Maybank buys broker Kim Eng for $1.4 billion

Malayan Banking has struck a deal to buy 44.6% of the equity of Kim Eng Holdings, a stock broker with a leading position in Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, at a price which represents an equity value of S$1.79 billion $1.4 billion for 100% of Kim Eng.

Malayan Banking, or Maybank, will pay S$798 million for the 44.6% stake it is acquiring at the first stage, translating to a per share price of S$3.10. It is acquiring the shares from Ronald Anthony Ooi Thean Yat who owns 15.4%, and Yuanta Securities Asia Financial Services which owns 29.2%.

The price was agreed on a negotiated basis between the parties, said sources. It has...