AB Mauri acquires Pilmico

UK-listed public company Associated British Foods (ABF) recently completed the acquisition of yeast manufacturer Pilmico-Mauri Foods Corp., ABF executives disclosed. ABF carried out the acquisition through its yeast and bakery ingredients division, AB Mauri, with a global presence in 40 plants in 25 countries and annual turnover reportedly in excess of $800 million. According to AB Mauri China East Asia Pacific president Garth Weston, the acquisition bolsters the company’s status as leading yeast manufacturer and supplier in the region and brings AB Mauri Philippines at the forefront of the industry in the country. Pilmico-Mauri Foods Corp. was established in 1995 after a joint venture between Pilmico Food Corp. and AB Mauri.

Not so bright future against piracy

Informants disclosed that operatives of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) served a search warrant last week against a locator inside an international industrial park in the Southern Tagalog area. To the surprise of the operatives, a government agency concerned with intellectual property piracy allegedly sent a fax to the locator’s administration claiming the NBI was not given authority by the said agency to search the locator’s company premises. Insiders however claimed the signature on the fax seemed irregular and was antedated. Information disclosed to Spybiz indicated that when the operatives first raided the locator’s warehouse for evidence of patent infringement, they found a dozen replicating machines instead churning out hundreds of illegal copies of films and Playstation discs, reportedly manned by young Chinese. The concerned agency was duly notified, with some even accompanying the NBI agents to the site, locking the premises and posting a corresponding closure order. What’s causing disenchantment among NBI operatives however is the un-cooperation allegedly being displayed by members of the government agency, questioning the raid despite the existence of a valid search warrant. It seems the agency, which is supposed to protect intellectual property from pirates, wants to assume jurisdiction over the investigation started by the NBI, the sources claimed. Bottom line: there should be cooperation between all government authorities. Otherwise, the future may not be so bright against efforts to curb intellectual piracy, observers said.

Deadline for delinquent taxpayers

Delinquent taxpayers only have until tomorrow, Dec. 22, to take advantage of the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s abatement program or else suffer the consequences. Those who will beat the deadline will be free of penalties including interests, surcharges and fines upon full payment of delinquent accounts, the BIR said. Deadline for compliance with the Bureau’s Improved Voluntary Assessment Program (IVAP) is on Dec. 29, wherein those who fully pay internal revenue taxes for taxable year ending Dec. 31, 2005 and fiscal year ending June 30, 2006 shall have the privilege of last priority audit. The abatement program covers delinquent and receivable accounts, and cases involving second installment, dishonored checks and administrative protests pending in various BIR offices nationwide. Also covered are those undergoing preliminary or final assessment as of June 30 this year, civil tax cases being disputed before the DOJ and the courts including those that are not yet final and executory, and collection cases filed with the courts except those filed by the PCGG and with pending requests for compromise settlements. The BIR chief also warned taxpayers to comply with their obligations; otherwise the full extent of the law will be applied on them.

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