<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>KUALA LUMPUR (March 22): IHH Healthcare Bhd has submitted a confidential, conditional, non-binding and indicative proposal to acquire 100% of Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care Sdn Bhd for RM5.67 billion.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Ramsay Sime Darby is an Asian joint venture equally owned by Ramsay Health Care and Sime Darby Holdings Bhd (SDH).</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>In a bourse filing on Tuesday (March 22), IHH said Ramsay and SDH had agreed to a period of exclusivity to allow IHH to conduct due diligence and negotiate a sale and purchase agreement.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>It said the discussions among IHH, Ramsay&nbsp;and SDH are preliminary and no agreement had been reached in relation to the indicative proposal.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>“There is no guarantee that an agreement will be reached in respect of the indicative proposal or that a transaction will eventuate.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>“IHH will update shareholders and the investing public on any material developments relating to the indicative proposal,” it said.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>At 10.15am, IHH stood at RM6.52, with a market capitalisation of RM57.39 billion, while Sime Darby Bhd had gained two sen to RM2.28, valuing it at RM15.53 billion.</p></div>


IHH Healthcare Bhd has submitted a confidential, conditional, non-binding and indicative proposal to acquire 100% of Ramsay Sime Darby Health Care Sdn Bhd for RM5.67 billion.

IHH Healthcare submits proposal to buy Ramsay Sime Darby for RM5.67b

There is a growing demand for private health insurance in Asean, particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic, said Malaysian Reinsurance Bhd (Malaysian Re).

In a statement on Monday, the insurance company said the surge is due to rising disposable incomes, improved literacy, increased internet penetration, greater healthcare access, and heightened awareness of insurance.

Growing demand for private health insurance in Asean — Malaysian Re

Malaysia and South Korea have elevated their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, marking a significant milestone in their decades-long cooperation.

The announcement was made during a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol in Seoul on Monday.

Malaysia, South Korea elevate relations to strategic partnership

CGS International expects Affin Bank Bhd's (KL:AFFIN) net profit for the fourth quarter ending Dec 31, 2024 (4QFY2024) to come in lower on a quarterly basis, as it does not expect the bank to see a high write-back in loan loss provision.

Affin's 4Q earnings to decline q-o-q on absence of high loan loss provision write-back — CGS

India is aiming to finalise a potential carbon credit deal with Japan early in 2025 and then advance similar negotiations with nations including South Korea and Singapore.

India aiming to finalise carbon deals with Japan, Singapore — Bloomberg

Britain's financial regulator said on Monday it had fined Barclays £40 million (US$50.9 million or RM226.9 million) in total for its failure to disclose certain arrangements with Qatari entities in 2008.

UK regulator fines Barclays US$51m over disclosures related to Qatar dealings

Base metals and iron ore climbed as the dollar dropped following US President-elect Donald Trump’s measured pick for the treasury secretary.

All major contracts on the London Metal Exchange (LME) advanced, tracking gains in stocks and other risk assets. The US currency sank by the most in more than two weeks, boosting commodities priced in it, following the nomination of Scott Bessent, a hedge fund manager, to the key role.

Base metals climb as dollar drops after Trump’s treasury choice

The Malaysia-Korea Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will be finalised next year, with both countries committed to speeding up any stalled negotiations.

Anwar: Malaysia-South Korea free trade agreement will be finalised next year

UniCredit SpA made a €10 billion (US$10.6 billion or RM47.3 billion) all-share bid for domestic rival Banco BPM, opening a second major takeover front as chief executive officer Andrea Orcel also pursues Commerzbank AG.

UniCredit makes US$11b BPM bid as Orcel drives mergers

EXPECTATIONS have built up on the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to not only beat last year’s payout but also declare a dividend of close to 6% for 2024. This follows three successive double-digit year-on-year percentage headline outperformance indicated in all three quarterly income reports rele...

EPF’s 2024 shariah dividend may exceed 6%, beat conventional savings

HSBC Holdings plc’s asset management arm is launching a new venture debt strategy, seeking to further diversify its offerings in the rapidly expanding US$1.60 trillion (RM7.14 trillion) private credit market.

HSBC starts new venture debt strategy in private credit push

<p>Malaysia’s third-quarter results season has been ‘disappointing’ so far, said CIMB Securities, warning of downside risks to its earnings forecasts for stocks on the benchmark index.</p>


Malaysia's 3Q earnings 'disappointing' so far as forex losses weigh, CIMB says

<p>The High Court on Monday has quashed the seizure of Swatch's rainbow-themed ‘Pride collection’ watches, holding that the May 2023 move was made before confiscation notices were issued and without any warrant.</p>


High Court quashes Swatch seizure by Home Ministry

<p>Chemical management and storage company TMK Chemical Bhd has unveiled the prospectus for its Main Market initial public offering (IPO) to raise some RM385 million, as part of its plan for the expansion of its plant, construction of new facilities and acquisition.</p>


TMK Chemical unveils prospectus for RM385 mil IPO, priced at RM1.75 apiece

<p>IJM Corporation Bhd (KL:IJM) may acquire a 50% stake in financially troubled UK-based construction firm JRL Group, according to multiple news reports.</p>


IJM Corp said to buy 50% stake in troubled UK construction firm JRL

<p>The Indonesian sister company of Mr DIY Group (M) Bhd (KL:MRDIY) will list shares in Jakarta through an initial public offering (IPO) that seeks to raise as much as 4.7 trillion rupiah (US$297 million or RM1.32 billion), in what would be the nation’s biggest listing in more than a year.</p>


Mr DIY's Indonesian business plans IPO to raise up to US$297 mil

<p>Ambulatory eyecare centre TopVision Eye Specialist Bhd (KL:TOPVISN) aims to raise RM17.89 million with its initial public offering (IPO) at 33 sen per share, in conjunction with its transfer from the LEAP Market to the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia.</p>


TopVision Eye Specialist sets IPO price at 33 sen to raise RM17.9m in conjunction with ACE Market transfer

<p>Asian stocks rallied with US equity futures on Monday, while the dollar retreated against rivals as bond yields slid following the selection of fund manager Scott Bessent as the next US Treasury secretary, with investors expecting he will be a voice for markets in Washington.</p>


Stocks bounce, dollar slides with bond yields on Bessent pick

<p>The High Court on Monday dismissed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's application to "permanently stay" the criminal trial regarding International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC).</p>


Court rejects Najib's application for permanent stay in IPIC trial

<p>The federal government may consider "other proposals" after facing pushback from highway concessionaires on the implementation of the multi-lane free flow (MLFF) system.</p>


Govt may explore alternatives as concessionaires push back on RM3.5b barrierless toll system

<p>Local institutions were the primary supporters of Bursa Malaysia for the fifth consecutive week, recording a net inflow of RM250.6 million last week, up from RM207.7 million in the previous week.</p>

<p>In its fund flow report for the week ending Nov 22, MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd (MIDF) noted that while there was a net outflow of RM19.6 million from local institutions on Tuesday, the inflows on other days of the week more than offset this decline.</p>


Bursa boosted by RM250.6 mil investments from local institutions last week

<p>The submission of the Real Property Gains Tax (RPGT) Form electronically via e-CKHT on the MyTax portal will be mandatory starting Jan 1, 2025.</p>


Submission of real property gains tax form must be made via e-CKHT on MyTax portal from January 2025 — IRB

<p>Parties will submit further on Wednesday (Nov 27) on whether former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and former Treasury secretary general Tan Sri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah should be granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) in their criminal trial regarding International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC).</p>


DNAA for Najib, Irwan? Parties to submit further on Wednesday

<p>CGS International expects Affin Bank Bhd's (KL:AFFIN) net profit for the fourth quarter ending Dec 31, 2024 (4QFY2024) to come in lower on a quarterly basis, as it does not expect the bank to see a high write-back in loan loss provision.</p>


<p>Malaysia's hiring outlook continues to see some mismatch in benefits expectations between organisations and professionals going into 2025, which forms roadblocks for&nbsp;organisations looking for the right talent, a survey showed.&nbsp;</p>


Talent search challenged by salary demand, rising competition in Malaysia, survey shows

<p>Malaysia must strengthen its collaboration&nbsp;with other countries to mitigate the risks posed by a fragmented global supply chain, especially amid escalating US-China trade tensions, following Donald Trump’s return to the US presidency, Deputy Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Liew Chin Tong said on Monday.</p>


Miti: Malaysia to work with middle powers to address bifurcation of supply chain amid US-China trade war

<p>Sarawak is set to finalise the sale and purchase agreement for MASwings, a subsidiary regional airline of Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), by next month, said Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.</p>


Sarawak set to finalise MASwings acquisition by next month, says Abang Johari

<p>TMK Chemical Bhd, set to list on Bursa Malaysia's Main Market in December,&nbsp;plans to double its annual manufacturing capacity, with its second plant funded by the initial public offering (IPO) proceeds.</p>


TMK Chemical to double capacity with new plant funded by IPO proceeds

<p>The global frenzy in AI has turned an obscure Japanese company into a stock-market star.</p>

<p>Fujikura Ltd, which makes wire cabling for data centres, is the best performer on the Nikkei 225 Stock Average index, with its shares surging more than 400% this year.</p>


AI boom makes 139-year-old cable company Japan’s hottest stock

<p>The US is using Taiwan to provoke a serious crisis in Asia, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko told <em>TASS</em> news agency in remarks published on Sunday, reiterating Moscow's backing of China's stance on Taiwan.</p>


Russia says US using Taiwan to stir crisis in Asia

<p>Kitchen cabinet manufacturer Signature International Bhd (KL:SIGN) saw its net profit more than doubled to RM28.3 million for the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (3QFY2024), from RM14.1 million a year earlier, thanks to higher profit margins from project revenue.</p>
