Reignited: privatisation chatter on other firms

No lack of candidates, but analysts caution it's a gamble to bet on next target

Published Mon, Jan 26, 2015 · 09:50 PM

Singapore

KEPPEL Corp's offer to take Keppel Land private has brought into focus other potential privatisation targets among listed property developers in Singapore.

The names thrown up include Wheelock Properties, GuocoLand, Wing Tai Holdings, Ho Bee Land, Hiap Hoe, Sim Lian Group, and United Industrial Corporation (UIC).

Privatisation targets tend to be companies which have low public floats, high major-shareholder ownership, and trade at deep discounts to their net asset value, said UOB Kay Hian analyst Vikrant Pandey.

GuocoLand, for example, is trading at a 46 per cen…