Aspial

Anson Chan... The real Godfather?

http://pyrrhoinvest.com/Anson.html
http://www.bondsgroupofcompanies.com/man...files.html

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/62fcc612-76d6-...abdc0.html
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1a8748c4-35a6-...abdc0.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsb...board.html


http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/stocks/a...lcd-global

AGM WATCH
Aspial's CEO running for board seat at LCD Global
HK billionaire Anson Chan expresses support for the 'savvy businessman'

By
Lynette Khoolynkhoo@sph.com.sg@LynetteKhooBT
BT_20141027_LKLCD_1337214.jpg Mr Koh hopes to replace LCD's outgoing director David Ong Mung Pang, who is retiring by rotation
27 Oct5:50 AM
Singapore

ASPIAL Corporation chief executive Koh Wee Seng, the second largest shareholder of LCD Global Investments, is seeking a board seat at LCD at its annual general meeting this Thursday and now has the backing of Hong Kong billionaire Anson Chan.

Speaking to The Business

http://infopub.sgx.com/Apps?A=COW_CorpAn...IA_108.pdf

Didn't have time to post the glossy marketing material on the icon of Melbourne... Still in a highly over-supplied segment in Melbourne...

At least its an icon...

Odd Lots Vested
GG

V brave move by Aspial and I think local community must be very thankful...

Central Park’s OK a ‘turning point’ for Cairns
ROSANNE BARRETT THE AUSTRALIAN NOVEMBER 15, 2014 12:00AM

Central Park’s OK a ‘turning point’
Artist's impression of the proposed development in Cairns. Source: Supplied
PLANS for Aspial’s seven-building Central Park development in Cairns have been approved as the far north Queensland city starts its recovery.

In the biggest development approval since the global financial crisis, council has signed off on the Singaporean developer’s plans for six apartment towers and an office building. If developed, the largely vacant site would house apartments, shops and offices off the central Spence Street in the complex designed by prominent architects Cox Rayner.

In August, the first multi-unit development in two years was ­approved — for six units.

Herron Todd White Cairns research director Rick Carr said the mood was changing. “The unit market in Cairns has been dead in both the tourist apartment and residential apartments for some time,” he said.

“The economy has certainly improved over the last two to three years as tourism has gradually been rebuilding, and that has improved market confidence. So far we have seen that go into house construction but it has yet to really affect unit construction. Aspial will be a turning point because of its size and scale.”

He said there was “absolutely no new stock” but remnant stock remained. Development sites were starting to attract more interest, he said.

A recent Herron Todd White report noted a spike in building approvals from January to August of 26 per cent amid a 31 per cent decline in properties for sale from the September quarter of 2011 to the same period this year.

http://www.valuebuddies.com/thread-4912-...#pid100384

I learnt something new today - Provincial Areas... Australia seriously too big a continent...

At 319m, $1bn Koh Melbourne tower to stake claim as tallest of all
THE AUSTRALIAN JANUARY 15, 2015 12:00AM

Kylar Loussikian

Journalist
Sydney
An artist’s impression of the Australia 108 tower to be built in Melbourne by developer KAn artist’s impression of the Australia 108 tower to be built in Melbourne by developer Koh Wee Seng. Source: Supplied < PrevNext >
••
AUSTRALIA’S tallest building is to be built in Melbourne’s Southbank precinct, rising more than 319m and at a cost of $1 billion.

With more than 1100 apartments, Australia 108 will overshadow the 297m Eureka Tower built by the Grollo family in 2006.

At 100 storeys, Australia 108, being developed by Singaporean conglomerate Aspial, will have the highest penthouse in the southern hemisphere, although it won’t be cheap at $25 million.

Designed by Fender Katsalidis architects, the same firm respons­ible for the Eureka Tower, the curved building will be illuminated at night by LED lights while a “starburst” will perforate the tower 70 floors off the ground.

Apartments above that level will have a private lobby and lifts, as well as their own infinity pool and gym.

Australia 108 will be metres shorter than the top of Q1 on the Gold Coast, although that tower has only 71 floors, with the remaining height added by a 77m spire.

Speaking before the project’s launch today, Aspial chief Koh Wee Seng said Singapore’s property market had softened and he had a long-term commitment to developing in Australia with a $2.5bn pipeline of developments along the east coast. “We see a lot of opportunity in the Australian property market where there is a marked shift to apartment living happening,” he said.

“The cities offer the cosmopolitan lifestyle that is taking off in the established stable market and there is good demand for property among local Australian customers and across the wider region.”

Mr Koh and his billionaire older brother, Koh Wee Meng, who runs the larger property devel­opment company Fragrance Group, have spent the past year buying property across Australia, although their largest projects are slated for Melbourne.

The notoriously media shy brothers are among Singapore’s richest businessmen, starting their careers running a jewellery business, a pawn-brokerage and later a chain of “love hotels”.

Last year, the older Mr Koh splashed out $44.5m for the dere­lict Savoy Tavern opposite Melbourne’s Southern Cross Station and $78m for a building on Collins Street, with plans slowly taking shape to develop both sites into super-tall skyscrapers.

But concerns remain about a possible oversupply of apartments in inner-Melbourne.

Despite the project launching in Australia only today, Mr Koh said there was already strong ­demand. Singaporeans have had a chance to preview the apartments for months, marketing having begun last year. “Singaporeans were very receptive to Australia 108,” Mr Koh said.

Work starts on Cairns’ $400m tower project
NICK DALTON THE AUSTRALIAN JANUARY 22, 2015 12:00AM

Work starts on Cairns’ $400m tower
An artist's impression of Aspial Corporation's Central Park development in Spence St, Cairns. Source: Supplied
WORK has started on the much-touted Aspial seven towers project which Queensland Premier Campbell Newman formally announced in Cairns yesterday.

Dubbed “NOVA8”, the project will feature seven commercial and residential towers to be built along Spence Street opposite Cairns Central shopping centre.

Construction workers equip- ped with excavators, graders, front-end loaders and trucks were already clearing away rubble for the first $120 million stage ahead of the Premier’s announcement yesterday morning.

The Premier was in Cairns to make a range of announcements as part of the state election campaign.

Singaporean developer Aspial Corp has decided to bring forward the tower project by ­several months after committing to a July start.

Company chief executive Koh Wee Seng told The Cairns Post last month the company would apply for an infrastructure discount from the Cairns Regional Council with the intention of starting construction by July 1.

He said the council’s move to open a new round of discount incentives had given the company confidence to make the proposal a reality.

Aspial is planning two residential high-rises as part of the first stage of a $400m development. This stage could be completed in 2017.

Mr Koh earlier said he was pleased the council had announced the program to waive fees associated with development headworks. “We welcome this initiative by a proactive council that appears committed to encouraging investment opportunities in Cairns,” he said.

“We intend to apply for this program and we will commit to bringing forward construction on towers 1 and 2 to meet the time frame requirements for the program.

“As a company that sees the potential in Cairns, Aspial is looking forward to a long-term involvement with the city and we hope other investors will recognise this excellent opportunity.”

It is estimated the discount to Aspial will be about $1m.

"Curse of the Skyscrapers"?

Aspial to roll out 5-year 5.25% retail bonds

Better siam...

Bankers and private banking clients now don't want their debts so they have to take the trouble to go to retail to raise $...

(19-08-2015, 08:18 AM)mkmk Wrote: Aspial to roll out 5-year 5.25% retail bonds

Quote:Jewellery firm Aspial Corporation today launches five-year bonds to the retail market with a sparkling annual payout, or coupon rate, of 5.25 per cent.

In selling $75 million of bonds, Aspial is braving investor concerns that rising interest rates will erode their appeal - along with competition from the soon-to-be-launched Singapore Savings Bonds (SSB).

The bonds, issued by Aspial unit Aspial Treasury, offer a stronger return than the coupon rates on offer from the seven locally listed retail corporate bonds yet to mature.

Despite their attractive returns, analysts cautioned that the value of retail bonds will face pressure when interest rates rise.
Artist's impression of Australia 108 in Melbourne, developed by Aspial's property arm World Class Land. In selling $75 million of bonds, Aspial is braving investor concerns about timing and demand.

The first jewellery retailer to be listed on the mainboard, Aspial has expanded its business into real estate. Its property arm World Class Land is known for residential projects in Australia, including Australia 108 in Melbourne.

With the bond offer, it hopes to raise $72.8 million in net proceeds to refinance borrowings, increase working capital and fund future business investments.

The application for the bonds starts at 9am today and will end at noon on Aug 26. The bonds are then expected to be issued on Aug 28, with trading set to start on Aug 31. DBS is the sole bookrunner.

Retail investors need at least $2,000 to subscribe to the bonds. Interest will be paid on Feb 28 and Aug 28 every year.

The launch of a retail bond is fairly rare in the local fixed income market, which currently boasts only seven products - excluding Aspial - still trading ahead of maturity.

The offer by Aspial came after Frasers Centrepoint's $500 million issuance in May, which offers a coupon rate of 3.65 per cent over a seven-year tenure. Before FCL's issuance, Genting Singapore rolled out its perpetual bonds with a 5.125 per cent coupon rate in 2012.

Aspial's offered rate is "wonderfully attractive" on paper, but investors should be wary of the uncertain interest rate outlook, CMC Markets analyst Nicholas Teo said.

"Bond value is determined by two things - the local interbank offered rates and the Federal Reserve rates. After years of low interest rate environment, investors are still intoxicated by high bond yields, but when the Fed raises the rates, they may find their investment getting a haircut."

While their coupon rate will not change, the value of bonds will generally drop if interest rates go up offering other attractive investment options.

The Fed is widely expected to raise US interest rates by 25 basis points this year, likely next month.

IG market analyst Bernard Aw added: "A retail bond issuance now will also face stiff competition from Singapore Savings Bonds. The SSB is dominating market interest particularly among the smaller investors, because it's practically risk-free."

The SSB will be available for applications from Sept 1. They are principal-guaranteed and backed by the Singapore Government, which has an AAA credit rating. Aspial is not yet rated.

But Aspial is not worried about timing and demand. A spokesman said: "We believe retail bonds and the SSB both provide alternative investment options for retail investors. We think they will both be welcomed by retail investors in Singapore, who are sophisticated in their investment objectives."

Mr Aw agreed, saying: "There's no right or wrong time for investing in bonds. Investors will have to balance the return with the interest rate impact and decide for themselves."

Just read up their total debts and result 1st half ... ( in my mind is, not yet crisis already this level ... )
Considering the risk, 5.25% seems way way too low imo for me to part my money