Quadria Capital Backs Malaysian Diagnostics Provider Lablink
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DealStreetAsia, 23 Jan 18 Online Quadria Capital backs Malaysian diagnostics provider Lablink Arbar Mir, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Quadria Capital By Ishita Russell Asia-focused healthcare investor Quadria Capital today announced its investment in Malaysian diagnostics provider Lablink (M) Sdn Bhd. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed. According to a company statement, the investment comes as part of the private equity firm’s strategy to expand into the medical laboratory services sector. It marks Quadria Capital Fund L.P.’s eighth investment in Southeast and South Asia since its launch in 2015. “We believe that the region’s diagnostics industry is ripe for consolidation and Lablink is well positioned to become a leading pan-Southeast Asian diagnostics provider. Its ambition dovetails with Quadria Capital’s investment philosophy of supporting healthcare businesses that are focused on delivering quality care across the region,” said Quadria Capital managing partner and co-founder Abrar Mir. “Our partnership with Lablink will allow the company to leverage Quadria Capital’s experience in growing diagnostics providers across the region, as well as other synergistic opportunities arising from our portfolio and network,” he added. Kuala Lumpur-based Lablink is a subsidiary of private healthcare provider KPJ Healthcare Berhad; the latter acquired it in 1991 to manage all the hospital laboratories within the KPJ Group. Lablink currently provides diagnostic services to the KPJ Group of hospitals and other healthcare providers in Malaysia. In July last year, Quadria Capital had closed an investment in FV Hospital (FV) in Vietnam and also acquired a significant stake in MWH Holdings in Singapore, the 1 holding company for the Singapore Heart, Stroke and Cancer Centre. In April 2017, Dabur family-owned HealthCare at Home had also raised $40 million from Quadria Capital. Founded in 2010 by former Religare executives Amit Varma and Abrar Mir, health sector-focused Quadria has invested in over 16 companies in the Asia Pacific region through its three funds. It currently has around $1.5 billion of assets under management. https://www.dealstreetasia.com/stories/pe-firm-quadria-capital-malaysian-diagnostics- provider-lablink-90938/ 2 The Edge Markets, 23 Jan 18 Online KPJ's diagnostics unit Lablink sees entry of PE firm Quadria Capital By Sangeetha Amarthalingam KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 23): Singapore-based private equity firm Quadria Capital Investment Management Pte Ltd is investing RM119.92 million to take up a 49% stake in KPJ Healthcare Bhd's diagnostics unit, Lablink (M) Sdn Bhd. The investment is undertaken via KL Kappa Sdn Bhd, which inked a subscription and share purchase agreement (SSPA) with Lablink and Kumpulan Perubatan (Johor) Sdn Bhd (KPJSB). KPJ owns Lablink via KPJSB. "The proposed SSPA marks the beginning of the partnership between KPJ and Quadria Capital to grow Lablink's pathology and diagnostics businesses in Malaysia and explore new growth markets in Southeast Asia to become the region's leader in pathology and diagnostics services," KPJ said in a Bursa Malaysia filing today. Quadria Capital, regulated by the Monetory Authority of Singapore, manages Quadria Capital Fund LP and other funds with assets under management exceeding US$1.5 billion and investments in 18 companies across the Asia-Pacific region. Lablink offers pathology and diagnostic services to the KPJ Group of hospitals and other healthcare providers in Malaysia. KPJ said the proposed tie-up is in line with its plan to expand the pathology and diagnostics businesses of Lablink to locations where private healthcare is in demand. It would also drive Lablink's mission to be the leading pathology group in the region, and enhance shareholders' value, it added. KPJ shares dipped half sen or 0.51% to settle at 98 sen today, for a market capitalisation of RM4.17 billion. https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/kpjs-diagnostics-unit-lablink-sees-entry-pe- firm-quadria-capital 3 Nikkei Asian Review, 24 Jan 18 Online MALAYSIA STOCKS TO WATCH: Crest Builder, Green Packet Likely In Focus On Wednesday By Chong Sin Hao and Alexander Winifred KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 24) -- Here are the stocks to watch on Wednesday *Crest Builder: secures a residential buildings construction job worth MYR328.80 million from Perdana ParkCity. *Green Packet: signs contract with MYTV Broadcasting to supply television set-top boxes for up to MYR272 million. *Samchem Holdings: evaluating listing of 63.25%-owned Samchem Sphere JSC on Vietnams stock exchange. *KPJ Healthcare: plans to sell 49% stake in Lablink (M) to KL Kappa for MYR119.92 million. *Cabnet: secures subcontract for Johor Baru apartment development worth MYR7 million. *Axis REIT: 4Q net profit up nearly 82% on-year at MYR44.09 million, revenue flat at MYR42.42 million. *IGB REIT: 4Q net profit up 66.6% on-year to MYR117.1 million, revenue rises 6.9% to MYR134.4 million. *Caring Pharmacy Group: 2Q net profit rises 55% to MYR4.27 million, revenue gains 8% to MYR123.45 million. *SWS Capital: 1Q net profit falls 33.4% on-year to MYR1.04 million, revenue flat at MYR32 million. *7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings: Berjaya Assets buy another 1% stake in company for MYR16.84 million. *Dnonce Technology: chief executive Law Kim Choon sells 24.89% stake in company. *DRB-Hicom: unit Proton Holdings terminates equity joint venture contract with Goldstar Heavy Industrial. 4 *IJM Corporation: aims to secure new orders worth MYR2.5 billion - MYR3.0 billion in next fiscal year. *Mah Sing Group: plans to launch new property projects totaling MYR2.2 billion. *AirAsia: plans to add 30 aircraft in 2018 on strong demand, reports Reuters citing chief executive Tony Fernandes. *JHM Consolidation: extraordinary general meeting on proposed acquisition at 11:00 am. *Fraser & Neave: media briefing post annual meeting at 11:45 am. *Serba Dinamik Holdings, Datasonic Group, Eco World Group of Companies, Thong Guan Industries, Sime Darby Plantation, Axiata Group, Karex, Yong Tai, Hock Seng Lee, Econpile Holdings, Axis REIT, Cahya Mata Sarawak: to hold corporate presentation at Invest Malaysia conference. https://asia.nikkei.com/Markets/Nikkei-Markets/UPDATE-MALAYSIA-STOCKS- TO-WATCH-Crest-Builder-Green-Packet-Likely-In-Focus-On-Wednesday 5 The Edge Markets, 23 Jan 18 Online KPJ, DiGi.Com, IGB REIT, Axis REIT, Caring Pharmacy, TH Heavy, Hengyuan, Seacera, Crest Builder, Pos Malaysia, Lotte Chemical Titan, Samchem, DRB-Hicom, Asiamet, Green Packet and Cabnet Holdings KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 23): Based on corporate announcements and news flow today, stocks in focus on Wed (Jan 24) may include: KPJ Healthcare Bhd, DiGi.Com Bhd, IGB Real Estate Investment Trust, Axis Real Estate Investment Trust, Caring Pharmacy Group Bhd, TH Heavy Engineering Bhd, Hengyuan Refining Co Bhd, Seacera Group Bhd, Crest Builder Holdings Bhd, Pos Malaysia Bhd, Lotte Chemical Titan Holding Bhd, Samchem Holdings Bhd, DRB-Hicom Bhd, Asiamet Education Group Bhd, Green Packet Bhd and Cabnet Holdings Bhd. Singapore-based private equity firm Quadria Capital Investment Management Pte Ltd is investing RM119.92 million to take up a 49% stake in KPJ Healthcare Bhd's diagnostics unit, Lablink (M) Sdn Bhd. The investment is undertaken via KL Kappa Sdn Bhd, which inked a subscription and share purchase agreement (SSPA) with Lablink and Kumpulan Perubatan (Johor) Sdn Bhd (KPJSB). KPJ owns Lablink via KPJSB. "The proposed SSPA marks the beginning of the partnership between KPJ and Quadria Capital to grow Lablink's pathology and diagnostics businesses in Malaysia and explore new growth markets in Southeast Asia to become the region's leader in pathology and diagnostics services," it said. DiGi.Com Bhd's net profit fell 3.9% to RM360.08 million in the fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2017 (4QFY17) from RM374.63 million a year ago, on higher finance cost from adverse fair value changes on interest rate swaps of RM12 million and settlement costs of RM6 million. It posted service revenue of RM1.51 billion, which was down 2.7% year-on-year (y-o- y). Earnings per share was lower at 4.63 sen in 4QFY17 compared with 4.82 sen in 4QFY16. Quarterly revenue also slipped 1.5% to RM1.64 billion from RM1.67 billion a year ago. Despite a weak quarterly performance, DiGi declared a fourth interim dividend of 4.6 sen per share totalling RM358 million for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2017 (FY17), payable on March 23. 6 IGB Real Estate Investment Trust's net property income (NPI) rose 4% to RM95.19 million in its fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2017 (4QFY17), from RM91.48 million a year ago as rental income improved. The group's revenue rose 7% year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM134.35 million from RM125.65 million, as gross rental income grew 8% to RM105.8 million from RM97.8 million. It announced an income distribution of 95% of its distributable income for the second half ended Dec 31, 2017 (2HFY17), which amounted to RM172.1 million or a distribution per unit (DPU) of 4.9 sen, to be paid on Feb 28. Axis Real Estate Investment Trust's (Axis REIT's) net property income (NPI) for the fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2017 (4QFY17) slid 1% to RM35.31 million from RM35.61 million a year ago, as realised property income declined marginally. Realised property income came in at RM41.91 million during the quarter versus RM42.23 million a year ago. Income available for distribution for the quarter came in at RM22.52 million versus the year ago's RM23.23 million. The REIT proposed a final distribution per unit (DPU) of 0.92 sen, which represents 99.86% of income available for distribution from performance of properties for the period Nov 16 to Dec 31, 2017.