New World Development Company Limited (SEHK:17) is talking to investors about the sale of a majority stake in an office tower under its premium K11 brand as it disposes of non-core assets to fund its rapid expansion, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said. The Grade-A K11 Atelier King's Road tower in eastern Hong Kong island from the city's fourth-biggest developer is valued in its entirety at HKD 11 billion ($1.4 billion), according to the people. To attract investors and sell at a good price, New World is offering a guaranteed capitalisation rate - a measure associated with rental yield - of around 4% under a deal structure similar to the sale of a land plot last year, the people added.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were private. Previous big disposals by New World had raised liquidity concerns and contributed to a sell-off in bonds in the developer, which is majority-owned by local conglomerate Chow Tai Fook Enterprises and more highly leveraged than peers. The bonds have since largely recovered in price after the developer repurchased notes worth HKD 6.5 billion.

New World said in a statement to Reuters that it had no plans to sell a stake in K11 Atelier King's Road, though it was common practice to exchange views with investors on business sentiment, valuation and potential investment opportunities. “The K11 Atelier King's Road is not amongst our flagship portfolio,” it said. “New World Development also has no interest in selling any other K11 properties.

We are in a very strong liquidity position with robust cash reserves.” The people told Reuters that any disposal of K11 Atelier King's Road is expected to model the sale of a 51% interest of a commercial land plot in western Kowloon to alternative asset manager Ares SSG last September, under which New World provided a 5% dividend rate for four years. The guarantee allowed New World to sell at a higher-than-market HKD 3.1 billion, booking a HKD 450 million gain, and supported the valuation of its nearby projects for sale, the people added. Ares SSG declined to comment.

A similar structure is also being offered to investors to buy D-Park, a shopping mall worth HKD 6 billion on a 100% basis, the people said. New World is not financially distressed according to the people, along with a third person who deals directly with the developer, but it needs more cash to support its rapid expansion.