<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>KUALA LUMPUR (May 7): CIMB IB Research has upgraded Axiata Group Bhd to “Add” at RM4.04 with a higher target price of RM4.80 (from RM4.40) and said Axiata &amp; Telenor may sign a deal to merge their Asia operations by 3Q19.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>In a note today, the research house said potential cost synergies are estimated at RM15 billion-20 billion.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>It said Axiata/Telenor announced that they are in discussions regarding a potential non-cash merger of their Asia operations under a new entity (MergedCo), in which they will own a 43.5%/56.5% stake.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>“Axiata/Telenor expects the MergedCo to realise RM15bn-20bn of cost synergies, mainly from a) Digi-Celcom’s network/IT system integration, b) procurement (lower pricing from greater scale), c) tower operating efficiencies, d) consolidation of headquarters and e)lower wholesale cost (harmonisation of roaming rates, scale).</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>“Other benefits we see are: i) stronger MergedCo balance sheet (with additional debt headroom and stronger ratings), ii) ability to tap into Telenor’s strong execution and technology expertise and iii) faster monetisation of passive assets (i.e. IPO of towerco).</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>“Upgrade to Add from Hold, with a 9% higher target price of RM4.80,” it said.</p></div>


KUALA LUMPUR (May 7): CIMB IB Research has upgraded Axiata Group Bhd to “Add” at RM4.04 with a higher target price of RM4.80 (from RM4.40) and said Axiata & Telenor may sign a deal to merge their Asia operations by 3Q19.

In a note today, the research house said potential cost synerg...

CIMB Research upgrades Axiata, raises target price to RM4.80

The Bank of Japan (BOJ) must tread cautiously in raising interest rates, as some indicators of inflation expectations remain short of its 2% target, the International Monetary Fund's Japan mission chief Nada Choueiri said on Friday.

IMF urges Bank of Japan to tread cautiously in raising interest rates

Israel's apparent strike on Iran after days of vacillation was small and appeared calibrated to dial back risks of a major war, even if the sheer fact it happened at all shattered a taboo of direct attacks that Tehran broke days earlier.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet had initially approved plans for a strike on Monday night inside Iranian territory to respond forcefully to last Saturday's missile and drones from Iran, but held back at the last-minute, three sources with knowledge of the situation said.

Israel's Iran attack carefully calibrated after internal splits, US pressure

The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 dipped on Friday, with Netflix among the biggest drags on a dour quarterly forecast, while all three indexes stared at weekly losses amid diminishing hopes that the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates anytime soon.

Nasdaq lags peers as Netflix, chip stocks drag; AmEx lifts Dow

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim arrived in Kota Kinabalu on Friday night for a one-day working visit to the state.

Anwar's plane landed at Terminal Two, Kota Kinabalu International Airport at 11.40pm, where he was greeted by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

Anwar arrives in Kota Kinabalu for one-day visit

Parties in the Unity Government have their methods to ensure a win in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election next month, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, said this was discussed at the Unity Government secretariat meeting on Wednesday.

Unity Govt parties have ways to ensure victory in Kuala Kubu Baharu polls — Ahmad Zahid

All travellers entering or leaving Singapore carrying Physical Currency and Bearer Negotiable Instruments (CBNI) that are valued more than S$20,000 or its equivalent in a foreign currency, must submit the necessary declarations electronically with effect from May 13.

Travellers to and from Singapore carrying over S$20,000 must submit online declaration from May 13

KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Friday:

Shares of Sapura Energy Bhd have been suspended from trading, pending a material announcement. The suspension took effect from 2.30pm onwa...

Sapura Energy, PIE Industrial, LSH Capital, YX, Westports, Yinson, Sime Darby Property, MISC, Meta Bright, EG Industries, Hextar, Uzma, Nova MSC and Iconic Worldwide

YX Precious Metals Bhd, a 70%-owned subsidiary of Tomei Consolidated Bhd, has proposed to transfer its listing from the ACE Market to the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia as it has met the profit requirements for the transfer.

In a bourse filing, the gold jewellery wholesaler and manufacturer said it has also satisfied the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) and Main Market listing requirements on financial position, public shareholding spread and Bumiputera equity.

YX Precious Metals proposes to transfer listing from ACE Market to Main Market

(April 19): Oyo Hotels is in talks to raise up to US$450 million via dollar bonds, a person familiar with the matter said, as the once-high-flying Indian startup seeks to replace an existing high-cost loan amid delays in its stock-market debut.

Softbank-backed Oyo eyes US$450 mil bond sale for refinancing

CIMB Thai Bank PCL’s net profit for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 (1QFY2024) dropped 24.6% year-on-year to 626.1 million baht from 830.1 million baht, as it reported lower operating income and higher expenses.  

The group recorded an 8.4% drop in operating income and an 11.8% increase in operating expenses. The effects of these were partially offset by a 36.9% decline in expected credit loss, according to CIMB Thai president and chief executive officer Paul Wong Chee Kin in a statement. CIMB Group Holdings Bhd has a 94.83% interest in CIMB Thai.

CIMB Thai's 1Q earnings drop 24.6% as operating income falls while opex climbs

<p>DUBAI/JERUSALEM (April 19): Explosions echoed over an Iranian city on Friday in what sources described as an&nbsp;Israeli attack, but Tehran played down the incident and indicated that it had no plans for retaliation — a response that appeared gauged towards averting region-wide war.</p>


Tehran signals no retaliation against Israel after drones attack Iran

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Construction company Lim Seong Hai Capital Bhd (LSH Capital) said it has obtained approval from its shareholders to transfer the group’s listing from the LEAP Market to the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd.</p>


Lim Seong Hai Capital gets shareholder nod for transfer of listing to ACE Market

Here’s a quick look at some of the stories that made headlines today.

EVENING 5: Five things you need to know today

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Friday:</p>

<p>Shares of <strong>Sapura Energy Bhd</strong> have been suspended from trading, pending a material announcement. The suspension took effect from 2.30pm onwa...

<p>SINGAPORE (April 19): CGS-CIMB Securities has officially rebranded as CGS International Securities (CGS International), as the integrated financial services provider launched its new identity in Singapore on Thursday (April 18).&nbsp;</p>


CGS-CIMB Securities rebrands as CGS International, aims to double revenue to S$700 mil by 2030

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): UEM Sunrise Bhd has launched The Beat 2.0, an extension of The Beat retail hub at its Kiara Bay development in Kepong, during a groundbreaking ceremony held at the Kiara Bay sales gallery on Friday. The Beat 2.0 measures 2.6-acres and will comprise a net lease area (NLA) of 73,566 square feet (sq ft), according to a press statement on Friday.</p>


UEM Sunrise launches The Beat 2.0 at Kiara Bay, welcomes Harvey Norman as anchor tenant

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): M&amp;A Equity Holdings Bhd announced that an individual by the name of Siti Nur Aishah Ishak has become a substantial shareholder of the stockbroking firm, after acquiring a 0.13% stake in the company.</p>


Siti Nur Aishah emerges as substantial shareholder of M&A Equity

<p>MISC Bhd, via its petroleum arm AET, has entered into time charter party contracts with PETCO Trading Labuan Company Ltd (PTLCL) for the world’s first two ammonia dual-fuel Aframaxes (tankers with a deadweight of between 80,000 and 120,000 tonnes), as it seeks to reduce overall emissions from its operations.</p>

<p>Both MISC and PTLCL are units of&nbsp; national oil company Petronas.</p>


MISC enters time charter party contracts with Petronas unit for world's first ammonia dual-fuel Aframax tankers

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Fajarbaru Builder Group Bhd said it has secured a RM13.33 million contract to upgrade fire engineering systems at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport’s Terminal 1 satellite building.</p>


Fajarbaru clinches RM13 mil contract from MAHB

<p>Fibre optic cables manufacturer Hextar Capital Bhd, formerly known as Opcom Holdings Bhd, said it plans to diversify into the construction and project management business.</p>

<p>The proposed diversification is expected to boost the group’s net profit by about 25%, aligning with its long-term strategy to pursue more engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) projects beyond telecommunications network projects, the group said in an exchange filing.</p>


Hextar Capital plans to diversify into construction business

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Silver Ridge Holdings Bhd said its wholly owned unit is being sued by a subcontractor over alleged outstanding contract payments.</p>


Silver Ridge’s unit slapped with suit over alleged unpaid contract sums

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Prime Minister&nbsp;Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has denied Opposition claims that its Members of Parliament (MPs) will only be given allocations if they pledged support for his leadership.&nbsp;</p>


Anwar: Claims of Opposition MPs needing to support me for allocations baseless

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Uzma Bhd plans to raise RM68.35 million via a private placement of 15% of its current share base to help fund the development of a water injection facility (WIF) which it is to lease to a unit of Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd.</p>


Uzma plans RM68.4m private placement to fund O&G support job

<p>YX Precious Metals Bhd, a 70%-owned subsidiary of Tomei Consolidated Bhd, has proposed to transfer its listing from the ACE Market to the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia as it has met the profit requirements for the transfer.</p>

<p>In a bourse filing, the gold jewellery wholesaler and manufacturer said it has also satisfied the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) and Main Market listing requirements on financial position, public shareholding spread and Bumiputera equity.</p>


<p>KUALA LUMPUR (April 19): Iconic Worldwide Bhd has raised a total of RM95.6 million through its rights issue exercise with free warrants, which was oversubscribed.</p>


Iconic Worldwide’s rights issue oversubscribed, raises RM95.6 mil

<p>Malaysia’s economic growth will likely pick up pace in the quarters ahead, economists say, though some are cautioning that global uncertainties raise the risk of undershooting the official target for 2024.</p>

<p>This follows the Department of Statistics Malaysia's advanced gross domestic product (GDP) estimate of 3.9% for the first quarter of 2024 (1Q2024).</p>


Malaysia's economy will pick up pace but global uncertainties remain key risks — economists

<p>The mandatory general offer (MGO) for the remaining 34.1% stake in Pan Malaysia Holdings Bhd (PM Holdings), launched by property developer Exsim Group's founders, the Lim brothers, concluded on Friday with acceptances for only 35,997 shares received.</p>


No change in Lim brothers' stake as Pan Malaysia Holdings' MGO concludes

<p>Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said on Friday he does not want to be dragged into discussions over the purported addendum order on house arrest involving former premier Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.</p>

<p>Anwar said this was because the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Territories Pardons Board and also involves the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Malay Rulers.</p>


Addendum order issue under Pardons Board's purview, says Anwar

<p>SINGAPORE (April 19): Wilmar International Ltd’s board of directors has appointed former foreign minister George Yeo as a non-executive and independent director with effect from Friday.</p>
