19-07-2018, 02:35 PM
Wheelock Deal Spurs Singapore Property Stocks Buyout Speculation
By Livia Yap
July 19, 2018, 11:51 AM GMT+8 Updated on July 19, 2018, 1:58 PM GMT+8
There may be a silver lining for investors in Singapore property stocks after recent government curbs fueled a selloff in the sector.
A S$598 million ($438 million) take-private offer for Wheelock Properties (Singapore) Ltd., which sent the stock to its highest level in more than eight years, has stoked speculation of more buyouts in the industry.
Hong Kong-listed Wheelock & Co. proposed Thursday to buy the remaining shares of its Singapore unit for S$2.10 apiece, a 21 percent premium from its closing price on July 13.
Now, analysts say that parent companies of Wheelock’s peers including Wing Tai Holdings Ltd., Ho Bee Land Ltd., Bukit Sembawang Estates Ltd. and GuocoLand Ltd. may follow suit. And shares of both Wing Tai and Ho Bee Land rose by more than 2 percent Wednesday.
“The offer for Wheelock is likely to re-start market talk and expectation of more privatization or M&A,” said Carmen Lee, head of research at Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. “The current market weakness for property stocks is an opportune time for the key shareholder to take the company private.”
More details in https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/...peculation
By Livia Yap
July 19, 2018, 11:51 AM GMT+8 Updated on July 19, 2018, 1:58 PM GMT+8
There may be a silver lining for investors in Singapore property stocks after recent government curbs fueled a selloff in the sector.
A S$598 million ($438 million) take-private offer for Wheelock Properties (Singapore) Ltd., which sent the stock to its highest level in more than eight years, has stoked speculation of more buyouts in the industry.
Hong Kong-listed Wheelock & Co. proposed Thursday to buy the remaining shares of its Singapore unit for S$2.10 apiece, a 21 percent premium from its closing price on July 13.
Now, analysts say that parent companies of Wheelock’s peers including Wing Tai Holdings Ltd., Ho Bee Land Ltd., Bukit Sembawang Estates Ltd. and GuocoLand Ltd. may follow suit. And shares of both Wing Tai and Ho Bee Land rose by more than 2 percent Wednesday.
“The offer for Wheelock is likely to re-start market talk and expectation of more privatization or M&A,” said Carmen Lee, head of research at Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp. “The current market weakness for property stocks is an opportune time for the key shareholder to take the company private.”
More details in https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/...peculation
Specuvestor: Asset - Business - Structure.