DiGi, TNB, Advancecon, Duopharma Biotech, Pharmaniaga, Konsortium Transnasional, HB Global and Berjaya Media

KUALA LUMPUR (July 14): Based on the corporate announcements and news flow today, companies that are expected to be in focus tomorrow (July 15) may include: DiGi.Com Bhd, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), Advancecon Holdings Bhd, Duopharma Biotech Bhd, Pharmaniaga Holdings Bhd, Konsortium Transnasional Bhd (KTB), HB Global Ltd and Berjaya Media Bhd (BMedia).

DiGi.Com Bhdnet profit fell 26.6% to RM288.04 million in the second quarter ended June 30, 2020 (2QFY20) from RM392.48 million a year earlier due to the impact of the Covid-19 outbreak. Revenue fell to RM1.45 billion in 2QFY20 from RM1.55 billion.

Despite registering lower net profit and revenue, DiGi declared an interim tax-exempt dividend of 3.7 sen a share for 2QFY20.

For the first half (1HFY20), the telco’s cumulative net profit dropped to RM620.03 million, from RM733.98 million a year earlier, while revenue was lower at RM3.01 billion versus RM3.06 billion.

Tenaga Nasional Bhd(TNB) said it has received a notice of additional assessment for the year of assessment 2018 amounting to RM1.81 billion from the Inland Revenue Board (IRB).

Advancecon Holdings Bhd’s unit Advancecon Infra Sdn Bhd (AISB) has bagged a RM19.85 million contract to undertake earthworks and other related works at Sime Darby Property Bhd’s Bandar Bukit Raja 2 development in Klang, Selangor. The group's orderbook now, which stands at RM722.3 million, provides earnings visibility for at least 24 months, while it continues tendering for new jobs, said Advancecon Chief Executive Officer Datuk Phum Ang Kia.

Duopharma Biotech BhdandPharmaniaga Holdings Bhdwill be undertaking the fill and finish processes for the Covid-19 vaccine, once a vaccine is developed, said Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

"We will be purchasing the vaccine overseas, either from China, the US or the UK, in bulk, and we will be doing the bottling process here," he said in a press conference in Parliament.

Khairy explained that the two companies were chosen as both are government-linked — Duopharma is owned by Permodalan Nasional Bhd and Pharmaniaga is owned by Boustead Holdings Bhd — and currently have unused capacity that can be directed towards this purpose.

Practice Note 17 companyKonsortium Transnasional Bhd’s (KTB) is expected to suffer from a massive drop in revenue in 2020 due to the movement control order (MCO, resulting from rising cancellations and passenger refunds, according to its chairman Tan Sri Dr Mohd Nadzmi Salleh statement in KTB's annual report released today.

Today, it also issued its first quarter ended March 31, 2020 (1QFY20) result. It slipped into red with a net loss of RM12.08 million against a net profit of RM402,200 on lower revenue. Revenue for the quarter tumbled 41% to RM21.28 million from RM36.07 million a year ago.

Meanwhile, KTB’s external auditor Messrs Al Jafree Salihin Kuzaimi PLT has pointed out a material uncertainty with regard to its financial statements for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2019 (FY19), which could raise doubt over the group's ability to continue as a going concern. The auditor stated that KTB’s current liabilities had exceeded its current assets by RM70.33 million in FY19.

HB Global Ltd, a China-based frozen food maker, said Keh Chuan Seng has emerged as its largest shareholder in the company, after acquiring 150 million shares yesterday.

The acquired shares represent a stake of 32.05% — less than 1% from the 33% level that would trigger a mandatory general offer (MGO). Keh’s background is not known at the moment.

Based onBloombergdata, the block trade was transacted at two sen per share, a discount of 84% to its closing price of 13 sen yesterday. The stake is thus valued at RM3 million.

Berjaya Media Bhd(BMedia) will be delisted from the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia on Friday, after Bursa Securities dismissed its appeal for an extension of time to submit its regularisation plan.