Notable filings
FOR the week ended Dec 22, notable filings on shareholding changes include plantation tycoon Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng’s accumulation of more shares in IOI Properties Group Bhd.

A Dec 18 filing with Bursa Malaysia shows that Lee, the founder and controlling shareholder of IOI Properties, bought 32.5 million shares on Dec 14 and 15 at RM1.954 apiece directly. Between Dec 18 and Dec 20, he bought 49.8 million shares at RM1.80 to RM1.93 apiece, according to the latest filing dated Dec 21.

The purchases increased the tycoon’s direct stake to 2.39%. He holds an indirect stake of 60.78% in the property group, which also has a presence in Singapore.

At APFT Bhd, substantial shareholder Low Teh Beng continued to trim his equity interest in the company. Filings dated Dec 21 and 22 reveal that Low sold 24.03 million shares, or a 1.93% stake, in the loss-making company. Low still has 79.25 million shares.

Private equity firm Fajar Astoria Sdn Bhd bought a total of 54.65 million shares in Hovid Bhd through the takeover bid it launched with the pharmaceutical firm’s controlling shareholder David Ho.

As at Dec 21, the duo had managed to accumulate 283.24 million shares, or a 34.5% stake, at 38 sen per share. The takeover offer turned unconditional on Dec 20. The offeror has garnered a shareholding of 68.02%.

The closing date for the acceptance of the offer, which has been extended several times, is Jan 12.

China-based Maxwell International Holdings Bhd’s biggest shareholder, Li Kwai Chun, sold 13.62 million shares at 1.5 sen apiece on Dec 19, leaving her with 127 million shares. The sports shoe maker’s market capitalisation shrank to barely RM6 million based on last Friday’s closing of 1.5 sen.

At MQ Technology Bhd, its second largest shareholder Teh Eng Huat disposed of 17 million shares on Dec 20. Teh’s shareholding now stands at 22 million shares, or 5.3% equity interest.

Tatt Giap Group Bhd’s second-largest shareholder, Giapxin Sdn Bhd, sold some 3.4 million shares in the company on Dec 18, according a filing with Bursa. Meanwhile, property magnate Tan Sri Ooi Kee Liang emerged as the third-largest shareholder of the steel maker after acquiring a 7.62% stake from its founder and executive chairman Datuk Siah Kok Poay.

Notable movements

Mynews Holdings Bhd’s share price has been on a steady climb, moving from 80 sen to a record high of RM1.49 on Dec 18. The stock gained 72.5% in 2018. Although its market capitalisation ballooned to RM982.3 million, based on last Friday’s closing of RM1.44, it is still a lot lower than 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings Bhd’s RM1.71 billion.

Controlling shareholder D&D Consolidated Sdn Bhd sold 15 million shares in Mynews, formerly known as Bison Consolidated Bhd, on Dec 21.

Vitrox Corp Bhd shareholder Chu Jenn Weng disposed of 1.11 million shares on Dec 15, shortly before the share price hit a record high of RM6.475 on Dec 21. The share price, which has been riding on the bullish sentiment on semiconductor sector, rocketed 235% in 2018.

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