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24-12-12, 16:20
http://www.straitstimes.com/archive/saturday/premium/money/story/rowsley-makes-move-be-property-player-20121222
Rowsley makes move to be property player
Peter Lim investment firm to acquire RSP Architects, 9.23ha Iskandar plot
Published on Dec 22, 2012
By Esther Teo
AN INVESTMENT holding company controlled by billionaire Peter Lim revealed plans for a $581 million deal yesterday that will transform it into a real estate player.
The first step involves Mr Lim's firm Rowsley acquiring RSP Architects Planners & Engineers, which is fronted by prominent architect and businessman Albert Hong, for up to $223 million.
This will be paid by issuing Rowsley shares at 15 cents each. That will result in RSP, which has been around for 56 years, being listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) via its link with Rowsley.
RSP will be one of only two listed building design and engineering practices here. The other is Surbana, of which CapitaLand owns 40 per cent.
In the second part of the strategy outlined yesterday, Rowsley said it has entered into an agreement with Vantage Bay to buy 9.23ha of land in Johor's Iskandar, for $358 million.
Vantage Bay is a joint venture company in which the Johor royal family holds 30 per cent and Mr Lim the rest.
Mr Lim had earlier announced plans to develop the plot into a mixed-use township with shopping, entertainment and residential elements. It will also have hotel, commercial and office components. The entire project will have a gross floor area of at least 10 million sq ft.
The acquisition price works out to RM82 (S$33) per sq ft per plot ratio. The gross development value of the project is estimated to be about $3 billion.
Both agreements are subject to due diligence and further definitive agreements, said Rowsley at a briefing yesterday.
RSP's chairman, Mr Hong, said that "through Rowsley, RSP will have a strong pipeline of design and engineering projects, further strengthening our regional practice which is already one of the biggest in Asia".
"If the deal goes through, RSP will continue to be run by its existing management. There will be little change operationally."
RSP managing director Lai Huen Poh added that the deal will "enlarge the long-term earnings of RSP" and is a synergistic one.
Rowsley will eventually divest its stakes in firms like EpiCentre and FJ Benjamin to focus on its core real estate business, added executive chairman Ho Tatkin.
"(RSP's) expertise and solid track record in town planning, urban design, architecture... will enable Rowsley to get up to speed on its development plans in Malaysia," he added. "(But) this will not be our only project."
If both agreements go through, Rowsley will give existing shareholders a free bonus issue of two warrants for every one share.
Each warrant will have an exercise price of 18 cents a share, the firm said in a statement.
Mr Hong revealed that he had consulted Mr Lim - a friend for more than 20 years - in 1995 when RSP attempted a public listing. SGX rejected RSP's application. Mr Lim will remain the biggest shareholder with an effective stake of 40 per cent of the enlarged share capital of Rowsley.
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Rowsley makes move to be property player
Peter Lim investment firm to acquire RSP Architects, 9.23ha Iskandar plot
Published on Dec 22, 2012
By Esther Teo
AN INVESTMENT holding company controlled by billionaire Peter Lim revealed plans for a $581 million deal yesterday that will transform it into a real estate player.
The first step involves Mr Lim's firm Rowsley acquiring RSP Architects Planners & Engineers, which is fronted by prominent architect and businessman Albert Hong, for up to $223 million.
This will be paid by issuing Rowsley shares at 15 cents each. That will result in RSP, which has been around for 56 years, being listed on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) via its link with Rowsley.
RSP will be one of only two listed building design and engineering practices here. The other is Surbana, of which CapitaLand owns 40 per cent.
In the second part of the strategy outlined yesterday, Rowsley said it has entered into an agreement with Vantage Bay to buy 9.23ha of land in Johor's Iskandar, for $358 million.
Vantage Bay is a joint venture company in which the Johor royal family holds 30 per cent and Mr Lim the rest.
Mr Lim had earlier announced plans to develop the plot into a mixed-use township with shopping, entertainment and residential elements. It will also have hotel, commercial and office components. The entire project will have a gross floor area of at least 10 million sq ft.
The acquisition price works out to RM82 (S$33) per sq ft per plot ratio. The gross development value of the project is estimated to be about $3 billion.
Both agreements are subject to due diligence and further definitive agreements, said Rowsley at a briefing yesterday.
RSP's chairman, Mr Hong, said that "through Rowsley, RSP will have a strong pipeline of design and engineering projects, further strengthening our regional practice which is already one of the biggest in Asia".
"If the deal goes through, RSP will continue to be run by its existing management. There will be little change operationally."
RSP managing director Lai Huen Poh added that the deal will "enlarge the long-term earnings of RSP" and is a synergistic one.
Rowsley will eventually divest its stakes in firms like EpiCentre and FJ Benjamin to focus on its core real estate business, added executive chairman Ho Tatkin.
"(RSP's) expertise and solid track record in town planning, urban design, architecture... will enable Rowsley to get up to speed on its development plans in Malaysia," he added. "(But) this will not be our only project."
If both agreements go through, Rowsley will give existing shareholders a free bonus issue of two warrants for every one share.
Each warrant will have an exercise price of 18 cents a share, the firm said in a statement.
Mr Hong revealed that he had consulted Mr Lim - a friend for more than 20 years - in 1995 when RSP attempted a public listing. SGX rejected RSP's application. Mr Lim will remain the biggest shareholder with an effective stake of 40 per cent of the enlarged share capital of Rowsley.
[email protected]