THE EARNINGS of SIIC Environment Holdings may have multiplied by over 10 times over the past 5 years and its market cap by close to 20 times, but its growth story is far from over.
“We intend to continue with our M&A strategy, targeting an increase in annual capacity for waste water treatment of one to two million tons," said Executive Chairman Zhou Jun at a media briefing last Friday.
About 80% of its revenue comes from wastewater treatment but last month, it forayed into the next hot sector in environmental protection - sludge treatment.
SIIC Environment and International Finance Corp eachinvested US$4 millionin a leading PRC sludge treatment player, MTI Environment.
(International Finance Corp is a venture development arm of World Bank specializing in third world nation investments.)
“MTI is one of the top 3 EPC sludge treatment players in PRC. This sector has enormous potential in China,” said Mr Zhou.
“Sludge treatment requires higher technical know-how compared to waste water treatment. Investing in MTI will give us access to this know-how.
“We can collaborate with MTI to embark on BOT sludge treatment projects.”
In the cards is also the potential spin-off of its sludge treatment business for a Hong Kong IPO. It also plans to dual-list the Singapore listed entity on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
(International Finance Corp is a venture development arm of World Bank specializing in third world nation investments.)
“MTI is one of the top 3 EPC sludge treatment players in PRC. This sector has enormous potential in China,” said Mr Zhou.
“Sludge treatment requires higher technical know-how compared to waste water treatment. Investing in MTI will give us access to this know-how.
“We can collaborate with MTI to embark on BOT sludge treatment projects.”
In the cards is also the potential spin-off of its sludge treatment business for a Hong Kong IPO. It also plans to dual-list the existing Singapore listed entity (SIIC Environment) on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
Mega deal to acquire a prominent PRC wastewater treatment player
In March, SIIC Environment inked a deal to acquire 100% in Fudan Water Engineering and Technology for Rmb 1.1 billion (S$240.5 million) from Global Environment Investment.
The deal includes SIIC Environment taking over Fudan Water's debt of Rmb 479.18 million (S$107.8 million), meaning that its total purchase consideration amounts to Rmb 1.548 billion (about S$348.3 million).
Fudan Water Group has 10 projects in Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and Guangdong.
Based on Fudan Water's treatment capacity of over one million tons a day, the purchase consideration translates into a ballpark price of less than Rmb 1,548 per ton of daily treatment capacity.
With the completion of the merger with Fudan Water Group, its total capacity will increase to 6.4 million tons a year.
Fudan Water Group is estimated to add over Rmb 80 million to the Group’s bottom line.