Arab Cotton Ginning (ACGC.CA) from Egypt will split its real estate holdings from its cotton production and offer the land for housing and commercial developments, the firm release a statement.

A new company will be created to manage the real estate investments, including the sale of land and the development of housing, tourism and commercial properties.

Arab Cotton Ginning owns more than 600,000 square meters of land in 13 locations in Egypt. The land once housed gins (machines for separating cotton fibre from seed), that have moved to cheaper industrial zones away from residential areas.

Arab Cotton Ginning said it will take three to four months to complete the split, and that the firm will re-acquire the spun-off company via a share swap.