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Debt-saddled Lai Sun Development sells stake in insurer AIA Group’s Hong Kong headquarters

  • A wholly-owned unit of the developer has sold its equity stake in the AIA Central skyscraper for HK$1.42 billion (US$180 million) in a bid to boost its liquidity
  • Lai Sun Development was saddled with total liabilities of more than HK$34.69 billion for the six months ended January 31, according to its interim results

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The 38-storey office tower at 1 Connaught Road Central has served as the regional headquarters of Asia’s biggest insurer since 2005. Photo: Shutterstock

A wholly-owned unit of Lai Sun Development Company, a Hong Kong property firm, has sold its equity stake in the AIA Central skyscraper for HK$1.42 billion (US$180 million) in a bid to boost its liquidity.

The move comes just a few weeks after the developer disposed of its interest in an industrial building in the city as it tries to overturn a mountain of debt.

Lai Sun said it has signed an agreement to sell its unit Peakflow Profits’ shareholdings in Bayshore Development, the owner of AIA Central, to Grand Design Development, which is a subsidiary of insurance giant AIA Group.

The 38-storey office tower at 1 Connaught Road Central has served as the regional headquarters of Asia’s biggest insurer since 2005.

Peakflow Profits is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lai Sun Development and an indirect, non-wholly-owned unit of Lai Sun Garment (International), according to an exchange filing.

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AIA Group will hold the remaining equity stake in Bayshore Development after the disposal.

Yulu Ao
Yulu Ao joined SCMP in 2022 as a business reporter. She previously covered business trends across the Greater Bay Area with topics including financial market, healthcare, aviation, etc. She holds a master's degree in journalism from the University of Hong Kong. Before moving to Hong Kong, she interned in different roles at several news agencies in mainland China.
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