<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>SINGAPORE (March 23): BreadTalk Group’s wholly-owned subsidiary BreadTalk International has entered into a joint venture agreement with PT Pura Indah Berkat (PIB) to develop and operate the Toast Box brand in Indonesia.</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>The new joint venture company, PT BTG-Pura Indah Berkat Venture (BTG-PIB), will be 70%-owned by BreadTalk International, with PIB holding the remaining 30% stake.&nbsp;</div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner>PIB currently manages the Toast Box outlet at<a href="https://www.theedgesingapore.com/breadtalk-enters-partnership-grow-toast-box-brand-indonesia" target="_blank">...(click on link for full story on theedgesingapore.com)</a> 
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SINGAPORE (March 23): BreadTalk Group’s wholly-owned subsidiary BreadTalk International has entered into a joint venture agreement with PT Pura Indah Berkat (PIB) to develop and operate the Toast Box brand in Indonesia.

The new joint venture company, PT BTG-Pura Indah Berkat Venture (BT...

BreadTalk enters partnership to grow Toast Box brand in Indonesia

US services activity expanded in November at the slowest pace in three months as demand and employment growth settled back, indicating the largest part of the economy is losing momentum.

US services activity expands at slowest pace in three months 

Here is a brief recap of the business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Wednesday.

Capital A, Superlon, Focus Dynamics, Uzma, UEM Sunrise, Mulpha, Central Global, Apollo Food, TMC Life Sciences, Sentoria, Binasat

Wall Street's main indexes climbed on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq touching record highs propelled by gains in technology stocks, while investors awaited comments from Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell later in the day.

Tech rally drives S&P 500, Nasdaq to record highs; Powell comments in focus

Binasat Communications Bhd (KL:BINACOM) has proposed to undertake a private placement to finance the acquisition of several properties.

Binasat plans private placement to finance property acquisitions

AstraZeneca plc has appointed Iskra Reic as executive vice-president of its international business, replacing Leon Wang who is under investigation by Chinese authorities.

AstraZeneca veteran replaces detained China executive Leon Wang

A consortium seeking to buy out Hong Kong-listed ESR Group Ltd has submitted a binding offer for the logistics real estate firm, a move that would bring the months-long takeover pursuit one step closer to an end.

ESR gets US$7 bil binding takeover offer from buyout group

The two-day Asean Senior Economic Officials Meeting (SEOM) Retreat 2025, which ends on Thursday, is a vital preparatory meeting aimed at updating outstanding issues from the previous Asean chairmanship.

Asean SEOM Retreat to understand outstanding issues from previous Asean chairmanship

US private payrolls increased at a moderate pace in November, while annual wages for workers staying in their jobs edged up for the first time in 25 months.

US private payrolls gain slightly below expectations in November

Canary Wharf Group’s bondholders have agreed to let the London docklands developer raise new debt, according to a regulatory filing, paving the way for it to refinance around £600 million (RM3.38 billion) of maturing notes.

Canary Wharf gets green light from bondholders for new debt

The Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday approved the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board (Amendment) 2024 Bill, which, among others, introduces the legal basis to address the issue of illegal or unauthorised bus ticket sales in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.

Dewan Rakyat passes Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board (Amendment) 2024 Bill

Shares of Pentamaster Corporation Bhd (KL:PENTA) shot up as much as 22.6% to RM4.23 — a three-month&nbsp;high — after its 63.9%-owned subsidiary Pentamaster International Ltd voluntarily suspended trading of its shares on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.&nbsp;

Pentamaster shares jump 23% on trading halt of HK unit

Intel has started evaluating a handful of outsiders, including former board member Lip-Bu Tan, for the role of its chief executive officer, after the struggling American chipmaking icon&nbsp;ousted company veteran Pat Gelsinger, according to people familiar with the matter.

Intel evaluating outsiders for CEO role, including M'sia-born ex-board member Lip-Bu Tan — Reuters

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has emerged as a substantial shareholder in Mega First Corporation Bhd (KL:MFCB), after raising its direct stake in the utility conglomerate company to 5.99%, comprising 56.54 million shares.

EPF now owns 5.99% stake in Mega First

Teleport, the logistics arm of Capital A Bhd (KL:CAPITALA), is expected to close its financial year ending Dec 31, 2024 (FY2024) with a record-high annual revenue of more than RM1 billion, according to its chief executive officer&nbsp;Pete Chareonwongsak.&nbsp;

Capital A’s Teleport set for record annual revenue as daily parcels volume soars

Public Bank Bhd (KL:PBBANK) said on Wednesday it has completed the acquisition of 175.9 million shares, representing a 44.15% stake, in insurer LPI Capital Bhd (KL:LPI).

Public Bank completes 44.15% stake buy in LPI Capital

UEM Sunrise Bhd (KL:UEMS) has announced the resignation of its chief executive officer, Sufian Abdullah, which will take effect from Feb 28, 2025.

The property developer said in a statement on Wednesday that Sufian, who was appointed to the post on Feb 2, 2021, had tendered his resignation on Nov 29 to pursue other opportunities. &nbsp;

UEM Sunrise puts Hafizuddin Sulaiman in charge as Sufian Abdullah steps down as CEO

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has denied ever telling then second finance minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah to “not interfere” in matters of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), refuting Husni’s claims that he had advised Najib against a US$1 billion joint venture (JV) with PetroSaudi International (PSI).

1MDB-Tanore: Najib expresses disappointment in former second finance minister Husni's testimony against him

TMC Life Sciences Bhd (KL:TMCLIFE) said its suspended CEO, Wan Nadiah Wan Mohd Abdullah Yaakob, has been found guilty of misconduct following a domestic inquiry.

“Pursuant to the said domestic inquiry and upon deliberation by the independent domestic inquiry panel, Puan Nadiah has been found guilty of all five charges of misconduct levelled against her,” TMC told Bursa Malaysia on Wednesday.

TMC Life Sciences CEO Wan Nadiah found guilty of misconduct after domestic inquiry

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi should be facing criminal charges like he is, instead of being the star prosecution witness in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd-Tanore (1MDB-Tanore) trial, as Shahrol, as the then chief executive officer of 1MDB, was the one who took steps to transfer US$700 million in 1MDB funds to a sham entity.

Najib: Shahrol too should be in the dock for 1MDB-Tanore

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 4): The recent Swiss court decision against PetroSaudi International Ltd (PSI) executives over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal clearly shows that former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was not implicated in the misappropriation of funds, the court heard on Wednesday.

1MDB-Tanore: Najib cites Swiss judgement against PSI execs, says he is not implicated in fund misappropriation

Public Bank Bhd (KL:PBBANK) will redeem its RM500 million subordinated sukuk murabahah on Dec 18, five years earlier than its maturity date of Dec 18 in 2029.

The third-largest bank in the country by assets on Wednesday said that the subordinated notes had a coupon rate of 3.72% per annum.

Public Bank makes early redemption of RM500 mil sukuk

Terengganu-based mechanical and engineering services provider Enproserve Group Bhd has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) on Bursa Malaysia’s ACE Market to raise funds for its business expansion.

Engineering services provider Enproserve Group seeking to float shares on ACE Market; to offer 315 mil shares 

Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) aims&nbsp;to produce 500 units per month of an electric vehicle (EV) called eMO-II starting next year.

Perodua set to produce 500 units of eMO-II monthly, aims for cheapest EV

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has once again alluded to the fabrication of his signature in 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB)-related documents implicating him in the multibillion-dollar scandal.

1MDB-Tanore: Najib denies signature in documents, says there's no BOA meeting with Shahrol

Cash-rich Apollo Food Holdings Bhd’s (KL:APOLLO) net profit grew 6.7% year-on-year for the second quarter, supported by higher domestic and export sales.

Apollo Food declares 30 sen dividend; net profit up 6.7% in 2QFY2025 

Cryptocurrency speculators kept Bitcoin in sight of the landmark US$100,000 (RM444,292) level in anticipation of further steps to support the sector by US President-elect Donald Trump.

Bitcoin churns near US$97,000 as crypto awaits Trump’s next step

After nearly two decades on the run, a Singaporean tycoon involved in a US$51 million (RM227 million) misappropriation case was finally arrested with his wife in Johor on Tuesday.

MACC helped nab Singapore tycoon after 19-year manhunt, says Azam Baki

One of the partners at Zaid Ibrahim, Suflan TH Liew and Partners (ZIST) has related how difficult it was for the firm to work with Messrs Shafee &amp; Co when dealing with Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s final appeal in the SRC International Sdn Bhd case at the Federal Court two years ago, including problems with obtaining the full documentation needed to prepare for Najib's appeal.

Lawyer relates how difficult it was to get documents from Shafee & Co to mount Najib's final appeal  

The Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) has been ranked first among&nbsp;355 airports in&nbsp;the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) global performance rankings.

KLIA tops Airports Council International's rankings for service quality

The Penang High Court on Wednesday ordered Kepala Batas Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Siti Mastura Muhammad to pay RM750,000 in total to three DAP stalwarts — Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng and Teresa Kok — over her claims that they were related to Communist Party of Malaya leader Chin Peng.