MRCB the favourite in RM1.1bil land deal

MRCB 2nd KL land purchase?: Sources said MRCB had the best offer on the table for the 7.9 acres that the French embassy is disposing through a competitive tender. If MRCB wins the bid as expected, it would be buying a second piece of land in the city, a week after announcing its purchase of the German embassy

PETALING JAYA: Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB) is said to be in the lead to purchase the French embassy land which is one of the few remaining sizeable parcels of land in the city centre.

Sources said MRCB had the best offer on the table for the 7.9 acres that the embassy is disposing through a competitive tender.

If MRCB wins the bid as expected, it would be buying a second piece of land in the city, a week after announcing its purchase of the German embassy’s 1.87 acres in Jalan Kia Peng last week.

The French embassy land, comprising two parcels, with a combined acreage of 7.98 acres along Jalan Ampang is said to be sold at about RM3,188 per sq ft.

At that price, it will cost the government-linked company about RM1.108bil. There are two pieces of land involved in the French deal, one which has a residential title while the other is insitutional land.

The deal is expected to be signed this week, sources said. According to press reports, the tender closed on Feb 12 this year. There was no reserved price for the French embassy land.

Interested parties “would know” the market value, a source said.

The land is located opposite the former British High Commission which was sold to SP Setia in late 2012. The developer bought the 3 acres, at RM2,200 per sq ft, at a premium of 47% over its reserved price of RM1,500 per sq ft. As with the French parcels, the British High Commission land comprised two parcels, a residential and a commercial parcel.

MRCB’s first purchase in Jalan Kia Peng last week is expected to result in a commercial development. Within walking distance of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, the price MRCB paid at RM3,188 per sq ft translates into about 6% premium to the market value of the land based on appraisals conducted by independent valuers, press reports said.

AM Research said in its research report last week the merits of MRCB’s German purchase will be anchored by its strategic location and possibly, an attractive plot ratio. The project could kick off early next year with an indicative gross domestic value (GDV) of about RM1.3bil, Am Research said.

“We believe that the latest development reaffirms MRCB’s increasing penetration as an urban property developer, with a lucid focus on highly visible or transport-oriented developments,” it said.

MRCB said the acquisition of the German land was part of the group’s expansion strategy after taking into consideration the scarcity of freehold land in the sought-after KLCC area.

According to several industry sources, land sales in the city has been brisk since the British High Commission sale with other diplomatic missions giving up their land in order to relocate to a building.

The two German land sales – the former Goethe Institute site and the German ambassador’s residence in Jalan Kia Peng - and now the French embassy land lend credence to this.

But it is not just diplomatic missions giving up their land that is sparking interest among local land-hungry developers. The entrance of foreign developers, from China and Singapore has also pushed up prices.

In 2013, Oxley Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd, a unit of Singapore-based developer Oxley Holdings Ltd, purchased 3.2 acres in Jalan Ampang, forking out RM3,300 per sq ft, with an absolute price of RM446.7mil. Located on the Pelita Nasi Kandar site, it is separated from the Petronas Twin Towers by Wisma Central.

Land value has moved up in the city considerably the last several years. City Hall’s “continual increase of plot ratio” has also fired up the imagination of land owners who demand high prices.

Land value is dependent on the plot ratio and land use. The higher the plot ratio, the higher the development.