QSR Brands Bhd shares and warrants jumped 22% and 38% respectively yesterday on market talk of a shareholders' tussle for control of KFC Holdings (Malaysia) Bhd (KFCH).

QSR is the major shareholder of the fast-food chain operator with a 32:6% stake or 64.68 million shares.

QSR shares and warrants closed at their highest since the company assumed the listing status of Ayamas Food Corporation Bhd in a corporate exercise on April 1, 2004. The shares closed 58 sen higher at RM3.20, while the warrants added 56 sen to RM2.03.

KFCH closed 1.6% or six sen higher at RM3.82 but the warrants soared 95% or 9.5 sen to 19.5 sen.

Analysts said that the current and previous major shareholders of KFCH were involved in a tussle for control of the company

"Because QSR is the largest shareholder, taking control of the company would enable the party to gain control of KFCH;' said an analyst.

There were 1.54 million QSR shares done off market yesterday at an average price of RM7.65 apiece. while 6.50 million KFCH shares were done off-market at an average price of RM3.63 apiece.

In December, QSR main shareholder Indexia Assets Ltd, a British Virgin Island incorporated company, increased its stake in QSR to 16.46 million shares or 8.37%. Filings showed that QSR managing director Datuk Johari Abdul Ghani had 10.91 million shares or 5.55% as at Jan 4; and also that Johari had sold 10 million KFCH shares or a 5.05°ro direct interest on Wednesday and Thursday.