Analysts have mixed views on Genting’s land purchase in Florida

PETALING JAYA: Genting Malaysia Bhd's land acquisition in Miami, Florida for US$236mil received mixed reactions from analysts while the move is seen as the way to diversify its earnings base and spur growth going forward.

ECMLibra Investment Research viewed the move positively given the choice location of the waterfront property, adding that Florida attracted up to 82.3 million visitors in 2010, of which 87% were local visitors.

“The announcement has made no mention of casino operations but we view that the announcement will be in due course as licences would be required from the Miami-Dade County,” it said in a report yesterday.

Reported in the South Florida Business Journal, Resort World Miami (RWM) president Mike Speller said Genting Malaysia would fund the US$2bil development cost of the project without stating the funding details.


Kok Thay ... ‘Downtown Miami has experienced dramatic residential and commercial growth in recent years.’

CIMB Research is neutral on Genting Malaysia's acquisition and the research house thinks that the deal positions Genting Malaysia to capitalise on the potential liberalisation of “resort-style” gaming in Florida.

It pointed out that there was a question mark over whether the Florida state government would liberalise such gaming in the state.

“This purchase, however, is sizeable, indicating the group's confidence in the success of the mixed development project, in our opinion,” it said.

CIMB left its earnings projections unchanged, pending more details on the acquisition.

“Assuming bank borrowings of US$200mil (85% of total price), we estimate that its net cash will fall by about 33% to RM1.5bil. The total price accounts for less than 1% of the group's shareholders' equity,” it said.

HwangDBS Vickers Research said: “While it is still early to assess earnings impact for RWM, we do not expect any meaningful contribution over the next two to three years. Genting Malaysia's foray into the United States, if successful, will help diversify earnings base and spur growth.”

Genting Malaysia announced last Friday that its subsidiary Bayfront 2011 Property LLC had purchased 13.9 acres in Miami for US$236mil, with plans to build a mixed-use development.

The land includes the building currently housing The Miami Herald Media Company and an adjacent parking lot.

It said in a press release that it was working towards developing a comprehensive master plan for RWM, as the development would be called, which would include hotel, convention, entertainment, restaurant, retail, residential and commercial facilities.

The project aims to capitalise on Miami's standing as one of the world's leading tourism hubs.

Its chairman and chief executive Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay said: “Downtown Miami has experienced dramatic residential and commercial growth in recent years, and we believe the addition of a large-scale mixed-use and entertainment complex will be a welcomed addition, further elevating the area's status as a global destination.”

The acquisition is an integral step for Genting Malaysia as it seeks to expand internationally in the leisure, hospitality and entertainment industry.

The envisioned RWM represents Genting Malaysia's second venture into the United States, after Resorts World New York at the historic Aqueduct Racetrack in the city of New York.

By The Star