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Investment & Market Trends

OSK Ventures Exits Alternatives.pe Via Uzabase Deal

OSK Ventures International Bhd has exited its investment in Alternatives.pe following the acquisition of the Singapore-based private market data provider by Japanese business intelligence firm Uzabase Inc. Uzabase announced the deal on March 16 and completed the acquisition on April 1. The value of the transaction was not disclosed. OSK VI held a minority stake in Alternatives.pe through its ET Fund II, which focuses on Southeast Asia’s new economy companies. The exit was achieved within two years of the initial investment. Executive director Amelia Ong said the trade sale marks a successful outcome, adding that Alternatives.pe is now positioned to scale further as part of a larger private market data group. OSK VI had also been a user of the platform prior to investing, leveraging it for valuation and stakeholder reporting purposes. Founded in 2019, Alternatives.pe has developed one of the largest private market databases in Southeast Asia, covering over 350,000 companies. Its data is primarily sourced from official government filings, offering higher accuracy compared to platforms that rely on web-based or crowdsourced information. Ong said the investment was driven by a clear gap in the region, where institutional-grade private market data — comparable to platforms like PitchBook in Western markets — remains limited. Alternatives.pe addressed this need with its proprietary, filings-based database. She added that private market allocations in Asia-Pacific have been growing at a high-teens compound annual growth rate, alongside a steady increase in the number of private market firms. At the time of OSK VI’s investment, Alternatives.pe held an estimated 31% market share among venture capital firms actively investing in Southeast Asia, positioning it as a leading first mover in the space. On the exit decision, Ong noted that the acquisition by Uzabase offered strong strategic value, enabling faster growth for Alternatives.pe than it could achieve independently. She emphasised that OSK VI adopts a flexible investment approach, focusing on delivering meaningful returns rather than adhering to fixed holding periods. The firm maintains close engagement with its portfolio companies, including access to operational metrics and early preparation for potential exits. Uzabase, which operates the Speeda business intelligence platform and NewsPicks media outlet, said the acquisition supports its goal of becoming Asia’s leading economic information platform by 2028. It plans to integrate Alternatives.pe’s Southeast Asia and Australia datasets into Speeda’s global network.

Property

Nestcon Eyes Johor Land Deal For RM95m

Nestcon Bhd has proposed to acquire three parcels of land in Johor Bahru for RM95 million, as part of its strategic move to diversify into property development beyond its core construction and renewable energy businesses. In a Bursa Malaysia filing, the group said the acquisition will be carried out by its 70%-owned subsidiary, Nestcon Iskandar Puteri Sdn Bhd. The deal involves three freehold land parcels located in Mukim Pulai, with a combined area of 8.348 acres, translating to an implied price of RM261.26 per sq ft. The vendor for the land is KLG Iskandar Puteri Sdn Bhd, which is owned by Chong Ngun Kin and Lee Siang Huat. Nestcon plans to develop the site into a mixed commercial and residential project, comprising serviced apartments and retail units to be executed in two phases. The development is expected to generate a gross development value (GDV) of RM1.37 billion, with an estimated gross development cost of RM1.03 billion, resulting in a projected gross development profit of RM336.97 million. The acquisition will be funded through a combination of internally generated funds and bank borrowings, with the exact financing structure to be finalised at a later stage. The group said the move marks its entry into property development as a new core business segment, alongside its existing building and infrastructure, as well as renewable energy divisions. Currently, Nestcon’s building and infrastructure segment remains its primary earnings driver, contributing approximately 98% of its net profit of RM11.5 million on revenue of RM723.8 million for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2025. The proposed diversification is expected to contribute at least 25% to the group’s future net profit or net assets, subject to shareholders’ approval at an extraordinary general meeting. The acquisition is targeted for completion in the second half of 2026. Nestcon’s board said the proposal is aimed at reducing reliance on its existing business segments while enhancing long-term growth prospects. As at Friday’s midday break, Nestcon shares were unchanged at 34 sen, giving the group a market capitalisation of RM264.87 million. Over the past year, the stock has declined by 11.7%.

News

Pentech Signs Underwriting Deal For ACE Market IPO

Computer infrastructure firm Pentech Holdings Bhd has entered into an underwriting agreement with Public Investment Bank Bhd for its upcoming initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market. Under the agreement, Public Investment Bank will underwrite approximately 62 million shares, representing 10% of Pentech’s enlarged share capital. This covers shares allocated to the Malaysian public as well as the “pink form” tranche for eligible parties. Pentech managing director and chief executive officer Yeoh Chin Ming said the agreement marks an important milestone in the company’s listing journey and reflects confidence in its business prospects. He added that the timing is favourable, as the group is well-positioned to capitalise on growth opportunities within Malaysia’s ICT sector. Based in Penang, Pentech specialises in enterprise ICT infrastructure, including systems integration, hardware and software supply, as well as cloud and related services. In the financial year ended Dec 31, 2024, more than half of the company’s revenue was derived from systems integration projects involving enterprise data centres, network infrastructure and security systems. Pentech recorded a net profit of nearly RM10 million on revenue of RM188.94 million for the year. Following the IPO, Yeoh is expected to retain joint control of about 60% of the company through Evernorth Capital Sdn Bhd, together with chief sales officer Ho Huang Ken and business development director Toh Say Yee. Public Investment Bank is acting as principal adviser, sponsor, sole underwriter and sole placement agent for the IPO.

Investment & Market Trends

Khazanah Sells 3.13% Stake In TIME For Up To RM335.8m

Khazanah Nasional Bhd has disposed of a 3.13% stake, or 57.9 million shares, in TIME dotCom Bhd, following the telecom group’s recent share price peak of RM6.28. The transaction, carried out on April 8, did not disclose the exact proceeds in a Bursa Malaysia filing. However, Bloomberg off-market data showed that large blocks were traded at RM5.80 per share, indicating that the stake sale could be valued at up to RM335.82 million. The shares were sold at a 7.6% discount to TIME’s record closing price of RM6.28 on March 11. Following the disposal, Khazanah retains an estimated 10.04% stake in TIME, largely held through its investment vehicle, Pulau Kapas Ventures Sdn Bhd. Khazanah has been gradually reducing its shareholding in TIME through a series of block trades between 2023 and 2025, including the disposal of 131.15 million shares in 2025 alone. Meanwhile, TIME executive vice-chairman Afzal Abdul Rahim remains the company’s largest shareholder, with a 20.36% deemed interest. This comprises a 10.09% direct stake and a 10.27% indirect stake held via Megawisra Sdn Bhd and Global Transit International Sdn Bhd. For the financial year ended Dec 31, 2025, TIME reported an 11.8% increase in net profit to RM428.16 million, up from RM382.83 million a year earlier. Revenue also rose 6.1% to RM1.79 billion from RM1.69 billion. The company has also revised its dividend payout policy to 75% of net profit, after excluding extraordinary items, up from 50% previously. On the market front, TIME shares gained three sen, or 0.5%, to close at RM5.91 on Friday, giving the group a market capitalisation of RM10.93 billion. Over the past year, the stock has risen by 20.9%.

Energy & Technology

Infomina Secures RM23.5m IRB Contract

Infomina Bhd has secured a two-year contract worth RM23.49 million to provide IT infrastructure operations, maintenance and support services to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB). In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the group said the contract covers both hardware and software maintenance for the IRB’s data warehouse systems. This includes software licence renewals, technical support, hardware maintenance, as well as related professional services. The contract is set to run from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2028, with any extension or renewal subject to the IRB’s discretion. This latest win follows a similar contract secured last month, when Infomina was awarded a three-year deal worth RM68.92 million by the Immigration Department. On the market front, Infomina shares slipped one sen, or 0.9%, to close at RM1.10 on Friday, giving the group a market capitalisation of RM661.4 million. According to AskEdge data, the stock is currently trading at a trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 31.2 times. This is lower than peers such as Go Hub Capital Bhd (KL:GOHUB), which trades at 73.7 times, and ITMAX System Bhd at 51.1 times.

Investment & Market Trends

Systech’s Ong Theng Soon Ups Stake To 4.71%

Systech Bhd executive chairman Datuk Ong Theng Soon has increased his stake in the e-business and cybersecurity firm to 4.71%. In a Bursa Malaysia filing on Friday, the group said Ong acquired 15.72 million shares, representing a 2.22% stake, via a direct business transaction on April 7. The shares were purchased at 9.5 sen each, for a total consideration of RM1.49 million. Ong first emerged as a shareholder in October 2025, shortly after his appointment as executive chairman, when he acquired 17.2 million shares or a 2.62% stake. He subsequently bought an additional 400,000 shares in November, raising his interest to 2.68%. Meanwhile, his spouse, Liew Su-Wen, had also built up a significant stake in Systech before gradually trimming her holdings in early 2026. Liew initially acquired 17 million shares (2.59%) on Oct 17, 2025, and quickly increased her stake by purchasing another 27 million shares (4%), bringing her total interest to 6.69% and making her a substantial shareholder. She continued to accumulate shares, adding a further 27.54 million shares on Oct 27 to reach a peak stake of 10.88%. However, from December onwards, Liew began reducing her holdings. She disposed of 3.5 million shares on Dec 18, lowering her stake to 9.63%, followed by additional disposals totalling 33.6 million shares in January, which reduced her interest to 4.87%. In February, she briefly increased her stake to 5.08% after acquiring 1.48 million shares, but subsequently pared down her holdings again on March 10 by disposing of 4.85 million shares. This brought her stake to 4.39%, below the 5% threshold required to be classified as a substantial shareholder. On the market front, Systech shares closed unchanged at 16 sen on Friday, giving the group a market capitalisation of RM113.5 million. The stock has gained approximately 10% year-to-date.

Energy & Technology

UUE Lands RM16m Electrical Contract

UUE Holdings Bhd has secured a RM16 million contract for electrical system works at a factory in Tanjung Langsat, Johor. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia on Friday, the group said the contract was awarded to its wholly owned subsidiary, Kum Fatt Engineering Sdn Bhd, which accepted the letter of award from Tianma Precision Sdn Bhd on April 10. The scope of works includes the supply, delivery, installation and commissioning of 33kV and low-voltage electrical systems at a factory located in the Tanjung Langsat Industrial Area, Mukim Sungai Tiram, Johor. The project is scheduled to commence on April 15 and is expected to be completed by Dec 15. UUE said the contract is anticipated to contribute positively to the group’s earnings per share and net assets over the duration of the project. Earlier, the group reported that its order book stood at RM508.5 million at the start of the year, providing earnings visibility over the next 12 to 36 months. Of this, approximately 62% comprises projects related to Tenaga Nasional Bhd. On the market front, UUE shares rose five sen, or 13.7%, to close at 41.5 sen on Friday, giving the group a market capitalisation of RM378.66 million. Over the past year, the stock has gained 9.2%.

Investment & Market Trends

Ecobuilt To Venture Into Property And Building Materials Business

Ecobuilt Holdings Bhd (KL:ECOHLDS) has proposed to diversify its business into property development and the trading of building materials, as part of efforts to strengthen its earnings base. The group expects these new segments to contribute at least 25% of its net profit going forward. UOB Kay Hian Securities has been appointed as the adviser for the proposed diversification exercise. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, Ecobuilt said it plans to set up new subsidiaries to undertake the respective businesses, subject to shareholders’ approval. The group noted that the move will allow it to leverage its existing experience, industry knowledge and network within the construction sector, while providing greater flexibility to tap into opportunities across different stages of the construction and property value chain. Ecobuilt added that the diversification is expected to complement its current construction activities and reduce reliance on a single business segment. However, the company highlighted that both property development and construction-related activities are subject to various regulatory requirements imposed by authorities. Similarly, the building materials trading segment may face compliance obligations, including business registrations, import or distribution approvals, and product standards. As at present, Ecobuilt has an outstanding unbilled order book of approximately RM196.8 million. This includes the Riveria Phase 2 project in Brickfields valued at RM165.07 million, and the Seiring – Block D project in Shah Alam worth RM31.73 million. Financially, the group remains in a net debt position of RM2.03 million as at Nov 30, 2025, with total borrowings of RM3.37 million exceeding its cash and cash equivalents of RM1.35 million. The company has also been loss-making since the financial year 2022. On the market front, Ecobuilt shares closed unchanged at 5.5 sen on Friday, giving the group a market capitalisation of RM23.1 million.

Investment & Market Trends

IOI Properties Eyes RM2b From REIT Listing

IOI Properties Group Bhd has announced plans to establish and list a real estate investment trust (REIT) comprising a portfolio of retail, office and hotel assets with a total value of RM7.58 billion. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the group said it intends to inject several Malaysian properties — including IOI City Mall and IOI City Park — into the proposed trust, to be known as IOIPG Malaysia REIT (IOIPG REIT). The REIT is expected to be listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia with an initial fund size of 5.5 billion units. The move follows earlier reports in June 2025 that IOI Properties was exploring a REIT listing as part of efforts to manage debt arising from past acquisitions. In August last year, the group had also set up IOIPG REIT Management Sdn Bhd to act as the REIT manager. IOI Properties said the proposed listing is targeted for completion by the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to approvals from the Securities Commission Malaysia, Bursa Malaysia, the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (Miti), and shareholders. The REIT will be established under a trust deed lodged with the Securities Commission and will focus on income-generating assets across retail, commercial, office and hospitality segments, in line with REIT guidelines. Under the proposed structure, the asset injection will be satisfied through the issuance of 5.5 billion units at an indicative price of 90 sen per unit, along with a cash component of RM2.65 billion. The cash portion will be funded through borrowings raised at the REIT level via a medium-term note programme. Following the injection, IOI Properties plans to offer up to 2.2 billion units, or 40% of the REIT, to investors through a combination of retail and institutional placements. Based on the indicative pricing, the exercise could raise approximately RM2 billion, while the REIT will also assume RM2.65 billion in debt as part of the transaction structure. The retail offering will include allocations for existing shareholders, employees and the public, including a Bumiputera portion. Meanwhile, the institutional tranche will be offered to selected investors, including Bumiputera investors approved by Miti. Final pricing will be determined closer to listing via a bookbuilding process, with the retail price set at the lower end of the institutional price range. Several hotel assets within the portfolio are expected to be leased back to IOI Properties-related companies under long-term arrangements upon completion of the exercise. Proceeds raised are expected to be channelled to IOI Properties and will primarily be used to repay borrowings, fund ongoing development and investment activities, as well as cover transaction-related expenses. Maybank Investment Bank Bhd and AmInvestment Bank Bhd have been appointed as joint principal advisers, global coordinators, bookrunners, managing underwriters and underwriters for the exercise. DBS Bank Ltd is also acting as joint global coordinator and bookrunner, while Knight Frank has been appointed as the independent property valuer. The REIT manager, IOIPG REIT Management, has an issued share capital of RM1 million. Its board includes IOI Properties group CEO Datuk Lee Yeow Seng and Datuk Ong Eng Bin. MTrustee Bhd has been proposed as trustee, with Rockwills International Bhd as its ultimate holding company, while Henry Butcher Malaysia (Mont Kiara) Sdn Bhd is expected to serve as property manager for the retail and office assets. Financially, IOI Properties reported a strong performance for the second quarter ended Dec 31, 2025, with net profit rising significantly to RM708.84 million from RM94.78 million a year earlier. Revenue also increased to RM1.04 billion from RM729 million. On the market front, IOI Properties shares rose 21 sen, or 6.14%, to close at RM3.63 on Friday, giving the group a market capitalisation of nearly RM20 billion. Over the past year, the stock has gained 108.9%.

Investment & Market Trends

Favelle Favco Completes Seram Industries Acquisition

Favelle Favco Bhd has announced the completion of its acquisition of French crane manufacturer Seram Industries SAS. The group had previously agreed to acquire Seram for a cash consideration ranging between €7.5 million and €10 million (approximately RM35.6 million to RM47.5 million), marking a strategic move to expand its international footprint. Seram is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marec Industrie SAS, which is controlled by its directors Joaquin Semis and Andrée Nee Vinas Semis. The company specialises in hydraulic balancing crane systems that are designed to enhance energy efficiency and improve lifting performance. Its solutions primarily cater to the industrial waste and recycling sector, while it also undertakes installation and maintenance of cranes and conveyor systems used in waste treatment facilities. For the financial year ended Dec 31, 2024, Seram reported a net profit of €1.76 million on revenue of €18.75 million, reflecting a stable performance within its niche segment. Previously, Favelle Favco noted that the acquisition is expected to broaden its product portfolio and support its strategic push into more automated and specialised heavy lifting equipment. The group also anticipates that the deal will strengthen its technical expertise while creating cross-selling opportunities across its global operations. The acquisition was fully funded through internally generated funds. As at Sept 30, 2025, Favelle Favco maintained a strong balance sheet, with cash reserves of RM219.92 million compared to borrowings of RM107.34 million. According to AskEdge data, Favelle Favco is currently trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 7.6 times, the lowest among its peers where comparisons are applicable. This valuation sits at the lower end of its historical range in recent years. In addition, the group’s price-to-net-asset (P/NAV) ratio stands at 0.5 times, which is below the peer average and also at its lowest level in recent years, indicating a relatively undervalued position. On the trading front, Favelle Favco shares closed unchanged at RM1.60 on Friday, giving the group a market capitalisation of approximately RM379.5 million.

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