FBMKLCI 1529.91 DJ+95.59 CRUDE OIL 113.57 RM2.95

KFC Holdings (M) Bhd (KFCH) will invest RM45mil to open 25 new KFC outlets nationwide this year.

AmBank (M) Bhd is issuing four new European-style cash-settled call warrants (CWs) to meet investor demand for trading opportunities and alternative investments for current market conditions over the ordinary shares of BIMB Holdings Bhd, IGB Corp Bhd, Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd (PChem) and TSH Resources Bhd.

Gateway Benefit Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Berjaya Land Bhd, had disposed 4.665 million shares in Berjaya Sport Toto Bhd for RM19.6mil.

Unisem (M) Bhd has posted a lower group net profit of RM5.4mil for the first quarter ended March 31, 2011, compared with RM41.3mil in the same period last year.

One of the factors that is being considered by Bank Negara in reviewing the application by China Construction Bank Corp (CCB) to buy into EON Capital Bhd (EON Cap) is the fact that another state-owned bank from China, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), already has a banking licence in Malaysia, industry sources said. Under Malaysia's Banking and Financial Institutions Act (Bafia), no single party is supposed to own more than one banking licence.

Tanjung Offshore Bhd’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Tanjung Maintenance Services Sdn B hd, had on March 25 been awarded an RM15mil contract for the provision of valve repair and maintenance services for Murphy Sarawak Oil Co Ltd. But comments by Maybank IB Research could weigh down the share price. The research house said it expected Tanjung Offshore’s 1Q 2011 earnings to likely miss street expectations again. “Cost management strategies and operating prospects remain the key concerns. An equity cash-call could ensue should the cash situation worsen. “Tanjung Offshore will also suffer an RM8 million penalty cost for early bonds redemption. Valuations are expensive and consensus forecasts are aggressive. Nonetheless, Ekuinas’ next move remains a wild card,” it said.

EUPE expects pre-tax profit of more than RM30 million from a residential property project with a gross development value (GDV) in excess of RM130 million. EUPE unit EUPE Kemajuan Sdn.Bhd was buying 17.15 acres of land in Petaling district for RM37.35 million from Desaminium Jaya Sdn Bhd.

“The land is purchased for the purpose of residential development targeting about 150 units of terrace and semi detached homes with a GDV in excess of RM130 million and profit before tax estimated above RM30.0 million

TH PLANTATIONS BHD [] targets to increase its land bank to 50,000 hectares from 39,113 ha by 2012, a company official said. TH Plantations plans to acquire the first "substantial parcel" by the end of June and are looking at Sumatera and Kalimantan where land prices are said to be lower compared to Sabah and Sarawak. A total of RM150 million has been allocated this year to build a palm oil mill in Sarawak and the company's replanting programme. The company said revenue for FY2011 could rise 14.8% to RM420 million from RM365.97 million last year if the price of crude palm oil averages between RM3,400 and RM3,500 for 2011.

Masterskill Education Group Bhd (MEGB) is venturing into the provision of undergraduate business programmes in a tie-up with The University of Newcastle. MEGB said on Wednesday, April 27 the proposal covered the bachelor of business and bachelor of commerce programmes.

FBMKLCI 1524.05 DJ-26.11 CRUDE OIL 111.36 RM 2.9685

Bernas, which is the largest rice miller in Malaysia, has received a 10-year extension from Jan 11, 2011 to Jan 10, 2021 from the federal government. Bernas had received a letter dated April 20 from the Public Private Partnership Unit under the Prime Minister’s Department on the extension of the Bernas agreement dated Jan 12, 1996. It currently controls about 24% of the padi market and 45% of the local rice demand.

CB Industrial Product Bhd’s unit has secured a RM38.35 million contract from the Ministry of Health to supply 100 ambulances inclusive medical equipment to the ministry. Its subsidiary AVP Engineering (M) Sdn Bhd had accepted the letter of award from the Ministry of Health.

Alam Maritim Resources Bhd’s unit has entered into two charter party agreements for a total sum of RM24.75 million.

Berjaya Land Bhd’s units disposed of 22.76 million BERJAYA SPORTS TOTO BHD [] (BToto) shares for RM101.821 million or at an average selling price of RM4.47. It said on Monday, April 25 the shares were disposed of by Immediate Capital Sdn Bhd and Gateway Benefit Sdn Bhd in the open market from May 3, 2010 to April 25, 2011. “The disposals resulted in a net loss of about RM6.07 million at the BLand group level,” it said. The disposed shares represented 1.70% equity interests in BToto.

DRB-HICOM Bhd will be using three of its main businesses involving banking, cargo handling and insurance to generate value from its 32.21% stake in Pos Malaysia Bhd. Those three companies are expected to feature heavily in the execution of the business plan for Pos Malaysia which in turn will also benefit DRB-HICOM as reinvigorating Pos Malaysia would lead to the expansion of the businesses involving Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd, KL Airport Services Sdn Bhd (KLAS) and Uni.Asia (life and general insurance businesses). DRB-HICOM won the bid last week to buy the controlling stake in Pos Malaysia at RM3.60 per share or RM622.79mil.

China Construction Bank Corp (CCB), the country's No 2 lender, is eyeing a stake in EON Capital, and has approached the Malaysian Finance Ministry for permission to speak to EON's major shareholders, a source with direct knowledge said. “This is still at a very early stage. We've informed the Malaysian Finance Ministry,” said the source, adding that CCB had not yet received a response. The source declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the deal.

Software provider Infortech Alliance Bhd has proposed to acquire the entire interest in Jaring Metal Industries Sdn Bhd for RM64.8mil, which will see it gaining new controlling shareholders via the issuance of Infortech shares. Infortech told Bursa Malaysia yesterday that the total purchase would be satisfied by the issuance of 462.86 million new 10 sen shares in Infortech at 14 sen each. Infortech is also proposing a renounceable restricted issue of up to 181.5 million Infortech shares together with up to 108.9 million free detachable warrants on the basis of five shares with three free warrants for every two existing Infortech shares held by the entitled shareholders of Infortech other than the vendors and the parties acting in concert (PACs) with the vendors.

Sime Darby Bhd’s unit, Sime Darby Engineering Sdn Bhd, has been awarded a RM1.15bn contract to fabricate KBB Topsides for the Kebabangan northern hub development project by Kebabangan Petroleum Operating Company Sdn Bhd. The contract will be undertaken over 29 months effective from April 22 this year, Sime Darby said in a filing to Bursa Malaysia yesterday.

KFC Holdings (Malaysia) Bhd's Vice President, KFC Division, Lim Teck Huak said the company invested more than RM1mn in advertising and promotion for the new menu which would be initially available at the 144 outlets. One hundred and forty-four KFC restaurants throughout Malaysia, including Sabah and Sarawak, will see sales increase by 10% after the introduction of its redesigned breakfast menu.

 

WCT Bhd announced a final dividend of 5sen per share which makes the total dividend declared for FYE2010 10sen per share. This final dividend will be paid on 6 June 2011.

FBMKLCI 1509.10 DJ-17.90 CRUDE OIL 105.07 RM 3.0040

Oil prices pushed above US$105 per barrel Tuesday, as traders focused on a series of international crises that could tighten global supplies at a time when consumption is expected to increase. 

Benalec is standing out from its CONSTRUCTION [] peers and rapidly gaining investor attention. Now, the company is also shaping up to be a major landowner and developer, as it will receive some 177.3 acres of land in Melaka in exchange for reclamation works.

Ramunia plans to venture into the offshore oil and gas business in Malaysia and the region via a tie-up with Drydocks World of Dubai. It sealed an agreement for a floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) deep producer vessel, known as the MT Laurita. The arrangement would enable Ramunia to venture into the field of engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning. It plans to provide the full offshore production facilities and to penetrate into the growing offshore floating facilities business within the local and regional upstream oil and gas sector.

Berjaya Land posted net profit RM34.91 million for its third quarter ended Jan 31, 2011 compared to net loss RM8.57 million a year ago, due mainly to higher profit contribution from the gaming business operated under BERJAYA SPORTS TOTO BHD [] (BToto). Revenue declined to RM990.59 million from RM993.96 million. Earnings per share were 0.70 sen from loss per share of 0.17 sen, while net assets per share was RM1.04. For the nine months ended Jan 31, BLand’s net profit jumped to RM85.13 million from RM35.42 million, on the back of revenue RM2.99 billion.

Leader Universal’s joint venture to supply cable and cable related equipment in Saudi Arabia has been called off by mutual agreement with its JV partners -- Al-Ghazalah Development Co (Al-Ghazalah) and Suasana Daya Sdn Bhd. The parties had on July 8, 2009 entered into an agreement to set up the JV to sell and supply cables and cable related accessories and equipment with customers in Saudi Arabia, as well installation of cables and turnkey projects and supply and/or construction of power transmission, distribution, substation and related projects in that country.

CIMB Group Holdings Bhd has sought another six months until Oct 6 to complete the proposed dual listing on the Stock Exchange of Thailand. The application has been submitted to the Securities Commission and is pending its decision.

With the Sarawak state assembly dissolved on Monday,speculations on the upcoming 10th state election on April 9 will boost politically-and state-linked stocks, namely those in the timber, construction and oil and gas sectors. This time, the sentiment will be further underpinned by the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) programmes.aption