(Recasts and adds CEO comment on briefing call)
SYDNEY, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Australia’s Link Administration Holdings Ltd on Monday said it would prioritise a trade sale for its coveted stake in online conveyancing firm PEXA within months, instead of a demerger as it looks to capitalise on a property market rebound.
The strength of the housing market had influenced the decision to sell the stake outright instead of distributing PEXA shares to Link investors, the company said, even though it would mean paying capital gain taxes of about 30% on a deal.
Late last year, attracted by its 44.2% stake in PEXA - the dominant digital property transfer business in real-estate-obsessed Australia - at least two groups tabled unsuccessful bids for Sydney-based shareholder registry firm Link.