This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on August 1, 2022 - August 07, 2022. - A + A WILL it be third time’s the charm for Jardine Cycle & Carriage Ltd, which launched yet another unconditional takeover offer for Cycle & Carriage Bintang Bhd (CCB) on July 14? Jardine’s bid to acquire the rest of the shares in CCB that it does not already own — at an offer price of RM2.70 per share — marks its third attempt at making CCB a fully owned subsidiary. As with the first two exercises, the current offer is expected to fall short, because even though it is higher than the previous offers of RM2.20 per share followed by another at RM2.40, it is still far from the RM4.65 enterprise value (EV) that the main dissenting shareholder Datuk David Goh contends it is worth. In an exclusive interview with The Edge in July last year, Goh said that the underlying value of CCB — one of the largest Mercedes-Benz dealerships in the country — was at … [Read more...] about Suspense over Jardine’s third attempt at CCB privatisation
Maxing out 401k calculator
The hidden cost of free lunches
A crowd at an election rally in Uttar Pradesh. (Image Source: AP/File photo) The prime minister has set the cat among the pigeons, with his fusillade against election freebies while inaugurating the Bundelkhand expressway. He said the culture of garnering votes by promising freebies harms the country’s economic development and warned the youth, ‘Your present will be lost and your future pushed into darkness.’ Those who believe in distributing freebies, he said, would never build infrastructure, sorely needed for securing the country’s future. That little speech succinctly lays out the rationale against populism---it promises instant gratification, at the cost of future penury. Predictably, the speech drew the ire of AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, who defended his trademark policy of giving away free power. His promise of giving 300 units of free power to each household if his party wins the Gujarat elections is estimated to cost the state Rs 8700 crore a year. It is policies such as … [Read more...] about The hidden cost of free lunches
ASK IRA: Can Heat do an offseason deal without dealing Tyler Herro?
Q: We know the general asking price of Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell. Seems like the Heat will part with Tyler Herro and not Bam Adebayo. So assuming we strike out on those, what’s the potential asking price of Myles Turner, John Collins, or even Kyrie Irving? Will Herro still be required, or is a first and Duncan Robinson enough? – John, Ocala. A: First, I do not believe the Heat would have any intention of aggressively moving for Kyrie Irving, not even on the level of Tyler Herro. As for others, yes, I believe Tyler likely would have to be put in play, considering he is the Heat’s most attractive asset of those most likely to be moved. With Tyler eligible for a max-scale extension up to the start of the season, it basically comes down to dual assessments by the Heat: Is Tyler more valuable as a trade asset than a roster asset? And is he more valuable under long-term contract here or elsewhere? And that latter element also is significant when it comes to a potential trade … [Read more...] about ASK IRA: Can Heat do an offseason deal without dealing Tyler Herro?
In crowded city races, Denver’s new fair election fund will face first test
Overhauling Denver’s campaign finance rules was popular with voters in 2018. More than 70% of Denverites who cast ballots that year voted for Referred Measure 2E. The sweeping change to the city’s campaign rules ratcheted down contribution limits for candidates seeking every seat from mayor to the city auditor, banned direct corporate and union campaign contributions and established a fair elections fund to provide public financing for candidates who agreed to abide by even lower contribution limits and other rules. Participate in the fair elections fund and receive a 9-to-1 public funding match on contributions from Denver residents between $5 and $50. In other words, a $50 donation becomes $500 with taxpayer money so long as the donor hails from the city and county. A lot has happened since then. First, the measure’s backers struck a deal with the City Council to delay the law’s effective date until after the 2019 municipal election instead of trying to enact the changes … [Read more...] about In crowded city races, Denver’s new fair election fund will face first test
Malaysia and New Zealand have demonstrated how small states can work together
New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta responds to queries during the Question-and-Answer session of the Foreign Policy for Small States lecture series, organised by the Institute of Diplomacy and Foreign Relations (IDFR) at the IDFR Auditorium in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, Aug 9, 2022. (Bernama pix) - A + A KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 9): Malaysia and New Zealand are a powerful demonstration of how small states can work together bilaterally, regionally and globally in dealing more effectively with the current global and regional geopolitical challenges, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said. Both countries served together on the United Nations (UN) Security Council in 2015-16 and worked closely in another area, disarmament and arms control. “We also cooperate on international law issues, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Last year New Zealand joined others in setting out our legal position on the South China Sea, in support of … [Read more...] about Malaysia and New Zealand have demonstrated how small states can work together
Leaving a lasting legacy: Cherie Gil more than just an iconic ‘contravida’
Cherie Gil There was a point in Cherie Gil’s illustrious career when she questioned herself if there was anything else she could leave behind in the industry aside from her “famous line” about second-rate, trying-hard copycats. But as heartfelt tributes for the beloved actress poured in on social media—shortly after news broke that she died from cancer last Aug. 5—it became unquestionably clear that Cherie’s legacy goes beyond the iconic “contravida” roles she played, or any other performances she gave on television, film and stage. For her family, loved ones and the people fortunate enough to have worked with her on- and offscreen, Cherie was more than a versatile talent: She was also a friend, a sister, a mentor, a second mother. For her niece Max Eigenmann, Cherie was the one person she turned to when she was feeling down. “She always knew what to do to make me feel better,” she said, reminiscing about the intimate conversations they had during their yoga sessions or as … [Read more...] about Leaving a lasting legacy: Cherie Gil more than just an iconic ‘contravida’