TALAM Transform Bhd has returned to the path of financial stability after a debt rationalisation exercise which includes asset divestment programme, debt conversion into financial instruments and settlement of debts through contra of properties with creditors.
The disposal of some 6000 acres of development land and investment properties over the past decade has raked in close to RM2bil that helps to pare down its massive debts and steers the property group to rosier times ahead.
Talam Transform, formerly known as Talam Corp Bhd, was once the largest affordable housing developer in Malaysia. It has built 200,000 such housing units worth more than RM30bil since the 1990s in Pandan Indah, Pandan Jaya, Pandan Perdana, Bukit Beruntung, Bukit Sentosa, Bukit Jalil, Ukay Perdana, Saujana Puchong, Saujana Damansara, Putra Perdana, Danau Putra and Lestari Puchong among other townships.
But by the mid-2000, Talam encountered a major financial debacle and saw its debts piled up to RM4bil in 2004.
According to Talam executive director Chua Kim Lan, Talam’s debacle was brought about by two economic circumstances – the Government’s move to repatriate foreign construction workers in 2005 and suspension of hill slope development in 2008.
“After those unexpected challenges, our weekly sales and turnover of RM25mil soon plummeted to RM5mil. The situation drastically affected cash flow and the servicing of bank interest and payments to contractors. That stalled a number of projects that resulted in 13,000 sold but uncompleted houses in 2005,” Chua explains.
Efforts to revive the affected delayed projects by bringing in reputable contractors in the last seven years have borne fruit and to-date all the houses have been completed and delivered to their buyers, she adds.
Meanwhile, a number of joint ventures between Talam and Selangor state agencies failed to materialise, and Talam entered into negotiations with Menteri Besar Selangor Inc (MBI) for a global settlement in respect of Talam’s indebtedness of RM391mil as of March 2010 to the MBI and the state agencies.
The global settlement required Talam to transfer and MBI to take over various pieces of land to a value of RM676mil in various locations such as Puncak Jalil, Ulu Yam, Bukit Beruntung, Danau Putra, Ukay Perdana and Bestari Jaya, as consideration for the global settlement.
The MBI settlement agreement was done in a transparent manner where MBI was treated on the same basis and footing like all other creditors.
The settlement land underwent a rigorous valuation process that was in strict compliance with the Securities Commission’s asset valuation guidelines and the securing of shareholder approvals.
Talam executive director, corporate affairs, Yaw Chun Soon says the debt rationalisation efforts are paying off, and despite headwinds and a softer property market, the efforts of unlocking the value of Talam’s landbank and assets has shored up Talam’s resilience and financial footing in the coming years.
By the second quarter ended July 31, 2014, Talam has substantially brought down its debts to RM1.2bil. Talam’s borrowings and loan stocks fell to RM254.475mil as at July 31, 2014, from RM435.53mil in financial year 2013 (FY13), while net current assets came to RM194mil against net current liabilities of RM220.11mil in FY13.
Talam posted a profit before tax of RM10.49mil for the period compared with a pre-tax loss of RM6mil in the second quarter of 2013. Group revenue rose to RM88.7mil from RM19.48mil previously.
For the financial year ended January 31, 2014, it posted after-tax gains of RM7.98mil, a significant turnaround compared with the preceding year’s losses of RM20mil. Group revenue of RM216.72mil was an increase of 1.92%, compared with RM212.64mil in FY13.
Yaw says the completion of the other incoming asset sales will further reduce Talam’s total debt level to around RM300mil, and in the near future the borrowings will come down to less than RM50mil.
“With this stronger financial footing, Talam will be able to undertake more value added and quality lifestyle projects. Moving forward, Talam is embarking on a build and sell concept for a few of its projects.
“We are exploring ways of rationalising Talam’s structure and operations to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness of building and delivering quality property projects,” he adds.
Among others are that the group will be managed by professional executive directors Chua Kim Lan and Yaw Chun Soon. Yaw was formerly with TA Enterprise Bhd and joined Talam on July 24 this year. They will be assisted by the executive committee where the members comprise professional staff.
While Tan Sri Chan Ah Chye will become the controlling shareholder, he has indicated he will continue as a non-executive director only, and through the company’s board, will guide and nurture the new leadership of the group by providing advice and strategic input to the property group.
Talam Transform (formerly Talam Corp), which was once debt-ridden when under the control of its founder tycoon Tan Sri Chan Ah Chye, has pleaded to be given another chance, saying it has transformed and is on a much stronger footing now. The property firm has crafted a RM5bn, 10-year development plan at a time when Chan, now a director at Talam Transform, re-emerged as a substantial shareholder on Jul 24 this year. Chan now holds an 8.68% stake in the company and is proposing to buy an additional 19.9% stake from Kumpulan Europlus for RM92.4m or 11 sen per share. "Give us a chance, We had never run away [from our commitment to homebuyers]. We have learnt from our past mistakes which saw us over-gearing ourselves to expand our land bank and trying hard at impressing people that we don't even know," Talam executive director Chua Kim Lan said. (Financial Daily)
It will be at least rm1 in next 3-4 quarters. If all debts are repaid. TalamT will be a star. They have a very healthy bank. Land Bank and its located in Klang Valley and Selangor area. Keep buying as much and keepit in safe. The time will come. Believe..
If history were to repeat itself, the FBM KLCI could breach the immediate resistance of 1855 points.....pre budget rally expected n if corporate tax reduced by 1% then shall be d best news for Bursa foreign funds may surge becoz they can higher dividend n foreign investment also will increase. 01/10/2014 15:21
S466466... don't bull here... look at the below humble statement.... return only 1.5% after 3 years.... Not statement by me.... in FD.... 3% x 3 yrs = 9%....
IYHENG i also holding more than 3yrs 1k lots, ave rm0.1, still waiting for 100% return. 01/10/2014 10:01
craptree, very sad y u didn't study well at school when u young!! SAD......... talamt history price 0.05 nw 0.12...if u dun knw calculate go back to school ask yr teacher 1+1 =??
if u so hapi wif FD return go FD, Talamt no need small small *1000000000 investor such as u........... buy 20,000 share bising *1000000000000000000000 kali..........
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....
craptree
4,356 posts
Posted by craptree > 2014-09-28 18:27 | Report Abuse
s466466.... hard to believe... still dreaming