Call it a merger of two REIT titans if you will. Earlier this year, both Mapletree Commercial Trust (MCT) and Mapletree North Asia Commercial Trust (MNACT) announced a mega S$4.2 billion merger. The new entity that was created by this marriage was named Mapletree Pan Asia Commercial Trust (SGX: N2IU), or MPACT. It’s only been two years since a REIT mega-merger was announced between two CapitaLand entities to form CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (SGX: C38U). Naturally, investors will be curious to know if this merger bodes well for MPACT. In particular, income-seeking investors are asking if the new entity can continue to grow its distribution per unit (DPU). Unlike its predecessors that had a track record to scrutinise, MPACT is starting as a newly-merged REIT on a clean slate. Let’s dig deeper to determine if the REIT has what it takes to pay out higher dividends over time. Encouraging signs There are early signs that the...