Malaysia's E&O posts loss on lower property contribution

It seeks to raise RM500mil to fund new launches, reduce gearing

KUALA LUMPUR: Niche property developer Eastern & Oriental Bhd (E&O) has posted a RM44.6mil net loss for its fourth quarter ended March 31 compared with a net profit of RM9.27mil a year ago.

For the full year, the group saw a RM37.7mil net loss versus a RM128.9mil net profit in FY08, while revenue also fell to RM302.6mil against RM516.4mil previously.

A lower contribution from the property division, as well as provision for impairment loss on investments of RM10.24mil and loss of RM19.976mil on disposal of 50% stake and preference shares in associate Puncak Madu Sdn Bhd to Selangor Properties Bhd were the reasons for the lower full-year earnings, the group said in a statement. The property division accounted for more than 80% of total revenue in FY09.

While the company slipped into the red in FY09, it is looking at strengthening its balance sheet and reducing its gearing with a rights issue that is expected to raise RM200mil.

E&O executive director Eric Chan told StarBiz the severity and suddenness of the economic downturn in 2008 necessitated “pre-emptive balance sheet management strategies”.

E&O announced yesterday a renounceable rights issue of irredeemable convertible secured loan stocks (ICSLS) 2009/2019 on the basis of one new ICSLS for every two shares held. The nominal value 10-year ICSLS of 65 sen each come with a coupon of 8% per annum.

E&O has the option to call for conversion of the ICSLS into new E&O shares after two years of issuance and if its share price exceeds RM1.

E&O’s share price has been penalised since its merger with and delisting in July/August last year of E&O Property Development Bhd which left it with high gearing.

Chan said the rights issue was only part of a two-pronged approach to address the gearing concerns and funding needs.

In total, the group aims to raise RM500mil. In addition to the RM200mil from the ICSLS issue, E&O is raising another RM300mil from the disposal of non-strategic landbank.

“This programme started in January. To-date, we have raised just under RM100mil from our asset disposal including from the unwinding of the joint venture with Selangor Properties,” Chan said.

At present, E&O’s gearing is high at 0.8 times but the group’s loans are not due immediately having been extended to 2014.

According to Chan, with the RM200mil from the ICSLS scheme, E&O’s gearing falls to 0.46 times.

A further RM300mil from the disposal of non-strategic landbanks would bring gearing to a low 0.16 times.

Together with new property launches that would generate even more cashflow, gearing would be slashed to a negligible level in two to three years, said Chan.

Source: The Star 27 May 2009