KUALA LUMPUR (Sept 19): Aurora Mulia Sdn Bhd, a firm linked to tycoon Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, has bought another 2.7% stake in Media Prima Bhd, raising its equity interest in the media group to 23.26%.

Media Prima said in a filing to Bursa Malaysia yesterday, that the acquisition took place on Tuesday by way of a direct business transaction. The group did not reveal the purchase price.

Bloomberg data shows that the purchase was done in a single off-market transaction at 60 sen a share, valuing the block at RM18 million.

This is the same price that Aurora Mulia, whose board members include Syed Mokhtar's son Syed Danial Syed Mokhtar Shah, paid for its earlier acquisition of 123.02 million Media Prima shares from Umno-owned Gabungan Kesturi Sdn Bhd.

In total, Aurora Mulia has spent RM154.81 million so far to acquire the 23.26% stake in Media Prima.

Media Prima's share price has been hovering between 46 sen and 50 sen since July 2. The counter was trading unchanged at 47 sen at 3pm today, giving it a market capitalisation of RM521.32 million.