30 December 2011
KFC: Another KFC tussle? There may again be another tussle for control of the KFC fast food business in Malaysia. This time, the Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (MCCM) is challenging a joint bid by Johor Corp (JCorp) and CVC Capital Partners Asia Pacific to acquire the assets and liabilities of QSR Brands Bhd and KFC Holdings (M) Bhd. MCCM would offer to buy QSR shares at RM6.90 each, thus beating the RM6.80 per share price offered by JCorp and CVC. (Source: The Star)
Transportation: MRT Corp inks deals with Jalan Inai residents. MRT Corp has sealed the Points of Agreement (POA) with owners of 21 plots of land in the Jalan Inai area affected by the MY Rapid Transit (MRT) project. The agreements are expected to resolve all outstanding issues faced by land owners with the MRT project, which connects Kajang and Sungai Buloh. (Source: Business Times)
Retail: Slower retailing as consumers turn cautious. Local retailers may experience slower growth next year, particularly because global economic developments are likely to affect Malaysia's export-oriented manufacturing sector (Source: The Star)
Media: Astro unit in JV with US firms. Astro's wholly-owned unit Celestial Pictures Ltd and two US-based companies - Saban Capital Group and Lionsgate - have set up Celestial Tiger Entertainment (CTE), an independent Asian media company focused on branded pay-TV channels, content creation and distribution across Asia. CTE offers pay channels to Asian consumers by combining Celestial Pictures' flagship channels, namely Celestial Movies, Celestial Classic Movies, Celestial Movies on Demand and three pay-TV channels of Tiger Gate Entertainment, a Lionsgate/Saban Capital partnership in Asia. (Source: The Sun)
Energy: New generation IPPs to draw familiar names. The fourth generation independent power producers (IPPs) are expected to attract bids from familiar names along with some new players. The commission is inviting applicants with previous experience in implementing power projects to submit their expressions of interest by Jan 12. (Source: The Edge Financial Daily)
(Information from MBB)
