SINGAPORE, Aug. 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Quarz Capital and Black Crane Capital hold more than 10% of the total issued units of Sabana REIT (SSREIT SP Equity). We are requiring Sabana REIT Manager to immediately proceed to convene an extraordinary meeting ("EGM") for independent unitholders of Sabana REIT to vote on the resolution to endorse Mr Chan Wai Kheong as a director of Sabana REIT.
Please find the requisition letter as follows:
Attention: The Board of Directors
Sabana Real Estate Investment Management Pte. Ltd.
(As Manager of Sabana Shari'ah Compliant REIT)
151 Lorong Chuan
2-03 New Tech Park
Singapore 556741
Dear Sirs,
RE: REQUISITION TO CONVENE AN EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING PURSUANT TO PARA 4.1(b) OF APPENDIX 6 OF THE CODE ON COLLECTIVE INVESTMENT SCHEMES
1. We are unitholders holding more than 10% of the total units of SGX-listed Sabana Shariah Compliant Trust ("Sabana REIT", "Sabana" or "Trust") managed by Sabana Real Estate Investment Pte Ltd ("Sabana REIT Manager", "SREI", "Manager" or "Sabana Manager").
2. We hereby give you notice pursuant to Para 4.1(b) of Appendix 6 of the Code on Collective Investment Schemes to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting ("EGM") and table the following resolutions to unitholders for the purposes of passing the following resolution:
Ordinary resolution
RESOLVED:
RESOLUTION 1: That the appointment of Mr. Chan Wai Kheong as Independent Non-Executive Director be endorsed by the independent unitholders in accordance with the direction from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
3. We are proposing the above resolution in order to give due effect to the direction from MAS for the endorsement of the new director by independent unitholders in a timely manner instead of at the next annual general meeting (AGM) which is more than 9 months away.
4. Till date, Sabana REIT Manager has not provided any clear and concrete reasons why they need to delay the endorsement of Mr Chan Wai Kheong by independent unitholders until the next AGM other than a bold statement that the timing for seeking unitholders' endorsement is a "matter to be determined by the Manager at its discretion".
5. The endorsement requirement was put in place in line with the direction from MAS after the failure of the value destructive merger proposed by the board which was comprehensively rejected by more than ~60% of all independent unitholders (despite it requiring 75% supermajority of independent unitholders support) and cost unitholders more than ~$2.1million in fees.
6. By postponing the endorsement to the next AGM which is 9 months away, the board of Sabana REIT Manager is effectively 'circumventing' and 'bypassing' MAS' specific directions and safeguards to protect Sabana unitholders. Sabana REIT Manager could repeatedly appoint a director who is 'aligned to its view' instead of prioritizing independent unitholders' interests right after an AGM. The REIT Manager can then refuse to conduct any EGM until the next AGM (which is 12 months away), which is exactly what is happening now. When the director is not endorsed in the next AGM, the REIT Manager can simply appoint another director 'aligned to its view' without getting endorsement from unitholders and repeatedly exploit this loophole.
7. It is public information that Mr Chan had received a substantial premium of ~S$22million over market price from ESR Cayman and is also a substantial unitholder of AIMS APAC REIT, a major competitor to Sabana REIT. These are clearly prior business relationships and interests that would be perceived by any reasonable person to place Mr Chan in a position of conflict and non-independence. As such, we see no reason why Mr Chan's appointment should not be put up for endorsement by independent unitholders in a prompt manner.
8. We highlight that rule 2.1 of the Code of Corporate Governance 2018 ("CG Code") states that:
"An "independent" director is one who is independent in conduct, character and judgement, and has no relationship with the company, its related corporations, its substantial shareholders or its officers that could interfere, or be reasonably perceived to interfere, with the exercise of the director's independent business judgement in the best interests of the company."
9. Practice Guidance 2 of the Practice Guidance dated 1 July 2021 to the CG Code also makes it clear that the specific circumstances in which a director is deemed non-independent as set out in Rule 210(5)(d) of the SGX Listing Rules are not exhaustive. The Board is responsible for determining "whether there is any circumstance or relationship which might impact a director's independence, or the perception of his or her independence". The Board has also failed to explain or provide any reasons for regarding Mr. Chan as independent despite Mr Chan's perceived lack of independence.
10. Given that the Board has strongly promoted Mr Chan's credentials and backed his appointment despite his potential conflict of interests, we as independent unitholders are puzzled by the board's clear reluctance to put Mr Chan's appointment up for endorsement promptly and the continued lack of any reason for delaying such endorsement.
11. Is the refusal to hold the EGM promptly a clear admission by the board that Mr Chan's appointment is strongly rejected by most independent unitholders due to his significant prior business relationships with ESR Cayman (HKG: 1821) and substantial stake in a competitor?
12. Is it a public acknowledgement by the board that it has appointed a director who is unsuitable to represent and safeguard independent unitholders' interests? This would make it even more critical that the EGM to vote on the endorsement of Mr Chan is held as soon as possible.
The (lack of) courage to face independent unitholders
13. We call on Mr Chan to "stop hiding" and put himself up for endorsement immediately. Given Mr Chan's desire to be a director of Sabana REIT Manager, he should have the courage to face independent unitholders in an EGM to be held in a timely and prompt manner and adhere to the direction from MAS. This will show that Mr Chan is committed to his fiduciary and director's duties. We further call on the Board to 'do the right thing' and comply fully with the spirit and intent of MAS' directions for independent directors to be endorsed by the unitholders in a timely manner in order to safeguard unitholders' interests.
14. If the Board does not put Mr Chan Wai Kheong up for endorsement now, it begs the question why! If Mr Chan does not come forward to face the unitholders now, this immediately denies independent unitholders of their rights and is a clear indication to us that he is not interested in safeguarding the interest of unitholders at all.
15. More importantly, given Mr Chan's substantial economic interest in AIMS APAC REIT and his prior business transaction with ESR Cayman (1821 HK Equity), there is a real and a significant risk that the potential conflict of interests issues due to his appointment can be considerable and detrimental to the interests of independent unitholders.
Stop "circumventing" the regulation and start fulfilling your duties!
16. We remind Mr Tan Cheong Hin and Mr Wong Heng Tew of their fiduciary duties specifically with reference to Sections 286 (10A) and 286 (10B) of the Securities and Futures Act, which stipulates that REIT managers and their directors must act in the best interest of all unitholders and prioritize unitholders' interests over those of the REIT manager and its shareholders.
17. The EGM must be held in a prompt manner in order for the Board to discharge their fiduciary duties, specifically under Sections 286 (10A) and 286 (10B) of the Securities and Futures Act. We reiterate our request for the requisitioned EGM to be held as soon as possible to allow independent unitholders who hold over 75% of Sabana REIT's total unitholdings to timely evaluate and promptly endorse / vote on whether the new board member can represent and safeguard unitholders' interests.
18. The need to endorse the new director was put in place for the specific purpose of ensuring that the current board will appoint a director who is truly independent from the sponsor and can safeguard independent unitholders' interests, ensure good corporate governance and prevent the potential conflict of interest issues created through ESR Cayman's ownership of 2 REIT Managers operating in the same sector.
19. Against this background, it is all the more pertinent and critical for the Board to take all necessary actions, both to discharge their statutory and fiduciary duties and to satisfy the unitholders that a truly independent director is appointed to safeguard their interests.
20. Any further delays in convening an EGM for endorsement of Mr Chan will only further accentuate and heighten any perceived lack of independence of Mr Chan.
21. We urge the board of Sabana REIT Manager to fulfill their directors' and fiduciary duties and hold the requisitioned EGM to put Mr Chan's appointment up for endorsement by independent unitholders in accordance with the direction from MAS as soon as practicable and without delay, and not later than 2 months after the receipt by the Company of our requisition notice of 2 August 2021.
22. Should Sabana REIT Manager fail to timely convene the requisitioned EGM for independent unitholders, we reserve all our rights and remedies, including against the directors.
Yours faithfully,
Jan F. Moermann
CIO, Quarz Capital
Peter Kennan
CIO, Black Crane Capital
cc. (1) Singapore Exchange Regulation (SGX RegCo)
(2) Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)
(3) HSBC Institutional Trust Services (Singapore) Limited as Trustee of Sabana REIT