This article first appeared in Capital, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on January 8, 2018 - January 14, 2018

Notable filings

OVER the Dec 26 to 28 period, among the notable changes in shareholding was that at Tatt Giap Group Bhd. Tan Sri Alex Ooi Kee Liang surfaced as a substantial shareholder after acquiring 13 million shares, nudging up his shareholding to 21.4 million or 12.54% equity interest.

He acquired the 13 million shares from the steel manufacturer’s chairman and president Datuk Steven Siah Kok Poay for RM1.56 million or 12 sen apiece. Siah is now left with an indirect interest of 13.19% or almost 22.5 million shares.

As at Aug 22 last year, he had indirect interest of 33.69% or 52.26 million shares via Giapxin Sdn Bhd. During the period under review, Giapxin sold 21.36 million shares.

Ooi was previously the executive chairman of Ideal Property Group.

It is not clear what Ooi has planned for Tatt Giap, which has suffered losses for the last five financial years. The company’s share price closed at 17 sen last Wednesday, giving it a market capitalisation of RM29 million.

At Diversified Gateway Solutions Bhd, substantial shareholder Omesti Holdings Bhd sold 50 million shares or 3.68% stake, trimming its shareholding in the integrated business solutions service provider to 18.38% or 249.16 million shares.

Omesti has been selling its shareholding in the company for a few months. At end-October last year, it had a 43.45% stake or 589.16 million shares. Diversified Gateway’s shares were trading at about five sen apiece then but has since gained considerably to close at 14 sen last Wednesday.

Privately held Noble Summer Sdn Bhd bought 1.97 million shares in tile manufacturer Seacera Group Bhd, nudging up its shareholding to 8.47%.

Noble Summer is the vehicle of Datuk Mansor Masikon, the chairman and non-executive director of Seacera. Other substantial shareholders include Seacera’s managing director Zulkarnin Ariffin, who has a 16% stake.

Since mid-November last year, Seacera’s shares have gained some upward momentum and strengthened about 25% to close at 91.5 sen last Wednesday.

At APFT Bhd, substantial shareholder Low Teh Beng sold 11.5 million shares, trimming his stake to 5.47% or 67.75 million shares. He became a substantial shareholder after a private placement of 103.26 million shares or 8.33% equity interest in mid-December last year.

APFT runs the Asia Pacific Flight Training Academy and operates out of three commercial airports in Malaysia. Its Simulator Centre has two flight simulators.

Its shares closed at three sen last Wednesday.

Notable movements

Sapura Energy Bhd’s shares declined 45% from early December last year to close at 69 sen last Wednesday.

Much of the losses were a result of the company announcing a net loss of RM274.41 million for its third financial quarter ended Oct 31, 2017.

During the period under review, Skim Amanah Saham Bumiputera sold five million shares, cutting its shareholding in the integrated oil and gas services company to 403.02 million shares or 6.73% equity interest. Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan), or KWAP, sold 379,200 shares in Sapura Energy, cutting its stake to 5.57% or 394.31 million shares.

However, the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) was actively buying the stock. The fund was a net buyer, acquiring 4.76 million shares to increase its shareholding to 690.56 million shares or a 11.52% stake.

Media Prima Bhd’s stock has gained more than 20% since the end of December, closing at 71.5 sen last Wednesday. Over 2017, Media Prima’s share price fell more than 40% to hit a 52-week low of 58.5 sen in mid-December.

Morgan Stanley & Co LLC has been actively buying Media Prima’s shares, mopping up 2.15 million shares during the period under review to increase its shareholding to 131.11 million shares or 11.82% equity interest.

New York-based Morgan Stanley first surfaced as a substantial shareholder in Media Prima in early April last year with a 5.05% stake or 56 million shares.

However, it is not known whether the share purchases are under a nominee account or for portfolio investment.

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