Keppel Corp eyes $114m gain in sale of Beijing site stake

Keppel Corp could book a $114 million gain after it sells a 51 per cent stake in a prime commercial site in the Chaoyang district of Beijing for US$297.9 million (S$400 million), the conglomerate said yesterday.

Keppel Land China, through a subsidiary, has granted CBD Aether Center an option to buy its 51 per cent stake in the holding company of Beijing Aether Property Development, which owns and is developing the site.

The remaining 49 per cent stake in the project is owned by British Virgin Islands-incorporated Xeno Origin. The option price is set at US$94.1 million, which Keppel will be allowed to keep if CBD Aether does not exercise its option within 120 days.

If CBD Aether exercises its option, it has agreed to pay US$297.9 million for the majority stake in the development.

The consideration price includes the option fee. About US$282.3 million, which is the total consideration less a portion of the option fee that Keppel has already received, will be placed in escrow as part of the agreement.

Keppel will cease to hold a stake in the development after the sale. If the divestment had been completed on Dec 31 last year, its net tangible asset per share as of end-2017 would have risen to $6.28 from the reported $6.21. Earnings per share last year would have risen to 18.1 cents from 11.9 cents if the deal had been completed on Jan 1 last year.

Keppel Corp shares yesterday ended down 20 cents at $7.95.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 29, 2018, with the headline Keppel Corp eyes $114m gain in sale of Beijing site stake. Subscribe