The proposed merger between Eco World Development Group Bhd (EcoWorld)
and UEM Sunrise Bhd favours the latter, according to Kenanga Investment Bank
Bhd (“Kenanga”), given that EcoWorld’s key shareholders would lose their
majority rights, listing status and potentially their brand.
Source: https://www.edgeprop.my
On EcoWorld’s side, Kenanga said a potentially strong reason for the
merger may be that its key shareholders are concerned over the outlook for the
property sector and economy for the foreseeable future, and therefore the group
could benefit from the backing of a stronger shareholder in the form of
Khazanah Nasional Bhd via UEM Group Bhd.
This would help EcoWorld in the event
that it needs to raise funds via equity. Eco World's net profit reportedly fell
72.7 per cent to RM13.8 million in the third quarter (Q3) ended July 31, 2020
from RM50.5 million a year ago.
It reported lower revenue of RM477.9
million in Q3 from RM521.4 million previous year.
This was due to the lower share of the
results of its Malaysian joint-ventures namely Eco Grandeur, Eco Business Park
V, Eco Horizon, Eco Ardence and Bukit Bintang City Centre.
According to a recent report by CGS-CIMB
Research, Eco World's net gearing stood at 0.75 times as at financial year
2019.
The firm expected Eco World's net gearing
to increase to 0.8 times for FY20, and further grow to 0.9 times for FY21 and
0.93 times for FY22.
UEM Sunrise, meanwhile, posted a net loss
of RM93.36 million in the second quarter ended June 30, 2020 from a net profit
of RM40.36 million a year ago.
Its revenue plunged 88.8 per cent to
RM111.96 million from RM1 billion. Khazanah
Nasional Bhd fully owns UEM Group, which has 2.99 billion shares in UEM Sunrise
for the 66.06 per cent stake.
Also, UEM
Sunrise on the other hand has been struggling with many issues, the merger of
UEM & Sunrise (again the deal initiated by the Khazanah for Datuk Tong Kooi
Ong – the owner of The Edge) has never really bedded down properly. Two
different cultures coming together, with skills mismatch. And Tong said of the
merger “Tong says the merged company is
expected to have a market
capitalisation of RM10 billion, with various segments from
construction to property development to hospitality”. What is the market capitalization of UEM Sunrise
now? RM 10 bil? RM 25bil?
It is only
17% of what was promised, current market cap is onlyRM1.7 bil. If we put both
UEM Sunrise & Ecoworld together as one, you have one giant property
company, massively leveraged (by state banks), in an industry that will see no
growth for next few years. UEM Sunrise board commissioned a study, which was
done by Bain & Co, and it was suggested that the best partner for UEM
Sunrise was either MRCB or Sime Property.
Why can’t there be a better way forward?
Instead of relying on Khazanah or a GLC, it is time for overseas parties (or a
white or blue knight) to acquire EcoWorld and the Government provides incentives
or approvals for the acquisition. Leave UEM Sunrise to sort out its own issues!
References:
1. EcoWorld
merger plan favours UEM Sunrise, says Kenanga, Ahmad Naqub Idris, The
EdgeMarkets, 6 October 2020
2. Former
PNB chief raises concerns over proposed UEM Sunrise-EcoWorld merger, Ayisy
Yusof, The New Straits Times, 6 October 2020
3. Khazanah
dungus is bailing out another failed company using taxpayers money, www.untold.news.blog
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