Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Genting Singapore to raise more than US$1b

This are why Genting Singapore plc call warrants was suspended today...

SINGAPORE: Casino operator Genting Singapore plans to raise more than US$1 billion through a rights issue to help fund its upcoming casino as well as build a war chest for possible acquisitions, said Reuters, quoting sources on Sept 9.

"It's a big issue. Over US$1 billion," a source with direct knowledge of the deal told Reuters. Genting shares were suspended earlier on Wednesday.

Genting Singapore, which is about 54% held by Malaysian casino operator GENTING BHD [], is building one of the city-state's two integrated casino resorts. It is also the largest casino operator in the UK.

The rights issue will be underwritten by a group of about eight banks, including UBS, JPMorgan, DBS and Deutsche, the sources said.

Genting's Resorts World at Sentosa casino has been plagued by cost overruns due to the escalating price of steel and other building materials.

The latest cost estimate for the casino is about S$6.59 billion (US$4.63 billion), up from the S$5.2 billion price tag cited shortly after the firm won the Singapore bid in December 2006.

Genting Singapore's share price has more than doubled this year. It closed at S$1.19 on Tuesday, up from 45 cents at the end of 2008. In Malaysia, Genting Bhd shares were down 2.8%, underperforming a 0.3% decline in the broad index.

Genting has reported losses since it listed in Singapore in December 2005 due to the cost of building its Singapore casino and writedowns related to its purchase of casinos in Britain.

For the second quarter ended June, the firm reported a net loss of S$50.7 million compared with a loss of S$1.8 million a year ago. - Reuters

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