LIC Housing 'examining' opportunities in S'pore, Malaysia

LIC Housing Finance today said it is 'examining' opportunities in the Singapore and Malaysian markets as it seeks to expand its overseas presence. "We are getting demands from Singapore and Malaysia. We
will examine it...", LIC director and chief executive V K Sharma told reporters here.

The company in the last two years had set up offices in the Kuwait and Dubai market, he said adding that offices were converted into 'representative' office. Sharma, who inaugurated the 15th edition of housing expo "Ungal Illam 2012", said southern region was major contributor for the company accounting for a total business of Rs 4,800 crore.

"Southern region is one of our strengths. More than 20% of our business comes from this region... It is about Rs 4,800 crore of the overall Rs 20,000 crore...(registered last year)..", he said. Noting that the market has become volatile with shortage of supply and demand, he said, "there is acute shortage of affordable houses.. the demand has not decelerated, the supply has decelerated.. this is creating a peculiar situation..."

"In the commercial (real estate) market, there is a clear cut slowdown...", he said, adding that the prices of land in tier II and III cities have gone up substantially in the last three years. "If there would have been a good number of supply, then the competition pressure would have kept the prices low...that
is not there...", he said.

"Our total asset size is Rs 65,000 crore, out of that our retail loan is 97% and the remaining three per cent is for the builders, he said. Of course, it gives a pressure on our margin. We are trying to build it up", he said. About the expo, he said about 200 builders are participating in the three-day event. He said LIC Housing Finance is hoping to grow at 20% this year and has set a disbursal target of Rs 22,000.