More recently, in 2016, it diversified into the education market by acquiring the rights from the UK’s Pearson Education to open English language centres for adults in Myanmar. It opened its English language centre in Yangon last February 2017, spanning over 800 square metres over five floors, followed by the second centre last November. In April, MSH and Auston Institute of Management announced a joint venture to set up and operate a private school in Yangon. MSH also announced the planned opening of its third Wall Street English language centre in Yangon in August. It opened the first two centres last year and is targeting up to ten centres across Myanmar by 2027. Last month, the investment holding company agreed to make a strategic minority investment in Myanmar-based digital consulting firm, nexlabs, worth a total of US$150,000.

Myanmar Strategic Holdings (MSH), which is listed on the London Stock Exchange, has acquired a Yangon-based security firm for US$2.2 million.

MSH’s subsidiary Myanmar Strategic Services exchanged contracts for the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of domestic safety and security services provider Exera by paying $2 million in cash and the remaining $0.2 million through an issue of 7,408 new ordinary shares at a price of $27 per share, according to an announcement from MSH.

Exera is a safety and security services provider operating exclusively in Myanmar. Through its 1,000 guards, Exera provides guarding, protective services, transportation, training and risk consulting to a wide range of international and local clients across the country, including World Food Programme, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNICEF and the EU. The company generated unaudited revenues of approximately $4 million for the year ended March 31, 2018.

‘While mobile payment systems will flourish over time, cash will continue to play a key role in the development of Myanmar’s economy.’ Geoffrey Hamilton, Exera Myanmar

Enrico Cesenni, CEO of MSH, said that Exera has commenced its expansion into cash-in-transit. The firm is developing best-in-class cash management capabilities across Myanmar by working jointly with established conglomerates, banks and relevant institutions.

“As the Myanmar economy continues to evolve rapidly, primary needs such as safety and security will become of increasing importance to sustain this pace of economic growth. 

“The board believes that this acquisition demonstrates our objective not only to expand into strategically important sectors in Myanmar, but also to act as a source of responsible investment into the country,” he remarked.

Geoffrey Hamilton, CEO of Exera Myanmar, said that MSH’s to marshal institutional resources will be key to Exera’s strategic growth plans.

“Exera also looks forward to contributing to Myanmar’s development, by establishing best-in-class and socially responsible cash management solutions. While mobile payment systems will flourish over time, cash will continue to play a key role in the development of Myanmar’s economy, and Exera can play a key role in its efficient circulation and allocation,” Mr Hamilton commented.

MSH is based in Singapore and Yangon and listed on the London Stock Exchange. It is headed by Mr Cesenni, a former investment banker and now the largest shareholder of the company. The company first invested in the country’s hospitality market in August 2014 with the acquisition of the development and management rights of Ostello Bello Bagan, a boutique budget hotel located in Bagan. Its portfolio has since expanded to include three more Ostello Bello hotels in Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake. The hotels have 500 beds in total.

‘As the Myanmar economy continues to evolve rapidly, primary needs such as safety and security will become of increasing importance to sustain this pace of economic growth.’ Enrico Cesenni, Myanmar Strategic Holdings

More recently, in 2016, it diversified into the education market by acquiring the rights from the UK’s Pearson Education to open English language centres for adults in Myanmar. It opened its English language centre in Yangon last February 2017, spanning over 800 square metres over five floors, followed by the second centre last November. 

In April, MSH and Auston Institute of Management announced a joint venture to set up and operate a private school in Yangon. MSH also announced the planned opening of its third Wall Street English language centre in Yangon in August. It opened the first two centres last year and is targeting up to ten centres across Myanmar by 2027. 

Last month, the investment holding company agreed to make a strategic minority investment in Myanmar-based digital consulting firm, nexlabs, worth a total of US$150,000.

(The Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/london-listed-msh-acquires-security-firm-exera-22m.html )

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