Watch Out for Hyflux's Omission of Ordinary Dividends

Hyflux announced its half year financial results last month. For holders of Hyflux preference shares and perpetual capital securities (perps), perhaps the most noteworthy point is that it did not declare an interim dividend on its ordinary shares. Why is this important? It is because the payment of a preference dividend or perps distribution is discretionary. If certain conditions are met, the company can choose not to pay or only pay partially any preference dividend or perps distribution. One of these conditions is that a dividend on the ordinary shares is not paid out. The conditions for preference shares and perps are different, so let's discuss these separately.

Preference Shares

There are 2 conditions upon which Hyflux can choose not to pay or only pay partially its preference dividends. The 2 conditions are:

1. If it does not have sufficient Distributable Reserves; or
2. If it does not pay its next dividend on its ordinary shares.

See Figs. 1 and 2 below for extracts of the Offer Information Statement (OIS) for the preference shares.

Fig. 1: Conditions for No/Partial Preference Dividend (Extract)

Fig. 2: Definition of Distributable Reserves

For Condition 1, if Hyflux does not have sufficient Distributable Reserves, it will not be able to pay its preference dividends in full. The definition of Distributable Reserves is shown in Fig. 2 above. I interpret it to mean that Hyflux must have sufficient retained earnings to pay dividends, regardless of whether they are ordinary dividends or preference dividends. As at Jun 2017, the retained earnings are $146.9M. The retained earnings have been dropping recently. In Dec 2015 and Dec 2016, the corresponding figures are $284.2M and $210.3M. See Did Hyflux Make Money for its Ordinary Shareholders? for more information.

For Condition 2, if Hyflux does not pay its next dividend on ordinary shares, then it can choose not to pay or only pay partially the preference dividend. Nevertheless, this does not mean that Hyflux will definitely not pay its next preference dividend in full. It only means that Hyflux can choose not to if it wishes.

In addition, the preference dividends are cumulative. If a preference dividend is skipped, it will continue to accumulate until it is fully paid out or the preference shares are redeemed.

Perpetual Capital Securities

For perps, the condition upon which Hyflux can choose not to pay or only pay partially its perps distribution is if it does not pay a dividend on, redeem or buy back any of its Junior Obligations in the preceding 6 months. The ordinary shares are considered as Junior Obligations. In addition, Hyflux can defer part of the perps distribution if it pays a dividend on, redeem or buy back its Parity Obligations on a pro-rata basis with the perps in the preceding 6 months. The preference shares are considered as Parity Obligations. See Figs. 3 and 4 below for extracts of the OIS for the perps.

Fig. 3: Conditions for No/Partial Payment of Perps Distribution (Extracts)

Fig. 4: Ranking of Hyflux Preference Shares and Perps

The last ordinary dividend was paid on 25 May 2017 and the last preference dividend was paid on 25 Apr 2017. As Hyflux did not declare an interim dividend on its ordinary shares in its latest financial results, if Hyflux chooses not to pay the next preference dividend scheduled on 25 Oct 2017 in full, Hyflux can defer part of the next perps distribution scheduled on 27 Nov 2017.

And like the preference dividends, the perps distributions are cumulative. If a distribution is skipped, it will continue to accumulate until it is fully paid out or the perps are redeemed.

Just a disclaimer, this post is not a recommendation for anyone to buy or sell Hyflux's preference shares or perps. It is also based on my interpretation of the terms in the OIS. You can find a copy of the OIS/ prospectus in Bondsupermart. Please read the OIS and do your own due diligence.

See related blog posts:

• Did Hyflux Make Money for its Ordinary Shareholders?
• If You Invest In Fixed Income, Read the Fine Print
• Prefs and Perps are Generally Inferior to Stocks and Bonds as an Investment Form