<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 21): Mega First Corp Bhd is increasing its shareholding in the 260MW Don Sahong hydropower project in Laos from 80% currently to 91.25%, through a US$85 million (RM396.95 mil) transaction.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The deal involves Mega First’s 56.25%-owned unit Mega Ventures Ltd (MVL) buying 20% stake in Don Sahong Power Co Ltd from EDL-Generation Public Co for US$85 million. The remaining shareholders in MVL are Laos-incorporated Lao Green Power Corp Co Ltd (25%) and British Virgin Islands-incorporated Enemax Trading Ltd (18.75%).</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>In a filing with Bursa Malaysia on Tuesday, Mega First said the proposed acquisition will enable it to increase its shareholding in a proven and profitable renewable energy asset. Don Sahong hydropower plant commenced operations in January 2020 and generates approximately 2,028GWh per year.</p></div><div class=inPageAd id=div-gpt-ad-inpage></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The project is operating under a 25-year concession whereby electricity generated by the hydropower plant will be sold to Electricite Du Laos, Laos (EDL) under a power purchase agreement.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>The proposed acquisition is expected to complete by Dec 31, 2023, and is not subject to the approval of any regulatory authority and/or shareholders.</p></div>

<div class=newsTextDataWrapInner><p>Shares of Mega First closed a sen or 0.3% higher at RM3.58 on Tuesday, giving it a market capitalisation of RM3.54 billion.</p></div>


KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 21): Mega First Corp Bhd is increasing its shareholding in the 260MW Don Sahong hydropower project in Laos from 80% currently to 91.25%, through a US$85 million (RM396.95 mil) transaction.

Mega First Corp to up stake in Laos' Don Sahong hydropower project by 20% via US$85 mil deal

SARAWAK expects to formalise a deal to raise its stake in Affin Bank Bhd to about 30% in about a month, according to the state’s premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.

In an exclusive interview with The Edge in Kuala Lumpur last Friday (July 19), Abang Johari said the state is committed to...

Premier: Sarawak expects to ink S&P on Affin Bank deal in a month

Treasuries are rising at the end of a volatile week as the Federal Reserve’s favourite inflation gauge cemented traders’ expectations for an interest-rate cut in September.

The advance pushed yields lower across the curve on Friday, with two- and 10-year yields down by about five basis points (bps) to 4.38% and 4.2%, respectively.

Treasuries rally as data points to a September rate cut

The developer of a supertall condo tower in Miami’s Brickell neighbourhood has hired a new sales team after ousting an embattled real estate brokerage from the project.

One Sotheby’s International Realty has taken over marketing at 888 Brickell Dolce & Gabbana Miami, JDS Development’s pre-construction building overlooking Biscayne Bay in the city’s financial centre.

Miami condo tower moves on from brokers facing rape allegations

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof paid a courtesy visit to Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Friday.

"During the meeting with His Excellency, I reaffirmed the commitment of the prime minister and the Malaysian government to continue strengthening cooperation between Malaysia and Vietnam," he said in a post on the social media platform X.

Deputy PM Fadillah pays courtesy visit to Vietnamese PM, strengthens bilateral cooperation

Wall Street bounced back on Friday as megacap tech and chip stocks recovered from the week's pummeling, while a largely in-line key inflation reading kept bets for an early start to interest-rate cuts alive.

Wall Street rebounds on tech recovery, small caps jump after benign inflation data

Malaysia has urged dialogue partners attending the Asean Post-Ministerial Conference in Laos to support a ceasefire in Gaza and end the brutal killings of Palestinians.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Malaysia, along with Indonesia and Brunei, brought forward this motion during the meeting at the National Convention Centre (NCC) here.

Malaysia urges Asean dialogue partners to support ceasefire in Gaza

US authorities filed criminal and civil charges against prominent activist short seller Andrew Left for an alleged long-running market manipulation scheme involving bets on stocks including Nvidia and Tesla, they said on Friday.

US charges Citron's Andrew Left over alleged multi-million fraud scheme

Malaysia, as the country coordinator for Asean-China Dialogue Relations, will intensify efforts to finalise the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

He said Malaysia, which assumed the role of country coordinator this year, aims to establish a code of conduct accepted by all parties.

Malaysia steps up efforts to finalise South China Sea code of conduct

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

AirAsia X, Capital A, Hibiscus, Dagang NeXchange, ViTrox, Ekovest, Knusford, Alam Maritim, Datasonic, Kumpulan Kitacon, DXN, Homeritz, Westport, MGRC 

VIENTIANE (July 26): The Asean Post Ministerial Conference kicked off in the Laos capital here on Friday, as Asean foreign ministers engaged with top diplomats from dialogue partners to discuss various regional and international issues of common interest.

Asean Post Ministerial Conference kicks off in Laos; regional, global issues in focus

<p>Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Friday.</p>


<p>Ekovest Bhd (KL:EKOVEST) said it has agreed to a further extension of time to discuss a merger between its wholly owned subsidiary Ekovest Construction Sdn Bhd (ECSB) and Knusford Bhd (KL:KNUSFOR).</p>


Ekovest agrees to six-month extension for merger discussion between subsidiary and Knusford

<p>US prices increased moderately in June as the declining cost of goods tempered a rise in the cost of services, underscoring an improving inflation environment that could position the Federal Reserve to begin cutting interest rates in September.</p>


US inflation rises moderately, consumer spending cools

<p>The prestigious five-star Lexis Hibiscus 2 luxury resort is currently under construction by the KL Metro Group and is expected to be completed by 2029, said Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun.</p>


Construction of RM1.6 bil GDV Lexis Hibiscus 2 resort will be completed in 2029

<p>Wall Street bounced back on Friday as megacap tech and chip stocks recovered from the week's pummeling, while a largely in-line key inflation reading kept bets for an early start to interest-rate cuts alive.</p>


<p>Upholstery furniture products manufacturer Homeritz Corp Bhd’s (KL:HOMERIZ) net profit surged 46.37% in the third quarter from a year earlier, thanks to higher sales volume and stronger US dollar. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Net profit for three months ended May 31, 2024 (3QFY2024) climbed to RM9.09 million or earnings per share of 1.96 sen, from RM6.21 million or 1.34 sen per share recorded in 3QFY2023. &nbsp;</p>


Homeritz’s 3Q net profit soars 46.37% on higher sales and strong greenback

<p>Cyberview Sdn Bhd has signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with three companies to make Cyberjaya a global technology hub.</p>

<p>Chief executive officer Kamarul Ariffin Abdul Samad said the companies involved were Permodalan Negeri Selangor Bhd (PNSB), Selangor Information Technology &amp; Digital Economy Corporation (SIDEC) and digital infrastructure company Equinix Malaysia.</p>


Cyberview signs three MOUs to make Cyberjaya a global technology hub

<p>The developer of a supertall condo tower in Miami’s Brickell neighbourhood has hired a new sales team after ousting an embattled real estate brokerage from the project.</p>

<p>One Sotheby’s International Realty has taken over marketing at 888 Brickell Dolce &amp; Gabbana Miami, JDS Development’s pre-construction building overlooking Biscayne Bay in the city’s financial centre.&nbsp;</p>


<p>SARAWAK expects to formalise a deal to raise its stake in Affin Bank Bhd to about 30% in about a month, according to the state’s premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.</p>

<p>In an exclusive interview with The Edge in Kuala Lumpur last Friday (July 19), Abang Johari said the state is committed to...

<p>Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof paid a courtesy visit to Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Friday.</p>

<p>"During the meeting with His Excellency, I reaffirmed the commitment of the prime minister and the Malaysian government to continue strengthening cooperation between Malaysia and Vietnam," he said in a post on the social media platform X.</p>


<p>Kumpulan Kitacon Bhd (KL:KITACON) has secured a RM54.5 million contract to undertake the construction of 186 terrace houses in Rawang, Selangor.</p>


Kumpulan Kitacon bags RM54.5m job to build houses in Rawang

<p>Treasuries are rising at the end of a volatile week as the Federal Reserve’s favourite inflation gauge cemented traders’ expectations for an interest-rate cut in September.</p>

<p>The advance pushed yields lower across the curve on Friday, with two- and 10-year yields down by about five basis points (bps) to 4.38% and 4.2%, respectively.</p>


<p>Penang Port Sdn Bhd (Penang Port) on Friday announced the acquisition of five Kalmar container handling machines to optimise operations and improve service levels.</p>


Penang Port acquires Kalmar container handling equipment to enhance services

<p>A new recruitment of 3,950 staff, comprising 3,200 medical officers, 350 dental officers and 400 pharmacy officers, will be made through contract (interim) appointments, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said.</p>


More than 3,900 contract officers to be appointed in latest recruitment — MOH

<p>Malaysia, as the country coordinator for Asean-China Dialogue Relations, will intensify efforts to finalise the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.</p>

<p>He said Malaysia, which assumed the role of country coordinator this year, aims to establish a code of conduct accepted by all parties.</p>


<p>Hungary will face fuel shortages from September if full Russian oil flows are not restored, a government official said on Friday, accusing Ukraine of blackmailing it by partially suspending supplies.</p>

<p>Eastern European Union (EU) members Slovakia and Hungary have been hit by a stop in flows from Russian group Lukoil coming via Ukraine after sanctions were imposed on the company.</p>


Hungary says it will face fuel shortages from September without Lukoil supplies

<p>The government will now determine the locations for distributing subsidised cooking oil packets to retail outlets to prevent further leakage of controlled goods, says Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.</p>


KPDN to set subsidised cooking oil distribution locations to curb leakage — Armizan

<p>Digital Penang has announced the Market Access Thailand programme, which aims to propel Penang’s startups into Thailand’s market and create opportunities for exponential growth and innovation.</p>


Digital Penang announces cross-border startup collaboration with Thailand

<p>Apollo Global Management Inc has agreed to buy International Game Technology plc’s (IGT) gaming division and the gambling machines company Everi Holdings Inc in a US$6.3 billion (RM29.38 billion), all-cash deal that will see the two businesses merged.</p>


Apollo funds to buy IGT’s gaming, Everi in US$6.3 bil deal

<p>Malaysia has urged dialogue partners attending the Asean Post-Ministerial Conference in Laos to support a ceasefire in Gaza and end the brutal killings of Palestinians.</p>

<p>Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Malaysia, along with Indonesia and Brunei, brought forward this motion during the meeting at the National Convention Centre (NCC) here.</p>
