Background of Target Companies
Esso Malaysia Berhad (“Esso Malaysia”), a public listed subsidiary, together with ExxonMobil Malaysia Sdn Bhd (“ExxonMobile Malaysia”), operate the Esso and Mobil service stations in Peninsular Malaysia. Esso Malaysia also operates the Port Dickson Refinery.
In East Malaysia, ExxonMobil Borneo Sdn Bhd (“ExxonMobil Borneo”) operates service stations under the Esso brand. All three subsidiaries market lubricants, engine oils, other speciality products and cooking gas.
Backgroud of Buyers
San Miguel Corp has business activities in food, beverage, packaging and also venture into petroleum, power generation and distribution, mining and infrastructure.
Background of Sellers
Exxon Mobil Corp’s wholly owned subsidiary, Exxon Mobil International Holdings Inc (“EMIHI”) owns 65% of Esso Malaysia and 100% of ExxonMobil Borneo. Meanwhile, Exxon Mobil Corp’s wholly owned subsidiary, Mobile International Petroleum Corp (“MIPC”) owns 100% of ExxonMobil Malaysia.
What has happened?
Time: Between 1pm to 2pm on 17 Aug 2011
Reuters reported that San Miguel Corp. will buy 65 percent of Exxon Mobil Corp’s Malaysia downstream petroleum units for an undisclosed amount citing two people familiar with the matter.
When Esso Malaysia started trading at 2.30pm during the afternoon session, the market is excited with the piece of news and Esso Malaysia share price rose from RM4.33 to close at RM4.95 at the end of the day.
Time: After market close on 17 Aug 2011
The shocking surprise of Esso Malaysia Bhd announcement after market close revealed that the acquisition price is set at only RM3.50 which is merely 1.06x of last book value as at 30 Jun 2011 of RM3.28 per share.
The acquisition triggered MGO as expected and San Miguel Corp will also offer the pathetic RM3.50 a share to acquire all remaining 35% shares from the minority shareholders of Esso Malaysia Bhd.
Comment: The earlier leaked news certainly fooled those who bought on the hope that a potential GO would fetch a good premium.
Based on the afternoon transactions alone, a total of 2.54million shares were trades at average price of RM4.84 per share which gives total value of around RM12.3million.
From RM4.33 to RM4.84, SC should look very closely into ALL transactions for that day and also the 5 days prior to that for obvious reasons.
The announcement also attached a letter from Maybank Investment Bank signed by its Corporate Finance officers (Hidayah Hassan and Lin Shueh Fen) acting on behalf of San Miguel Corp.
It further revealed that San Miguel Corp has inked SPA with Exxon Mobil’s subsidiaries to acquire
a. 65% of Esso Malaysia Bhd at USD 206.02 million (RM614.25 million @ RM3.50/share)
b. 100% of ExxonMobile Malaysia
c. 100% of ExxonMobil Borneo
The latter two fetches a total price of USD 403.98 million (RM1,204.46 million).
Comment: While one may try to justify that Esso Malaysia deserve a low Price-to-Book due to its sporadic earning record. Pegging it at merely 1.06x Price-to-Book (Mar 11 book value was RM3.28) is unjustifiable as it has started to perform much better than its closest peer, Shell Malaysia, that is now trading at 1.43x.
FYDec 2010 | Esso Malaysia (a.) | ExxonMobil Malaysia (b.) | ExxonMobil Borneo (c.) | Aggregate Total of (b.)+(c.) |
Book Value | RM757.52mil | RM 224.50 mil | RM 14.23 mil | RM 238.73 mil |
P/B | 1.25x | N/a | N/a | 5.05x |
Revenue | RM 8427.45 mil | RM 3102.90 mil | RM 805.15 mil | RM 3908.05 mil |
Net Profit | RM 268.58 mil | RM 52.96 mil | RM 0.77 mil | RM 53.73 mil |
P/E | 3.5x | N/a | N/a | 22.4x |
Aggregate valuation of the latter 2 companies shows P/E of 22.4x and P/B of 5.05x !!! While the deal values Esso Malaysia at only P/E of3.5x and P/B of 1.25x.
To price the two private units at much higher valuations than the listed vehicle seems to be the key point of discontent. Although San Miguel paid RM3.50 per share for the Esso Malaysia, it has also acquired net debt of RM4.538 per share. Therefore, effectively, the cost of acquiring Esso Malaysia by San Miguel is $8.038 per share. This is something which many minority shareholders have failed to grasp for the longest time. Even so, net-net, it is just buying at 1.06x book. Minority shareholders would probably have to hold on for a longer time now and hope that San Miguel does a better job.
p/s I do not have any positions in Esso.
5 comments:
Maybe what it also suggest is that Mobil is better shape than Esso, when the latter acquired the flying horse.
From the book, All the debt is due to Exxon the parent subsidiary? Again, it is the reporting number that is playing the trick. All in all, the deal may be over RM8
What puzzle me is the term and condition of the deal is not published and the acquisition are inter conditional for the 3 companies.
The important point whether to maintain the listing status is not mentioned.
One will not surprise to see the local partner for San Miguel is the long rumored Mirzan....does this ring a bell if true tobe enough......
"Although San Miguel paid RM3.50 per share for the Esso Malaysia, it has also acquired net debt of RM4.538 per share. Therefore, effectively, the cost of acquiring Esso Malaysia by San Miguel is $8.038 per share.". It is normal for the exiting shareholder to require its advance to be settled. But, unless SM will waive the debt, its cost to acq Esso is still just RM3.50. Cashflow wise, yes, it is more. SC need to look at the valuation of the 2 unlisted coys to see if the vendor had collaborated with the purchaser so as to minimise SM's cost of MGO. The overall deal is there already, it is really up to the vendor and purchaser to place the price tag to each of the 3 targets. Isnt it?
To satisfy minority shareholders, SC should require Exxon to tender the public unit which I am sure all Petronas, Shell and BP would be interested. The wholy owned units, Exxon can do what he likes with SM.
Anwar Ibrahim raised the suspicion that there is more to this deal than meet the eye, namely the participation of Mathathir's son.
...They should do the deal transparently and in fairness to minority shareholders...
This deal continues the flow of Malaysian taxpayers money from KL to Washington now shifting from KL to Manila as all oil companies guaranteed operating and company margins are paid by the Malaysian Government from our hard-earned taxpayer funds! This alone is sufficient reason for all Malaysian taxpayers to oppose this sale. Pls e-mail me at perwirakl@gmail.com if you’re interested to get details
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