ESR and Sabana respond to questions from Sias over proposed merger

Executives reassure that ring fencing is in place to ensure perceived conflicts of interest are managed

Published Thu, Sep 10, 2020 · 09:50 PM

Singapore

THE Securities Investors Association (Singapore), or Sias, said in a statement on Thursday that it had conducted a dialogue with the managers of Sabana Shari'ah Compliant Real Estate Investment Trust (Sabana Reit) and ESR-Reit, to address questions from Sias over their proposed merger.

The dialogue was attended by Sias' chief executive David Gerald; chief executive and executive director of ESR-Reit's manager Adrian Chui; chief executive of Sabana Reit's manager Donald Han; and Justin Tang, head of Asian research at United First Partners in Singapore.

On July 16, ESR-Reit and Sabana Reit reannounced the proposed merger of the two Reits after earlier talks in 2017 fell through.

This has since drawn much discussion from shareholders over concerns such as the sale of Sabana Reit's assets below net asset value (NAV) as well as accusations of conflicts of interest with ESR Cayman, as it owns substantial stakes in both ESR-Reit's and Sabana Reit's m…