For Sale: 18th Floor Of Peninsula Plaza At $17.5m

Source : The Straits Times, Mar 5, 2008

NOVELTY Department Store Pte Ltd, part of the Novelty Group, has put the entire 18th floor of Peninsula Plaza up for sale, with a price tag of about $17.5 million or about $2,050 per square foot (psf) of strata area.

Peninsula Plaza is a 999-year leasehold building near Raffles City. DTZ is marketing the property.

The 18th floor comprises six strata units adding up to 8,514 sq ft - all of which are leased. Tenancies for five units are up for renewal/expiry later this year, while the lease on the sixth unit runs out in mid-2009.

The $17.5 million price tag reflects a passing net yield - that is based on existing contracted rents - of about 2 per cent.

However, DTZ notes that current monthly asking rents for offices in the building range from $7 psf to $8 psf.

Assuming an average rental of $7.50 psf, the $2,050 psf asking price reflects a net yield of about 3.5 per cent.

'The potential buyer may also further capitalise on this investment opportunity and subsequently offer to resell the six strata units individually to take advantage of rising capital values of smaller strata office space,' said DTZ senior director (investment advisory services and auction) Shaun Poh.

The property provides an opportunity to invest in 'good quality and well maintained office space', he said. 'Strong demand and rising rental rates for office space in the Central Business District are expected to continue, providing income growth from the asset.'

DTZ is marketing the property through an expression of interest exercise that closes on April 1.

In December, a first-storey freehold office unit at United House, behind Le Meridien Singapore Hotel at Orchard Road, fetched $2,497 psf of strata area at an auction.

Far East Organization is said to have sold an entire office floor last year at The Central, a 99-year leasehold development above Clarke Quay MRT Station, for $3,050 psf.

Novelty Group is involved in the property and department store businesses. Its upcoming residential developments include i Residences, a freehold development with 70 apartments in the Irrawaddy Road area, and the 35-unit Evania at Upper Paya Lebar Road.