|
FOOD JUNCTION PENETRATES LUCRATIVE SHANGHAI
RESTAURANT MARKET THROUGH MAIDEN ACQUISITION OF
MALONE'S AMERICAN CAFÉ CHAIN FOR RMB 48
MILLION; UNDERSCORES THE GROUP'S EXPANSION INITIATIVES
INTO THE GREATER CHINA MARKET
- Groundbreaking foray into the restaurant chain
business in PRC in line with the Group's expansion
strategy to grow the restaurant line
- Acquisition leverages on synergies with other
operations to drive the Group's overseas expansion
in China, Malaysia and Indonesia
SINGAPORE, 30 September 2008 - Catalist-listed
Food Junction Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries
("Food Junction" or the "Group"),
a specialised food and beverage service management
Group, announced today that it has completed the
acquisition of Malone's American Café ("Malone's")
- a Shanghai based restaurant chain - for a total
consideration of RMB 48 million (or approximately
S$ 9.3 million).
Malone's
was established in 1994, and offers an American-style
restaurant-cum-pub concept targeted to suit both
expatriate and local customers' palates. Its restaurants
feature live music and large-screen TVs airing
sports programmes. Customers can have their pick
from Malone's extensive selection of breakfast,
lunch, brunch and dinner menus which boast over
180 items of Asian and Western set meals. Its
dinner menu features traditional American pub
grub, including over 30 varieties of burgers.
Aside from large-screen TVs, screen projectors
and pool tables, patrons can enjoy the best in
live music every night of the week.
It currently operates 2 restaurants in Shanghai,
namely 1 self-operated outlet for the last 14
years in Tong Ren Road, Puxi and 1 licensed outlet
opened in April 2008 at Thumb Plaza, Pudong. Malone
is targeted to add more self-operated and licensed
outlets by end of calendar year 2009.
Malone's 14-year lifespan is unprecedented amongst
foreign-owned restaurants in Shanghai. Its winning
formula comes from a combination of consistently
good food, drinks, great live music and service
with a smile.
The purchase consideration of RMB 48 million was
arrived at on a willing buyer-willing seller basis,
and will be satisfied 50% by a RMB 24 million
cash payment and 50% by the issue of 9,347,250
new Food Junction shares at the agreed price of
S$0.50 per share. Food Junction has obtained a
RMB 14.3 million after-tax profit guarantee for
the first 18-months of post acquisition operations.
Commenting on the acquisition, Managing Director
of Food Junction Mr. Andrew Fu said, "We
are pleased to gain an immediate foothold into
Shanghai's restaurant scene by tapping onto Malone's
14 years' presence in PRC, and it's extensive
experience and skills in restaurant operations
as well as their established branding. The acquisition
of Malone's is another step forward for Food Junction
in its efforts towards expanding its presence
in China."
About Food Junction Holdings Limited
Food Junction has been an established in the
food and beverage service management industry
for more than 14 years. To date, the Group manages
and operates a total of 16 food courts: 12 in
Singapore, two in Malaysia, one in Indonesia and
one in China. It also self-operates 59 F&B
stalls, out of the 227 stalls operating in the
Group's food court business.
As a food court management specialist, Food Junction
manages the operational aspects of its food courts
and food stalls, ranging from cash collection
services to dish collection, dish washing, cleaning
and general maintenance. To enable tenants to
stay focused on food quality and service, an operations
team is stationed at each food court to ensure
smooth day-to-day running of the food courts as
well as the food stalls. The Group handles the
marketing and tenant mix as well as the advertising
and promotion of the food courts to create greater
awareness.
Food Junction has expanded into lifestyle concepts
with the upgrading of existing food courts and
introduction of new F&B concepts in Singapore
including the opening of a Gourmet Boutique named
"KOKORO" and a Japanese restaurant named
"TETSU".
September 30, 2008
Back to Top
|