Pan Asia Commercial Trust (MPACT) has divested a S$775m (鈧530m) office building in Singapore to pay down debt and strengthen its balance sheet.

The identity of the buyer was not disclosed, but 91传媒在线 understands that a private equity fund in Singapore is the buyer of Mapletree Anson, the 19-storey office building located in the Tanjong Pagar micro-market.

Manager of the trust, MPACT Management, has agreed to sell the asset, at a marginal gain of S$10m over the property鈥檚 latest valuation as at 31 March 2024. However, the manager said the agreed price was S$95m higher than the original purchase price of S$680m in 2013.

Sharon Lim, CEO of the manager, said: 鈥淭his proactive step also enhances MPACT鈥檚 financial resilience and agility, strengthening our fundamentals to navigate the dynamic market landscape and seize emerging opportunities.

鈥淎lthough there will be a marginal adjustment in the proportion of our Singapore assets, Singapore remains the cornerstone of our investment strategy, accounting for more than 50% of our portfolio.鈥

Upon completion of the divestment, MPACT鈥檚 portfolio will comprise 17 commercial properties located across the five key gateway markets of Asia, with a total lettable area of 10.8m sqft.

Singapore, underpinned by core assets, VivoCity and Mapletree Business City, will continue to be a significant component of MPACT鈥檚 portfolio, contributing approximately 58% and 53% to MPACT鈥檚 net property income. 

Ting Lim, head of capital markets, Singapore, , advisor for the divestment, said the transaction was the largest office transaction in Singapore in the past 24 months. 

Mapletree Anson

Source: JLL

Mapletree Anson

鈥淭he sale reinforces the resilience in the asset class and confidence in the long-term stability and sustainable rental growth potential of the wider sector, 鈥 said Lim.

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