's Andrew Ross here. Geraldton, Bunnings has indicated to us that it's a property that they don't want to remain at, and, in fact, they are in the process of relocating to a new site, not far away from the existing store.
It's a much bigger store, newer store, we've known about that for almost 2 years now, and we've disclosed that to the market. Wagga is another property that Bunnings had indicated to us some time ago, years ago, actually, that they were going to build a bigger store in Wagga and relocate to that one.
That hasn't eventuated at the moment, just recently Bunnings actually exercised the next 5-year option, which is from the 31st of March 2021 2026 for 5 years. The third property that you mentioned is Rocklea.
Bunnings also indicated to us, I think it was either earlier this year or late last year, that it was a store that they were going to close, and they're closing it as a result of rebuilding the Oxley store, which is about 3 kilometers away. It was flooded in the 2022 floods, and they've rebuilt it and doubled the size of that Oxley store, their business decided that Rocklea was a closure.
Andrew Dodds
Okay. Then your sort of view around FY '26 being, I guess, the peak sort of vacancy period, just combining your comments now with the recommitments you've got on Fountain Gate, Broadmeadows, and the other development site, all else equal, FY '27 is sort of shaping up to be a pretty good year in terms of occupancy across the portfolio, I'd imagine?
Mark Scatena
It will absolutely improve, and we're looking forward to having some new assets as well, some repurposed assets in the portfolio and some new tenants. Again, most of that will happen in the second half.
Andrew Dodds
Thank you. Then just finally on the sale of Chadstone, I noted in your release that it's a 6-month settlement period, not until kind of 30 30 June.
Is this sale subject to capital raising by the acquirer?
Mark Scatena
No, that's not our understanding.
Andrew Ross
It's an unconditional contract. Sorry, did you hear that?
That was an unconditional contract to sell Chadstone.
Andrew Dodds
No, got it. Thank you very much.
Operator
Thank you. Your next question comes from Howard Penny from Citi.
Please go ahead.
Howard Penny
Thank you very much. Just my first question on transaction volumes and interest in your asset base and subsector at the moment.
You give us a chart showing that cap rates have at a market level started to compress a bit over the last 12 months, but are you seeing a lot more interest and activity in large format retail and Bunnings centers at the moment? Just looking forward maybe over the next 18 months, do you expect a higher level of activity in the subsector?
Andrew Ross
Howard, look, as you can see on slide 21, there's a lot more dots on that page in 2025 than in the 4 years prior to that. We are seeing a lot more activity in Bunnings Warehouse transactions.
There's been a number that have actually transacted off-market, and we're also seeing a lot more interest in large format retail. BWP's talking to a number of agents about off-market opportunities for LFR, and BWP might be successful in some of those.
Some of those might not even come to the market. I guess what I'm trying to say to you is we've been proactive in terms of talking to the market and potentially trying to buy some assets off-market.
We're seeing some strong interest, some strong competition from other players in the LFR sector, and we think that that's only going to get more competitive.
Mark Scatena
Howard,
Howard Penny
yeah,
Mark Scatena
Mark here as well. We called out that asset churn is higher in that segment, I think, by implication, there'll be more transactions in LFR.
I think if you couple that with the undersupply of lettable area and strong demand drivers like population, I think you would expect perhaps that some of those dots in LFR perhaps will happen at a higher rate than some Bunnings dots.
Howard Penny
Thank you very much. You make a point just on the undersupply, and I just thought do you have a sense of the difference between the decisions to sort of build new assets versus buying existing assets and the profitability of those two decisions at the moment across the sector?
Mark Scatena
Not from a sector perspective. I think if you put yourself, Howard, in our shoes, again, by taking an asset, a brownfield asset, repurposing that, that is very accretive deployment of capital, with strong yields on that investment.
I think, as we called out earlier, that sits at the top of our hierarchy of capital deployment. That's something we're very attracted to.
I think Morayfield as an example, if those transactions can be configured in the right way, we can acquire good, again, existing assets at yields that are accretive to the cost of capital. They're the things we are very keen on looking at.
Howard Penny
Just final question just on leasing risk. Post the NPR transaction, the WALEs have increased, and the leasing risk seems to have been reduced.
Just thinking of the leases coming up over the next 24 months, have you had any success in decreasing that leasing risk to some degree already?
Andrew Ross
Howard, we're in discussions with a number of the non-Bunnings tenants in our portfolio some 18 months from now, their lease expiries. We're having a lot of discussions with them about trying to renew those leases at the moment.
I guess at the annual results, I'm hoping that we'll be able to report a lot of leasing deals to derisk that leasing income risk in future years, yes.
Howard Penny
That's all from me. Thanks, guys, and congratulations on the results.
Mark Scatena
Thanks, Howard.
Operator
Thank you. Your next question comes from Murray Conolan from Moelis Australia.
Please go ahead.
Murray Conallin
Morning, Mark, Andrew. Was wondering whether I could get you to comment on the average lending margins across your book at the moment, please?
I guess just taking a look at some of the expiries that you've got coming up, looks like the majority of them are still a couple of years away, but I guess just curious to hear about where you feel your average lending margins are relative to market and what the opportunities may be to compress those over time as far as you can tell? Hi,
David Hawkins
it's David Hawkins speaking. We've always been kind of really well supported by our debt providers, so as for most of our bank debt is on bilaterals, we don't really disclose our individual margins on those banks.
The best thing I can guide towards is our recent MTN transaction, where we had margins of 105 basis points, which is pretty relatively close to what our margin are across the board. In refinancing, we've got a $150 million MTN maturing in April, which we refinanced or raised the money late last year to cover that maturity.
Most of the bank debt maturity we can roll, just going back to the banks to discuss extensions as required.
Murray Conallin
Would you be able to comment at all on, I guess, just directionally what you might be expecting over the course of the next few years?
David Hawkins
Subject to any market dislocation, I think we're pretty close to where margins are. We probably won't get much more savings, because we're relatively tightly priced as we are at the moment.
Murray Conallin
Got it. Thanks very much.
Operator
Thank you. Your next question comes from C.K.
Tan, a private investor. Please go ahead.
CK Tan
Hey. Hi, Mark.
Yes, for me, I think one of the questions got answered, directions of the interest rates. I think this morning, basically, what I'm seeing is that you guys are actually going into large format.
I trust that you guys have actually done quite some research in it. I actually admire the ability to actually buy things off-market.
Questions here is this, obviously, when you look at cap rates, right, it's got to be accretive before you actually buy something. On a replacement cost basis, do you guys actually look at it from the replacement cost basis?
Because right now, I think one of the biggest concerns across Australia, not just large format, but any construction activities, obviously, it's very very difficult to get things done, cost of materials, labor availability, and maybe even reliable construction team just to actually get projects executed. You guys can tell me how difficult it is, but would you actually comment on that?
Also, by lifting your exposure in large format, what sort of risk profile do you think is a compromise on the risk profile that you're actually taking on?
Mark Scatena
Hi, C.K. Maybe I'll just start with the LFR question and come back to replacement cost.
Yes, what we wanted to characterize in the portfolio composition slide we presented is that we're a large-scale investor in large format retail. That portfolio is something that has transpired over many years, and some of that is a function of interest in the sector, some of that is a function of Bunnings vacating, and us deploying some capital into some highest and best use, and that highest and best use has been large format retail for some of those sectors.
We wanted to characterize our portfolio, C.K., just to demonstrate that we're a competent investor and operator of large format retail freeholds, and we have developed and invested capital into that sector. Now, in regards to your comment on risk, I suppose we look at where the opportunities to grow accretively are, C.K., and that's why, again, we've quantified the addressable market and the churn, and perhaps the growth is more attainable in large format retail than Bunnings Warehouses just because, again, those assets, those Bunnings covenants are incredibly tightly held, the churn is not as much, and the pricing is tighter.
I suppose when we look at an LFR asset like Morayfield, there's some recognition that we are up a little bit up the risk curve, reflected somewhat in the cap rate, but we like that addressable market, we understand the lease structures, the tenants we're comfortable with, we think the tenants have a strong outlook or historically have had strong trading outlooks, and the fundamentals of the large format retail sector and those tailwinds of population growth and undersupply, we think they are good settings for investment into that sector. That's, I suppose, why we are happy to acquire.
As it relates to replacement cost, I think you're absolutely right. Part of that undersupply factor has been that replacement cost is quite high, and that's a function, as you've articulated, of construction cost and prevailing costs.
We buying existing assets at the moment, that is good deployment. Investing into existing brownfield assets and improving those assets like we've done is good deployment of capital.
We don't typically absolutely represent that versus replacement cost, but I suspect if we did, they would again look favorable relative to the replacement cost.
CK Tan
I would like to guess as much, but, obviously, I think over the years you guys haven't been very active in terms of going out there to acquire. I do agree, through our historical conversation, the Bunnings Warehouse market is very very tight.
Unless you decide to actually take on more leverage like the other competitors that can potentially buy, but adhering to your conservative strategy, probably you may have to look into large format to actually do acquisitions accretively. That's what I mean.
I'm in total agreement, yeah.
Andrew Ross
C.K., Andrew Ross here. How are you?
What I would like to add on what Mark has talked about is it's not our intention to go out and buy vacant blocks of land and build LFR centers and have a drag on our earnings. The three repositionings or repurposings that we've talked about in our slide deck being Fountain Gate, Noarlunga, and Broadmeadows, Fountain Gate and Noarlunga is a result of Bunnings vacating those stores.
Broadmeadows is not a Bunnings site and never was a Bunnings site. It adjoins the Bunnings that we own in Broadmeadows, but this is a property that we bought a couple of years ago, and we're developing on the surplus land there.
Now, all these development costs, we've tendered those costs, and we know what they are. We also know pretty much what the rents are, being three-quarters leased for Fountain Gate and Noarlunga, and we've got strong interest for the balance there.
We're pretty confident that we're going to achieve return on capitals above 10%, and Mark alluded to that earlier from one of the other questions. With buying other LFR, we're focused really on existing centers.
It's not so much going and buying them and developing them. That's what I'm kind of trying to say to you.
CK Tan
Yep, thanks.
Operator
Thank you. Your next question comes from Claire Macqueen from Green Street.
Please go ahead.
Claire McHugh
Hi, everyone. Just a quick one from me.
Just coming back to Lauren's points around the payout ratio. I know that AFFO isn't a metric you disclose per se, but if we just look at sort of recent history, I think you've spent around $6 to $8 million a year on recurring maintenance capital.
Is this a consideration as you're thinking about your FFO payout target? Would it not be a little bit more prudent to run it lower just on that basis, essentially given that maintenance capital is unfunded?
David Hawkins
I think that's why we give kind of a range of 90 to 110 on the FFO. Our stay-in-business capex, or recurring capex, hasn't been material over the years.
We expect as part of the lease reset, we've agreed about $5 million a year with Bunnings on that. We expect our stay-in-business capex is going to be around the $10 to $15 million going forward.
Claire McHugh
Okay. Is it fair to say whilst you've given that range, that it'll on the lower end of that spectrum?
Mark Scatena
Again, lots of clear movements as we bridge into FFO and then into AFFO. I think we would hope that on average we're in the mid part of that range.
I think that's why that range is like it is, we would hope that, again, the median is somewhere around that number, 100, and that's our aim, but, again, some flexibility to allow us to address some topics.
Claire McHugh
Thanks.
Operator
Thank you. Once again, if you would like to ask a question, please press star one on your telephone and wait for your name to be announced.
Your next question is a follow-up from Andrew Dodds from Jefferies. Please go ahead.
Andrew Dodds
Hi, guys. Thank you for the follow-up question.
Just quickly on the development funding mechanism you agreed on with Wesfarmers, which was 200 basis points above the 5-year swap rates. I'm just interested as to when this kind of rentalization gets struck, just given the movement in the 5-year swap rate, and if this is kind of sort of factored into the guidance for this year?
Andrew Ross
The rate gets struck once both parties have got board approval and are moving forward with the development. There's a number of developments there that are in different stages of planning approval and board approval.
At this point in time, we haven't agreed, or Bunnings hasn't notified us that they want to proceed on any one of those developments, although we're getting very close to one or two of them.
David Hawkins
None of those developments have been included in the guidance for FY '26.
Mark Scatena
Andrew, I think in the presentation, Andrew, I think we said those projects would commence towards the back end of the calendar year '26, I think if you think there about a construction time frame and then assume that that rentalization commences when that payment is made at the completion, I think that gives you some guide to perhaps when that income is realized.
Andrew Dodds
Okay. Do you realize a coupon on that capex as it's drawn, or just upon completion?
David Hawkins
With all the Bunnings redevelopments, it's only occurs on payment at the end. Bunnings takes on all the construction risk, and we receive the rent the moment we make the payment at the end.
Andrew Dodds
Got it. Thanks, guys.
Operator
Thank you. Your next question comes from Richard Jones from J.P.
Morgan. Please go ahead.
Oh,
Richard Jones
hi, Mark. Just the MER you called out at 50 basis points.
Just how is that tracking, and where do you think that'll trend over the next sort of 12, 18 months?
David Hawkins
Richard, it's David here again. That MER of 50 basis points includes 7 months of the old management fee structure.
We expect that to trend down to around 40 basis points going forward, subject to no changes.
Richard Jones
Excellent, thank you. Just a follow-up, just on Rocklea.
I think you called out it was vacated in October last year. What's happening at Rocklea?
Mark Scatena
Richard, I'll let Andrew, we're in the process of tenanting that, and so we're hopeful that tenancy will commence relatively soon, which I'll let Andrew give some color on that, but that's been a bit of a project.
Andrew Ross
Yeah. We've been talking with a potential tenant to lease the whole building there, Richard, and we're close to doing a deal there, but we haven't finalized it just yet.
Hopefully, we can have that leased before the 30th of June.
Richard Jones
Okay. Is anything incorporated in the 60, $70 million capex in repurposing for Rocklea?
Andrew Ross
No, because my current negotiations are they take the building as is.
Richard Jones
Okay. That'd be a good outcome.
All right, thanks, guys.
Mark Scatena
Thanks, Rich.
Operator
Thank you. That's all the time we have for questions today.
I'll now hand back to Mr. Mark Scatena for any closing remarks.
Mark Scatena
Thank you, everybody, for attending today's results briefing. We really look forward to speaking to many of you over the coming days, and seeing, again, a lot of you in March in Melbourne and Sydney.
Thanks so much for joining in today, and have a lovely day.
Operator
That concludes our conference for today. Thank you for participating.
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