SunREIT to double value of Putra Place

PETALING JAYA: Sunway Real Estate Investment Trust Bhd (SunREIT) expects to almost double the value of The Putra Place following an asset enhancement.

The Putra Place, to be renamed Sunway Putra Place, was bought via auction by OSK Trustee Bhd for RM513.95 million.

Sunway Reit Management Sdn Bhd's chief executive officer Datuk Jeffrey Ng said the value of the property could be RM1 billion as a result of a capital expenditure of between RM100 million to RM200 million to enhance the property.

"There will be additional retail space. After enhancement, the rental and occupancy rates will be more, in line with the market," Ng said.

Knight Frank had valued the property at RM576 million.

The Legend Hotel, that will be renamed Sunway Putra Hotel, enjoys an average occupancy of 60 per cent. The Mall, which will carry the name Sunway Putra Mall, has an occupancy rate of 80 per cent.

The office, that will be renamed Sunway Putra Tower is fully occupied.

Founder and chairman of Sunway Group Tan Sri Dr Jeffrey Cheah said it plans to bring back the glory that the property once had by upgrading the place to the standards associated with Bandar Sunway.

It could take anything between six months to a year to plan the upgrade and rebranding of the building.

Cheah was speaking at a briefing yesterday to clarify and explain the status of ownership of the Putra Place.

The Putra Place, which houses The Mall, an office complex, and the Legend Hotel, was auctioned off by Commerce International Merchant Bankers Bhd (CIMB) to recover loans given to property owner Metroplex Holdings Sdn Bhd.

OSK Trustees won the bid at the fourth auction held since April 2008.

Since then, there have been several parties including Metroplex which have initiated legal proceedings to block the sale.

However, on Tuesday, the High Court ruled in favour of SunREIT, stating that it is the true owner of the property and gave Metroplex 72 hours to deliver possession and control of the asset.

This means, that by noon today, SunREIT will move in as the new owner.

Nevertheless, it is understood that Metroplex has filed a notice of appeal.

Meanwhile, Cheah said he does not know the ex-owners of the building and it is merely a commercial deal. He doesn't have a personal agenda.

By Business Times