City Developments (CDL)

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#71
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/premium/...n-20140815

It is actively looking at Japan and Australia and hopes to establish platforms in these markets by year end.

PUBLISHED AUGUST 15, 2014
CDL steps up diversification plan
Q2 profit falls 33% to S$137.9m due to absence of divestment gains
BYKALPANA RASHIWALA
kalpana@sph.com.sg @KalpanaBT

Looking beyond: Mr Kelley, next to Mr Kwek, mooted large-scale fund management businesses on a five to 10-year horizon. - PHOTO: ARTHUR LEE
'One day, if it is prudent and viable, why don't we throw all our hotels into a Reit and make this the biggest Reit ever in Singapore?'
- Mr Kwek, floating a possibility for the group
[SINGAPORE] Faced with challenging headwinds in the Singapore property landscape, City Developments Ltd (CDL) will focus on new geographies and products.
It is actively looking at Japan and Australia and hopes to establish platforms in these markets by year end. In addition, CDL is seeking to develop fund management products, its top brass said yesterday as the group posted a 32.8 per cent drop in second-quarter net earnings to S$137.86 million. First-half net profit also fell 24.9 per cent to S$257.53 million.
On fund management, where the group lags behind its Singapore peers such as CapitaLand and Keppel Land, CDL's strategy will be to initially monetise some of its existing assets. This would build a track record, giving for instance fixed returns to investors while providing long-term capital appreciation. In the longer run, CDL will not rule out a "discretionary" model, as is adopted by many private-equity outfits, of raising cash from investors first before purchasing assets.
"If you look at our competitors, many of them have multi-billion-dollar funds management businesses. Subject to market conditions, I don't see a reason why at some point, a five to 10-year horizon, we would not be targeting that type of business," said Grant Kelley, who was appointed CEO of the company earlier this year. He was formerly from Apollo Global Management and Colony Capital.
Kwek Leng Beng, CDL's executive chairman, said the group has not taken full advantage of its hotel portfolio, held under its London-listed subsidiary Millennium & Copthorne Hotels (M&C). He floated some possibilities. "One day if it is prudent and viable, why don't we throw all our hotels into a Reit (real estate investment trust) and make this the biggest Reit ever in Singapore? As another example, why don't we get all our provincial hotels in the US plus UK, put them into a Reit? That is another model."
As for expanding Down Under and in Japan, CDL's strategy is likely to be dominated by hotels, commercial and residential - the three asset classes it is best at in the Singapore market. "We are actively looking at a number of opportunities currently ... In the next 12 months, we hope we'll have some concrete and exciting investments that will be consummated," said Mr Kelley, declining to give details.
Late last month, Australian Financial Review reported that CDL and Australia's Stockland Group are considering bidding for Leighton Holdings' US$7 billion residential and commercial property portfolio. The Leighton Properties business is expected to fetch up to A$500 million (S$580 million), according to the report.
At yesterday's briefing, CDL also gave an update of the headway it has made in other overseas markets: China and UK. It has picked up six freehold properties in UK since last year for £157 million (S$326 million): two in Knightsbridge and one each in Chelsea, Belgravia, Croydon and Reading. The intention is to reposition them predominantly as residential projects to tap the undersupply in the London housing market.
Said Mr Kwek: "I personally believe that now with Middle East in bad shape, more and more funds and rich individuals will park their money and buy something" in London.
Later this year, the group could launch its first major China project - Eling Residences in Chongqing.
In Singapore. the group may release a 124-unit freehold condo, New Futura, on Leonie Hill Road in Singapore in the second half of this year, subject to market conditions.
One-fifth of the 500,000 sq ft of offices at its South Beach Tower in Singapore has been committed. Besides Rabobank, tenants clinched include De Lage Landen, TMF Group and Bain & Company; advanced negotiations are going on with a few more major potential tenants. The 34-storey tower is expected to be completed by year-end and CDL hopes to pace out leasing activity to ride on rising office rents.
The drop in CDL's Q2 and H1 bottom lines was due to the absence of significant divestment gains which had boosted the same year-ago periods. In Q2 2013, CDL sold 100G Pasir Panjang, after selling strata units in Citimac Industrial Complex, Elite Industrial Buildings 1 and II in Q1 2013.
CDL's revenue rose 5.9 per cent to S$861.15 million in Q2 and edged up 0.4 per cent in H1 to S$1.595 billion. Shareholders will receive a special interim dividend of four cents per share, down from eight cents in H1 last year.
Earnings per share fell to 14.5 Singapore cents in Q2 2014 from 21.8 cents in Q2 last year. The counter ended 27 cents lower at S$9.78 yesterday. CDL released its results before the stock market opened.
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#72
http://www.sharesinv.com/articles/tradea...ain-strong

City Developments (CDL) recently announced its 2Q14 financial results. In it, top line figures grew (+5.9 percent) while bottom line figures shrunk (-32.8 percent). However, discounting one-time gains and focusing only on core earnings, City Developments delivered relatively strong growth figures.

1. Revenue and Core Earnings

CDL's property development continued to be the largest contributor to its financial performance. The segment saw a 7.9 percent growth. Pre-tax profit saw a 38.4 percent increase over 2Q13.

2. More Profits to be Recognised

Profits from CDL's Coco Palms and Commonwealth Towers are expected to be recognised in the coming quarters. This will help boost its core earnings. We also expect a healthy take-up of upcoming residential launches, particularly when EC (executive condominiums) projects are completed.

3. Hotel Segment Might be a Drag

The hotel industry is undergoing some harsh market conditions as geopolitical events grip the Asian market. Higher operating costs and ongoing refurbishments resulted in lower available rooms and higher depreciation. Nonetheless, we expect CDL's hotel segment to remain fairly resilient.

We have a fairly optimistic outlook on CDL's future real estate acquisitions. Based on this as well as its growing core earnings and strong balance sheet, we feel CDL is a good stock for investors to accumulate.
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#73
The CDL boss has made 3 'requests' to release the rules of the local property market.

He never made this complaint in 2008 to 2013 during the boom years?

He should take a leaf out of Ho Bee's CEO, who went to gold coast and London to diversify Singapore's business.
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#74
I share with you a friend's view on Kwek:

Kwek one time lucky - M&C
I think he not much subst....
Just inherited a land bank, talk big nia nia

My view:

Come to think about it Banker Wee also built up UOL progressively over the years with hardly any landbank and he has systematically built up his global portfolio of hotels and commercial properties

GG

(18-08-2014, 05:07 PM)Contrarian Wrote: The CDL boss has made 3 'requests' to release the rules of the local property market.

He never made this complaint in 2008 to 2013 during the boom years?

He should take a leaf out of Ho Bee's CEO, who went to gold coast and London to diversify Singapore's business.
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#75
He made the enbloc acq of diff condos near PIE Balestier exit and grabbed a chunk of state land. Quite good move. Anyway in life, just need one hit can last 1 career.
"... but quitting while you're ahead is not the same as quitting." - Quote from the movie American Gangster
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#76
CDL firms as suitor for Leighton Properties

Mercedes Ruehl
260 words
11 Sep 2014
The Australian Financial Review
AFNR
English
Copyright 2014. Fairfax Media Management Pty Limited.
Singapore's City Developments Ltd is firming as the top contender for Leighton Properties's $7 billion commercial and residential business.

While any deal remains some way off, sources have suggested that the other main party vying for the portfolio, Stockland, may have bowed out.

CDL declined to comment when contacted by The Australian Financial Review. Stockland also reiterated its position of not commenting on speculation.

However, the executive chairman of CDL, Kwek Leng Beng, said at the company's results in August that it was looking to build a platform of scale in Australia. He said the macroeconomic environment, while unpredictable, appeared to be stabilising. CDL's growth would focus on new geographies and products.

"We will accelerate our overseas expansion initiatives to supplement existing operations. We remain optimistic but cautious in our approach to new markets," he said in a statement to the stock exchange.

"CDL is looking actively in Japan and Australia and we hope to establish our platforms in these markets by the end of the year."

Other industry sources described Leighton Properties as a difficult business to buy and cast doubt on whether any sale would eventuate.

Assets include office towers such as Kings Square in Western Australia, 567 Collins Street in Melbourne and 177 Pacific Highway in North Sydney, as well as residential projects.

The bidding process is being run by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, which is acting on behalf of Leighton – now controlled by Hochief. Neither party could be reached for comment.


Fairfax Media Management Pty Limited

Document AFNR000020140910ea9b00002
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#77
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/premium/...n-20141001

PUBLISHED OCTOBER 01, 2014
CityDev in tie-up to acquire Tokyo site for 30.5b yen
BYLYNETTE KHOO
lynkhoo@sph.com.sg @LynetteKhooBT

Mr Kwek: 'This acquisition is in line with CDL's strategy to accelerate overseas expansion... We see potential to develop luxurious, high-end condominiums.' - FILE PHOTO
CITY Developments Limited (CDL) has stepped up its overseas expansion with a maiden acquisition of a residential site in Japan.
The group announced on Tuesday that it has tied up with a US-based investment firm to acquire a prime freehold land site in Tokyo for 30.5 billion yen (S$355.5 million) from Seiko Holdings Corporation.
"This acquisition is in line with CDL's strategy to accelerate overseas expansion to supplement our existing operations," said CDL executive chairman Kwek Leng Beng.
"We see potential to develop luxurious, high-end condominiums on this site," he added.
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#78
my guess is CityDev will pay 'tuition fees' for its overseas expansion.

So far, expansion in PRC so so nia...
"... but quitting while you're ahead is not the same as quitting." - Quote from the movie American Gangster
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#79
City Developments Limited sets sights on Leighton Property
THE AUSTRALIAN OCTOBER 21, 2014 12:00AM

Sarah Danckert

Property Reporter
Melbourne
CDL sets sights on Leighton offshoot
Leighton’s 177 Pacific Highway development in North Sydney. Source: Supplied

SINGAPORE’S City Developments Limited is edging closer to Leighton Holdings’ property business, with the group establishing Australian entities in preparation of its purchase.

CDL is believed to be in advanced stages of due diligence and, though its bid price is unclear, it has publicly stated plans to expand in Australia.

The Leighton business, which has been marketed through Bank of America Merrill Lynch, includes a clutch of commercial property and residential developments, and could fetch about $500 million, reflecting the value of Leighton’s $7 billion development pipeline.

In a step that many Singaporean companies adopt when expanding into Australia, CDL has quietly set up three new companies to manage its likely purchase of Leighton Properties, which is a subsidiary of giant contractor Leighton Holdings.

The entities include CDL Australia Holdings, which was registered as a company in Australia last month, as well as CDL Pachigh Development.

CDL Pachigh Development is understood to have been formed as a single project entity to accommodate an interest in Leighton’s 177 Pacific Highway development in North Sydney.

That development has already been pre-sold to Singapore’s Suntec REIT for $413.19m, but Leighton is still developing the tower. The sole beneficial shareholder of both Australian entities is CDL’s new wholly owned subsidiary CDL Crestview, which was incorporated this month.

Both Australian companies count CDL chief executive Grant Kelley, CDL chief investment officer Kwek Eik Tse, also known as Sherman Kwek, and CDL chief strategy officer Kwek Eik Sheng as company directors, according to filings with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission.

Leighton Properties’ other projects include its Kings Square development in Perth that is part of the greater Perth City Link public private partnership it is jointly developing with Mirvac, as well as residential projects.

Leighton Holdings and CDL’s Singapore representatives declined to comment.
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#80
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companie...-q3-profit

M&C Hotels posts 6.6% rise in Q3 profit
31 Oct5:50 AM
Bangalore

MILLENNIUM & COPTHORNE Hotels' third-quarter profit rose 6.6 per cent as an increase in global business travel drove occupancy and room rates. Pretax profit rose to £50.2 million (S$102.8 million) in the quarter ended Sept 30 from £47.1 million a year earlier.

Revenue
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