![Frasers Centrepoint makes USD2.4b bid for Australia property giant]()
Singapore-based real estate giant Frasers Centrepoint on Wednesday made a surprise AUD2.59 billion (USD2.4 billion) cash offer for Australia's Australand, as a bidding war broke out.
Frasers offered AUD4.48 per share for the property developer and office landlord, trumping a share swap bid by Australian rival Stockland last week.
Australand, the owner of AUD2.4 billion in residential and commercial developments, granted Frasers four weeks to exclusively complete due diligence.
Australand's board said it was a better offer than Stockland's and intended to recommend it to investors unless a superior bid was made."The board concluded that the conditional proposal would deliver a compelling value outcome for Australand security-holders and is superior to the final and conditional proposal received from Stockland," chairman Paul Isherwood said.
Australand shares jumped more than six percent on the news and were trading at AUD4.58 mid-morning.
Story: AFP