Philippines' Ayala Land now controls 72.3% of MCT

Philippines' Ayala Land has raised its stake in property company MCT Bhd to 72.3% or 669.92 million shares at the end of the takeover offer which ended on Monday

KUALA LUMPUR: Philippines' Ayala Land has raised its stake in property company MCT Bhd to 72.3% or 669.92 million shares at the end of the takeover offer which ended on Monday.

According to CIMB Investment Bank on Tuesday, Ayala Land had received acceptances for 295.27 million shares or 22.12% stake. 

Ayala Land, had through Regent Wise Investment Ltd, launched an unconditional mandatory takeover offer when it emerged with 50.19% following a corporate exercise.

It had made an offer of 88 sen a share to the minority shareholders. However,  Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd has advised the minority shareholders  to reject the takeover offer as the offer price was a discount of 50 sen or 36.23% over the estimated fair value per MCT Share of RM1.38 and described the offer as not fair. 

To recap, Ayala Land first emerged in MCT in April 2015, soon after MCT’s listing on Bursa Malaysia. It took up 9.16% stake, which was part of a placement of shares at a price of RM1.28 a piece. 

Six months later it bumped up its shareholdings in MCT to 32.95%.

In early January, Ayala Land emerge as a major shareholder of MCT, through its unit Regent Wise Investments Ltd, signed a share purchase agreement with Tan Sri Goh Ming Choon, a major shareholder of MCT, to buy 230.12 million shares, or 17.24%, for RM202.5mil cash, or 88 sen per share.

This brought Ayala Land’s holdings to 50.19% and firmly indicated its control of the local property developer.

Ayala Land is the biggest property developer in the Philippines. Its market capitalisation on the Philippine Stock Exchange is about RM53.69bil.