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FOOD JUNCTION PROPOSED ACQUISITION OF MALONE'S
AMERICAN CAFÉ CHAIN IN SHANGHAI, PRC; FURTHER
EXPANDS ITS RESTAURANT BUSINESS
- Move is in line with Food Junction's expansion
into restaurant business
- Acquisition expected to be earnings accretive
upon completion
SINGAPORE, 8 May 2008 - Catalist-listed Food
Junction Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries
("Food Junction" or the "Group"),
a specialised food and beverage service management
Group, today announced its proposed acquisition
of the Malone's American Café ("Malone's")
chain of 3 restaurants (2 owned and 1 franchised)
located in Shanghai, People's Republic of China
("PRC").
Food Junction had signed a Conditional Sales
& Purchase Agreement to acquire Malone's for
a purchase consideration of RMB 48 million (equivalent
to S$9,347,250) to be satisfied 50% by issuance
of new Food Junction shares and 50% by cash.
Malone's in turn guarantees to Food Junction
that its post-acquisition consolidated audited
profit after tax for the first 18 months of operations
after acquisition shall be at least RMB 14.3 million.
Malone's (www.malones.com.cn)
was established in Shanghai since 1994 and offers
an American style restaurant cum pub concept to
its expatriate customers and locals. The restaurants
boast large screen TVs where sports programmes
are aired, and live band entertainment. The food
menu includes extensive breakfast, lunch, brunch
and dinner varieties ranging from Western to Asian
foods including traditional American soups, salads,
hamburgers, sandwiches, Tex-Mex, steaks and chops
and mee goreng, nasi goreng and chicken noodle.
Commenting on the acquisition, Mr. Andrew Fu,
Managing Director of Food Junction, said,"
The acquisition is in line with our strategy of
expanding into the restaurant business both in
Singapore and the region. Malone's has an established
operating history and is a favourite haunt for
expatriates and locals alike in Shanghai. We will
capitalise on Food Junction's expertise in food
and beverage service management and Malone's experience
in restaurant operations in Shanghai to produce
synergies in terms of service levels and operating
efficiencies and also to expand further in Asia.
In addition, Malone's management team is passionate
and committed to its business. This is a very
important element in the acquisition and in line
with Food Junction's culture". He added.
Malone's has a franchise agreement for two outlets
to open in 2008 and another two in 2009 for China.
The first outlet recently opened at Thumb Plaza
in Pudong, Shanghai to serve the expatriate and
local communities working and living in the western
part of the city.
Malone's also recently opened its first Malone's
Casual Diner in Pudong, Shanghai.
Food Junction expanded into the restaurant business
earlier this year with the opening of "TETSU"
in Tanglin Mall, which offers Tempura and Tonkatsu
menu under one roof.
With the acquisition, Food Junction will have
an immediate presence in Shanghai with three restaurants
and more in the pipeline. The acquisition upon
completion by 31 July 2008 is expected to be earnings
accretive for Food Junction.
About Food Junction Holdings Limited
Food Junction has been established for more than
14 years. To-date, Food Junction manages and operates
a total of 16 food courts: 12 in Singapore and
two in Malaysia, one in Indonesia and one in China.
It also self-operates 66 F&B stalls, out of
the 228 stalls 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 services, 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 also
handles the marketing and tenant mix of each food
court, and handles the advertising and promotion
of the food courts to create greater awareness.
Food Junction has expanded into lifestyle concept
with the upgrading of existing food courts and
introducing new F&B concepts including the
opening of a premium gift boutique in Singapore.
The Group has also moved into restaurant operations
with the opening of its 1st Japanese TETSU restaurant
in January 2008.
May 8, 2008
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