Published on : Thursday, November 1, 2018
Sunac said in a Hong Kong stock exchange filing, they are agreed to pay 6.28 billion yuan for several Wanda-affiliated companies to improve “management efficiency”.
Wanda Group is giving up the management rights after agreeing last year to sell a 91 percent stake in its cultural tourism projects across China to Sunac for 43.8 billion yuan, part of a sweeping asset disposal after the Beijing-based conglomerate fell under government scrutiny for a debt-fueled investment binge.
Wanda, along with other Chinese firms including HNA Group Co. and Anbang Insurance Co., started selling off assets amid government pressure to stem capital outflow and reduce debt. Since July last year, Wanda has offloaded more than $11 billion in assets, according to Bloomberg calculations. That includes the 13 theme parks that were part of Wang’s ambitious drive to unseat Walt Disney Co. as the world’s largest entertainment company.
Wanda was to continue to operate the theme parks under a fee arrangement. The agreement brought “inconveniences” related to the inconsistency between management and ownership of the assets, Wanda said in a separate statement Monday. Wanda also said in the statement it would continue to invest in the culture and tourism industry.
Wanda has also sold its real estate projects in London and Australia, as well as minority stakes in AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. and Spanish soccer club Atletico Madrid.
The Beijing-based conglomerate is exploring a minority stake sale in movie studio Legendary Entertainment and a sale of sports-related assets. But Wanda Group denied that report. The company is also said to be selling two U.S. real estate projects.
©2018 Bloomberg
Tags: 43.8 billion yuan, china, Sunac, Wanda Group