Stocks to watch: CapitaLand Investment, SPH, SPH Reit, Sembmarine, Lendlease Reit

THE following companies saw new developments that may affect trading of their securities on Wednesday (Mar 23):

9CI: The real estate investment firm's lodging business unit The Ascott has acquired 2 properties in Ningbo, China and Amsterdam, Netherlands, for a total of S$190 million through its private equity fund with Qatar Investment Authority. The transaction will bring Ascott's total funds under management to S$9 billion, said CLI in a bourse filing on Wednesday. Shares of CLI ended S$0.04 or 1 per cent higher at S$3.89 on Tuesday.

T39 and SK6U: SPH shareholders have voted in favour of the takeover offer from consortium Cuscaden Peak, over the rival bid from Keppel Corp. Majority also voted yes to the proposed distribution in specie of SPH Reit (real estate investment trust) units under the Cuscaden scheme at the extraordinary general meeting on Tuesday.

Both counters were suspended from trading on Tuesday pending the outcome of the vote and will resume trading on Wednesday. SPH shares closed S$0.01 or 0.4 per cent higher at S$2.34 on Monday, while units of SPH Reit ended flat at S$0.96.

S51: The oil and gas firm's wholly-owned subsidiary Sembcorp Marine Rigs & Floaters has secured a contract to construct a wind turbine installation vessel, it said on Wednesday. The value of the contract is not disclosed. Shares of Sembmarine closed at S$0.093 on Tuesday, up S$0.001 or 1.1 per cent.

JYEU : The Reit's private placement to raise at least S$325 million was 3.3 times subscribed. It was priced at S$0.725 for each new unit, the lower end of its S$0.725 and S$0.74 issue price range. The upsize option was also exercised. Lendlease Reit's manager called for a trading halt on Tuesday morning. The counter last closed flat at S$0.795 on Monday.

EB7: The fresh produce distributor said in a bourse filing after markets closed on Tuesday that there is no basis to suspect that its non-executive chairman Wu Yongqiang had been fraudulent or dishonest as the 18 civil suits he is involved in China are commercial in nature. It also said there was no reason to doubt Mr Wu's character or integrity and suitability to be appointed as a director, in response to queries from the exchange. Wu's credibility concerns came to light after durian distributor Nutryfarm appointed him as its non-executive chairman earlier this month. KTL Global's share price closed flat at S$0.116 on Tuesday.