Author name: admin

Investment & Market Trends

Affin Group Posts Record RM755.7 Million Profit, Net Income Highest Ever

AFFIN Group (“AFFIN” or “the Group”) posted a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of RM755.7 million for the financial year ended 31 December 2025, marking a 7.8% increase from RM701.0 million in FY2024. The growth was primarily driven by a RM271.8 million increase in net income, partially offset by higher operating expenses of RM33.9 million and an allowance for impairment losses of RM31.2 million, compared with a write-back of RM151.4 million in the prior year. CEO CommentaryDatuk Wan Razly Abdullah, President & Group CEO, said, “AFFIN achieved record FY2025 PBT, supported by the highest-ever net income and a 47.4% surge in operating profit. Strong asset quality efforts have reduced the Gross Impaired Loan (GIL) ratio to 1.64%, while robust capital and liquidity positions provide a solid platform to capture growth opportunities in 2026 and enhance shareholder value.” Quarter 4 PBT reached RM215.6 million, up 18.4% QoQ, driven by Net Interest Margin expansion and a 30.5% increase in fee-based income. The Group’s asset base expanded to RM124.1 billion, with loans and financing growing 10.4% YoY to RM79.5 billion. AFFIN maintains a positive outlook for Malaysia’s economy in 2026, with projected GDP growth of 4.0–4.5%, supported by resilient domestic demand, steady investment, and stronger external trade flows. Business and Strategic Highlights Customer base expanded 13% YoY to 1.74 million, supporting CASA growth. Diversified revenue streams, including Islamic Structured Products and investment banking advisory, strengthened wealth and advisory income. The Group maintains a robust business pipeline of ~RM14 billion, providing clear growth visibility. Recognised with the Best New Bond Award for its debut US$300 million senior unsecured notes issuance and Best Primary Placement award for the Pavilion REIT RM360 million placement, reflecting strong investor confidence. Financial Performance Net Interest Income (NII): RM874.8 million (+5.9% YoY) Islamic Banking PBT: RM449.7 million (+39.1% YoY), supported by higher net income and impairment write-backs Non-Interest Income: RM699.9 million (+7.3% YoY) Net Income: RM2,441.5 million (+12.5% YoY) Operating Expenses: RM1,702.0 million; cost-to-income ratio improved to 69.7% from 76.9% Operating Profit Before Allowances: RM739.5 million (+47.4% YoY) Asset Quality and Capital Position GIL Ratio: 1.64% (down from 1.94% in FY2024) Loan Loss Coverage (LLC): 75.7% Loan Loss Reserve (LLR): 121.3% Total Loans, Advances & Financing: RM79.5 billion (+10.4% YoY) Customer Deposits: RM80.2 billion (+7.6% YoY); CASA at RM20.01 billion, ratio 25.0% Capital Adequacy: Total Capital 17.3%, Tier 1 14.8%, CET1 13.4% Liquidity Coverage Ratio: 162.4% DividendsThe Board has proposed a single-tier final dividend of 8.53 sen per share, totaling RM216 million, reflecting AFFIN’s strong capital position and record FY2025 performance.

Investment & Market Trends

MTT Shipping Signs IPO Deal, Aims For 2Q Bursa Main Market debut

MTT Shipping and Logistics Bhd has secured backing from CIMB Investment Bank and Affin Hwang Investment Bank for its upcoming listing on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia, the company announced on Monday. The underwriting agreement covers the retail portion of the initial public offering (IPO), including shares allocated for the Malaysian public and eligible persons. The IPO is targeted for the second quarter of 2026 and marks a significant milestone for Malaysia’s largest domestic container liner operator, based on cabotage volumes connecting Peninsular Malaysia, East Malaysia, and Brunei. The listing comes after the Securities Commission Malaysia approved the proposed IPO in January. (From left) CIMB Investment Bank CEO and investment banking regional head Nor Masliza Sulaiman, MTT Shipping MD Ooi Lean Hin, executive chairman Datuk Seri Ong Kean Lee and Affin Hwang Investment Bank capital markets MD Johan Hashim. Executive Chairman Datuk Seri Ong Kean Lee said the IPO is “an important next defining step” for MTT Shipping, enabling the company to expand its shipping and logistics network, enhance operational efficiencies, and pursue growth opportunities across the region. As of September 1, 2025, MTT Shipping owns 26 vessels—the largest fleet of Malaysian-flagged container ships—and plans to deploy IPO proceeds primarily to acquire at least 10 additional container vessels over the next three years. This move will support the company’s strategy to expand its regional network across Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and southern China. The IPO will comprise 571 million shares for institutional investors, including Malaysian and foreign institutions, and 62.5 million shares for retail investors. There will be no offer for sale of existing shares, meaning all funds raised will go directly to the company to finance expansion and operations. Nor Masliza Sulaiman, CEO and Regional Head of Investment Banking at CIMB Investment Bank, said, “We are confident that the group is well-positioned to strengthen its leadership domestically while scaling new heights in regional expansion.” Hanif Ghulam, CEO of Affin Hwang Investment Bank, echoed the sentiment, expressing enthusiasm in supporting MTT Shipping through its next phase of growth. Under the IPO structure, CIMB Investment Bank serves as principal adviser, joint global coordinator, joint bookrunner, managing underwriter, and joint underwriter. CLSA will act as joint global coordinator and joint bookrunner, while Affin Hwang Investment Bank will function as joint bookrunner and joint underwriter.

The Executives

Farm Fresh Names Quaza Nizamuddin As chairman

Farm Fresh Bhd has named independent director Datuk Quaza Nizamuddin A Hassan Nizam as the new chairman of the Johor-based dairy producer. The former director-general of the Department of Veterinary Services Malaysia will assume the independent non-executive chairman post with immediate effect, according to a filing with Bursa Malaysia on Monday. According to Farm Fresh’s 2025 annual report, Quaza, 69,  was first appointed to the board in September 2021. He has more than 37 years of experience in veterinary medicine and livestock production. He began his career with the Malaysian Department of Veterinary Services as a veterinary officer in Negeri Sembilan from 1984 to 1989, and rose through the ranks to become director-general, a position he held from 2017 until his retirement in 2020. Currently, he serves as an adjunct professor at Taylor’s University Malaysia and as a director of the Malaysian Equine Council. He also holds directorships in several private companies. Quaza succeeds Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas, who passed away from cancer in December last year. Shares in Farm Fresh fell two sen, or 0.8%, to close at RM2.49 on Monday, giving the group a market capitalisation of RM4.69 billion. Year to date, the stock has declined more than 12%.

Investment & Market Trends

Vincent Tan Offloads RM80 Million Worth Of Berjaya Corp Shares

Berjaya Corp Bhd founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun has reduced his stake in the diversified conglomerate, selling a 5.25% shareholding in the company for approximately RM79.56 million. Berjaya Corp founder Tan Sri Vincent Tan. The disposal was executed through Tan’s private investment vehicle, Berjaya True Ascend Sdn Bhd, which sold 306 million shares in a direct business transaction on March 6, according to a filing with Bursa Malaysia on Monday. The shares were disposed of at 26 sen each. The identity of the buyer was not disclosed in the filing. Following this transaction, Tan’s total interest in Berjaya Corp now stands at 1.23 billion shares, representing around 21% of the company. This comprises a direct stake of 8.559% and an additional 12.533% held via various private entities. Berjaya Corp, a conglomerate with operations spanning lotteries, automotive, and other sectors, saw its shares close unchanged at 27 sen, giving the group a market valuation of RM1.61 billion. The move marks a notable shift in the holdings of one of Malaysia’s most prominent tycoons and may indicate strategic portfolio adjustments amid broader market conditions.

Investment & Market Trends

Velesto Plans RM1 Billion Sukuk Wakalah To Fund Capex And Refinancing

Velesto Energy Bhd is launching a sukuk wakalah programme with a total limit of up to RM1 billion to provide the group with flexible funding for investments, capital expenditure, working capital, and refinancing needs. The programme, to be issued by Velesto’s wholly-owned subsidiary Sumber Ribu Sdn Bhd with Velesto as the corporate guarantor, consists of an Islamic commercial paper (ICP) programme and an Islamic medium-term note (IMTN) programme. Velesto has filed the necessary documents with the Securities Commission Malaysia under the lodge and launch framework for unlisted capital market products. Under the structure, the ICPs will have a tenure of seven years from the date of first issuance, with individual notes issued for one to 12 months. The IMTN notes will have a perpetual tenure, with each issued for a minimum of one year. Proceeds from the sukuk are earmarked for shariah-compliant purposes, including investments, capital expenditure, working capital, and refinancing of existing Islamic or conventional financing. Funds may also be used to refinance future sukuk under the programme and cover associated fees and costs. RAM Rating Services Bhd has assigned the programme a short-term rating of P1(s) and a long-term rating of AA2(s), both with a stable outlook. Maybank Investment Bank Bhd is appointed as principal adviser, lead arranger, and lead manager, while Maybank Islamic Bhd serves as the shariah adviser. As of December 31, 2025, Velesto had short-term borrowings of RM113.84 million and cash and bank balances of RM253.9 million. Shares in Velesto closed one sen higher at 34 sen on Monday, giving the group a market value of RM2.79 billion. Over the past year, the stock has surged 112.5%.

Energy & Technology

ES Sunlogy Bags RM63mil Electrical Contracts In Singapore

ES Sunlogy Bhd, a mechanical and electrical engineering contractor, announced that its Singapore unit, 60%-owned ES Energy Solution Pte Ltd, has secured three electrical works contracts worth S$20.23 million (RM62.51 million) from Win Engineering Pte Ltd. The contracts include: S$3.02 million for supply and installation of electrical systems at a residential development in Tampines. S$12.77 million for electrical works at Jurong Pioneer Junior College, covering uninterruptible power supply and extra-low voltage systems. S$4.44 million for electrical installations at Ang Mo Kio, including 422 residential units and high linkway construction from Marsiling Grove to Woodlands Street 13. This scope covers electrical installation, telephone wiring, lightning protection, cable TV, external lighting, fire alarms, and temporary electrical works requiring licensed electrical workers. ES Sunlogy expects the contracts to positively impact the company’s net assets, earnings, and gearing over the contract period. The company’s shares closed at 24 sen, down 0.5 sen or 2.04%, giving it a market capitalization of RM164.64 million. Year to date, the stock has fallen more than 22%.

Energy & Technology

Cypark Approved To Expand Port Dickson WTE Plant

Cypark Resources Bhd has received government approval to proceed with the expansion of its waste-to-energy (WTE) plant in Ladang Tanah Merah, Port Dickson. The move follows a supplementary concession agreement signed between Cypark’s unit, Cypark Smart Technology Sdn Bhd, the Malaysian government, and the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Corp. The agreement covers the development of Phase 2 of the WTE plant. “This marks a key milestone for Phase 2 and underscores our ongoing partnership with the government to enhance Malaysia’s waste management infrastructure and promote renewable energy,” said Cypark Group Managing Director Datuk Ami Morris. Construction of Phase 2 is expected to positively contribute to the company’s future earnings, though specific details of the expansion were not disclosed. The existing plant currently produces up to 15MW of renewable energy, processing around 1,000 tonnes of solid waste daily under a 25-year concession that runs until 2041. Following the announcement, Cypark shares fell 4.5 sen, or 7.5%, to close at 55.5 sen, giving the company a market value of RM456.67 million.

Investment & Market Trends

Sunway Healthcare Sets RM2.8 Billion IPO, Largest In Malaysia Since 2017

Malaysia’s Sunway Healthcare has set the final price for its initial public offering (IPO) at RM1.45 per share, aiming to raise RM2.86 billion (US$722.22 million) in what could be the country’s largest listing in nearly a decade. The IPO, which offers 1.97 billion shares to institutional and retail investors, represents a 17.1% stake in the company. This pricing values Sunway Healthcare at RM16.7 billion, with shares expected to start trading on Bursa Malaysia on March 18. A unit of Malaysian conglomerate Sunway Bhd, Sunway Healthcare is one of the country’s leading private healthcare providers, operating 1,805 licensed beds as of January 2026. Its portfolio includes Sunway Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur, the nation’s largest private hospital. The offering aligns with earlier reports that Sunway Healthcare was targeting a Bursa Malaysia debut worth over RM3 billion, placing the hospital group’s valuation above RM15 billion.

News

NexG’s Chong Loong Men Steps Down Amid Boardroom Conflict

NexG Bhd announced that executive director Datuk Chong Loong Men has stepped down from his position, effective March 8, citing “personal reasons,” according to a Bursa Malaysia filing on Monday. His departure comes amid ongoing tensions within the company’s board. The boardroom conflict began after Raya Aviation Holdings, an air cargo company controlled by the sons of Datuk Ishak Ismail, became NexG’s largest shareholder on March 4, holding a 20.4% stake through its takeover of two private firms, Skyelimit Alliance Sdn Bhd and Trendtrove Tradin Sdn Bhd. Skyelimit Alliance was linked to NexG’s former executive deputy chairman Tan Sri Mohd Khairul Adib Abd Rahman, while Trendtrove was tied to executive director Datuk Ab Hamid Mohamad Hanipah. The day after Raya Aviation’s stake emerged, NexG executive chairman and co-founder Datuk Abu Hanifah Noordin, together with Velocity Capital Sdn Bhd (the financing arm of Velocity Capital Partner Bhd) and Ishak’s daughter Siti Nur Aishah Ishak, issued a notice calling for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on April 3. The EGM proposes to remove seven directors, including Chong, and appoint eight new directors, including Ishak and Raya Airways group managing director Mohamad Najib Ishak. The board members targeted for removal include Chong, Aswath Ramakrishnan, Kunal Tayal, Syed Farid Syed Ahmad Al-Attas, Mohamed Fairuz Mohamed Fauzy, Badrul Hisham Abdul Aziz, and Mohd Zafil Ibrahim. Chong, Aswath, and Kunal joined the board in mid-November 2025, while Syed Farid, Fairuz, Badrul Hisham, and Mohd Zafil joined in mid-October. Datuk Ab Hamid Mohamad Hanipah and Erna Ismail were not included in the removal notice. In response, NexG’s existing board has suspended Hanifah’s executive powers and announced an internal review of the company’s investments in other public-listed companies (PLCs). The board emphasized that this step is purely administrative, aimed at safeguarding the review process and does not imply any wrongdoing. Additionally, the board has raised concerns over the validity of the EGM notice filed by Hanifah, Velocity Capital, and Siti Nur Aishah, and is seeking independent legal advice. An external professional has also been appointed to verify the shareholding changes following Raya Aviation’s acquisition. Following the news, NexG shares closed 1.5 sen lower at 27.5 sen on Monday, valuing the company at RM1.02 billion, a 5.17% decline from the previous session.

The Executives

Steven Teow Steps Down As CJ Century Logistics CEO

CJ Century Logistics Holdings Bhd announced that its long-serving chief executive officer Steven Teow Choo Hing has stepped down from his role on Feb 28, 2026, after nearly three decades with the company. Teow, 66, had been a key figure in the group’s leadership since joining the board on July 28, 1997, when the company was still known as Century Logistics Holdings Bhd, according to its latest annual report. Over the years, he played a central role in steering the company’s development and expansion in Malaysia’s logistics and supply chain sector. The company said Teow stepped down to pursue personal interests following a long tenure with the group. Taking over the role is Melissa Khoo Lay Geok, who officially assumed the position of chief executive officer on March 1, 2026, according to a filing with Bursa Malaysia. Khoo brings with her more than 30 years of experience in logistics and supply chain management across the Asia-Pacific region, positioning her to lead the company in its next phase of growth. The company did not disclose the reason for the timing of the announcement regarding the leadership transition. In recent months, Teow had also reduced his shareholding in the company. On Dec 31, 2025, he sold 44.87 million shares, equivalent to a 7.71% stake, bringing his holdings below the threshold required to be considered a substantial shareholder. Subsequently, on Jan 19, 2026, he disposed of another five million shares, leaving him with a remaining 0.144% stake in the company. The shares were sold at 56.4 sen per share to CJ Logistics Asia Pte Ltd, which raised the South Korean logistics group’s stake in CJ Century Logistics from 55.09% to 62.8%. The increased stake further strengthens the position of CJ Logistics, part of South Korea’s CJ Group, as the controlling shareholder of the Malaysian logistics firm. Shares of CJ Century Logistics closed unchanged at 16 sen on Monday, giving the company a market capitalisation of approximately RM93.1 million. The stock has gained 3.23% year-to-date.

Scroll to Top

Subscribe
FREE Newsletter