Buffeted by Headwinds and On Sale Since 2005, a Turnaround Sought

MIECO Chipboard Bhd MD Dato' Yong Seng Yeow discusses:

- 2010 - demand recovery - current situation - construction and property demand - full swing;
- Plant utilisation;
- Re-opening Kuala Lipis plant;
- Raw material costs: glue and wax - outlook;
- Regional competition - cheap - undercutting;
- Q4 -- results announcements -- bleak outlook - particleboard prices - sluggish global demand - eurozone debt uncertainty;
- Inflationary pressures - raw materials - wood and glue;
- Impact: operating costs - margins;
- Challenges - strategie;
- Safety - formaldehyde - issues;
- Big jump - HK-China and 'Others' revenue -- which regions -- why -- drivers;
- Reasons;
- Sustainability of fresh earnings;
- Expected rally - chipboard makers - Donghwa - Heveaboard interest - languish - reasons;
- Aug 2010 announcement - owner Bandar Raya - talks Chinese party - sell 58 per cent stake in Mieco - developments;
- Whether plans - on hold - Bandar Raya's proposal to sell Cap Square, Permas Jusco Mall (JB), Menara BSC and BSC to Ambang Sehati;
- Whether consider buying up BRDB's stake - MBO.