Oilcorp unit to raise up to RM300m via AIM listing

Proceeds to be used for development of four projects

PETALING JAYA: Oilcorp Bhd’s property unit, D’Tiara Corp Sdn Bhd, is looking to raise RM250mil to RM300mil in proceeds from its proposed Alternative Investment Market (AIM) listing on the London Stock Exchange.

Oilcorp executive director Pua Yow Liang said it was still finalising the actual amount with its advisor in London, but that was the target it planned to raise.

“The proceeds will only be used for the development of the four projects that we currently have,” he told a press conference after the company EGM yesterday.

Oilcorp’s shareholders unanimously approved the company’s proposal to list its property arm on the AIM. The listing is slated to take place in May.

Pua Yow Liang

D’Tiara Corp owns D’Tiara Beach Resort in Port Dickson and has three ongoing developments – D’Tiara Office & Hotel Suites in Kuala Lumpur, D’Tiara Waterfront Resort in Pulau Indah and D’Tiara Leisure & Health Resort in Genting.

While there are no plans to undertake additional projects at present, Pua said D’Tiara Corp’s post-listing plans would be to expand its business to neighbouring countries by franchising the D’Tiara brand and resort-operation concept.

“We are in the process of identifying potential joint partners in Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia. Perhaps we will formalise our partnerships by year-end,” he said.

On the outlook of the local property scene, Pua opined that it was still “doing well” underpinned by market expectations that the country would be able to achieve 6% gross domestic product this year, given last year’s robust performance.

“We view the current volatility as a short-term consolidation process. The take-up rate for office and residential property launches in Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley are still doing very well,” he said, adding that foreign investors were now more focused on Asian markets due to the subprime crisis in the US.

Pua said that in line with the AIM listing exercise, the company would conduct road shows to attract foreign institutional investors and fund managers to take up shares in D’Tiara Corp.

“This is an opportunity for foreign investors to participate in Malaysian property development,” he said, adding that the target markets for the road shows would be Europe and the Middle East.

By The Star (by Suraj Raj)