KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB), which is 38.9% owned by the Employees Provident Fund (EPF), is exploring the possibility of acquiring UEM Builders Bhd to strengthen its construction arm, said sources.

It is understood that MRCB has held preliminary talks with UEM Builders, the engineering and construction unit of UEM Group, for a possible takeover.

IN our previous piece, we discussed some of the risk factors for real estate investment trusts (REITs) that are listed on the local bourse as well as their prevailing returns compared against the risk-free yields on government bonds.

In this piece, we are taking a closer look at some of the larger REITs and comparing their returns against trusts that are listed in Singapore.

KUALA LUMPUR: Land and General Bhd (L&G) sits on unbilled sales of about RM600 million that will last the company through the next 15 months, said its managing director Low Gay Teck.

SHAH ALAM: WCT Holdings Bhd wants to have at least four shopping malls and two hotels in its portfolio by the first quarter of 2018, as it explores the possibility of setting up its first real estate investment trust (REIT) to raise recurring income.

KUALA LUMPUR: 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) is setting a reserve price of above RM3,000 per sq ft (psf) for its flagship Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) development, given the recent highs fetched within the central business district, a source told The Edge Financial Daily.

Public Bank Bhd
(Feb 7, RM19.08)

STOCKS on Bursa Malaysia got off to a choppy start in 2014. After gaining 10.5% in 2013, the FBM KLCI traded lower through the better part of January, ending the month down 3.4%. The benchmark index recovered some lost ground in early February to rack up cumulative 58 points for the year-to-date.

KUALA LUMPUR: Plantation firm Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd (KLK) will leverage on UEM Sunrise Bhd’s experience to make its maiden foray into property development in Iskandar Malaysia, Johor, a move that it hopes will boost contribution from its property segment to 15% of the group’s net profit in five years.

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew has wasted no time kicking off Country Heights Holdings Bhd’s (CHHB) expansion abroad after being made the group’s adviser. Already, the company has outlined plans to expand into China and Australia.