Japan

Klcc Property Holdings Planning To List Malaysias Biggest Reit

Asian REIT Listings Generate Strong Investor Interest

On 1 March Reuters reported that KLCC Property Holdings Bhd (PINK:KPYHF), owner of Kuala LumpurslandmarkPetronas Twin Towers, was planning a restructuring, including a listing ofwhat will be Malaysias biggest real estate investment trust (REIT). The move of KLCC Property Holdings highlights agrowing trend of Asian property trust listings which in recent months hasbeen generating strong interest among investors, particularly in Japan and Singapore.

KLCC Property Holdings Planning Trust Listing

Reuters reported that the trust, which is likely to be listed in April, will be three times bigger than the next largest Malaysian real estate investment trust. The agency quoted an unnamed source as saying that KLCC Property Holdings was looking at a market value of 10 to 11 billion ringgits (2.2 billion to 2.4 billion).

CIMB Investment Bank Bhd is reported to be the principal advisor for the deal, with Citigroup Global Markets Ltd acting as international financial adviser.

As noted by Bloomberg, KLCC Property Holdings is 52.6 percent owned by
Petroliam Nasional Bhd or Petronas, Malaysias state-owned oil and gas company.

Stapled REIT

The new listed property trust is part of KLCC Property Holdings corporate restructuring which was unveiled in November 2012. The restructuring will create a stapled REIT by bundling existing shares of KLCC Property Holdings and units of KLCC REIT and is also intended to help boost profits on account of the trusts income tax exemption.

Reuters reported that KLCC Property Holdings has assets in excess of 15 billion ringgits, including the Kuala Lumpurs 88-floor Petronas Twin Towers.In November, Bloomberg reported that the two other buildings to be included in the trust would be Menara 3 Petronas and Menara ExxonMobil towers.

Asian Trend

The upcoming listing highlights the growing trend of real estate investment trust IPOs in Asia. In February, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Mapletree Investments Pte, a real estate unit of Temasek Holdings Pte, was planning to raise $1.6 billion (834 million) in Singapores largest IPO since March 2011.

The REIT market in Japan has also seen some successful IPOs, with the WSJ reporting that the country has benefitted from a recovery in commercial rental and property prices. Among the more notable recent listings was the float of Singapores Global Logistics Properties Ltd (SGX:MC0) which in December raised $1.3 billion on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

World’s Richest Real Estate Moguls

No matter what profession you are in, you will be impacted by real estate in some form or another. Whether you own, rent or sub-let, your life is impacted by real estate and the professionals or individuals that sell, manage or own it.

With that in mind, it would make sense that you just might be interested in people who have made it big in real estate. There are a select few in the entire world who have made their tremendous mark on the real estate landscape. Although, there were many struggles along the way, they arrived at that coveted spot of being a famous real estate tycoon.

Sarah Beeny is a developer and a host of Property Ladder, a British television program in the U.K. Beeny is a die-hard optimist and proponent for incorporating energy efficiency into building or remodeling.

Tim Blixseth is an American real estate mogul and billionaire businessman. He made a promise early on in his investment life to only collect assets, not liabilities, for the remainder of his life. He says he’s stuck to that promise.

Donald Bren, according to Forbes.com, is the wealthiest real estate tycoon on the planet with a $12 billion net worth. He currently owns hundreds of office buildings, along with 90 apartment complexes.

Conrad Hilton is the founder of Hilton Hotels. Hilton was known as a tremendous philanthropist who believed charity was a basic requirement for humanity.

Stanley Ho is one of the richest people in Asia. He’s a Macau and Hong Kong billionaire and casino mogul.

Lee Shau Kee is recently most famous for losing around $8 billion in net worth just in the past two years. Even with the huge losses, Kee continues to be noted as a real estate magnate as owner for Henderson Land Development. China’s greater region still considers Kee as one of the area’s richest people.

Ray Kroc is a entrepreneur who founded the McDonald’s Corporation franchise. Kroc purchased all rights to the McDonald’s name from the founding brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald. He took the franchise internationally to Japan and Germany in 1971.

Akira Mori is a famous Japanese real estate tycoon and billionaire. He’s one of the richest men in the world. President and CEO of Mori Trust, his family’s company owns real estate and hotels in Tokyo and all over Japan.

Minoru Mori is also a famous Japanese tycoon and billionaire. He and his brother Akira are sons to Taikichiro Mori.

Donald Trump is a famous television celebrity and billionaire real estate developer. Although his investments fluctuate with the waves of the sea, he always seems to come out on top.

Steve Wynn is a well-known Las Vegas casino and resort developer who developed some of the most opulent casinos and resorts in the City of Las Vegas.

Sam Zell’s net worth exceeds $6 billion. He is ranked 68th on Forbes’ list of richest Americans. He co-founded Equity Group Investments LLC that launched Equity Residential and Equity Office Properties.