The location of BenQ's headquarters and the quality of its office buildings have generated high levels of interest in its sale, a real estate expert said yesterday after BenQ confirmed it has plans to sell the two buildings in Taipei's Neihu District.
"We've received many inquiries from overseas investors regarding the planned sale of BenQ headquarters, Cynthia Chu (朱幸兒), general manager of Savills (Taiwan) Ltd, said in a phone interview yesterday.
A BenQ public relationship official said on condition of anonymity yesterday that the company is in talks with foreign and local bidders over the sale of the office buildings.
"A number of interested buyers including real-estate agencies have approached us. Discussions are still on-going but we are waiting for suitable buyers and prices," the PR official said.
BenQ moved its headquarters to Neihu in March 1999, when property prices there were comparatively low. Now thanks to the cluster effect of many high-tech companies moving to the Neihu Technology Park (內湖科技園區), property prices in Neihu have increased significantly.
The value of BenQ headquarters is expected to increase further after a new mass rapid transit line opens in the area in 2009, Chu said.
The complex has more than 17,000 ping (56,100m2) of floor space -- including 10,000 ping of office space and 7,000 ping of parking lots.
The office space could be sold for more than NT$300,000 (US$8,989.8) per ping, Chu estimated.
Media reports claim that investors have offered NT$510 million to NT$700 million for the complex.
As BenQ intends to sell the two-building complex and rent space from the new owner, how much rental BenQ is willing to pay should be considered when evaluating offers, Chu said.
Additional reporting by Jason Tan
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