28th Sep 2009 10:24
28th September, 2009
ASIAN GROWTH PROPERTIES LIMITED
Disposal of Investment Property at 28th Floor, 9 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong
The Board of Asian Growth Properties Limited (AIM Stock Code: AGP), the Hong Kong based
China property development and investment company, announces that on 24th September, 2009, Handy View Company Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company had entered into the Agreementwith an independent purchaser for the disposal of the Property upon the terms and conditions of the Agreement.
Principal Terms of the Agreement
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Execution Date:
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24th September, 2009
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Parties:
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(1) Purchaser: Sing Kee Company Limited whose principal business is investment; and.
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(2) Vendor: Handy View Company Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
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Asset being Disposed:
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28/F., 9 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong, an entire office floor of a 35-storey commercial building with a gross floor area of approximately 1,279 sq. m., which the Group has held since late 2006 as an investment property to generate recurrent rental income.
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Consideration and Payment Terms:
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The consideration for the Disposal is HK$252,500,000 (£19,868,436) in cash, of which:
(1) HK$10,000,000 (£786,869) was paid by the Purchaser upon signing of the Agreement as an initial deposit;
(2) HK$15,250,000 (£1,199,975) will be paid as a further deposit and part payment on or before 9th October, 2009; and
(3) the balance of HK$227,250,000 (£17,881,592) will be paid on the Completion Date.
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Completion Date:
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On or before 9th December, 2009.
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Other Material Terms:
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The Property will be sold subject to an existing tenancy for a term of 3 years commencing on 16th May, 2009 and on an "as is" basis and in the physical state and condition as it stands.
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The consideration for the Disposal was arrived at after arm's length negotiations between the Purchaser and the Vendor and determined on normal commercial terms and by reference to the carrying value of the Property as revalued by an independent professional valuer as at 30th June, 2009 of HK$210,000,000 (£16,524,243). The Board considers that the terms (including the consideration) of the Disposal are fair and reasonable and the Disposal is in the interests of the Shareholders.
Financial Effects of the Disposal
After deducting related costs and expenses, the Group expects to realise a net profit from the Disposal of approximately HK$42,000,000 (£3,304,849), being the difference between (1) the consideration for the Disposal of HK$252,500,000 (£19,868,436) and (2) the aggregate of the carrying value of the Property as at 30th June, 2009 of HK$210,000,000 (£16,524,243).and the related costs and expenses for the Disposal. The net losses (before and after taxation and extraordinary items) attributable to the Property were HK$2,380,000 (£187,275) and HK$4,578,000 (£360,228) for the two financial years ended 31st December, 2008 and 31st December, 2007 respectively.
However, there will be no material effect of the Disposal on the consolidated assets and liabilities of the Company.
Reasons for and Benefits of the Disposal
The Board has been reviewing the property portfolio of the Company from time to time and considers the Property to be a non-core investment property asset of the Group. It believes that the Disposal represents a good opportunity for the Group to dispose of the Property and provides further funding for the Group's existing property development projects.
Use of Proceeds
It is currently intended that the proceeds of the Disposal will be used to repay the bank loans for the Property and pay the costs and expenses of the Disposal and as general working capital of the Group.
General Information
To the best of the Directors' knowledge, information and belief and having made reasonable enquiries, the Purchaser and its ultimate beneficial owners are third parties independent of the Company and its subsidiaries and their respective related parties.
AIM Rules Implications
The Disposal does not constitute any transactions which require disclosure under the AIM Rules. However, the Directors consider it appropriate for the Company to voluntarily inform the Shareholders and potential investors of the Disposal.
Note:
An exchange rate of £1.00 = HK$12.7086 has been used for the purpose of this announcement.
Definitions
In this announcement, the following expressions shall have the following respective meanings unless the context requires otherwise:
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"Agreement" |
the provisional agreement for sale and purchase in respect of the sale and purchase of the Property dated 24th September, 2009 and entered into between (i) the Vendor and (ii) the Purchaser; |
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"AIM" |
AIM market of London Stock Exchange plc; |
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"AIM Rules for Companies" |
the rules of the AIM, published from time to time by the London Stock Exchange plc, governing the admission to and operation of the AIM; |
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"Board" |
the board of Directors; |
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"Company" |
Asian Growth Properties Limited, a company incorporated in the British Virgin Islands with limited liability, the issued Shares of which (Stock code: AGP) are admitted for trading on the AIM; |
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"Directors" |
the directors of the Company; |
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"Disposal" |
the disposal of the Property in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Agreement; |
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"Group" |
the Company and its subsidiaries; |
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"HK$" |
Hong Kong dollars, the lawful currency of Hong Kong for the time being; |
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"Hong Kong" |
the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of The People's Republic of China; |
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"Property" |
28/F., 9 Queen's Road Central, Hong Kong with a gross floor area of approximately 1,279 sq. m.; |
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"Purchaser" |
Sing Kee Company Limited, a company incorporated in Hong Kong and an independent third party whose principal business is investment; |
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"related parties" |
has the meaning as ascribed to it under the AIM Rules; |
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"Share(s)" |
share(s) of US$0.05 each in the capital of the Company; |
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"Shareholders" |
holders of the Shares; |
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"sq. m." |
square metres; |
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"US$" |
United States dollars, the lawful currency of the United States of America; |
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"Vendor" |
Handy View Company Limited, a company incorporated in Hong Kong and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company; and |
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"£" |
British pounds, the lawful currency of the United Kingdom for the time being. |
For more information, please contact:
Lu Wing Chi Tel: +852 2828 6363
Executive Director
Asian Growth Properties Limited
Richard Gray Tel: +44 207 459 3600
Andrew Potts
Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited
(Nominated Advisor)
Related Shares:
AGP.L