Keppel to sell 70 pct stake in Vietnam waterfront township

The company said in a release Monday that, pending certain developments, it will sell its stake in the Dong Nai Waterfront City Company (DNWC) to Ho Chi Minh City-based Nam Long Investment Corp for VND2.31 trillion ($99.72 million).

The DNWC is a company incorporated under Vietnam’s laws that has been granted the right to develop the Dong Nai Waterfront City township project.

Keppel Land, Keppel's real estate arm, is currently in the process of taking over complete control of DNWC from an unnamed joint venture partner through a demerger.

Once the demerger is done, DNWC will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Keppel with the rights to develop a 170-hectare plot of land.

DNWC also holds a 28-hectare plot of land which is excluded from the proposed divestment.

The 70 percent stake sale will depend on demerger going through.

Dong Nai Waterfront City is a 170-hectare residential township project in Dong Nai Province, located 28 kilometers to the northeast of HCMC.

It will have about 7,850 homes, including townhouses, villas and high-rise apartments with various commercial facilities.

Keppel Corp said that the stake sale was in line with Keppel Land's strategy to recycle assets for higher returns. The funds generated will be used to pursue other opportunities in Vietnam, it said.

The Dong Nai Waterfront City will be Keppel Land's second township project in Vietnam after the 64-hectare Saigon Sports City in HCMC's District 2 which is under construction.