SYDNEY — Australian real-estate developer Lendlease plans to exit international construction to free 4.5 billion Australian dollars (US$2.98 billion) for capital returns and local growth initiatives.
The property developer on Monday said it would record up to A$1.48 billion in charges and impairments in its current fiscal year, including goodwill write downs against its U.S. and U.K. units.
It plans to start shareholder returns through an on-market A$500 million share buyback and will set up a dedicated capital-release unit to recycle freed capital. It is targeting A$125 million in annualized savings within 12 months.