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KUALA LUMPUR: Graphjet Technology Sdn Bhd (GTSB) has successfully listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange, marking a significant milestone in the company’s journey towards global leadership in the green graphite industry. The listing on NASDAQ comes at a crucial time when the demand for graphite and graphene is surging, especially in the United States, where the battery storage and electric vehicle (EV) industries are rapidly expanding. “With the majority of graphite production currently concentrated in China, GTSB is set to become a key supplier to the US market, offering a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative,” GTSB co-founder and chief executive officer Aiden Lee Ping Wei said in a statement. GTSB has raised US$5.8 million through its NASDAQ listing and plans to use these funds to accelerate its growth strategy and expand its manufacturing capacity. The company is actively exploring opportunities to deploy its technology at scale in North America and other regions in response to the global demand for graphite and graphene. GTSB has revolutionised graphite production by developing patented technologies that convert agricultural waste into high-quality graphite and graphene. This innovative approach addresses the critical supply needs for these strategic materials and significantly reduces the environmental impact associated with traditional graphite production. GTSB’s process cuts the carbon footprint by up to 83 per cent and reduces costs by up to 80 per cent, positioning the company as a frontrunner in the global shift towards sustainable manufacturing practices. GTSB’s new production facility, scheduled to commence operations in the second quarter (Q2) 2024, is expected to bolster further the company’s capacity to meet the growing demand. The company’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond its production processes. GTSB’s products are poised to play a vital role in various sectors, including energy storage, lubricants, and conductive materials, contributing to developing a more circular economy. “Our goal is to leverage our sustainably produced graphite and graphene to drive innovation across multiple industries, ultimately creating a greener and more sustainable future,” Aiden Lee added. GTSB, as a publicly traded company, remains dedicated to delivering shareholder value through its groundbreaking technologies and sustainable business practices. The company’s NASDAQ listing enhances its global visibility and provides a strong platform for future growth and innovation.

KUALA LUMPUR: Kinergy Advancement Bhd (KAB) has appointed Ts Dr Amanda Lee Sean Peik as an independent non-executive director and Jonathan Wu Jo-Han as an executive director. With Dr Amanda’s inclusion, KAB’s board now comprises three female directors, underscoring the company’s dedication to fostering gender diversity and inclusive leadership. This commitment extends the strategic direction set by Datuk Dr Ong Peng Su’s appointment as chairman of KAB in April 2021. Dr Ong’s extensive experience in the power industry and his vision for KAB’s growth in green energy solutions have been instrumental in steering the company towards its current focus on sustainable energy solutions (SES). These strategic appointments strengthen KAB’s technical expertise in the sustainable energy and engineering sector while encouraging a positive outlook to fuel the company’s strategic growth and ambition. Dr Amanda holds a PhD in civil engineering from the University of Nottingham (Malaysia Campus) and a Bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the National University of Malaysia (UKM). Her wealth of experience in hydrology and water resources engineering, with a notable focus on climate change impacts and flood forecasting, will be instrumental in guiding KAB’s hydropower and water resource management projects. Her expertise will undoubtedly be a valuable asset to KAB as KAB embarks on more hydropower projects. Jonathan joined the company in August 2018 and has been instrumental in driving KAB’s expansion into sustainable energy, working closely with the executive deputy chairman and group managing director Datuk Lai Keng Onn. His strategic leadership in managing operations and securing key deals have significantly contributed to KAB’s growth. Having served as director for KAB subsidiaries and chief operating officer for the SES segment since 2023, Jonathan’s promotion to executive director underscores his invaluable contributions to the organisation’s success. His experience will continue to be crucial in driving KAB’s future growth. These strategic appointments are pivotal as KAB continues to expand its sustainable energy solutions portfolio. Dr Amanda’s expertise in hydropower and water resource management projects will be instrumental in furthering KAB’s growth in these areas. “We welcome Dr Amanda and Jonathan to our board. As we actively expand our energy portfolio, we are thrilled to boast a board comprising a wide range of experts who offer different perspectives to enrich our decision-making processes. “Their decision to join the board reflects mutual trust and underscores our shared values and vision, driving forward our sustainable energy development in the ASEAN region and globally,” Lai said.

KUALA LUMPUR: Integrated engineering solutions provider Kelington Group Bhd (KGB) has taken a strategic step forward in its global growth strategy by expanding into Germany and Hong Kong. This move positions the company to capitalise on the flourishing global semiconductor industry and broaden its geographical reach. Chief executive officer Ir Raymond Gan said the semiconductor industry outlook is bright, and chipmakers are aggressively expanding production capacity to meet surging demand for chips, driven by factors like geopolitical diversification and the need for advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), electric vehicles, and Industry 4.0. “As these technologies advance, the demand for semiconductor manufacturing facilities remains strong. “After a contraction in 2023 due to the industry’s cyclical nature, semiconductor manufacturing equipment growth is expected to resume in 2024, with sales expected to strongly rebound in 2025,” he said in a statement. Gan said this is driven by capacity expansion, new fab projects, and high demand for advanced technologies and solutions across the front-end and back-end segments. “Germany and Hong Kong are key hubs for innovation in these sectors, and we are optimistic of capturing a larger market share of the global semiconductor capex in these two markets,” said Gan. He said that leveraging the company’s track record of completing successful projects for leading multinational clients (MNCs) in Malaysia, Singapore, China, and Taiwan, KGB is well-positioned to attract new clients in Germany and Hong Kong and serve existing clients who are expanding their manufacturing footprint in these regions. To expand in both markets, KGB has incorporated Kelington Engineering (Germany) GmbH and Kelington Engineering (HK) Ltd as indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries. KGB provides integrated engineering solutions, including ultra-high purity (UHP) systems, process engineering and general contracting services, which are critical elements required for building new semiconductor manufacturing plants. Benefitting from the capacity ramp-up among semiconductor players, KGB reported revenue and net profit of RM1.6 billion and RM102.7 million, respectively, for the financial year ended December 31, 2023.

KUALA LUMPUR: Allianz Life Insurance Malaysia Bhd (Allianz Life) and HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd (HSBC Malaysia) is expanding partnership by introducing two new investment-linked funds, the Allianz Life World HealthScience Fund and the Allianz Life ESG-Integrated Multi Asset Fund. These funds aim to empower customers by giving them access to new and exciting investment opportunities whilst offering a diverse range of asset classes. With these options, customers can tailor their investment portfolios to align with their financial goals and protection needs, ensuring a secure future. “The new underlying funds seamlessly integrate with our existing investment-linked insurance plans, offering convenience and flexibility for HSBC customers. Whether they seek growth, wealth preservation, or a balanced approach, there is an option to suit every individual,” Allianz Life chief executive officer Charles Ong said in a statement. “HSBC Malaysia and the Allianz Life team of experienced professionals are available to provide personalised guidance and support to help customers make informed decisions,” he added. HSBC Malaysia is the exclusive bancassurance distributor for Allianz Life insurance products in the areas of protection, education, retirement, wealth and legacy needs since 2012. For HSBC Malaysia, the rollout of the two new funds complements the banking group’s holistic wealth planning solutions, which aligns with its wider ambition to become the leading wealth manager in Asia. These two new investment-linked funds, with underlying funds managed by BlackRock, aim to deliver performance and strategic asset allocation. BlackRock underscores the significance of the Allianz Life World Healthscience Fund in today’s landscape, emphasising the value of quality healthcare exposure amidst sustained profitability. The target fund manager remains optimistic about the outlook for quality healthcare equities in 2024, poised to withstand macroeconomic uncertainty. For the Allianz Life ESG-Integrated Multi Asset Fund, BlackRock highlights the benefits of flexibly managed multi-asset strategies in achieving precise investment outcomes while effectively managing risk and capitalising on diverse opportunities. The target fund manager stresses the importance of incorporating liquid alternatives within multi-asset portfolios to complement more traditional equity and fixed-income allocations to achieve further diversification and strong risk-adjusted returns in the current market environment. “Harnessing ageing demographics and sustainable themes like energy transition, which will be some of the mega forces for years to come, creates attractive investment opportunities. “We are excited to collaborate with Allianz Life to provide global investment exposure across targeted themes and sectors that ride on these trends. “As the hunt for resilient, quality equities continues to increase in 2024, investors should be looking at adding respective exposures in their portfolios to achieve financial well-being,” said BlackRock Head of Asia Pacific Wealth Andrew Landman.

KUALA LUMPUR:  Fajarbaru Builder Group Bhd’s (FBG) wholly-owned subsidiary, Fajarbaru Builder Sdn Bhd (FBSB), along with Avionics Pty Ltd (APL), has secured a delivery phase (early works) contract from the Australian Department of Defence, with FBG’s portion of the contract worth RM11.04 million. This contract further expands FGB’s involvement in the design and construction of infrastructure projects to redevelop military facilities at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base in Butterworth, Penang. With this announcement, the total value of FGB’s work secured for the project is now RM23.34 million as of March 15, 2024. The early works, which come under the project’s delivery phase, will commence on March 18, 2024, and are scheduled to be completed on November 21, 2024. FGB group executive chairman Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy said securing this award is another reaffirmation of the company’s position as a trusted partner in critical infrastructure projects. “We believe we are well-positioned to deliver exceptional results, showcasing our commitment to excellence and ability to meet the strict requirements of the Australian Department of Defence. “Over the long run, we believe this project will significantly increase our earnings. “We continue seeking opportunities to expand our involvement in this project by bidding for more packages, focusing on value-added and negotiated business,” he said in a statement. To recap, on July 10, 2023, FBSB and APL bagged a head contract (International) in two phases from the Australian Department of Defence to redevelop the Australian leased facilities and Malaysian facilities at Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Base Butterworth. For the project’s planning phase, FGB’s portion of the contract initially had a value of RM7.36 million. On January 11, 2024, FGB announced that the total value of this portion had been revised upwards to RM12.30 million to account for additional work. Further details of the contract and project are included in FGB’s stock exchange filings on March 15, 2024, January 11, 2024, and July 10, 2023. With a strategy to drive sustainable revenue flow through a diverse range of businesses, FGB continues to demonstrate sustained improvements on the financial and operational front. In the second quarter (Q2) ended December 31, 2023 (FY24), FGB reported a net profit of RM20.88 million, a surge of 606 per cent compared to a net profit of RM2.96 million reported in the first quarter (Q1) FY24. Revenue amounted to RM126.79 million, an impressive 74 per cent increase compared to the first quarter of the same financial year. The company’s property development segment mainly drove the improved performance for the second quarter. As of March 15, 2024, FGB’s construction division currently has an orderbook of RM927 million with a wide range of projects such as high-rise residential buildings, affordable apartments, retail complexes, service apartments, and the redevelopment of military facilities. FGB is currently tendering for construction projects with a combined value of RM4.7 billion across the private and government sectors. Major recent job wins include a contract worth RM120.82 million for construction works for the Johore Golf & Country Club, which marks FGB’s inaugural venture into Johor. The company continues extending its project portfolio across diverse regions, from Penang to the East Coast, Klang Valley, and southern states in Peninsula Malaysia. In FY24, FGB will continue building its property development business’s brand presence and broadening its portfolio. In Malaysia, FGB is progressing on its latest development project, Desa Green, located in Kuala Krai, Kelantan. The company is also engaged in a joint venture for the Centralised Labour Quarters (CLQ) project in Senawang, Negeri Sembilan. In Australia, FGB has initiated a new project in Fitzroy, Melbourne, slated for launch this year. Another Australian project, The Wilds, aims to be the first carbon-neutral detached housing project in inner Melbourne. All residences will be powered exclusively by electricity and equipped with solar panel arrays.