26 June 2008
The Investment in and the Lease/Sublease of Assets to CPNRF
June 25, 2008
Subject Notification of the Investment in and the Lease/Sublease of Assets to
CPN Retail Growth
Property Fund
To The President,
The Stock Exchange of Thailand
As Central Pattana Public Company Limited ("CPN") has invested in 33.33
percent of the total investment units issued and sold of the CPN Retail Growth
Property Fund ("CPNRF"), which is managed by TMB Asset Management Co., Ltd.,
and CPN leased/subleased parts of CentralPlaza Rama II and CentralPlaza
Ratchada-Rama III to CPNRF on August 15 and 16, 2005. In October 2006 CPN was
considering leasing/subleasing parcel of land, retail shopping complex and two
office buildings at CentralPlaza Pinklao to CPNRF. After that
The Bank of Thailand ("BOT") implemented an Unremunerated Reserve Requirement
on short-term capital inflows ("Short-Term URR"), which applied to foreign
investments in property funds. This had delayed the capital increase of CPNRF
to invest in CPN's assets until March 2008, when BOT announced the lifting of
the Short-Term URR.
Currently, CPN is considering leasing/subleasing the parcel of land, retail
shopping complex, and two office buildings at CentralPlaza Pinklao together
with leasing/subleasing the parcel of land and retail shopping complex at
CentralPlaza Chiangmai Airport to CPNRF. At this stage CPN intends to maintain
its investment interest of 33 percent of the total investment units issued and
sold of CPNRF, however it is subjected to offering structure, allotment of
additional investment units, and related rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission of Thailand ("SEC").
However, CPN would like to inform that the above mentioned process is
subjected to final approval from the Board of Directors concerning the
lease/sublease price and other necessary conditions and CPN shall await
the resolutions of the approval for the capital increase and other related
transactions to be concluded in the CPNRF's unitholders meeting, approval from
the SEC and the results of the sale and allotment of the additional Investment
Units. Thus, CPN will notify the Stock Exchange of Thailand ("SET") upon the
acknowledgement of the final conclusion, the approval of the resolutions from
CPN's Board of Directors and the completion of the above mentioned process.
In according with the notification of the SET, the leasing/subleasing the
certain parts of the properties to CPNRF is considered as a disposition of
assets which its a value exceed 15 percent but not more than 50 percent of the
total asset value (including transactions in the last six months) which
required the disclosure of information to the SET. Furthermore, CPN will
submit the details of such transaction to its shareholders within
21 days from the date of notification to SET.
Please be informed accordingly.
Yours faithfully,
(Mr.Naris Cheyklin)
Company Secretary