This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on February 28, 2019

KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Property Bhd posted a maiden loss of RM347.5 million in the second quarter (2Q) ended Dec 31, 2018, against a net profit of RM138.08 million in the previous year corresponding quarter.

Revenue was 12.1% higher at RM788.81 million, from RM703.63 million a year earlier.

In a Bursa Malaysia filing, the property developer attributed the decline in performance to the gains on disposal of a subsidiary and associate recorded in the previous year, as well as high impairment of inventories, negative contribution from its Battersea project, and a higher tax provision.

For the cumulative six months, its net loss stood at RM318.7 million against a net profit of RM559.77 million in the preceding year. Revenue for the period increased 7.9% to RM1.27 billion from RM1.18 billion.

The group said its property development segment saw adverse impact from the impairment of completed inventories and write-off of development expenditure for two projects where launches have been deferred.

The group recorded RM7.7 million in share of loss from Battersea, as only three units of Phase 1 were delivered over the six-month period, compared to 494 units in the corresponding period a year earlier.

“These adverse charges were partially set off by the profit from the sale of land in Bandar Bukit Raja of RM122.7 million to Sime Darby MIT Development Sdn Bhd for the development of (a) managed industrial park. The profit on sale of land in the previous year amounted to RM84.3 million,” it said.

The property investment segment saw higher profit contribution due to a one-off income recognition amounting to RM7 million on the commencement of tenancy of an investment property and the gains on disposal of investment properties in the UK totalling RM5.6 million.

The better performance was also contributed by lower share of loss by Sime Darby CapitaLand (Melawati Mall) Sdn Bhd of RM1.1 million, compared to RM7.9 million a year earlier.

The group expects the Malaysian property market to remain muted and lacklustre amid a high volume of unsold properties, mismatch in demand and supply, strict lending policies and cautious sentiment among buyers.

Sime Darby Property closed up one sen or 0.86% to RM1.17 yesterday, valuing the company at RM7.96 billion