Investment & Market Trends

Sunview Group Bhd has proposed to sell its entire 22.44% interest in Winstar Capital Bhd for RM30.1 million in cash to nine investors. In a Bursa Malaysia filing on Monday, Sunview said the disposal involves 70.03 million Winstar shares at 43 sen apiece under nine separate share sale agreements. The offer price is 23.9% below Winstar’s closing price of 56.5 sen on Monday. Among the buyers are four key management personnel and substantial shareholders of Winstar, namely vice-chairman Chua Nyok Chong, chief executive officer Chua Boon Hong, chief operating officer Lee Yong Zhi and chief marketing officer Khoo Nee Cheng. The other purchasers comprise Datuk Low Chin Koon, non-executive chairman of Tex Cycle Technology (M) Bhd and independent non-executive director of Mestron Holdings Bhd; Por Teong Eng, managing director of Mestron; Chu Kerd Yee, executive director of ES Sunlogy Bhd; as well as Ng Cheng Keng, Phuah Hue Shun and K Seng Seng Corporation Bhd. Sunview noted that the disposal price represents a 65.4% premium to its original investment cost of 26 sen per share and a 16.2% premium to the stake’s net book value of 37 sen per share as at Sept 30, 2025. The company expects to recognise a disposal gain of approximately RM6.8 million upon completion. Proceeds from the transaction will mainly be channelled towards working capital and debt reduction. About RM18.1 million will be allocated for engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) projects, while RM11.8 million will be used to repay bank borrowings. Sunview invested RM18 million in Winstar Aluminium Manufacturing Sdn Bhd in 2023 and said the proposed sale allows it to unlock the value of its investment, improve cash flow, lower gearing and retain borrowing capacity for future undertakings. The group added that disposing of the shares through the open market could have exerted significant downward pressure on Winstar’s share price due to the stock’s relatively low trading liquidity. The 70.03 million shares involved are equivalent to 21.3 times Winstar’s average monthly trading volume over the past six months and 6.4 times its average monthly trading volume over the past year. The proposed disposal is subject to shareholders’ approval and is targeted for completion by the first quarter of 2027. Based on Sunview’s audited financial statements as at Sept 30, 2025, the transaction is expected to raise its net asset per share to 19 sen from 17 sen and reduce its gearing ratio to 1.58 times from 1.82 times on a pro forma basis. Sunview shares closed 0.5 sen lower at 37 sen on Monday, valuing the company at RM223.3 million. The stock has declined 5.1% over the past year. Winstar shares finished unchanged at 56.5 sen, giving it a market capitalisation of RM176.4 million, with the stock up 4.6% over the same period.

Hextar Retail Bhd is acquiring the assets of a Zok Noodle House outlet in Bandar Sunway for RM1.25 million as part of its expansion into the food and beverage (F&B) sector. The acquisition will be undertaken through Craving Hub Sdn Bhd, a 51%-owned indirect subsidiary of Hextar Retail, and covers the outlet’s inventory, equipment, licences, tenancy rights, brand goodwill, and customer database at Sunway Square. In a Bursa Malaysia filing, Hextar Retail said the purchase aligns with its strategy to diversify and strengthen its presence in the F&B business. The transaction is deemed a related-party transaction due to overlapping shareholdings and directorships, although the company said it is not expected to have a material impact on its financial position. Craving Hub is 51%-owned by Hextar F&B Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hextar Retail, while the remaining stakes are held by Zok Noodle House Sdn Bhd and Maxliaw Ventures Sdn Bhd. Zok TRX shareholder Wong Yew Loong also serves as a director of Craving Hub, while Zok TRX majority shareholder Datuk Ong Choo Meng is a substantial shareholder of Hextar Retail through Hextar Portfolio Sdn Bhd. Hextar Retail managing director Vo Nghia Huu is considered a connected person as he is Ong’s brother-in-law. The company said the RM1.25 million purchase price was determined based on the carrying value of the assets. Payment will be made within 60 days from the effective date of June 1, unless otherwise agreed by both parties. For the first quarter ended March 31, 2025 (1QFY2026), Hextar Retail recorded a net loss of RM1.32 million, widening from a net loss of RM550,000 a year earlier, despite revenue rising 96.6% to RM30.36 million. As at the end of March, the group had total assets amounting to RM201.5 million. Shares of Hextar Retail closed unchanged at 43 sen on Monday, giving the company a market capitalisation of RM215.3 million. Year-to-date, the stock has declined by 8.5%.

Indian companies have invested more than US$3 billion (RM12.18 billion) in Malaysia, creating over 30,000 direct jobs and strengthening economic ties between the two countries, according to the Consortium of Indian Industries in Malaysia (CIIM). CIIM chairman Datuk Umang Sharma said the investments have made a significant contribution to Malaysia’s economic growth and highlighted the increasing presence of Indian businesses in the country. He also credited outgoing Indian High Commissioner to Malaysia BN Reddy for supporting the Indian business community and helping deepen bilateral trade and investment relations during his tenure. Speaking at a farewell dinner hosted by CIIM in honour of Reddy and his wife Lalita Devi, Sharma described the envoy as a trusted adviser and strong advocate for closer Malaysia-India economic cooperation. Reddy, who previously served as deputy high commissioner from 2008 to 2011, played a role in advancing the Malaysia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (MICECA) and helped elevate bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The event was attended by more than 150 guests, including government officials, diplomats, business leaders, media representatives and CIIM members.

Jardine Matheson Holdings Ltd plans to repurchase US$500 million worth of its own shares by the end of next year, as part of efforts to enhance shareholder returns and support its broader business transformation. The Hong Kong-based conglomerate also aims to increase its annual dividend by at least 5% yearly through 2030 and deliver at least 9% annual growth in total shareholder returns, according to a company statement. The move marks the company’s latest step in reshaping its nearly 194-year-old business empire, shifting from a traditional long-term owner-operator model toward a more active investment approach. Led by chairman Ben Keswick and chief executive officer Lincoln Pan, Jardine has been reviewing parts of its portfolio, including potential divestments of long-held businesses such as restaurant chains, property assets, and automotive dealerships, while expanding into new sectors like healthcare and medical-related industries. The strategic overhaul comes as several major Hong Kong conglomerates reposition themselves amid changing geopolitical conditions and rapid technological advancements. Jardine said it is targeting at least US$200 million in profit after tax and minority interests from new acquisitions, focusing on market-leading Asia-Pacific companies with strong technology adoption capabilities, including artificial intelligence (AI). To fund future investments, the group plans to recycle at least US$4 billion in capital from portfolio companies by 2030, excluding contributions from its property unit and Indonesian conglomerate interests. The company has also been actively reviewing asset monetisation opportunities. Over the past year, Jardine has put more than US$1.8 billion worth of Hong Kong property assets up for sale and is exploring additional divestments, including selected commercial properties and automotive dealership operations in Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, and Singapore. The planned buyback signals Jardine’s intention to strengthen investor confidence while repositioning the group for long-term growth.

TMK Chemical Bhd has proposed to acquire Chemical Company of Malaysia Bhd (CCM) from Batu Kawan Bhd in a RM920 million cash-and-shares deal, a move that would significantly expand its business footprint and make Batu Kawan a major shareholder in the listed chemicals company. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, TMK said it had submitted a non-binding letter of intent to acquire 100% of CCM, excluding associate company Orica-CCM Energy Systems Sdn Bhd and two land parcels linked to that business. These assets will be transferred out at cost before or after the completion of the deal, subject to approvals. The proposed RM920 million purchase price will be settled through a mix of cash and newly issued TMK shares. TMK said the cash component will be funded through proceeds from its December 2024 listing, bank borrowings, and internally generated funds, while the share portion will be issued at RM1.9098 per share, based on the company’s five-day volume-weighted average price as of May 31. Upon completion, Batu Kawan is expected to own at least a 20% stake in TMK, positioning it as the company’s second-largest shareholder. The transaction is considered a related-party deal, as TMK’s largest shareholder, Datuk Lee Soon Hian, is the younger brother of Batu Kawan chairman Tan Sri Lee Oi Hian. As such, the proposal will require approval from non-interested shareholders and reviews by independent advisers. In a separate statement, Batu Kawan said its board — excluding interested directors — had agreed in principle to the offer, subject to due diligence, independent advice, and the signing of a definitive sale and purchase agreement. The proposed disposal comes around five years after Batu Kawan privatised CCM. In 2020, the group acquired a 56.32% controlling stake in CCM from Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) for RM292.8 million, before completing the privatisation in 2021. CCM manufactures a range of industrial and specialty chemicals, including chlor-alkali products, sulphur derivatives, and polymer coatings, serving industries such as water treatment, healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, and rubber. For TMK, the acquisition would mark a major expansion beyond its core chemical storage and logistics business into manufacturing, allowing it to move further up the value chain through CCM’s established production capabilities. The proposed deal also comes as Batu Kawan pursues other strategic investments, having recently acquired a 47.7% stake in MKH Bhd for RM549.8 million, triggering a mandatory general offer for the remaining shares. While the CCM acquisition remains subject to approvals and due diligence, the move signals a potential portfolio rebalancing by Batu Kawan, allowing it to monetise a mature asset while retaining exposure through a substantial stake in TMK. Both parties have agreed to a two-month exclusivity period to negotiate the deal, with due diligence expected to be completed within one month of offer acceptance.

Berjaya Assets Bhd (BAssets) has sold shares in Berjaya Corp Bhd (BCorp) and Berjaya Property Bhd to major shareholder Tan Sri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun for a total cash consideration of approximately RM20 million. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, BAssets said its wholly owned subsidiaries, Berjaya Bright Sdn Bhd and Berjaya Times Square Sdn Bhd, carried out the disposals through direct business transactions. The sale involved 59.79 million BCorp shares, representing a 1.01% stake, valued at RM14.05 million or 23.5 sen per share. Additionally, BAssets disposed of 23.8 million Berjaya Property shares, equivalent to a 0.49% stake, for RM5.95 million or 25 sen per share. Following the transactions, BAssets’ stake in BCorp declined to 1.39% from 2.39%, while its holding in Berjaya Property fell to 0.27% from 0.75%. The company said the disposal prices were based on prevailing market rates at the time of the transactions, with all shares sold free of encumbrances. According to BAssets, the move allows the group to partially realise its investments in both companies, with proceeds to be used as working capital for ongoing development projects. The company added that the disposals are not expected to materially impact its net assets, earnings, or gearing for the financial year ending June 30, 2026, and will not affect its issued share capital or substantial shareholders’ holdings.

Brrandom Founded three years ago in India and last year 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, March 2026, Brrandom Asia was founded on a conviction the industry called premature — that artificial intelligence would not merely assist marketing, but fundamentally reimagine it. Today, that conviction has become competitive reality. On its third anniversary, Brrandom  — India and Southeast Asia’s leading AI-native marketing technology company — is launching six fully integrated AI practice areas, forging strategic alliances with global AI technology leaders to deploy advanced agentic models, and announcing the establishment of new offices in Singapore and Indonesia before the close of 2026. This is not a company celebrating the past — it is a company declaring the future. Brrandom Asia Leadership Team [L-R] Sadhak Mandal (COO, India); Safder Ali (COO, Southeast Asia; Kavitha K (Chief Business Officer, Southeast Asia);  Anand Prakash (Head of Digital Growth India & South East Asia) & Avik Guha (CEO, India)  “When we started Brrandom, we were told AI in marketing was a nice-to-have. We disagreed. We believed it was the only sustainable competitive advantage a brand could build. Three years on, the market has caught up — and we are ready to lead it across the entire region,” said Avik Guha, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Brrandom. “Singapore and Indonesia are the two markets where the next decade of Southeast Asian brand growth will be won or lost. We are not entering these markets to participate — we are entering to lead. Our AI capabilities were built for exactly this scale, and this moment,” said Safder Ali, C-Founder & Chief Operating Officer, Brrandom Asia.  Six AI Practices. One Integrated Intelligence. The anniversary marks the maturation of a complete AI marketing stack — six interconnected practices that address every layer of the modern brand-building equation. AI Ad Tech — AI & Machine learning across programmatic, paid social, and search recalibrates bidding, targeting, and channel allocation in real time, driving higher return on ad spend with AI fraud detection, agentic lead generation, and full-funnel attribution. AI Retail Marketing — Real-time shopper intelligence, AI-powered SEO and AEO, footfall tracking, and a unified dashboard bridge brand equity and basket conversion across Southeast Asia’s omnichannel landscape. AI Creative Lab — Generative AI paired with human creative direction delivers high-volume, brand-consistent assets and dynamic creative optimisation that personalises in real time across video, static, and rich media. AI Data Analytics — Unified data platforms, natural-language insight generation, and predictive consumer intelligence transform fragmented signals into clear, executive-ready strategy. AI Market Mix Modelling — Always-on, machine-learning-powered econometric models account for media saturation, competitive activity, seasonality, and macroeconomic variables in real time, delivering sharper attribution and better business decisions. AI Agentic Systems — Built with global AI Agentic system for B2B & B2C, autonomous agents plan, reason, execute, and optimise campaigns end-to-end, orchestrating media, personalising customer journeys, and generating executive-ready insight continuously and at scale. Planting the Flag in Singapore and Indonesia Brrandom ‘s third anniversary is the springboard for its most significant geographic expansion to date, with new offices confirmed in two of Southeast Asia’s most pivotal markets by 2026-2027. Singapore will serve as the company’s Regional AI Centre of Excellence — housing senior client leadership, AI research capabilities, and strategic partnerships that will accelerate growth across ASEAN and beyond. Indonesia — with over 200 million internet users, the world’s fourth-largest population, and an e-commerce sector growing at extraordinary velocity — represents a high-conviction move into one of the world’s most complex and rewarding digital environments. Powered by the World’s Best Through partnerships with global leaders in large language models, autonomous agent frameworks, and enterprise AI infrastructure, Brrandom  is embedding next-generation agentic AI across its stack — autonomous systems that orchestrate campaigns, monitor competitive signals, personalise customer journeys, and synthesise performance intelligence at scale. AI challenge We see AI as a creative catalyst, not a creative substitute. Its role is to eliminate limitations, while human talent continues to provide vision, emotion, and originality. At Brrandom, we believe AI should automate the process, not the purpose. Because great ideas will always begin and end with people – Avik Guha, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Brrandom. Leadership Update: In 2026, Brrandom Asia’s CEO Amol Deelip Kale stepped down from his role. Safder Ali, previously Chief Operating Officer, has since assumed expanded leadership responsibility as COO, South East Asia, steering the agency’s regional growth and operations going forward. Rafidah Binti Rozally ( Director Brrandom Asia ) – We bid a heartfelt farewell to Amol Deelip Kale, who has stepped down as Chief Executive Officer of Brrandom Asia in 2026 , We congratulate Safder on this well-deserved recognition and look forward to the next chapter of growth under his stewardship.

Duopharma Biotech Bhd, whose shares have fallen 22% since mid-February, said its unit has secured a RM155.28 million contract to supply insulin products to public hospitals and clinics nationwide. In a filing on Tuesday, the pharmaceutical group said the government has accepted the tender submitted by its wholly owned subsidiary Duopharma (M) Sdn Bhd (DMSB) and issued a letter of award (LOA) for the contract. The supply covers recombinant human insulin 100 IU/ml Penfill/Refill, including short-, intermediate- and premixed-acting formulations, as well as reusable insulin pens. The contract runs for three years, from June 3, 2026 to June 2, 2029. Under the terms of the award, DMSB is required to provide an irrevocable performance bond of RM2.59 million within 30 days of accepting the LOA. The company must also ensure timely delivery and compliance with government-set quality specifications, with penalties or order cancellations applicable in cases of non-compliance or delays. The agreement also allows for termination under certain conditions, including failure to submit the performance bond, supply delays, breach of tender requirements, unauthorised equity changes, or reasons related to public interest, security, or national interest. Duopharma noted that Malaysia has an estimated 4.75 million diabetics, with around 450,000 patients receiving recombinant human insulin treatment at government healthcare facilities. The group said the contract is expected to contribute positively to earnings over its duration. Duopharma, in which Permodalan Nasional Bhd holds a 44.11% stake, is a long-standing supplier of human insulin to the government and the primary distributor for Biocon Biologics, which manufactures insulin in Johor. The group previously supplied about 80% of government insulin demand, while the remainder was supplied by Novo Nordisk, which exited the human insulin market in 2024, leaving Duopharma as the sole supplier. Duopharma shares closed unchanged at RM1.21, giving the company a market capitalisation of RM1.16 billion.

Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation, is investing US$63 million (RM255.8 million) to expand its maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facility at the Subang Aerotech Park, significantly increasing its operational capacity in Malaysia. Collins Aerospace president Irene Markis. The expansion will quadruple the facility’s footprint from 46,000 square feet to 164,000 square feet, making it the largest MRO facility of its kind in the region. According to Collins Aerospace president Irene Markis, the expansion is aimed at capturing rising demand from the fast-growing Asia-Pacific aviation sector. She noted that the Asia-Pacific region is currently the fastest-growing aviation market globally, with the majority of its population yet to take their first flight. Over the next two decades, the global aircraft fleet is expected to grow from 30,000 to more than 45,000 aircraft, with Asia-Pacific expected to drive a significant share of that expansion. The expanded Subang facility will provide maintenance, repair and overhaul services for aircraft including the Boeing 787, Boeing 777 and Airbus A330, along with their associated systems. Services will cater not only to Malaysia and neighbouring markets but also to wider international clients. While the facility was officially launched on Tuesday, full transition into the expanded operations is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Talent expansion and Malaysia’s role Markis said Malaysia was chosen for the expansion due to Collins Aerospace’s more than 30 years of operations in the country, as well as the adaptability and technical capability of local talent in adopting advanced technologies. Currently, the Subang MRO facility employs about 150 people, with headcount expected to increase by 30% to 50% over the next five to 10 years as operations scale up. Minister of Transport Anthony Loke Siew Fook highlighted ongoing government efforts to support the industry, including a memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Defence to reskill retired Royal Malaysian Air Force personnel for roles in the aerospace sector. He noted that these experienced personnel, many of whom are in their early 40s, represent a ready talent pool to support the industry’s expansion. “We have a ready workforce who have just retired and are in their early 40s who can come to fill these jobs. So bring in more investment, bring more jobs. We will have people ready for you,” he said.

AMMB Holdings Bhd is acquiring its corporate headquarters, Menara AmBank on Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, for RM331 million in cash through a related-party transaction, a move aimed at securing its long-term office requirements and reducing future rental costs. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the banking group said its wholly owned subsidiary, AmBank (M) Bhd, has entered into a sale and purchase agreement with Maybank Trustees Bhd, acting on behalf of AmFIRST Real Estate Investment Trust (AmFIRST REIT), the current owner of the property. The 46-storey freehold office tower has a net lettable area of 453,419 square feet and an occupancy rate of 77.8%, with AmBank serving as the anchor tenant and occupying 65.6% of the building. As part of the acquisition, AmBank will assume the existing tenancies and licences covering approximately 12.2% of the building’s net lettable area, while the remaining vacant space will provide opportunities for future expansion or operational consolidation. The group said owning Menara AmBank will help secure its long-term office tenure while potentially mitigating increases in occupancy-related costs. The transaction is classified as a related-party deal due to overlapping ownership interests between AMMB and AmFIRST REIT. AmREIT Managers Sdn Bhd, the manager of AmFIRST REIT, is wholly owned by AmREIT Holdings Sdn Bhd, of which 70% is owned by AmInvestment Group Bhd, a wholly owned subsidiary of AMMB. The remaining 30% stake is held by Amcorp Properties Bhd, a unit of AMMB’s major shareholder, Amcorp Group Bhd. Tan Sri Azman Hashim, chairman emeritus and honorary adviser of AMMB, is an indirect major shareholder of both AMMB and the REIT manager through his interests in Amcorp Group. He is also a director of Yayasan Azman Hashim, a substantial unitholder of AmFIRST REIT. In addition, AmBank holds a 26.73% stake in AmFIRST REIT, making it one of the trust’s major unitholders. AMMB said the RM331 million purchase price was agreed on a willing buyer-willing seller basis after taking into account an independent market valuation of RM333 million. The acquisition will be funded through internally generated funds and is not expected to have a material impact on the group’s earnings, net assets or gearing for the financial year ending March 31, 2027. As at end-March, the group had RM6.82 billion in cash and short-term funds. The transaction is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2026. Shares of AMMB closed 10 sen lower at RM6.45 on Monday, giving the banking group a market capitalisation of RM21.38 billion.