Sumitomo Realty seeks $700 million office sale amid Elliott push
Sumitomo Realty, the Japanese developer facing pressure from Elliott Investment Management to boost its value, is seeking to sell a group of office properties in Tokyo for at least ¥100 billion ($700 million), according to people with knowledge of the matter.
The developer has earmarked 19 midsized office buildings for the divestment. It has asked real estate investment firms and agencies to estimate the value of the offices, which it is considering selling separately, the people said, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. It is also weighing the sale of eight rental apartment buildings in the city, they said.
Representatives for Sumitomo Realty weren't immediately available for comment.
After taking a stake in Sumitomo Realty, Elliott said this week that the Tokyo-based company should do more to improve shareholder returns and corporate governance. The sale plans mark a shift from its business model of developing properties in-house, holding them for the long term, and earning steady income from tenants, toward a strategy targeting capital gains.
In a rare public letter, Elliott said it would vote against Sumitomo Realty's senior management at an annual shareholder meeting on June 27 if no meaningful progress is made on improving its value. It called on the developer to unwind its cross-shareholdings, increase its shareholder payout ratio to 50% or more and target a return on equity of at least 10%.
Elliott has built up more than a 3% holding in the company, according to the letter.
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