KUALA LUMPUR: MALAYAN BANKING BHD [ ] and CIMB Group Holdings could be in focus on Friday, Aug 5 after AFFIN HOLDINGS BHD [ ] decided not to go ahead with its proposed acquisition of an Indonesian bank on mounting concerns about Indonesia’s central bank limiting majority shareholdings in commercial banks.

Affin called off the proposed acquisition of Indonesia’s PT Bank Ina Perdana, one year after the share purchase agreement (SPA) and subscription agreement (SA) had lapsed. It said the conditions precedent to these agreements had not been fulfilled as of Aug 4, 2011.

Most importantly, Affin expressed concern about Bank Indonesia’s currently study of the policy to limit majority shareholdings in commercial banks in Indonesia.

Maybank and CIMB are the other two banks with major shareholdings in Indonesian banks. Worries about the central bank of Indonesia possibly introducing a cap on foreign ownership in local banks later this year had worried investors.

In mid-July, ECM Libra Research said although it remained cautiously optimistic that the new regulation may not be applied retroactively given the difficulties in implementing the policy without potential backlash from foreign investors, this could pose a downside risk to CIMB and Maybank’s earnings prospects, if it was being employed retroactively.

The research house said that current rules in Indonesia make it possible for local banks to be up to 99.0% controlled by one shareholder, including foreign parties.

“We view this development to be potentially negative for CIMB and Maybank, given their majority stakes in the respective Indonesia banks. At present, CIMB owns 96.9% of CIMB Niaga while Maybank owns 97.5% of Bank Internasional Indonesia (BII). As such, the implementation of this regulation could force the banks to dispose their stakes and dampen their earnings prospects,” it said.

ECM Libra Research also said CIMB would be more severely impacted, given that CIMB Niaga’s large contribution to the group’s bottomline and to remain its key earnings driver to the group going forward.

Meanwhile, on a more positive note for the market, GUINNESS ANCHOR BHD [ ] (GAB) rewarded shareholders with a single tier dividend of 44 sen per share for the financial year ended June 30, 2011 (FY June 2011) compared with 35 sen a year ago.

Net profit fell 18% to RM29.08 million from RM35.48 million a year ago, mainly due to provisions made for its market restructuring. Revenue increased by 13% to RM348.76 million from RM308.71 million mainly due to price, sales mix and an increase in activities in the fourth quarter. Earnings per share were 9.63 sen compared with 11.74 sen.

FAVELLE FAVCO BHD [ ] has received purchase orders for two offshore cranes and a tower crane with a combined value of RM93.4 million. Its units Favelle Favco Cranes Pte Ltd, Favelle Favco Cranes Pty Ltd and Favelle Favco Cranes (M) Sdn Bhd had received the purchase orders for the cranes.

HSC Healthcare Sdn Bhd has emerged as a substantial shareholder in Catcha Media after it acquired 6.66 a 5.01% stake in the company. HSC Healthcare, which is helmed by Dr Lim Yin Chow, acquired 6.66 million shares in the company.

The acquisition comes on the heels of other strategic investments in Catcha Media by Genting group’s Datuk Justin Leong Ming Loong who acquired a 5.01%t stake on Aug 2 and STAR PUBLICATIONS (M) BHD [ ] that bought a 4.99% stake on July 4.