SPLASH offers RM10.75b for Selangor water services industry
2010/03/24
KUALA LUMPUR: Gamuda Bhd's associate company, Syarikat Pengeluar Air Sungai Selangor Sdn Bhd (SPLASH), on Wednesday made a RM10,750 million offer to the Federal Government (FG) and the Selangor State Government (SSG) to take over the water services industry in Selangor. In an announcement on Bursa Malaysia, Gamuda said: "SPLASH has informed the Governments that it is compelled to make the offer to bring closure to the more than three years impasse faced by the water services industry in the Selangor State as a result of the divergent approaches of the SSG and the FG and the falling-out between SSG and the water distributor, Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (SYABAS).
"The ensuing breaches in payments that had triggered cross-defaults across the industry with writs filed in courts by numerous parties has resulted in a messy situation that has now become critical because the cash flows of the water operators are being impaired to an extent that is adversely affecting their operations".
It said the offer are for water assets of SPLASH (RM3.725 billion including RM750 million compensation to SPLASH's operations and maintainance operators), Puncak Niaga (M) Sdn Bhd (RM1.936 billion), SYABAS (RM4.143 billion), Puncak Niaga Holdings Bhd Group (RM6.079 billion) and Kumpulan Abass Sdn Bhd (RM946 million).
Gamuda said SPLASH shall also undertake that the consumer tariffs will remain at the current level, with only a two to three per cent annual increase (or nine per cent every three years) which is below the inflation rate.
"There is no need for a scheduled increase of 37 per cent (SYABAS tariff). SPLASH's proposed tariff will be 35 per cent less than SYABAS tariff," it said.
Gamuda said upon the takeovers, SPLASH will be solely in charge of the operations and maintainance operations of all the plants, including the operations of the water distributors.
This is in line with the "top-to-toe" single entity structure originally envisaged, it said.
Gamuda said SPLASH shall require a concession period of 30 years commencing year 2010 to enable the repayment of its loans and recovery of its investment.
These shall be funded via an increase in its paid-up capital and by bank borrowings, it said.
On the expected benefits of SPLASH's Offer, Gmauda said, as has been its proven track record over the last 10 years in the water industry, SPLASH will use professional management and transparent decision making processes in running the key public utility.
For the people, the low consumer tariffs will enable a quality of living that is sustainable in the long term, it said.
It said FG will be relieved of the financial burden to pay RM10 billion up front to the owners of the water assets, and it also enable SSG to resolve its current dispute with SYABAS and break the logjam of attendant issues.
They will also achieve the aspirations of greater professionalism and transparency in the water industry, said Gamuda.
It said the existing water players will enjoy a higher pay-out which will also mean an end to the legal disputes.
Gamuda said SPLASH is prepared to commit to a non-revenue water (NRW) reduction from 29 per cent this year to 15 per cent in 2016.
It said adequate provisions have been made for future capital and operational expenditures for the entire system and these includes provisions for the development of the distribution network, asset replacement and refurbishment, asset upgrade, NRW reduction works etc.
As for the future capital expenditure for new water like the Inter-State Transfer Project, the financing will be by Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad and SPLASH will be charged lease rentals, it said. - BERNAMA 107亿的收购案。。劲!现在Gamuda所拥有的40% SPLASH每年为GAMUDA带来1亿的盈利。完成收购能带来多少盈利?资金来源? PENGURUSAN ASET AIR BERHAD (PAAB) 会插手吗? |