By P.R. Venkat and Ben Otto
One of China Evergrande Group's largest shareholders has pared its stake in the debt-laden conglomerate and said it could exit the company amid concerns about the developer's financial condition.
Chinese Estates (Holdings) Ltd., the property investment company of Hong Kong tycoon Joseph Lau, said Thursday that it would seek to sell some or all of its 751.1 million shares in Evergrande within the next 12 months. Based on the stock's previous closing price, it said it could book a loss of 9.49 billion Hong Kong dollars (US$1.22 billion) if it exits its position.
The company also said it sold off a total 0.82% stake for about HK$246.5 million in the open market in recent weeks. It expects to book a loss of about HK$1.38 billion on the sales.
Chinese Estates currently holds a 5.66% stake in Evergrande, it said. Mr. Lau's wife separately holds a 1.48% stake, according to FactSet.
Chinese Estates shares were up 5.5% at midday. Evergrande shares were up 11%, buoyed by news that the company's flagship unit had reached a deal regarding onshore debt due this week.
Chinese Estates' move to sell shares marks a major turn in the relationship between Evergrande and one its most important stakeholders. Chinese Estates was Evergrande's sole cornerstone investor in the company's initial public offering in 2009 and has participated in a number of its major property deals.
Hong Kong-based Chinese Estates said Thursday that it was concerned about recent developments of Evergrande, including disclosures made regarding liquidity issues, as well as the deterioration in the company's share price in recent months.
"The disposal and the possible disposal(s) provide an immediate liquidity to the group, and allows the group to re-allocate the proceeds for other reinvestment opportunities," it said.
Shenzhen-based Evergrande is on the brink of collapse after years of aggressive borrowing and expansion. Declining contracted sales, delayed asset-disposal plans and Beijing's reining in of the property sector have all contributed to its cash crunch.
Shares of the company have been on a downward spiral since late March. Evergrande shares have fallen about 83% so far this year.
Evergrande is one of Asia's largest issuers of high-yielding junk bonds. It also borrowed heavily from banks and investors in China and issued many short-term IOUs known as commercial bills to suppliers and contractors.
At the end of June, Evergrande had the equivalent of US$304 billion in liabilities, including US$88 billion in interest-bearing debt.
Write to P.R. Venkat at venkat.pr@wsj.com and Ben Otto at ben.otto@wsj.com
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