China's indebted Evergrande to sell stakes in Internet unit for HK$3.25b
[HONG KONG] China's most indebted property developer Evergrande Group has agreed to sell stakes in its internet unit HengTen Networks Group worth a total of HK$3.25 billion (S$566.5 million), an exchange filing showed on Sunday.
Worries over the developer's debt and the potential for systemic financial risk have intensified after Evergrande said in June its project companies had not paid some commercial paper on time, but it said it was arranging payment.
Fitch downgraded its credit rating on Wednesday, signalling its concern of a potential default.
To ease the pressure, Evergrande will sell a 7 per cent stake at HK$3.20 per share to a unit of Tencent Holdings for HK$2.07 billion and a 4 per cent stake to an unidentified buyer for HK$1.18 billion. The filing did not give a timing for the sale.
Before the transaction, Evergrande held a 37.55 per cent stake in the company, while Tencent held 16.9 per cent. Evergrande's stake will go down to 26.55 per cent and Tencent's holdings will increase to 23.9 per cent after the sale, the filing showed.
Evergrande has agreed to provide a five-year loan of HK$2.07 billion to HengTen to support its business development, the company added in the filing.
A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU
Property Insights
Get an exclusive analysis of real estate and property news in Singapore and beyond.
HengTen's shares are expected to resume trading on Aug 2 after being halted on July 29, the filing showed.
REUTERS
KEYWORDS IN THIS ARTICLE
BT is now on Telegram!
For daily updates on weekdays and specially selected content for the weekend. Subscribe to t.me/BizTimes
Property
Singapore Q1 industrial rents rise further 1.7%, as occupancy dips and prices fall: JTC
Condo resale volumes rebound in March; prices inch up 0.4%: SRX, 99.co
S$16.5 million deal at The Ritz-Carlton Residences tops Q1 gainers; seller reaps S$4.9 million profit
Lucrum Capital looks to sell Killiney hotel site for S$195 million
US 30-year mortgage rate rises to five-month high of 7.24%
Money laundering accused Su Baolin’s Sentosa property goes unsold at auction