DLFs promoters to sign deal with GIC

New Delhi: Realty major DLFs promoters are likely to enter into an agreement with Singapores sovereign wealth fund GIC in the next few weeks to sell their 40 per cent stake in rental business for an estimated Rs 13,000 crore.

DLF, the countys largest realty firm, expects the deal to be concluded by October this year after receiving regulatory and all other approvals, its CFO Ashok Tyagi said.

"We have made significant progress in the proposed transaction. We expect GIC to conclude extensive due diligence in the next few weeks.

"Simultaneously, legal documentation is at an advanced stage which will be completed in the next few weeks," DLF Senior Executive Director (Finance) Saurabh Chawla told analysts today in a conference call. Chawla said it is very difficult to give an exact timeline as it is a "very large transaction".

In early March, DLFs promoters K P Singh and family had entered into an exclusivity pact with GIC for the deal.

Chawla explained that GIC will approach fair trade regulator CCI for approval while DLF would take approval from minority shareholders. He said the "basic valuation has been frozen" but declined to give a specific number.

Sources had earlier said that the deal is likely to be valued at around Rs 12,000-13,000 crore. Tyagi said the proposed transaction is likely to be concluded and "funds will come into the company by October".

In October 2015, DLF had announced that its promoters would sell their entire 40 per cent stake in DLF Cyber City Developers Ltd (DCCDL), which holds the bulk of the commercial assets of the group.

The promoters would invest a significant amount from this proposed transaction into DLF Ltd, which will use it for reduction of debt that has crossed Rs 25,000 crore.

In late 2009, DLF had announced the merger of its subsidiary DCCDL with promoter firm Caraf Builders and Constructions. DCCDL had then issued compulsorily convertible preference shares (CCPS) worth Rs 1,597 crore to promoters.

Post conversion of CCPS into ordinary shares, promoters will have a 40 per cent stake in DCCDL, while the remaining 60 per cent is with DLF.

DLF has about 30 million sq ft of commercial area with an annual rent of about Rs 2,700 crore. Out of that, DCCDL holds about 22 million sq ft of commercial space.