Singapore's PropNex Realty preparing to launch IPO: Sources

SINGAPORE (BLOOMBERG) - PropNex Realty Pte, Singapore's biggest property broker, plans to seek about S$40 million from a proposed Singapore initial public offering, people with knowledge of the matter said.

The company is targeting a market capitalisation of as much as S$250 million, the people said, asking not to be identified as the deliberations are private. PropNex is considering launching the offering as soon as next week and aims to list as early as the end of June, according to one of the people.

PropNex is considering marketing the IPO shares at 62-68 Singapore cents apiece, the person said. Details of the offering could still change, the people said.

The company, which has nearly 7,000 agents, became Singapore's biggest property broker by salesforce last year after a merger with Dennis Wee Group. PropNex is seeking to repeat the success of smaller rival APAC Realty Ltd's IPO, which raised S$58 million in Singapore last year.

Shares of APAC Realty have risen 38 per cent since they began trading in September, compared with a 5.9 per cent gain in Singapore's benchmark Straits Times Index over the period.

"As a private company, PropNex will evaluate the company's capital needs whenever necessary and does not comment on these matters publicly," it said in a statement.

Real estate redevelopment deals have been taking off in Singapore, the latest sign that the local housing market is in full recovery.

So-called en bloc sales are projected to reach S$12.8 billion this year, the highest in more than a decade, according to Cushman & Wakefield Singapore.

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