Allianz marks first foray in Singapore’s property market with a 20% minority stake in Ocean Financial Centre. Here are the five things you need to know:

Allianz Real Estate investment in Ocean Financial Centre is part of its strategy to allocate 5 per cent to 10 per cent of its real estate investments to the Asia-Pacific region.

By Khalil Adis

#1: Ocean Financial Centre is a 43-storey Grade A office tower

Ocean Financial Centre is strategically located near to Raffles Place MRT station. Photo: Keppel Land

The Grade A office tower is located strategically at the intersection of the Raffles Place and Marina Bay financial precincts with retail component on its ground floor and basement level.

It is accessible via the Raffles Place MRT station.

#2: Singapore’s office market is experiencing strong rental growth

View of office towers in Singapore's downtown area. The Lion City's office market is doing well compared to the private residential and HDB markets. Photo: Khalil Adis Consultancy.

While Singapore’s private residential market has been muted by the recent property cooling measures, its office market is doing well.

"The Singapore office market is experiencing strong rental growth. From an occupational cost and efficiency perspective it continues to be favourable vis-a-vis other comparable markets like Hong Kong,” said Mr Rushabh Desai, CEO Asia Pacific at Allianz Real Estate,.

#3: The divestment is worth S$537.3 million

Ocean Financial Centre is a Grade A office tower designed by world-renowned architectural firm, Pelli Clarke Pelli. Photo: Keppel Land

According to Keppel REIT Management Limited, the divestment is part of ongoing portfolio optimisation efforts and presents a unique opportunity to unlock value for its unitholders.

The divestment by Keppel REIT of a 20 per cent minority stake in its subsidiary, Ocean Properties LLP which holds Ocean Financial Centre, to Allianz Real Estate has an agreed property value S$537.3 million.

This is 16.8 per cent above Keppel REIT’s historical purchase price of S$460.2 million.

#4: Divestment has a target completion date by end December 2018

The Ocean Financial Centre Green Wall. Photo: Keppel Land.

According to Keppel REIT, it currently holds a 99.9 per cent interest in Ocean Financial Centre through Ocean Properties LLP. 

Keppel REIT said the divestment is expected to be completed by end December 2018

With Allianz now holding a 20 per cent a minority stake in Keppel REIT’s subsidiary, Ocean Properties LLP, will continue to maintain a majority interest in Ocean Financial Centre through its 79.9 per cent interest in Ocean Properties LLP.

Additionally, Keppel REIT said it will continue to be the asset manager for Ocean Properties LLP in relation to Ocean Financial Centre.

#5: Unitholders of Keppel REIT set to benefit from the divestment

The divestment will see Keppel REIT realising approximately S$77.1 million of capital gains. Graphics: Shutterstock.

​According to Tan Swee Yiow, CEO of Keppel REIT Management Limited, the divestment is “in line with our commitment to deliver sustainable total return to unitholders”.

"The partial divestment of Ocean Financial Centre is a unique opportunity for unitholders to realise part of the capital gains from this premium Grade A office building, while maintaining exposure to the strengthening Singapore office market. Despite this being a divestment of a non-controlling stake, the agreed property value reflects the asset's quality and underlying value,” he said in a statement.

The divestment will see Keppel REIT realising approximately S$77.1 million of capital gains. 

This translates to an attractive net asset-level return of 8.3 per cent per annum over the holding period.