26 TAN SRI VINCENT TAN

Flagship: Berjaya Group Net worth: RM2.428bil BERJAYA group founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan, 66, saw a slight dip of 6.6% in his net worth to RM2.428bil last year, making him the 26th richest Malaysian.

In 2016, he was ranked 19th, with a net worth of RM2.6bil.

Vincent is still doing what he does best – making deals.

Vincent returned to the helm of Berjaya Corp Bhd (BCorp) as executive chairman of the diversified group last November after relinquishing the position in February 2012. He took over the position from his son Datuk Seri Robin Tan Yeong Ching, 43, who will remain as the group’s CEO.

Vincent’s return to BCorp came at a time when the group was facing a challenging operating environment.

BCorp returned to the black in the financial year ended April 30, 2017, but it was not out of the woods yet based on the loss attributable to shareholders of RM43.4mil reported for the first quarter of this financial year.

During Vincent’s five-year-plus hiatus from the board, he had embarked on various charitable and social programmes and initiatives. However, he had also continued to explore new business opportunities for the BCorp group as its founder and adviser.

Vincent is close to Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar.

Sultan Ibrahim owns shares in several companies in which Vincent is the major shareholder. These include Berjaya Assets Bhd (BAssets), 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Bhd, REDtone International Bhd and U Mobile Sdn Bhd.

Vincent’s business interests are diversified. They range from property development and investment to gaming, stockbroking, manufacturing, retailing, trading, hospitality, e-commerce, environmental and utilities, media, food and beverage, telecommunications, insurance and education.

These are parked under various public and private companies such as BCorp, BAssets, Berjaya Media Bhd, 7-Eleven, Berjaya Retail Bhd, Cosway Corp Ltd, Berjaya Sports Toto Bhd and Bermaz Auto Bhd, among others.