ECM Libra Financial Group Bhd

ECM Libra is an investment banking group with offices in Malaysia and Labuan providing corporations and individuals with a diversified range of financial solutions and services.

The Group's principal activities are divided into the following segments: Property, Financial services and Investment holdings. Property includes property investment, development and management and provision of carparking services. Financial services include stockbroking business and investment in a financial sector company.

Investment holdings represent investment in an associated company which was principally involved in financial services and other investments. "AVENUE" has become the Group's new brand name. The Group operates in Malaysia. Its wholly owned stockbroking subsidiary merged with stockbroking business of Kin Khon & Co Sdn Bhd. In 2002, the Group ceased its tour and travel and assembly of watercrafts and jet boats activities as a result from the disposal of its certain subsidiaries. Property accounted for 64% of fiscal 2002 revenues; investment holdings, 24%; financial services, 10% and others, 2%.

ECM Libra have a comprehensive range of equity-related trading and sales services for individual investors, institutions, corporations and government organizations. Our sales specialists extend their professional expertise to clients seeking to enhance their investment returns. In addition, clients gain access to strategic advice and fundamental services such as up to date market research, custodian and nominees’ services.

ECM Libra Investment Bank provides corporate finance and advisory services, drawing on expertise in the origination, structuring and execution of debt and equity underwriting, sales and trading, mergers and acquisitions, investment research, and prime brokerage services.

Specifically, ECM IB services include
#Mergers & acquisitions, divestitures, and other corporate restructurings #Strategic partnerships / joint ventures
#Privatisation and project advisory
#Capital and fund raising - equity and fixed income
#Initial public offerings
#Primary and secondary offerings and placements;
#General financial and strategic advice
#Structured Financing

Our team provides sound corporate finance advice and innovative financial solutions to our corporate clients. We deliver to our mid to large cap clients an integrated advisory approach that draws upon our strengths in providing strategic expertise, critical industry knowledge, structuring and financing innovations and solutions. Our team enables clients to realise their maximum value and effectively execute their growth objectives by providingclient coverage and industry sector knowledge tailored to meet the strategic and business objectives. We advise clients across various industries. Our clients include public and private companies, private equity investors, government-related entities and private individuals.

Foreign interest in Malaysian investment banks: ECM Libra

For some regional financial institutions seeking to expand to Malaysia, a standalone investment bank could be the cheapest entry point.

ECM Libra Financial Group Bhd (2143), an investment bank, says some foreign banks are keen to take strategic stakes in local standalone investment banks after Bank Negara Malaysia eased ownership rules last month.

Executive chairman and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan said for some regional financial institutions seeking to expand to Malaysia, a standalone investment bank could be the cheapest entry point. He said the central bank's move last month to raise foreign ownership limit in investment banks to 70 per cent from 49 per cent previously is attractive for prospective buyers. "It's good to get them to come in, because with their expertise and balance sheet it will allow the local investment banks to underwrite larger deals," Kalimullah told reporters after a shareholders' meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

"There is interest shown from foreign parties, from what I
gathered, but there's nothing concrete," he said.

ECM Libra's net profit fell 94 per cent to RM5.1 million in the year ended January 31 2009, from RM82.4 million last year due to the sharp drop in stockmarket trading volume last year.

Kalimullah is however confident that it will do much better this year. "It has been a promising start for us this year. Our brokerage income has increased three-fold due to Bursa Malaysia's increased volume, and investors are starting to show interest in doing deals again," he said. ECM has also hired more remisiers and has enlarged its balance sheet through deposit-taking, which should help improve earnings this year. It hopes to double the 200-odd remisiers it has currently in a couple of years, he said.

Being a small investment bank, he said, ECM will look at niche areas to compete with the bigger capital market players. It may set up property funds, for example. The global financial crisis also allows Malaysian investment banks like ECM to hire experienced bankers who were previously keen to work only in more sophisticated financial markets like New York, London or Hong Kong. Now, these new recruits should help create more innovative products that will help its earnings, he said.