In largest office transaction in Asia Pacific this year, Singapore real estate company to purchase landmark office tower for S$2.09bil (approximately RM6.5bil)
SINGAPORE: Singapore real estate company, CapitaLand, has agreed to buy Asia Square Tower 2, part of a world-class commercial development in Singapore’s Marina Bay business and financial district.
Real estate consultancy JLL advised on the transaction on behalf of the seller, BlackRock Asia Property Fund III.
According to statement, the sale represents the largest office transaction in both Singapore and the Asia Pacific region in 2017 and is the second largest office transaction globally this year.
“The sale of Asia Square Tower 2 continues the trend of buyers being attracted to mega deals in Asia. The sales process generated strong interest from major global investors and sends a clear message about the continued recovery of the Singapore office market.
“With its sought-after location and first-class amenities, Asia Square is one of the finest commercial real estate assets in Singapore and, more broadly, in Asia. Buildings of this quality and prominence are hard to come by, but we expect to see increased interest in Grade A office assets in Singapore off the back of this deal,” said JLL Head of Asia Pacific Capital Markets Stuart Crow.
According to JLL Singapore Head of Capital Markets Greg Hyland said the Singapore office market is really starting to gain pace and this deal is likely to spur further interest, both domestically and internationally.
“Investors will be aware that we are at a point in the cycle where there is still the opportunity to get good value, but we expect prices to pick up in the coming quarters as supply starts to taper down between now and the end of 2019,” he added.
The 46-storey Tower 2 has a net lettable area of 778,719 sq ft. Asia Square Tower 1 was sold in June 2016 to sovereign wealth fund Qatar Investment Authority for S$3.4bil (approximately RM10.57bil).
The entire Asia Square asset, which comprises Tower 1, Tower 2 and the Westin Singapore, achieved a combined sale price of S$5.8bil (approximately RM18.02bil). The three elements were sold in 2016, 2017 and 2014 respectively.
JLL has been the leasing agent and property manager of Asia Square since it opened in 2011. Tenants of Tower 2 include major financial institutions such as Allianz, Mizuho, Mitsui, National Australia Bank and Westpac.
