HONG KONG: Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group’s revenue fell by 10.8 per cent in 2017, the second consecutive year it declined, as the debt-laden group sold off property assets and faced increasing scrutiny from regulators and lenders. The property-to-entertainment group, owned by tycoon Wang Jianlin, reported 227.4 billion yuan ($35.54 billion) in revenue for last year, while net profit remained flat compared with 2016, according to a statement posted on the company’s website. It did not reveal the profit figure.
Total assets, of which 93 per cent are domestic, declined 11.5 per cent to 700 billion yuan.
The group came under pressure last year from a government crackdown on perceived risky spending overseas and high levels of corporate debt.
Banks heightened their scrutiny and ratings agencies downgraded its property unit to junk status.
The Chinese conglomerate is expected to announce the sale of two Australian property projects in the coming days, sources said, the latest in a string of asset sales as the firm looks to reduce its portfolio after a major acquisition spree.
Wanda said last week it had agreed to sell its interests in the London luxury development project, One Nine Elms, for $81 million.
Wang, Wanda’s chairman, said on Saturday Wanda had greatly reduced its debt and would use its “limited cash” in developing Wanda Plazas, the group’s core business.
“Wanda invested in a few projects overseas in the past few years and now we have decided to clear all overseas debt,” Wang said in a speech at the group’s annual meeting, which was published on its website. Wanda’s commercial real estate arm, which sold a portfolio of hotels and 13 tourism assets in China for $9 billion in July, saw income fall 21 per cent last year to 112.5 billion yuan.
Revenue at its sports division increased by 12.3 per cent to 7.2 billion yuan, while that of the cultural division rose 32.6 per cent to 63.8 billion yuan.
Wanda is considering a listing for its sports assets as part of efforts to rationalize its portfolio, according to people familiar with the situation.
For 2018, Wanda Group has set a revenue target of 247.9 billion yuan, with around half coming from the commercial real estate arm. — Reuters
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