Aseana Properties Limited Update on Progress of Divestment of Portfolio (4071X)

TIDMASPL

RNS Number : 4071X

Aseana Properties Limited

24 November 2017

Aseana Properties Limited

("Aseana" or the "Company")

24 November 2017

Update on Progress of the Divestment of the Portfolio

Aseana Properties Limited (LSE: ASPL), a property developer in Malaysia and Vietnam listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, announces an update on the progress of divestment of the Company's assets which commenced following the Shareholder vote on 22 June 2015. As part of that vote, the Company committed to dispose of all of its assets by June 2018 and to propose a discontinuation resolution as an ordinary resolution at its AGM in June 2018.

On 3 July 2017, the Board of Directors released an announcement highlighting the significant progress that had been made in realising assets in an orderly manner and in paying down project debts since the Shareholder vote. Subsequent to that announcement, the following assets have also been sold:

   --     the final remaining apartment at Tiffani Mont' Kiara has been sold for US$0.95m; 
   --     6 units at Seni Mont' Kiara for a total consideration of US$3.0m; 

-- the divestment of a plot of land of 1.23 hectares (D2) at International Healthcare Park ("IHP") for a total consideration of US$5.47m; and

-- the divestment of a plot of land of 1.19 hectares (D3) at IHP for a total consideration of US$7.73m.

As a result of these asset sales, the associated debt repayments and changes to the valuation of the remaining assets, the Company's Net Assets and Realisable Net Assets as at 30 September 2017 were US$137.63m and US$181.74m respectively. Outstanding debt was US$79.46m and the cash balance was US$14.51m as at 30 September 2017.

During this period, the sale of The RuMa Hotel and Residences Kuala Lumpur increased to 57% of the total units while construction completion is scheduled for April 2018.

Performance continues to improve and losses narrow at each of the Company's three operating assets, the City International Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, the Harbour Mall Sandakan and the Four Points Sheraton Sandakan Hotel in East Malaysia.

The Company is in negotiation with a potential buyer of the seafront resort and residential development at Kota Kinabalu, and will update Shareholders when there are positive developments.

Discussions continue to be held on the sale of most of the Company's remaining assets. However, the Directors cannot be certain that these discussions will successfully conclude by June 2018, the date originally set for the disposal of all of the Company's assets. As a result, the Directors will consult with Shareholders in early 2018 in order to establish whether alternative proposals to the discontinuation resolution should also be put forward at the next AGM, in the interests of maximising value for Shareholders.

The Directors intend to make further returns of capital to Shareholders as soon as possible following the completion of further asset disposals and the pay back of outstanding project debt. Further announcements will be made as soon as there is more clarity on the progress and timing of these disposals.

For further information:

 
 Aseana Properties Limited               Tel: [phone] 
 Chan Chee Kian                          Email: [e-mail] 
 
 N+1 Singer                              Tel: [phone] 
 James Maxwell / Liz Yong (Corporate 
 Finance) 
 Sam Greatrex (Sales) 
 
 Tavistock Communications                Tel: [phone] 
 Jeremy Carey / James Verstringhe        Email: [e-mail] 
 
 
 

Notes to Editors:

London-listed Aseana Properties Limited (LSE: ASPL) is a property developer investing in Malaysia and Vietnam.

Ireka Development Management Sdn Bhd ("IDM") is the exclusive Development Manager for Aseana. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ireka Corporation Berhad, a company listed on the Bursa Malaysia since 1993, which has over 50 years of experience in construction and property development. IDM is responsible for the day-to-day management of Aseana's property portfolio and the divestment of existing properties.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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November 24, 2017 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)