KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 31): Based on corporate announcements and news flow today, stocks in focus on Thursday (Nov 1) may include: UMW Holdings Bhd, Serba Dinamik Holdings Bhd, TMC Life Sciences Bhd, Tatt Giap Group Bhd, Petronas Dagangan Bhd, Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Bhd, Taliworks Corp Bhd, Vertice Bhd, Heineken Malaysia Bhd, CIMB Group Holdings Bhd, Excel Force MSC Bhd, Eita Resources Bhd and Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd. 

UMW Holdings Bhd said today that it will no longer be pursuing the proposed acquisition of a 50.07% stake in MBM Resources Bhd (MBMR) and the resultant proposed mandatory takeover offer (MGO). 

The conglomerate is also giving up its takeover bid for a 10% stake in Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (Perodua) and a proposed renounceable rights issue to raise gross proceeds of up to RM1.1 billion.  

Serba Dinamik Holdings Bhd is acquiring a 42.26% stake in loss-making E&E Gas Sdn Bhd (EGSB), together with 10.45 million redeemable convertible preference shares (RCPS), for a combined RM26.44 million.

Its wholly-owned subsidiary Serba Dinamik Sdn Bhd (SDSB) was awarded an engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) contract worth RM332.8 million by EGSB for onshore LNG distribution infrastructure facilities in Lumut, Perak.

TMC Life Sciences Bhd has awarded a RM48.7 million contract to Putra Perdana Construction Sdn Bhd to undertake piling works for construction of the 33-storey Thomson Iskandar Medical Hub in Johor Baru. 

TMC said its wholly-owned subsidiary BB Waterfront Sdn Bhd has awarded the contract, which is for a period of 40 weeks, with completion by Sept 2, 2019. 

Tatt Giap Group Bhd has bagged four contracts worth a combined RM67 million from Dynaciate Engineering Sdn Bhd to undertake various sub-contracting works.

Tatt Giap said its wholly-owned subsidiary Superinox Pipe Industry Sdn Bhd had received the four letters of awards from Dynaciate for the project works which range from civil and main mechanical, to piping fabrication and installation works. 

Petronas Dagangan Bhd has cancelled the implemented price hike on its Gas Petronas Home Delivery (GPHD) service, after acknowledging the public's concerns.

The company's U-turn came after it released a clarification earlier today that the home delivery charges had been revised in line with the market rate, from RM3.20 for 12kg and 14kg cylinders previously, to RM8.20 for 12kg cylinders and RM8.40 for 14kg cylinders. 

Perusahaan Sadur Timah Malaysia (Perstima) Bhd plans to set up a new plant for the manufacturing of tinplate and tin-free steel in the Philippines.

This is subject to approval of local authorities in the Philippines.

Perstima said it has conducted a feasibility study on the market in the Philippines and has found there is currently no existing tinplate and tin-free steel manufacturer there. 

Taliworks Corp Bhd has bagged a RM42.36 million contract from Setia Haruman Sdn Bhd to build a reservoir called 76ML R.C. Reservoir R4 and to undertake related ancillary works at Cyberjaya, Selangor.

Its wholly-owned subsidiary Taliworks Construction Sdn Bhd has accepted the letter of award from Setia Haruman for the proposed project, which will commence on Nov 15 this year, with completion on Nov 14, 2021.

Vertice Bhd announced today that its unit has secured a sub-contract job worth RM25 million, involving modification works at the musical amphitheatre Arena of Stars in Genting Highlands, Pahang. 

The subcontract, comprising roof covering and acoustic works at the theatre, will be undertaken from Nov 1, 2018 to April 21, 2019.

Higher volume sales ahead of the reintroduction of the Sales and Services Tax (SST) boosted Heineken Malaysia Bhd’s net profit by a fifth to RM78.9 million in the third-quarter ended Sept 30, compared with RM65.9 million a year earlier. 

Revenue was 3.3% higher at RM512 million from RM495.5 million previously, mainly owing to an increase in sales volume ahead of the implementation of the SST in September. 

Growth in non-interest income (NIM) and a decline in provisions boosted the net profit of PT Bank CIMB Niaga Tbk by 18% to 2.6 trillion rupiah (RM 715.7 million) for the first nine months ended Sept 30, 2018, from 2.2 trillion rupiah in the corresponding period last year.

The 92.5%-owned Indonesian banking unit of CIMB Group Holdings Bhd said the stronger net profit was because of a 23.6% year-on-year growth in non-interest income to 2.9 trillion rupiah and a 26.8% decline in provision expenses.

Datuk Mohd Fauzi Yaakub has ceased from being chief executive officer of Excel Force MSC Bhd effective today.

This was due to the early end of his service contract, the group said without further explanation.

Eita Resources Bhd has bagged its fourth contract from Tenaga Nasional Bhd to carry out a double circuit 132 kilovolt (kV) underground cable project in Melaka worth RM48.94 million.

Its 60%-owned unit TransSystem Continental Sdn Bhd (TSC) had received a letter of acceptance for the project, which runs from Pencawang Masuk Utama (PMU) Ujong Pasir to PMU Pulau Melaka.

Talks have fallen through for Kenanga Investment Bank Bhd to acquire Inter-Pacific Securities Sdn Bhd (Interpac), as both firms mutually agreed to terminate the proposed acquisition.

Kenanga IB had announced its intention to acquire Interpac— which is part of Berjaya Corp Bhd — in May this year, after receiving approval from Bank Negara Malaysia to engage in discussions.