SINGAPORE (March 2): The manager of Sabana REIT has revealed it is evaluating a potential sale of all units or assets of the REIT or the potential sale of the manager as part of its strategic review exercise conducted through Morgan Stanley Asia (Singapore).

SINGAPORE (Feb 27): The manager of Sabana Shari&rsquo ah Compliant Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust has appointed Morgan Stanley Asia (Singapore) as its financial adviser in relation to the strategic review of the REIT.

Morgan Stanley will assist the strategic review board committee and report to the committee directly, Sabana REIT manager says in a filing to SGX on Friday.

The committee was formed on Feb 17 to undertake a review of options available for Sabana REIT to enhance unitholder value.

It comes after a number of dissident unitholders on Feb 6 requisitioned an extraordinary general meeting to vote on resolutions to replace the manager of the REIT and perhaps liquidate the REIT&rsquo s portfolio and return the cash to investors.

The manager of Sabana REIT, however, faces an uphill task in convincing disgruntled unitholders that the strategic review will achieve anything worthwhile.

In fact, the whole exercise might soon come to be viewed as an expensive waste of time.

Meanwhile, Sabana REIT&rsquo s proposed acquisition of a four-storey light industrial building at 47 Changi South Ave 2 from its sponsor, Vibrant Group, is under scrutiny.

The property being acquired from Vibrant has been valued at $23 million by Savills and Knight Frank, which were engaged by Sabana REIT. A third property valuer, Colliers, which was engaged by Vibrant, also arrived at a valuation of $23 million.

Questions have been raised about the independent valuations provided by the three big-name property consultancies in support of the transaction.

In addition, Sabana REIT appears to be paying a relatively high price compared with recent transactions in the area.

On Feb 17, the Singapore Exchange queried Sabana REIT&rsquo s manager on the acquisition price.

Find out the full story behind Sabana REIT&rsquo s disquiet in  &ldquo In Sabana REIT&rsquo s strategic review a waste of time?&rdquo   and  &ldquo Sabana REIT&rsquo s purchase of Changi South property from Vibrant draws scrutiny&rdquo   on pages 5 & 14 of The Edge Singapore (week of Feb 27), available at newsstands now.