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Business
03 December 2024

SingPost Completes Sale Of Australian Freight Business

Pacific Equity Partners acquires Freight Management Holdings for A$1.02 billion, reshaping SingPost's strategy

Singapore Post Limited, commonly known as SingPost, has recently announced the complete sale of its Australian business to Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) for A$1.02 billion (approximately US$890 million). This substantial transaction, which includes cash proceeds amounting to A$776 million and approximately A$220 million of debt, is expected to be finalized by the end of March 2025. SingPost anticipates recognizing gains of around S$312 million (about US$230 million) upon the sale's completion.

Freight Management Holdings Pty Ltd (FMH), the division being sold, is not just any logistics entity; it comprises several successful brands including efm Logistics, CouriersPlease, and Border Express, among others. This diverse portfolio highlights FMH's expansive reach within the Australian freight sector, encompassing fourth-party logistics, warehousing, technology, and transportation services.

PEP, which manages around A$12 billion worth of assets and has had over 200 acquisitions since 1998, was eager to add FMH to its portfolio. "We are thrilled to welcome FMH Group to our portfolio," remarked David Brown, PEP’s Managing Director. He emphasized FMH's impressive growth record, committed team, and clear potential for future success, indicating strong intentions to support the company's expansion.

SingPost plans to utilize part of the sale proceeds primarily to pay down existing debts, especially its Australian dollar-denominated liabilities, which total A$362.1 million, making up more than half of its overall Australian dollar debt. Vincent Phang, CEO of SingPost, noted the necessity for the board and management to reevaluate the Group’s strategic plan following this significant divestment, aiming for enhanced shareholder value.

This decisive step follows SingPost's internal strategic review, during which the company received unsolicited interest from various parties for FMH, paving the way for competitive bidding. SingPost Chairman, Simon Israel, indicated confidence in this move by stating, "The board believes this divestment is the best option for shareholders by crystallizing the unrealized value of the business and bringing forward unlocking value for the shareholders."

SingPost is not merely focusing on international ventures; it seeks to considerably strengthen its position within the Asia-Pacific logistics and postal services. Currently, it serves customers across 220 global destinations and is invested in both local and international postal entities.

Interestingly, analysts have responded positively to SingPost’s divestment decision. UOB Kay Hian, Maybank Securities, and CGS International have raised their target prices for SingPost shares, maintaining their respective “buy” and “add” recommendations. They see this strategic shift as pivotal, even noting how the Australian operations have been the primary growth engine for SingPost. With the acquisition of Border Express earlier this year, some analysts suggest this could have led to synergistic growth opportunities, urging caution and remaining skeptical about fully divesting the Australian segment.

Investors, meanwhile, have their eyes peeled on how SingPost will handle the windfall from the sale. While some speculate about the company possibly investing the proceeds back to fuel growth, there is significant belief among analysts, such as Maybank’s Jarick Seet, about the likelihood of returning excess cash to shareholders instead. Given the prevailing economic conditions, including headwinds impacting the post and freight forwarding sectors, they predict minimal new investment opportunities will arise. There seems to be consensus on pursuing monetization strategies for non-core assets and possibly returning cash to shareholders through special dividends.

Tan from UOBKH adds to this viewpoint, emphasizing limited growth prospects for SingPost following the sale, particularly as the traditional sectors face challenges. With this prudent approach, there's speculation about options like potential special dividends, which could yield notable returns for shareholders—potentially around 27% if fully realized.

Following the announcement of the sale, SingPost’s shares maintained trading at 58.5 cents, showing market stability amid the impending transformational changes. Analysts continue to watch closely, expecting updates as the company navigates the aftermath of this significant transaction.

All eyes are now on how SingPost will strategically recalibrate post-sale, focusing on leveraging the upcoming cash influx to either settle its debts or make astute investments for growth. Stakeholders eagerly anticipate official communications on special dividend decisions and broader strategic outlooks, which are expected to be outlined during forthcoming meetings.

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