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 1535.59 DJ+7.41 CRUDE OIL 108.00 RM 2.9960

MAHB is expecting to see 12% year-on-year growth in passengers for the first three months of the year, compared with the earlier forecast of 7%.

MAMEE-DOUBLE Decker (M) Bhd has been in the limelight recently due to a privatisation proposal by major shareholders in a selective capital reduction (SCR) and repayment exercise under Section 64 of the Companies Act, 1965. This is a privatisation route that has been used successfully by several other companies.

Plantation group KL Kepong Bhd has estimated its capital expenditure for the current financial year ending Sept 30, 2011 at RM600mil. It said the expenditure consisted of new oil palm plantings in Indonesia and supporting infrastructures such as palm oil mills. “Oleochemicals capital expenditure consist of adding new capacities at Westport, Europe and China,” KL Kepong said in its corporate presentation at the Invest Malaysia 2011 conference yesterday. Between financial year 2007 and 2010, about 95% of KL Kepong’s capital expenditure was invested in plantation and oleochemicals. The company also said that it would continue to focus on land acquisition in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Alam Maritim Resources Bhd’s unit has secured RM24.24 million contracts to supply two vessels to an independent oil and gas exploration and production company. Its unit Alam Maritim (M) Sdn Bhd would provide one anchor handling tug supply vessel and one fast multipurpose supply vessel.

MEGB, its group CEO and PT Sejahteraraya Anugrahjaya Tbk (PTSA) are teaming up to look into the setting up of a university in Indonesia. They will form a joint venture company in Indonesia with proposed paid-up capital of US$10 million wherein. MEGB and its CEO will each hold a 30% stake and the remaining 60% by PTSA. PTSA is listed on the Stock Exchange of Indonesia and is the owner of Mayapada Hospital in Indonesia.

DRB-Hicom Bhd’s unit Puspakom Sdn Bhd has signed an MoU with the government to undertake the hire purchase inspection services for all vehicles. DRB-Hicom said the inspection services would be undertaken following the implementation of the newly amended Hire-Purchase Act 1967 (Amended 2010).

MALAYSIAN AIRLINE SYSTEM BHD []’s (MAS) earnings in the first quarter ended March 31, 2011 were impacted by the higher fuel prices, said its managing director and chief executive officer Tengku Datuk Azmil Zahruddin said. He said the high fuel price is “definitely making a negative impact on us”. Tengku Azmil said about 25% of the airline’s jet fuel for 2011 was hedged at US$90 per barrel but the price was now about US$140. On April 1, it was US$136.40.

Khazanah Nasional Bhd, the government's investment arm, has decided on the potential buyer for its 32.21 per cent stake in postal service provider, POS MALAYSIA BHD. "We already have a winner in mind," said Khazanah managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar. However, he declined to narrow the identity of the "winner" but said the names would be submitted to the board later this month. The three shortlisted bidders are speculated to be DRB-Hicom, NATIONWIDE EXPRESS COURIER SER vices and a Amanah REIT-Malaysia Pacific Corp joint venture, wit offers ranging between RM3.38 and RM4.62 per share. The other two bidders were Scomi Bhd and TRICUBES BHD.

Guocoland Bhd posted net loss of RM3.64 million in the third quarter ended March 31, 2011, which was narrower compared with net losses of RM5.65 million a year ago. It reported revenue of RM23.95 million, down from RM42.42 million a year ago. Loss per share was 0.54 sen compared with 0.84 sen. For the nine-months, its net loss was RM2.38 million compared with net profit of RM2.49 million in the previous corresponding period. Revenue was RM84.29 million versus RM130.49 million a year ago. Its net asset per share was RM1.12. According to the notes to the accounts, it had short-term and long-term borrowings of RM786 million as at March 31, 2011.

FBMKLCI 1531.63 DJ+71.60 CRUDE OIL 104.32 RM 2.994

Trading in Fotronics Corp Bhd on Bursa Malaysia will be suspended from April 7 as it has failed to submit its regularisation plan within the stipulated time.

Berjaya Corp Bhd posted a net profit of RM32.46mil in the third quarter ended Jan 31, 2011 compared with net loss of RM156.20mil a year ago on higher profit contribution from gaming, stock broking, direct selling, retail and distribution businesses.

CIMB Bank Bhd and CIMB Islamic Bank Bhd have announced an increase in their base lending rate (BLR) and base financing rate (BFR) by five basis points from 6.3% to 6.35%, effective from April 4.

Integrated Logistics Bhd expects to spend RM200mil in three years to expand its business in China and Dubai.Integrated Logistics (China) Co Ltd head of corporate finance and investment Eric Tay said the amount was for the expansion of its warehouse to 4 million sq ft from 1.8 million sq ft currently. “Of the total investment, 40% will come from loans and 60% internal funding,” he said after the company's AGM yesterday.  The company's warehouse in Dubai would be a 50:50 partnership with a local company there and was expected to contribute to group revenue next year.

Ireka Corp Bhd's wholly-owned subsidiary, Ireka Engineering & Construction Sdn Bhd (IECSB), has received a letter of award from Transmission Technology Sdn Bhd for a RM232.75mil contract. It told Bursa Malaysia that it was for architectural as well as mechanical and electrical works on the proposed offices and hotel development in Kuala Lumpur.

Tan Chong Motor Holdings Bhd has received approval from the Securities Commission to upsize its asset-backed medium term notes (MTN) programme to RM2bil from RM600mil. “The approval would enhance the group's ability to tap the capital markets for future funding needs,” it said in a statement yesterday. The group has completed four issuances and raised over RM788mil from the capital markets via Premium Commerce Bhd's MTN programme. Premium Commerce Bhd is an independent special purpose entity established to undertake a securitisation programme for the Tan Chong group.

DBE Gurney’s additional 593.33 million new shares and 200 million warrants will be listed on Thursday. The warrants were issued for free to the subscribers of the renounceable rights issue of 400 million rights shares on the basis of one free detachable warrants for every two rights shares subscribed for. The maturity date of the warrants is March 22, 2016 and the conversion price is 10 sen. The new shares of 10 sen were issued pursuant to the rights issue with warrants and capitalisation of amounts due to director and creditors settlement.

V. S. Industry has set a dividend policy of making out an annual payment of at least 40% of its net profit to shareholders as dividends, and plans to disburse payouts on a quarterly basis. The dividend policy is effective in the current financial year ending July 31, 2011 (FY11). VSI’s net profit in the second quarter ended Jan 31, 2011 surged 134.1% to RM10.1 million from RM4.4 million a year ago, due to higher revenue. The profit came mainly from the higher group sales as a result of the increased sales generated by its Malaysian and Indonesian operations.

Masterskill Education Group Bhd has recommended a final single tier dividend of 7.9 sen per 20 sen share for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2010. It said on Wednesday, March 30 the dividends would be payable on June 15. The group had on Oct 13, 2010, completed the distribution of an interim dividend of seven sen per share to the shareholders. The total of 14.9 sen per share dividend for 2010 will represent a total payout of 60% of its net profit, equivalent to RM61 million.