Several key decision-makers in the country hold great promises in the Year of the Golden Horse. Let's see how these CEOs will bank on their strengths to make further gains in their respective businesses.
World Gambling King in the making
Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay of Genting Berhad has set his eyes on clinching the gaming rights for new ventures in Macau and Japan this year as he strives to become the veritable "Gambling King" of the world.
Last week, Genting Singapore announced a joint venture with a Chinese developer to embark on a US$2.2 billion integrated resort project Resorts World Jeju in South Korea.
Earlier, Lim planned to increase his stake in Echo Entertainment Group Australia, and said admittingly that he was eyeing the gaming license in Macau and possibly Japan as the country is set to liberalize its gaming industry.
Genting Singapore has recently teamed up with Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International in a discussion with the Osaka municipal government over a US$4.8 billion resort project.
That said, Genting Singapore, the biggest contributor in the Group, may just have a so-so year in 2014, and as such the Japanese venture is seen as a major turning point for the Singapore unit.
Investment back home
"Sugar King" Robert Kuok is an avid investor even at this advanced age of 90.
He worked with Khazanah to acquire a 12.518 acre plot of land in Puteri Harbour, Nusajaya from UEM Land for RM182 million, or RM333 psf for an integrated development project, one of his first major ventures back home after he pulled out from the local market for decades.
Most of Kuok's money has been parked outside the country and his sudden return to his native state of Johor has injected a new lease of life into the mammoth Iskandar Malaysia project.
More privatization offers in the bag
Hong Leong Group's Quek Leng Chan suffered a major setback in the just ended Year of the Snake, falling in his bids to privatize Hong Leong Capital and Guoco Group of Hong Kong. But that does not mean he is giving up hope, as he vows to make a determined comeback in the Year of the Horse with more plans.
Like some low-profile tycoons, Quek is not known for extravagance, and a stronger voice from the minority shareholders could as well pose a major obstacle to his takeover bids.
Hong Leong had offered to fully acquire the shares of Guoco and HL Capital at HKD88 and RM1.71 per share respectively, but as the mandatory thresholds were not achieved, the plan had to be called off in the end.
Notably, several of Quek's subsidiaries have received privatization offers, and Hong Leong Finance is widely seen as the next to come under him.
From the sky to the ward
To AirAsia's Tony Fernandes, the Year of the Horse indeed holds a lot of promises.
In the year just concluded, Fernandes was busy with IPO exercises: AirAsia X and Tune Insurance Group, despite the fact their share prices were anything but spirit-lifting.
Earlier this year, Fernandes announced his investment in a land parcel at London's Old Oak to be redeveloped into a RM53 billion integrated community comparable in size to Setia's Battersea project.
He said establishing Tune Hospital has always been his dream in view of the poor efficiency of the country's medical services.
Going regional
Rumors have it that Kenanga Holdings is in the midst of a negotiation to acquire an Indonesian stockbroking firm as a part of its venture into the region, making group managing director Chay Wai Leong a focus of industrial attention in the Year of the Horse.
Kenanga has over the past two years acquired the investment banking arm of ECM Libra Financial Group and ING Funds to become one of the top three stockbroking firms in the country.
Chay has always wanted to spread Kenanga's wings across Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia and Singapore.
From what we understand, Kenanga is eyeing a 100% share in the Indonesian firm, which is said to be the 30th largest in the republic by market capitalization.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.