Malayan Cement buys YTL's cement biz for RM5.16b

Malayan Cement will acquire 12 companies involved in cement and ready-mixed concrete businesses, as well as marketing and plant management activities from its parent YTL Cement.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malayan Cement Bhd (MCB) is buying YTL Cement Bhd's entire cement and ready-mixed concrete operations in Malaysia for RM5.16bil cash consideration to increase MCB's business, bolster its profitability and enhance its value.

In the corporate exercise on Wednesday, MCB had entered into an agreement with YTL Cement, which is its parent company, to acquire 12 companies involved in cement and ready-mixed concrete businesses, as well as marketing and plant management activities

YTL Cement said in a statement the total consideration of RM5.16bil will be settled via RM2bil in cash, RM1.41bil through the issuance of 375.5 million new ordinary shares in MCB and RM1.75 billion through the issue of 466.7 million new irredeemable convertible preference shares (ICPS) in MCB.

All of these companies have an established track record of operational profit, it said.

The issue price for the new MCB shares and ICPS to be issued has been fixed at RM3.75 per share/ICPS.

This was the price per share paid by YTL Cement for the acquisition of its 76.98% equity interest in MCB in 2019, which was premised on the potential synergies that would arise from the integration of businesses between the two groups.

YTL Cement said since the acquisition in 2019, the two groups have made significant strides in streamlining their operations and maximising efforts on their logistical, distributional and marketing fronts.

“This proposed transaction is the natural progression towards increasing the size of MCB’s cement and ready-mixed concrete businesses, bolstering its profitability and enhancing its value.

“YTL Cement will consolidate similar operating businesses under a singular umbrella. This is expected to further improve operational efficiencies and business outcomes, ” the statement said.

By leveraging shared expertise, experience, and resources, MCB aims to eliminate overlapping functions whilst continuing to deliver seamless solutions to customers, achieving economies of scale, and enhancing their market presence.

The partial settlement of the consideration through the issuance of new shares and ICPS rather than wholly in cash is intended to enable MCB to optimise its cash reserves and gearing levels.

The strategic realignment will foster value creation for shareholders of MCB and allow investors to invest directly on a focused basis in Malaysia’s leading building materials company.

YTL Cement’s shareholding in MCB is expected to increase to about 78.58% (from 76.98% currently) upon completion of the proposed transaction and the ongoing private placement of up to 85 million new MCB shares announced on April 15,2021, assuming no conversion of the ICPS to be issued.

MCB will apply to Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd for approval for a lower public shareholding spread of 20% in due course.