Mengly J. Quach Holdings (MJH), an umbrella for companies engaged in education, health care, food, media and financial services, is undergoing a restructuring and audit, and plans to spin off of its core educational arm ahead of a possible listing on the Cambodian stock exchange, the firm’s eponymous founder and chairman said.
“We’re restructuring our company for an audit, and we’re in the second phase of review by [international accounting firm] KPMG,” said Quach Mengly.
Since its founding in 2005, MJH has grown from a single classroom with just four students into one of Cambodia’s biggest educational networks, with a dozen properties, 1,300 staff and over 11,000 students.
“In 10 years we have grown from a two-unit complex to 10 buildings and two skyscrapers,” said Mengly.
“And we’re planning on constructing three more buildings: two 20-storey towers and one 12-storey tower, plus an additional five-storey project. We’re expanding every day.”
The company has diversified into business lines that support its campuses, such as health care, transportation and food outlets, and has forayed into the media and financial sectors.
Mengly said he was looking to raise capital to fund the firm’s aggressive expansion.
He said a number of private equity firms and international financiers including the International Finance Corporation (IFC) had approached the company, and he was in negotiations with at least one international private investor.
Following the restructuring, Mengly J. Quach Education (MQE) will serve as the parent company for the American Intercon Institute (AII), American Intercon School (AIS) and American Intercon Nursery School, as well as their campus-oriented businesses.
Mengly said he is considering floating shares in MQE on the Cambodian Securities Exchange (CSX).
“Actually, we’d planned to IPO three years ago and signed with an underwriter, but it was still too early,” he said.
He said the underwriter recommended corporate restructuring and an independent audit, which is being carried out by KPMG and expected to wrap up by mid-2016.
Once completed, he plans to resume work with the underwriter to prepare an initial public offering.
“If we have a major investor coming, presumably they want to have the company listed in a period of time, though that’s to be discussed with the investor,” Mengly said.
