DBhd receives EPU approval for land acquisition in Johor

KUALA LUMPUR: Damansara Realty Bhd (DBhd) has received the Economic Planning Unit’s (EPU) approval for a land acquisition, which is part of its proposed RM141.5 million settlement agreement with Johor Corp (JCorp).

The exercise allows DBhd to reduce its net current liabilities and return its balance sheet to health.

Yesterday, DBhd said associate company DAC Properties received the EPU approval on Wednesday and had completed the acquisition of a 21.36ha site for RM130.3 million from JCorp, the Johor state investment arm.

“With the completion of the acquisition, DBhd has met almost all its obligations under the settlement agreement with JCorp, and will reduce the group’s net current liabilities by RM132 million,” said group chief executive officer Brian Iskandar Zulkarim.

“The completion will mean a stronger balance sheet for DBhd, slashing our net current liability to RM23 million from RM155 million before,” he added.

Located in Tebrau, Johor Baru, the land is part of DBhd’s 25.33ha Central Park being developed in partnership with Hong Kong-listed Country Garden within the strategically located Taman Damansara Aliff along the Pasir Gudang Highway.

“DBhd will still own about 10 acres (4.04ha) within Taman Damasara Aliff after Central Park is completed. With this acquisition and good progress on Central Park, DBhd is on track to strengthen its property development arm,” said Brian Iskandar.

Central Park is an integrated township comprising, among others, residential homes, commercial shop lots, and amenities to be completely developed over the next six to eight years, with an estimated gross development value of about RM3.5 billion.

The settlement comprises two acquisitions of land by DBhd from JCorp for RM141.5 million cash and a land swap.

As part of its joint venture with Country Garden Malaysia, DBhd has completed the payment of RM130.3 million of the total RM141.5 million settlement sum, leaving a balance of RM11.2 million to be paid.

“Aside from reducing our current liabilities, we are confident that we are on track for a full-year profit,” Brian Iskandar said.

The move is a key milestone in its transformation programme which has steered DBhd’s corporate recovery and broken its two-year streak of losses with its first quarterly net profit earlier this year.

Meanwhile, DBhd secured additional fund-raising capacity via a redeemable convertible notes (RCN) programme, together with a bonus issue of warrants.

The RCN issue, which was approved earlier this month, will give DBhd the ability to raise up to RM150 million, to fund the settlement and boost the group’s cash flow.

The RCN will enable DBhd to raise working capital to strengthen its integrated facilities management, project management and consultancy segments, which are currently the main drivers of revenue growth.