Prospect: Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Group's financial performance for the financial year ending 31 December 2019 is expected to be better than the previous year upon completion of the proposals involving the disposals of the Pre-Tertiary Education Group and the Tertiary Education Group. Conclusion: Meaning next QR even more superb!!!
Paramount Corp Bhd’s move to re-strategise its investments by gradually moving out of education and putting more money into property development may appear countercyclical at the moment, to say the least.
The decision to reduce its exposure in the education business that offers a stable revenue in favour of the property business amid challenging market conditions, has raised concerns.
However, Paramount group chief executive officer Jeffrey Chew (pic) believes “the time is right considering the soft market conditions”. As it turns out, the group’s strategy seems to resonate well with investors.
Year-to-date, the stock has outperformed the Bursa Malaysia Property Index, even as sentiment in the local property market remains subdued.
On June 21, the group’s share price hit an all-time-high of RM2.23, following the announcement on the divestment of Paramount’s stake in its K-12 education business for RM540.5mil.
Chew tells StarBizWeek that cash generated by monetising Paramount’s education business will mainly go towards landbanking activities and project developments.
The approach is in line with Paramount’s aspirations to become a pure-play property company.
On top of the divestments announced in the recent years, Paramount is looking at three potential ways to monetise up to RM690mil worth of assets over the next seven years. “Firstly, we can dispose of our remaining equity in K-12 over the next three to five years, which will give us about RM160mil.
“Secondly, we can raise up to RM50mil by monetising our remaining stake in the tertiary business comprising KDU University College Sdn Bhd (KDUUC), KDU University College (PG) Sdn Bhd (KDUPG) and KDU College (PJ) Sdn Bhd.
“Finally, we can monetise the campus assets leased previously to University of Wollongong. This can be done via a real estate investment trust and can raise about RM480mil,” says Chew.
When asked whether the move to invest more in landbanking efforts was akin to “going against the tide”, Chew disagrees.
“Yes, the property market is soft today, but this is the time where a lot of land owners are a little more reasonable in expectations in selling land or doing joint ventures.
“If you look at the current land bank that we have, we have RM7bil to RM8bil in gross development value. As we exhaust all the land bank, we need to replenish and as a property developer, it is good to continue having land bank to fund your growth,” he says.
On June 21, Paramount proposed to sell its controlling interest in three wholly owned subsidiaries – Paramount Education Sdn Bhd, Paramount Education (Klang) Sdn Bhd and Sri KDU Sdn Bhd – to Two Horses Capital Sdn Bhd for a cash consideration of RM540.5mil. TPG Capital Asia, the Asian investment platform of global alternative asset firm TPG, will provide financing to THC as well as strategic and operational support, including leveraging on its network and experience in the education sphere.
Following the completion of the proposed disposal, Paramount will only hold 30.3% in Paramount Education and 20% each in Paramount Education (Klang) and Sri KDU.
An industry observer described the divestment as a “good deal with a very good price”, considering the price-to-earnings ratio of about 16 times.
Paramount plans to use 32.7% of the proceeds raised from the K-12 divestment or RM177mil – the largest portion of its intended utilisation – as a special cash dividend for its shareholders within six months of the completion of the disposal.
The group also plans to use RM150mil to replenish its land bank and RM133.66mil to repay its borrowings.
In its report last month, RHB Research Institute pointed out that Paramount’s value-unlocking exercise for the K-12 education unit will be important in reducing its gearing level.
As of end-May, the group’s gearing level stood at 0.93 times, excluding private debt securities.
With the divestment of controlling stake by Paramount, the involvement by THC and TPG Capital Asia in the K-12 business will be key for its future growth and regional expansion.THC is led by two corporate figures with proven experience in the education space namely Tunku Ali Redhauddin Tuanku Muhriz and Datuk Ganen Sarvananthan.
Tunku Ali is also the senior advisor to TPG Capital Asia, which Ganen is a managing partner at the firm.
A source tells StarBizWeek that TPG Capital Asia is looking at expanding the K-12 education business nationwide and across Southeast-Asia.
“The firm has already invested in Vietnam Australian International School that has seven campuses in Ho Chi Minh City. The plan is to include it with the K-12 business,” he says. Over the last several years, Paramount has gradually reduced its exposure in the education segment.
In 2017, the group sold its Sri KDU Campus in Petaling Jaya for RM165mil to unlisted Alpha REIT, which led to Paramount dishing out a bumper dividend of 16 sen
I strongly believe as Chinese oriented stock, paramount will immediately opt to declare special dividend payout the moment the divestment of its k12 education complete within these few week time.
The payout RM 177m to reward shareholder will give rise to 29sen/share special dividend. The declaration of entitlement should in December and payment time should be next year Jan, before CNY in 25 Jan 2020, every paramount shareholder should get these handsome Angpau to celebrate CNY.
Yes yes I believe you are right bro Hng ...I check the previous 2/3 years every year got one interim and one special dividend . This co directors really know how to appreciate loyal investors n their performance has been pretty impressive .
For information purpose, Paramount special dividend will NOT lead to reduction in warrant exercise price.
The warrant exercise price is fixed at RM 1.79. Current warrant price is now at 18.5saen, therefore, it is NOT worth at all to buy warrant, pay exercise price and convert to entitle special dividend.
19/06/19 - SPA signed 13/09/19 - Passed EGM (Disposal & SD RM0.30/ share) Dec'2019 - Approval from Minister of Edu - Fulfilment of all SPA condition - Full settlement of disposal - Transfer of Paramount sale shares - Anytime to declare SD RM0.30
This book is the result of the author's many years of experience and observation throughout his 26 years in the stockbroking industry. It was written for general public to learn to invest based on facts and not on fantasies or hearsay....
Legend
4,119 posts
Posted by Legend > 2019-08-15 12:46 | Report Abuse
Warrant play this afternoon