KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 3): Based on corporate announcements and filings to Bursa Malaysia today, companies that will be in focus tomorrow (Thursday, Feb 4) may include: AirAsia, RCE Capital, Comintel, Asia Media, Selangor Properties, MyEG, Wing Tai, Ikhmas Jaya, Westports, Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering (MHB), Public Bank and Axiata.

AirAsia Bhd is increasing its stake in Think BIG Digital Sdn Bhd (Think BIG) to 71.9%, from 46.1% currently, after acquiring a 25.8% stake (2.07 million shares) from its affiliate Tune Money International Sdn Bhd (TMI) for RM101.5 million or RM49 per share.

The budget carrier told Bursa Malaysia this will improve AirAsia’s topline. The deal also promises high returns on investment. The acquisition will be satisfied with AirAsia’s internally-available funds.

The transaction is a related party transaction, as two of TMI’s shareholders and directors, Tan Sri Anthony Fernandes and Datuk Kamarudin Meranun, who is also AirAsia executive chairman, are shareholders and directors in AirAsia. Upon acquisition, TMI’s stake will be reduced to 11.1% from 36.9%.

RCE Capital Bhd’s net profit went up more than four times to RM13 million in the third quarter ended 31 Dec 2015 (3QFY16), from RM3.13 million a year ago, as its revenue rose 23.9% to RM41.55 million, primarily driven by higher interest income.

The favourable results were also because of a RM1.9 million net gain on disposal of an investment property, its bourse filing today showed. RCE also noted that the last corresponding quarter's net profit came in after taking into consideration the preference share dividend paid.

For the cumulative nine months (9MFY16), the group’s net profit more than doubled to RM32.66 million, from RM15.65 million in 9MFY15; while its revenue rose 22.6% to RM118.08 million, from RM96.3 million, primarily driven by higher interest income, as the loan base grew by 16.9% to RM1.362 billion, from RM1.165 billion.

Comintel Corp Bhd (Comcorp) has entered in a share purchase agreement with SELEX to acquire 450,000 shares, representing a 30% stake in Comlenia Sdn Bhd, in which it already holds a 70% stake.

The IT solution provider told the bourse that the proposed acquisition is consistent with the company’s long term business plan to strengthen its system integration and defence maintenance segments to cater to the needs in this niche market.

Comlenia is principally engaged in the provision of electronic systems testing and repair, development of test programs and the provision of integrated logistic support.

Asia Media Group Bhd is partnering Sarawak's Land and Development Authority (Pelita) to plant oil palm in Sarikei, Sarawak, as part of its business diversification plan.

The media and infotainment provider told the exchange that its wholly-owned unit DPO Plantations Sdn Bhd has entered into a joint venture (JV) agreement with Pelita Holdings Sdn Bhd (PHSB), which is nominated by the state government, to set up a JV company (JVC).

It sees the proposed JV as a new business opportunity, as it will venture into upstream palm oil industry, which involves the palm plantations, estate management and cultivation of oil palm crops.

"The sale of fresh fruit bunches (FFB) harvested from mature oil palm crops to third party mills for processing is expected to provide an additional source of income to the group," it added.

DPO Plantations received an approval letter from the Sarawak Land Ministry on Sept 15 last year to be the appointed investor to develop the state's native customary rights (NCR) land in Loba Bunut, Bintangor, in Sarikei, into oil palm plantations, via JV, with Pelita and NCR landowners.

PHSB acts as a trustee for and on behalf of NCR landowners for the development. DPO shall hold a 60% stake in the JVC, while the remainder 40% will be held by PHSB, of which 3/4 of the stake will be held in trust for NCR landowners.

According to Asia Media, it will procure the alienation of the NCR land to the JVC for 60 years and fix a value of RM1,500 per ha.

Selangor Properties Bhd has acquired four parcels of land measuring 5,253 square metres in total in Kuala Lumpur for RM32.2 million, to develop high-end villas.

The group told the bourse that the acquisition will enable it to have an amalgamated or enlarged parcel of land which affords better land use and better planning development, as the land is contiguous with the company's existing land held.

Based on a preliminary plan, the proposed development on the land together with the company's existing land will comprise 124 units of high-end stratified villas, with 446 units of basement car park, which will complement the company's other development project in a high-end condominium across that area.

My E.G. Services Bhd (MyEG) has been granted a licence by the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to provide courier services for three years from Jan 1.

The group told Bursa Malaysia that the licence, which was granted pursuant to the Postal Service Act, 1991, is subject to annual renewal with the MCMC.

The licence would enable the group to expand its e-fulfillment service, which uses its own proprietary biometric verification technology, and is expected to contribute positively to the future earnings and net assets of MyEG and its subsidiaries.

Wing Tai Malaysia Bhd’s net profit jumped 57.2% to RM19.79 million in the second quarter ended Dec 31, 2015 (2QFY16), from RM12.59 million a year ago, mainly due to the recognition of net claims against contractor arising from the settlement of final contract accounts for one of its subsidiary's completed projects.

According to its quarterly report, Wing Tai revealed that its revenue for 2QFY16 fell by 8.57% to RM76.60 million from RM83.79 million in 2QFY15, due to lower revenue recognition for its Jesselton Hills Phase 2 project.

In the first half of FY16 (1HFY16), the group's net profit declined by 49.04% to RM22.33 million or 5.3 sen per share, from RM43.82 million or 13.65 sen per share a year ago; revenue decreased by 9.55% to RM150.88 million, from RM166.81 million in 1HFY15.

Ikhmas Jaya Group Bhd has been awarded a sub-contract project worth RM65.3 million for the construction of a bridge in Melaka, from Kayangan Kemas Sdn Bhd.

The group told the bourse that the 18-month sub-contract work is expected to commence on March 2016 and be completed by Aug 2017.

“The project is expected to contribute positively to Ikhmas’s earnings and net assets for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2016,” it said.

Westports Holdings Bhd's net profit slipped 5.2% to RM132.55 million for the fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2015 (4QFY15), from RM139.8 million a year ago, due to higher tax expense.

The port operator told Bursa Malaysia that its tax expense came in 14 times higher in 4QFY15 at RM33.62 million, compared with RM2.37 million in 4QFY14.

Revenue for 4QFY15, however, grew 24.1% to RM477 million, from RM384.49 million in 4QFY14.

Westports also declared a second interim dividend of 5.78 sen per share for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2015 (FY15).

For the 12 months ended Dec 31, 2015 (FY15), Westports' net profit slipped 1.4% to RM504.86 million, from RM512.21 million, though revenue rose 7.7% to RM1.68 billion, from RM1.56 billion, on improved contributions from both the container and conventional operations.

Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Bhd (MHB) posted a net loss of RM27.13 million for the fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2015 (4QFY15), compared to a net profit of RM16.48 million a year ago, after recognising impairment loss for both goodwill and assets, amounting to RM99.8 million.

The offshore and marine services provider told the bourse that the impairment loss for goodwill and assets were RM62.8 million and RM37 million respectively.

The group's net loss for the period was despite registering a revenue of RM721.14 million, 41.9% higher than the RM508.34 million recorded in previous year's corresponding quarter.

For the full year (FY15), MHB attained a net profit of RM43.89 million, just about one-third of the RM129.93 million it registered in FY14. Revenue also dipped to RM2.46 billion, from RM2.7 billion registered in FY14.

Public Bank Bhd’s net profit rose 19.2% year-on-year to RM1.49 billion in the fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2015 (4QFY15), from RM1.25 billion a year ago, mainly due to the net write-back of loan impairment allowances, higher net interest income and higher other operating income.

Revenue increased 8.83% to RM4.93 billion in 4QFY15, from RM4.53 billion in the previous corresponding quarter, its bourse filing showed.

The bank declared a second interim dividend of 32 sen, payable on March 1, 2016. Full year dividend for 2015 amounted to 56 sen.

Meanwhile, its full year (FY15) net profit climbed 11.95% to RM5.06 billion, from RM4.52 billion in FY14, while revenue jumped 13.76% to RM19.18 billion, from RM16.86 billion in FY14.

Celcom Axiata Bhd has received notice from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) that its spectrum allocation will be lowered to 2x10MHz in the 900MHz band, and to 2x20MHz in the 1800MHz band by 2017.

Celcom's holding company, Axiata Group Bhd, told Bursa Malaysia that the frequency band of 890MHz to 900MHz paired with 935MHz to 945MHz will be assigned by July 1, 2017; and the 1745MHz to 1765MHz paired with the 1840MHz to 1860MHz frequency will be allocated by Jan 1, 2017.

Based on the notice from MCMC, Celcom's spectrum allocation, compared to the current allocation, will be lowered from 2x17MHz to 2x10MHz in the 900MHz band, and from 2x25MHz to 2x20MHz in the 1800MHz band.