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Top Glove’s Billionaire Founder Buys Stake in Education Firm

Top Glove’s Billionaire Founder Buys Stake in Education Firm

Lim Wee Chai, founder and executive chairman of the world’s largest rubber glove producer Top Glove Corp., has emerged as a minority shareholder in Malaysian private education group Minda Global Bhd. The shares of Minda Global soared.

“This is a private investment, separate from the Top Glove Group,” Lim said by email. “I have always been passionate about education as it is instrumental in enabling people, organizations and nations to advance.”

Top Glove’s Billionaire Founder Buys Stake in Education Firm

Minda didn’t respond to requests for comment on the transaction. Its shares surged as much as 58% to 19 sen on Tuesday, the highest since March 2018. Trading volume of 679 million shares is more than 20 times the 20-day average for this time of day and the stock is the most-traded security by volume on the bourse.

Lim bought the shares in a recent placement and holds less than 5% of the Cyberjaya-based company, according to people with knowledge of the matter, who asked not be identified as the information is private.

Lim is Top Glove’s largest shareholder with a 33.6% stake that’s valued at $3.3 billion, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Lim also owns a stake in a property developer Tropicana Corp., in which he is chairman.

Minda runs institutions including the University of Cyberjaya, Asia Metropolitan University and Asia Metropolitan International School, according to its annual report. University of Cyberjaya focuses on medical programs. Its shares have tripled this year.

SMR Education Sdn, controlled by Minda’s group managing director and chief executive officer Palaniappan Ramanathan Chettiar, is the largest shareholder with a 53.5% stake: Bloomberg data.

©2021 Bloomberg L.P.