Should investors bet on Hongkong Land going private?

W ITH Jardine Matheson almost certain to succeed in swallowing up Jar-dine Strategic, some market watchers have begun speculating that other tightly-held units within the Jardine group might also soon be taken private.

Jardine Strategic owns 50.4 per cent of Hongkong Land, 77.6 per cent of Dairy Farm, 79.5 per cent of Mandarin Oriental and 75 per cent of Jardine Cycle & Carriage, the majo-rity owner of Astra.

Given the relatively small ownership stake held in Hongkong Land, this would appear to be the entity least likely to be headed for privatisation. Yet, Hongkong Land arguably offers its parent group the most value.