<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p><span style="font-style: italics;">This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on December 15, 2017 - December 21, 2017</span></p></div><div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>KUALA LUMPUR: OldTown Bhd, which is in the midst of a RM1.47 billion takeover bid by global coffee maker Jacobs Douwe Egberts BV, is expanding its OldTown White Coffee restaurant chain to Cambodia.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>In a filing with Bursa Malaysia yesterday, OldTown said its wholly-owned subsidiary Kopitiam Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd has entered into a master licence agreement with Cambodia-based Biniton Food &amp; Beverage Co Ltd and its chairman Bun Khang granting them the exclusive right to operate the restaurant business there.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The main business of Biniton includes retail sale of food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>OldTown said the term of the agreement is five years commencing from Dec 14, with an option to renew for two consecutive terms of five years each.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Under the deal, Biniton and Bun are scheduled to open its first Cambodia outlet by the second quarter of 2018.<br />
&nbsp;</p></div>


KUALA LUMPUR: OldTown Bhd, which is in the midst of a RM1.47 billion takeover bid by global coffee maker Jacobs Douwe Egberts BV, is expanding its OldTown White Coffee restaurant chain to Cambodia.

In a filing with Bursa Malaysia yesterday, OldTown said its wholly-owned subsidiary Kopit...

OldTown expands into Cambodia

CIMB Securities is positive on Malaysia’s equity market in 2025, underpinned by a third consecutive year of earnings growth at 8%, driven by banks, construction and utilities sectors.

Banks, construction, utilities sectors to drive 2025 earnings growth — CIMB Securities

(Dec 18): Gold prices edged higher on Wednesday, as attention turned to the US Federal Reserve's upcoming monetary policy decision, with the US central bank anticipated to implement a third rate cut this year, and provide insights into its plans for 2025.

Gold prices edge higher with focus on Fed's policy decision

South Korea’s impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol skipped questioning by a joint investigation team on Wednesday, according to local media reports, increasing the risk of his arrest.

South Korea’s Yoon skips questioning, adding to risk of arrest

SAN FRANCISCO (Dec 17): Salesforce has closed more than 1,000 paid deals for "Agentforce", its platform for creating virtual representatives powered by artificial intelligence (AI), its chief executive officer (CEO) Marc Benioff said on Tuesday.

Salesforce closes 1,000 paid 'Agentforce' deals, looks to robot future

The proposed abolition of the Rule of 78 by Bank Negara Malaysia could “pave the way” for similar reforms in other financing products, including hire purchases, having a larger impact on the banking sector, according to Phillip Capital.

Bank Negara's plan to abolish Rule of 78 may lead to wider financial reforms, says Phillip Capital

SANTIAGO (Dec 17): Chile's central bank cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 5.00% on Tuesday, extending an easing cycle that began last year, while also warning of inflation risks in the short term.

Chile central bank cuts interest rate but calls for caution

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 18): As Singapore’s property market rebounds from a prolonged lull, Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) said it is “too early to worry” and  anticipate any government cooling measures ahead of an election year.

Premature to expect Singapore’s govt intervention as home sales hit decade high — HLIB

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Asian stocks hovered near two-week lows and the dollar hit milestone highs against the Australian and New Zealand dollars on Wednesday in the countdown to an expected US interest rate cut.

Dollar strong ahead of Fed meeting, Japan auto shares surge on Honda-Nissan news

PARIS/SAN FRANCISCO (Dec 17): The Democratic Republic of Congo has filed criminal complaints against Apple's subsidiaries in France and Belgium, accusing the tech firm of using conflict minerals in its supply chain, lawyers for the Congolese government told Reuters.

Congo files criminal complaints against Apple in Europe over conflict minerals

<p>(Dec&nbsp;18) :&nbsp;Honda Motor Co&nbsp;and Nissan Motor Co&nbsp;are exploring a potential merger, according to people familiar with the matter, which would create a singular rival to Toyota Motor Corp&nbsp;in Japan and better position the combined company to face competitive challenges around the world. &nbsp;</p>


Nissan and Honda consider merger to take on world' biggest carmaker

<p>Fashion firm Carlo Rino Group Bhd (KL:CARLORINO) made a weak debut on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia, after it raised some RM46 million from its initial public offering (IPO).</p>


Carlo Rino stages weak debut in ACE Market transfer listing

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 18): Jati Tinggi Group Bhd (KL: JTGROUP) shares gained in active trade on Wednesday, a day after it said it won contract to supply and install photovoltaic solar panel systems at Public Bank Bhd’s (KL:PBBANK) branches for some RM14.88 million.</p>


Jati Tinggi’s shares gain in active trade early Wednesday on Public Bank contract

<p>The proposed abolition of the Rule of 78 by Bank Negara Malaysia could “pave the way” for similar reforms in other financing products, including hire purchases, having a larger impact on the banking sector, according to Phillip Capital.</p>


<p>Asian stocks hovered near two-week lows and the dollar hit milestone highs against the Australian and New Zealand dollars on Wednesday in the countdown to an expected US interest rate cut.</p>


<p>(Dec 18):&nbsp;Only a year after having their size clipped in the Nasdaq 100 because they got too big, the world’s largest technology companies may face another pruning when the marquee benchmark rebalances this week.</p>


Megacap tech stocks have gotten too big for Nasdaq 100 again

<p>UEM Sunrise Bhd (KL:UEMS) and ITRAMAS Corp Sdn Bhd have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with China-based battery energy storage solutions (BESS) and power battery technology manufacturer Gotion High-Tech Co Ltd to develop a research and development (R&amp;D) centre at UEM Sunrise’s Renewable Energy (RE) Industrial Park in Gerbang Nusajaya, Iskandar Puteri, Johor.</p>


UEM Sunrise, ITRAMAS sign MOU with China-based Gotion High-Tech to develop R&D centre in Johor

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 18): Nissan Motor Co and &nbsp;Honda Motor Co are exploring various possibilities for future collaboration, according to Nissan, amid news of a possible merger with Honda.</p>


Nissan confirms it is exploring collaborations with Honda

<p>KUCHING (Dec 17): The Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) has acquired a 10% stake in Pertama Ferroalloys Sdn Bhd through a share transfer memorandum of understanding (MOU), which is a milestone move for economic growth, community development, and sustainable initiatives in Sarawak.</p>


Bintulu Development Authority acquires 10% stake in Pertama Ferroalloys

<p>(Dec 18) :&nbsp;US stocks declined as traders braced for the Federal Reserve’s widely anticipated rate decision and its forecast for next year.</p>


Stocks drop before Fed’s last decision of the year

<p>As global air traffic demand exceeds pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels this year, airlines are turning their attention to fleet expansion and about 10,000 more planes will operate by 2034, according to a new report published by global aviation advisory firm Alton Aviation Consultancy.</p>


10,000 more planes to take to  the sky in 10 years, says Alton

<p>KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 18): As Singapore’s property market rebounds from a prolonged lull, Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) said it is “too early to worry” and &nbsp;anticipate any government cooling measures ahead of an election year.</p>


<p>President Yoon Suk Yeol’s shock declaration of martial law revved up South Koreans from 0 to 100.</p>

<p>Within hours of Yoon’s late night announcement on Dec 3, protesters massed on Seoul’s streets and lawmakers were so frantic to block the decree that they climbed over the fence of the legislature.</p>


South Korea’s ‘hurry hurry’ culture helps bring down a president

<p>CIMB Securities is positive on Malaysia’s equity market in 2025, underpinned by a third consecutive year of earnings growth at 8%, driven by banks, construction and utilities sectors.</p>


<p>Japan's exports rose faster than expected in November, data showed on Wednesday, helped by a weaker yen and solid global demand although businesses worry protectionist US trade policies will undermine future growth.</p>


Japan's exports rise faster than expected, helped by weaker yen

<p>SAN FRANCISCO (Dec 17): Salesforce has closed more than 1,000 paid deals for "Agentforce", its platform for creating virtual representatives powered by artificial intelligence (AI), its chief executive officer (CEO) Marc Benioff said on Tuesday.</p>


<p>Bain Capital plans to make a bid to buy shares of Japanese software company Fuji Soft Inc without support from the company’s board of directors, kicking off a rare hostile bid in Japan against KKR &amp; Co.</p>


Bain to make US$4.2b hostile bid for Fuji Soft against KKR

<p>（吉隆坡18日讯）Jati Tinggi Group Bhd（KL: JTGROUP）今早价量齐升，因为该公司前一天宣布赢得价值约1488万令吉合同，为大众银行（Public Bank Bhd）（KL:PBBANK）的分行供应和安装光伏太阳能电池板系统。</p>


赢得大众银行合同 Jati Tinggi价量齐升

<p>（吉隆坡18日讯）时装公司Carlo Rino Group Bhd（KL:CARLORINO）通过首次公开募股（IPO）筹集约4600万令吉后，今早在大马交易所创业板挂牌出师不利。</p>
