KUALA LUMPUR (May 28, 2013): Multi-Purpose Holdings Bhd (MPHB) is looking to sell its general insurance arm, in line with its planned demerger exercise to turn the group into a pure gaming stock.
An industry source told SunBiz that the group has been actively scouting for suitors to buy Multi-Purpose Insurance Bhd (MPIB), a mid-sized general insurer.
"MPHB has put the word out that it wants to sell its insurance unit. The asking price is RM500 million but there have been no takers yet," the source said.
In a report in July last year, Alliance Research said MPHB was receptive to disposing of the insurance business at an attractive price.
"We understand that the valuation range that management looking for is about three times price to book value, which is unreasonable based on valuations of recent and scarcity premium for existing insurance business available for sale," it had said.
Based on the audited results as at Dec 31, 2012, MPIB recorded a gross premium income of RM505.4 million with a pre-tax profit of RM60 million. MPIB's total assets stood at RM1.1 billion.
In May last year, MPHB proposed the demerger of its gaming and non-gaming operations to create two separate and independent listed entities, namely the existing MPHB, which will hold the gaming business, and a special purpose vehicle (SPV) – MPHB Capital Bhd – which will hold substantially the financial services and other non-gaming assets of the MPHB group.
MPHB Cap is expected to focus on asset disposal or asset enhancement to optimise its shareholder value, as part of the exercise.
MPHB's demerger involves an internal restructuring exercise; an offer for sale by MPHB of all its SPV shares to shareholders of MPHB; a subsequent redistribution of the net proceeds raised from the offer for sale back to the shareholders of MPHB through capital repayment; and, lastly, a successive listing of MPHB Cap.
MPHB's share price fell 9.77% to RM3.51 yesterday after its renounceable offer for sale of shares in MPHB Cap went ex.
The corporate exercise included MPHB's offer for sale of 715 million MPHB shares to MPHB shareholders on a one offer share for every two shares held.
The last date for the subscription of MPHB renounceable offer for sale at an offer price of RM1 was on May 23, 2013.
"As such, MPHB will be traded on an ex basis from today (yesterday) while MPHB Cap is poised to be listed on 25 June," Alliance Research said in a report yesterday.
"With MPHB being traded on ex-basis from today (yesterday), the hidden value of its non-gaming operations will now be decoupled. This could lead to selling pressure on MPHB, although the impending capital repayment of 48.5 sen could partially mitigate the downside risk to MPHB's share price," it added.
The research firm understands that MPHB will undertake a capital repayment exercise within three months post listing of MPHB Capital, that is, by end-September.
"As such, the net proceeds to be raised from the proposed offer for sale (estimated to be RM696.5m or 48.5 sen for each MPHB share, after listing expenses) will be distributed back to the shareholders of MPHB," it said.
Alliance is downgrading MPHB to "neutral" from "buy", with a target price of RM3.60, comprising RM3.12 for its pure gaming operations and capital repayment of 48.5sen.
In a filing with Bursa Malaysia yesterday, MPHB said its net profit for the first quarter ended March 31, 2013 (Q1) was up 78.5% to RM149.4 million to RM83.7 million, while revenue was up 1.6% to RM920.2 million from RM905.9 million.
On its prospects, MPHB said its gaming division will continue to focus on creating market presence and try to increase sales through brand loyalty, while its insurance subsidiary will aim to capture a larger market.
"Going forward, it (MPIB) will continue to seek new tie ups with local and foreign-owned banks," MPHB said.
MPHB declared a final dividend of 3.5 sen gross dividend per share less tax and 1.5 sen single-tier dividend per share, payable on July 12.
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....
iQBE189
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Posted by iQBE189 > 2013-05-27 12:18 | Report Abuse
Today after 5pm is the ex-date la!