By Carol Zhong and Anshuman Daga
HONG KONG/SINGAPORE (Reuters) - McDonald's Corp (N:MCD) is nearing a deal to sell 20-year franchise rights for its Singapore and Malaysia outlets to Saudi Arabia's Reza group, in a transaction estimated at up to $400 million (314.4 million pounds), people familiar with the matter said.
Reza Food Services Co. Ltd, which owns and operates McDonald's restaurants in the western and southern region of Saudi Arabia, has tapped Malaysian bank CIMB (KL:CIMB) to finance the deal, said two of the sources, who declined to be identified as the deal has not been publicly announced.
CIMB declined to comment, while there was no immediate response from McDonald's. Reuters was not immediately able to reach Reza for a comment.
The deal was expected to be completed by the end of the year, one person familiar with the transaction said.
McDonald's has about 120 restaurants in Singapore and about 260 in Malaysia. The move is in line with the company's reorganisation of its Asian operations, bringing in partners as it switches to a less capital-intensive franchise model.