MAXIS, MAS, PROTON

Maxis Communications Bhd (MCB), the holding company of Maxis Bhd (MAXIS MK, Buy, TP: RM6.10), is planning toinvest up to US$6bn (RM20.46bn) in the next few years to grow its market share in India. The bulk of investments will beused to build a network of communications towers around the world’s second most populous country. India’s mobile market isexpected to grow from about 415m subscribers to 1bn by 2015. MCB’s 74% owned Indian subsidiary Aircel subscriber base isexpected to rise to more than 30m by January from 27m, according to Financial Times. Aircel is currently operating in 18 of the23 telecom circles in India and is also the market leader in Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Assam and North East. (Malaysian Reserve)

* * * * *
Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS) (MAS MK, Sell, TP: RM2.00) said the first deliveries of its Airbus A380 superjumboplanes have been delayed at the manufacturer’s request. The planes are now slated to start arriving in August 2011at the earliest. The first of the airline’s six A380s were supposed to arrive in Kuala Lumpur in January 2011, with additionalplanes being delivered at one-month intervals. (Malaysian Reserve)

* * * * *

Proton Holdings Bhd expects to sell 6.5% more cars in Thailand next year, fuelled by the Exora multi-purpose vehicle(MPV), which it is launching at the Bangkok International Motor Expo today. It is launching the Saga 1.3 in 3Q10, as itexpects the Savvy to be phased out by then, said Lee Weng Yew, the area manager for the company’s export division. Leesaid the gameplan for Thailand will be similar to Malaysia where it will continue to offer affordable cas in the market. He saidthe Exora and Saga will drive car sales for Proton in Thailand. Thailand is expected to contribute 10-12% to Proton’s totalexport market for the financial year ending March 31, 2010, Lee said. Lee added that Proton will spend up to RM9m onroadshows, mainstream media and marketing campaigns in Thailand next year. (BT)