11/04/2026

Editorial T: 03-7784 6688 F: 03-7785 2625 E: sunbiz@thesundaily.com Advertising T: 03-7784 8888 E: advertise@thesundaily.com

SCAN ME

SATURDAY | APR 11, 2026

ZUS Coffee focuses on execution and expansion

Ű BY HAYATUN RAZAK sunbiz@thesundaily.com

The project, located in Bagan Datuk, will be developed in phases, with Phase 1 delivering 10MW, with the remaining 25MW to follow as customer demand evolves. Executive deputy chairman Datuk Puvanesan Subenthiran said the phased approach reflects both market demand and the pace of technological change. “We have identified customers for Phase 1 and are building the data centre based on their requirements,“ he said at a press conference after the project’s launch and the signing of its RM569 million engineering, procurement, construction and commi ssioning (EPCC) contract with Inspur Cloud Information Technology Co Ltd. The project has been in development for about two years, involving multiple design iterations and early customer engagement to shape requirements. Phase 1 was awarded to Inspur under the EPCC contract. Initial groundwork has begun, while letters of award have been issued to Privasia Sdn Bhd for ICT infrastructure and Privasat Sdn Bhd for high-availability telecommunications systems supporting the data centre. Puvanesan said construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2027, followed by commissioning and operations by the end KUALA LUMPUR: Zuspresso (M) Sdn Bhd, the parent company of ZUS Coffee, said any potential listing or corporate exercise remains secondary as it focuses on scaling its business and expanding its outlet network. Group chief operating officer Venon Tian said that despite market speculation about an initial public offering (IPO), the group remains firmly focused on execution, including outlet expansion, cost management, and maintaining operational resilience amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainties. “For us, the priority is to ensure the business runs smoothly. At both the personal and group levels, it has always been business first, with any IPO or corporate exercise taking a secondary role. Our focus remains on growing the business, opening stores as planned and avoiding operational disruptions amid ongoing uncertainties,” he told SunBiz on the sidelines of Bangun KL, a joint campaign by ZUS Coffee and the Federal Territories on Thursday. ZUS Coffee is pursuing an aggressive ex pansion strategy, targeting the opening of 200 new outlets this year, which would increase its Malaysian footprint from 850 stores at end-2024 to about 1,050 by year-end. This growth is supported by funds raised in late 2024 from a consortium comprising Cabie Asia, a Singapore-based private equity firm, KWAP and Kapal Api Group, as well as bank financing. “There are also new franchise markets expected to come onstream over the next few months,” Tian said. However, the expansion comes against a backdrop of rising global cost pressures. Tian noted that geopolitical tensions, including developments in Iran, have begun to affect raw material costs, particularly for consumer-facing businesses. “There is a noticeable impact from rising raw material prices and costs. We are focused on continuous cost optimisation to ensure we can continue passing savings on to consumers,” he said.

Operational adjustments are already under way, including efforts to improve logistics efficiency, such as reducing delivery frequency to stores, to protect margins without com promising customer experience. At the same time, the group is seeing improvements in store-level performance as it scales, although specific payback periods were not disclosed. “As we scale, we leverage our size, brand equity and strong Malaysian identity. We are made in Malaysia, for Malaysians, and remain focused on continuous improvement. This is not unique to ZUS – it is a common approach across most companies,” Tian said. He added that the company is placing greater emphasis on governance and sustainability practices as it grows – areas typically associated with more mature organisations. “While I wouldn’t directly compare us to a listed company, ZUS has demonstrated strong responsibility across various areas. We have been proactive in advancing ESG initiatives and have established sound governance practices,” he said. Separately, ZUS Coffee has launched o Parent company Zuspresso wants to ensure the business runs smoothly, with any IPO or corporate exercise taking a secondary role While initially conceived as a joint venture with Mara Inc, Privasia has opted for an unincorporated partnership model, retaining ownership of the data centre while working with Mara as a development partner. “There are many forms of joint ventures. With Mara Inc, we are project development partners. We are the data centre owner and will take on those responsibilities ourselves,” Puvanesan said, adding that Mara continues to support stakeholder engagement, app rovals and development. He said the approach underscores the need for flexibility in large-scale infrastructure projects, particularly as capital requirements and technology continue to evolve. “Sometimes you have to pivot as capital requirements change. We may bring in partners at a later stage.” Puvanesan said costs for Phase 2 have yet to be determined, with a fresh RFP process to be conducted closer to implementation as tech nology and ICT requirements continue to shift. Privasia will operate the data centre while finalising off-taker agreements with a mix of local and international clients, with announcements to be made once the agreements are concluded. “Funding will come from a combination of equity, internal cash flow and borrowings,

Tian says ZUS Coffee is placing greater emphasis on governance and sustainability practices as it grows.

Bangun, KL! Ke Arah KL Yang Lebih Sejahtera , a year-long initiative, in collaboration with the Federal Territories Department aimed at enhancing the daily commuting experience in Kuala Lumpur. Running until Dec 31, the programme features the Masuk KL Awal promotion, offering selected coffees as low as RM5 to early commuters at more than 250 outlets in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. The initiative was launched at ZUS Coffee Kasturi Walk by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh, in the presence of Federal Territories Sports Council chairman Datuk Stuart Ramalingam.

Commenting on the collaboration, Yeoh said the programme is designed to foster a more vibrant and people-centric urban environment. “We support initiatives such as ZUS Coffee’s Masuk KL Awal promotion, where coffee is offered from as low as RM5 as part of broader community-focused efforts.” For ZUS Coffee, Tian said the initiative reflects its commitment to the communities it serves. “ZUS Coffee has become part of the daily rhythm of the city, and we aim to be more than just a coffee stop. City life moves fast, and we want to provide a space where the community can pause before the day begins.”

Privasia scales up Perak data centre to 35MW KUALA LUMPUR: Privasia Technology Bhd is scaling up its RM569 million Silverstreams data centre project in Perak into a 35MW facility, with Phase 1 targeted for completion by end-2027 and full rollout by 2028. of 2027 or early 2028, with full rollout planned in 2028. “We hope to complete construction by end-2027 and start operations then, with full rollout in 2028.” with details to be disclosed to Bursa Malaysia upon finalisation,“ Puvanesan said.

Pentech secures underwriter for ACE Market IPO

The choice of Bagan Datuk in Perak reflects a deliberate move away from established data centre clusters such as the Klang Valley and Johor, where resource constraints are becoming more apparent. “When a place gets crowded, resources become harder to secure. We also wanted to create socio-economic impact and build beyond traditional data centre locations,“ Puvanesan said. Inspur vice-president and CFO Lawrence Yu said the project reflects growing demand for digital infrastructure in Malaysia. “Inspur sees Malaysia as an important market in our regional growth plans, and the collaboration with Silverstreams is an opportunity for us to help deliver infra structure that supports long-term digital transformation in Southeast Asia,“ he said Deputy Digital Minister Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong, who witnessed the signing, said data has become a strategic national asset, making its effective management and utilisation critical in determining economic strength and competitiveness. He said the development of modern data centres is no longer optional but a funda mental requirement to support the digital economy and technological innovation, as such infrastructure will influence a country’s global competitiveness, investment attraction and innovation capabilities. - by HAYATUN RAZAK

PETALING JAYA: Pentech Holdings Bhd has signed an underwriting agreement with Public Investment Bank Bhd (PIVB) to underwrite 62 million shares, as it moves towards a listing on Bursa Malaysia Securities’ ACE Market. The group plans to list its enlarged issued share capital of 620 million shares. Its initial public offering (IPO) entails a public issue of 171.995 million shares, including 31 million shares (5%) for the Malaysian public and 31 million shares (5%) for eligible directors, employees and contributors. Another 32.495 million shares (5.24%) will be placed out to selected investors, while 77.5 million shares (12.5%) are reserved for Bumiputera investors approved by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti). PIVB is the principal adviser, sponsor, sole underwriter and sole placement agent for the IPO. Pentech, which has about 20 years of operating history through subsidiary Pentech Solution Sdn Bhd, provides enterprise information and communications technology solutions, including infrastructure integration, hardware and software supply, and cloud and managed services. Managing director and CEO Yeoh Chin Ming said the underwriting agreement “reinforces confidence in the group” and marks a step closer to its ACE Market listing.