WCT Holdings Berhad (“WCT” or “the Group”), an investment holding company with businesses in engineering and construction, property development and investment in and management of retail malls and hotels, announces that its shareholders have approved the proposed listing of Paradigm Real Estate Investment Trust (“Paradigm REIT”) on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad (Bursa Securities Main Market). The approval of the shareholders was obtained during the Extraordinary General Meeting (“EGM”).
The proposed listing of Paradigm REIT will mark a significant milestone in WCT’s strategic growth plans, enabling the Group to unlock the value of its retail assets while optimising its capital structure. As part of the proposed listing of Paradigm REIT, the shareholders also approved the proposed disposal of three prime retail properties – Bukit Tinggi Shopping Centre (BTSC), Paradigm Mall Petaling Jaya (PMPJ), and Paradigm Mall Johor Bahru (PMJB) – to Paradigm REIT for RM2,437,000,000 (“Disposal Consideration”). The Disposal Consideration will be settled through the issuance of 1,600,000,000 units in Paradigm REIT (“Consideration Units”) at an issue price of RM1.00 per Consideration Unit and a cash consideration of RM837,000,000.
In the approvals sought during the EGM, the shareholders also endorsed the proposed offering of 560,000,000 units in Paradigm REIT (“Offer Units”) by WCT (“Proposed Offering”).
This includes a proposed retail offering of up to 254,657,500 Offer Units for the entitled shareholders of WCT, eligible directors and employees of the Group and Paradigm REIT Management Sdn Bhd, being the management company of Paradigm REIT, and the Malaysian public. From the proposed retail offering, 194,862,500 Offer Units will be made available to entitled shareholders of WCT on the basis of 1 Offer Unit for every 8 existing ordinary shares of WCT held by the shareholders whose names appear on the record of depositors of WCT as at the close of business on an entitlement date to be determined and announced later by WCT.
The Proposed Offering also includes a proposed institutional offering at least 305,342,500 Offer Units, of which 200,000,000 Offer Units are reserved for Bumiputera investors approved by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) of Malaysia and at least 105,342,500 Offer Units to other institutional investors and selected investors.
The proposed listing of Paradigm REIT is expected to strengthen WCT’s balance sheet by reducing borrowings while offering investors the opportunity to participate in a diversified portfolio of income-generating retail assets, delivering stable cash distributions and long-term capital appreciation.
Dato’ Lee Tuck Fook, Group Managing Director, WCT Holdings Berhad, said, “We are grateful for the strong support from our shareholders in approving the proposed listing of Paradigm REIT. This strategic initiative not only unlocks the value of our retail assets but also provide WCT with greater financial flexibility to pursue new growth opportunities. We are confident that Paradigm REIT will be a valuable addition to the Bursa Securities Main Market and deliver sustainable returns to our investors.”
The retail properties under Paradigm REIT are strategically located in populous urban areas in Malaysia. The proposed listing of Paradigm REIT reinforces WCT’s commitment to creating long-term value for stakeholders while solidifying its presence in Malaysia’s real estate investment sector.
