KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 17): NWP Holdings Bhd said on Monday (Jan 17) that the timber product manufacturer and trader had resolved to terminate the services of its share registrar One Capital Market Services Sdn Bhd with immediate effect, to preserve the integrity of NWP’s record of depositors (ROD), which NWP claimed have been leaked to third parties on Jan 10 without NWP’s knowledge, consent and authorisation.
In filings with Bursa Malaysia on Monday, NWP said it had commenced investigation as to how and in what manner the third parties had access to the full copy of NWP's ROD, which contains NWP shareholders' personal information such as their full names, central depository system account numbers, identity card numbers and addresses.
"The board of directors of NWP wishes to announce that the company had on 16 January 2022, discovered that the company’s ROD as at 10 January 2022 had been leaked to 3rd parties without the knowledge, consent and authorisation of the company.
"As per the company’s record, the company had never received any request for such ROD from the 3rd parties, nor had authorised the furnishing of the ROD to any of the 3rd parties.
"In the interim, the company had written to One Capital Market Services, Affin Hwang Nominees (Tempatan) Sdn Bhd Pledged Securities Account for Datuk Tan Lik Houe, and Maybank Nominees (Tempatan) Sdn Bhd Pledged Securities Account for Chang Huan Soon, to demand for written explanations.
"The company will also engage with the regulators and authorities for further action upon completion of the investigation,” NWP said.
According to NWP, the company will make a separate announcement in due course on NWP's decision to terminate the services of One Capital Market Services.
"Any request, handling and furnishing of the ROD is governed by (the) Securities Industry (Central Depositories) Act 1991 and the company (NWP) shall take stern action against anyone who had violated the same,” NWP said.
At the time of writing, One Capital Market Services had not issued a statement on the termination of its services by NWP.
One Capital Market Services wrote on its website that the organisation is led and staffed by professionals who have spent years providing share registry services, issuing house, annual and extraordinary general
"Our workforce is experienced in providing timely, efficient and investor-friendly registry services. We will give our assurance to our clients of continuous high service quality and technical expertise,” One Capital Market Services claimed.
NWP said that following the termination of services of One Capital Market Services, NWP had appointed on Monday Aldpro Corporate Services Sdn Bhd as its new share registrar.
Prior to the termination, NWP had on Nov 12, 2021 appointed One Capital Market Services as share registrar, according to NWP’s Bursa filing then.
Meanwhile, NWP alleged that the notice dated Dec 30, 2021 on Tan’s ownership of a direct 5.055% stake comprising 26.61 million shares in NWP is false and misleading, as Tan had never been the registered holder of the shares.
"As such, the company (NWP) had instructed its solicitors to demand (Tan) to rectify the notice,” NWP said.
At the time of writing, Tan had not issued a statement in response to NWP’s allegations.
NWP’s Bursa filing on Dec 30, 2021 indicated that Tan’s direct stake in NWP followed acquisition of NWP shares on the open market on that day.
On Monday, NWP’s share price closed down 2.5 sen or 12.5% at 17.5 sen for a market capitalisation of about RM88.38 million.
NWP has 505.04 million issued shares.