Singapore Subsidiary Acquires Lippo's Rp 3.6t Asset

Singapore-listed Lippo Malls Indonesia Retail Trust Ltd. (LMIR Trust), subsidiary of Jakarta-listed developer Lippo Karawaci (LPKR), has revealed the acquisition of Rp3.6trillion (US$300.72million) Lippo Mall Kemang (LMK) from its sister company. This is in a transaction that will shift ownership of the assets towards a Singaporean entity.

LMIRT Management Ltd., manager of LMIR Trust, are to issue up to 301.37million consideration units (shares) representing 12.2% of the current shares to aid in funding the Lippo Mall Kemang acquisition from its current owner, Lippo Karawaci’s subsidiary, PT Almaron Perkasa (AP), according to Monday’s statement on the Singapore Stock Exchange website.

The statement went on to explain Rp3.18trillion of the LMK purchase is to be paid in cash as the remaining Rp420billion would be produced by way of the consideration units.

Foreign developers keen on Indonesia's property market

A number of foreign developers have laid eyes on Indonesia’s property market owing to the country’s massive population and economic growth of 5.5% - the highest of South East Asia.

It has been reported, investors from China, Korea, Malaysia and Singapore have expressed interests in extending property businesses to Indonesia. The property project types they are interested in, vary from residential projects including apartments to commercial projects, such as shopping centres and industrial estates.

For example, the Singaporean based Pacific Star Holdings Pte Ltd., intends to manage one property project in the Sudirman Central Business District (SCBD) in Jakarta and another one in Bali.

This is as they cited data from the United States Trade Department, highlighting that Indonesia quarters the world’s fourth-most populous country with 253.60million people, as the reason for investing towards the country’s property sector. It selected Jakarta as the project site, owing to the city’s profitable nature for property development.

The latest in Indonesia

The benchmark index of Indonesia reached near a four week high yesterday, as foreign inflows raised select large-caps such as Bank Rakyat and Telkom Indonesia. This is before the presidential election on Wednesday.

Investors are anticipating the outcome of the 9^th July election, with a more visible political outlook set to revive interest for assets, brokers and fund managers.

According to Fidelity's FF Indonesia Fund’s portfolio manager, the outcome of the election is not expected to alter or affect the fund's long-term positive view of Indonesia. This is despite the currently levelled race between the two leading candidates, as both Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto have very similar agendas.

Jakarta's composite index increased to 1.2%, its highest since 11^th June, building on a 1.3% gain last week, when the first weekly gain in four was marked on the market.

The Indonesian rupiah reached a five-week high yesterday.