KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 18): Based on corporate announcements and news flow on Friday, companies in focus on Monday (Feb 21) may include: Axiata Group Bhd, Digi.com Bhd, Maxis Bhd, Hock Seng Lee Bhd, Solution Group Bhd, Jerasia Capital Bhd, Sime Darby Plantation Bhd, Inari Amerton Bhd, KPJ Healthcare Bhd, Malaysia Smelting Corp Bhd and Petra Energy Bhd.

Four mobile network operators (MNOs) — Celcom Axiata Bhd, Digi.com Bhd, Maxis Bhd and U Mobile Sdn Bhd — have recommended that the government allow a dual wholesale network (DWN) model which will be developed and operated by two consortiums involving the government, Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB), and MNOs who are ready to invest.

The MNOs said they have submitted their proposal for the establishment of DWN in a joint statement on Friday (Feb 18).

Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) has advised investors to accept the takeover offer for Hock Seng Lee Bhd (HSL) at RM1.35 per share.

HLIB said it views this development positively as the current offer price of RM1.35 is 25% above its previous target price (TP) of RM1.08 and represents a 23% premium to KL Construction Index’s trading P/E multiple which it deems to be stretched valuations, considering that HSL is a small cap contractor.

Solution Group Bhd announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary Solution Biologics Sdn Bhd (SOLBIO) has received the Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) approval from the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) to commence local formulation, filling and finishing of CanSino's single-dose vaccine Convidecia in Malaysia.  

With this approval, Malaysia will become the regional filling and finishing centre for CanSino to supply the Convidecia finished product to the region.

The facility is located in Technology Park Malaysia in Bukit Jalil, which is capable of producing up to three million vaccine vials per month or the equivalent of up to 36 million vials per year.

PN17 company Jerasia Capital Bhd (JCB) said its wholly-owned subsidiary Jerasia Apparel Sdn Bhd (JASB) has received a winding-up petition from AmBank (M) Bhd over unpaid debts amounting to RM22.39 million.

The RM22.39 million sum comprises RM3.03 million of revolving credit facilities, RM16.67 million in banker acceptance and invoice financing, RM1.02 million in bank guarantees and RM7,500 in legal cost.

Sime Darby Plantation Bhd's net profit more than tripled to RM468 million in the fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2021 (4QFY21), compared with RM149 million a year ago, driven by both upstream and downstream segments.

Quarterly revenue jumped 52.51% to RM5.55 billion from RM3.64 billion in 4QFY20. It also declared a final dividend of 12.38 sen per share, more than double the 5.42 sen dividend paid in the previous year.

Inari Amertron Bhd's net profit jumped 19% to RM107.3 million for the second quarter ended Dec 31, 2021 (2QFY22) from RM90.1 million a year ago, mainly from a 11% growth in revenue from RM 376.83 million last year to RM420.26 million this year.

Inari Amertron declared a second interim dividend of 2.8 sen per share, payable on April 8; the ex-date is March 17.

KPJ Healthcare Bhd posted a 27% drop in net profit for the fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2021 (4QFY21) to RM18.46 million from RM25.29 million despite recording an 11% improvement in revenue to RM689.12 million from RM622.34 million in 4QFY20, on the back of higher patient numbers.

KPJ declared a single-tier interim dividend of 0.2 sen per share, to be paid on April 22 with an ex-date of March 30.

Malaysia Smelting Corp Bhd saw its net profit for the fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2021 (4QFY21) rise more than four times to RM64.07 million from RM14.92 million a year ago.

Revenue rose 9.67% to RM255.06 million from RM232.57 million in 4QFY20, while earnings per share leapt to 15.30 sen from 3.70 sen.

A first and final single-tier dividend of seven sen per share was proposed for 4QFY21, compared with one sen per share in FY20.

Petra Energy Bhd reported a 20% improvement in net profit of RM12.54 million from RM10.48 million for its fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2021 (4QFY21). Quarterly revenue was lower by 41% at RM77.33 million from RM131.77 million last year.

The oil & gas company declared a single-tier interim dividend of two sen per share for its financial year ended Dec 31, 2021 (FY21) to be paid on April 15, with an ex-date of March 21.