Friday, September 5, 2014

STRAITS TRADING ANNOUNCES SALE OF STRAITS TRADING BUILDING TO SUN VENTURE GROUP FOR $450 MILLION

MEDIA RELEASE



 Proceeds to be redeployed to pursue higher-yielding real estate opportunities

 Redeployment of proceeds to further strengthen its real estate ecosystem

SINGAPORE, 5 September 2014 – The Straits Trading Company Limited (“Straits Trading” or

“Company”) announced today that it has signed an agreement for the sale of the Straits Trading

Building to the Sun Venture Group (“Sun Venture”), for $450 million.

The monetisation is in line with the Company’s strategy of redeploying its capital from its portfolio of

high quality, but low yielding investment properties into potentially higher return real estate

opportunities.

The redeployment of the proceeds will also strengthen the development of Straits Trading’s real

estate ecosystem anchored by its 89.5% interest in Straits Real Estate Pte. Ltd., its 20.1% interest in

ARA Asset Management Ltd, and its 5.8% aggregate interest in Suntec REIT.

Ms Chew Gek Khim, Executive Chairman of Straits Trading said, “The monetisation of the Straits

Trading Building is a significant step to unlock value from our property assets and transform our real

estate business into an engine of growth. In redeploying the proceeds, we will be able to pursue a

wider spectrum of value-accretive real-estate opportunities and also further the development of our

real estate ecosystem."

The Company is expected to realise an estimated capital gain of $39 million on the sale of the

building based on its latest book value as at 30 June 2014. Based on historical cost, the gain to the

Company will be $373 million.

Sun Venture is a Singapore-based real estate developer and investor which currently owns and

manages various commercial real estate in Singapore. Sun Venture's portfolio of commercial assets

include an office building at 50 Scotts Road, four floors at Samsung Hub, Westgate Tower and Paya

Lebar Square.

The transaction is expected to be completed by the end of 2014.

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