MSWG’S QUICK TAKE ON-ONGOING CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS
TEK SENG HOLDINGS BERHAD (“TEKSENG”)
TEMPORARY CESSATION OF PRODUCTION ACTIVITIES OF A SUBSIDIARY
TEKSENG had on 18 July 2018 announced that TS Solartech Sdn. Bhd. (“TSST”), a 50.69% owned subsidiary of the Company, has decided to temporarily stop its entire production activities which is expected to be in the 3rd quarter of the financial year ending 31 December 2018.
[Source: TEKSENG’s announcement on Bursa Malaysia’s website on 18 July 2018 & 23 July 2018]
MSWG’S COMMENTS:
TSST is a major subsidiary of TEKSENG that contributed 41% of the Group revenue and 61% of the Group profit before tax for the financial year ended 31 December 2017. As such, temporary cessation of its production activities may give rise to various implications, both operational and financial, to the Group. Bursa Securities had on 23 July 2018 issued some queries to the Company on some of the probable implications from the cessation. Investors are advised to monitor the development of the implications, including the financial effects to the Group from the cessation cost, which shall be duly announced by the Company.
And also, very importantly, since TSST contributed a very significant portion of the Group revenue and profit before tax, going forward, how would the Group be able to make up for the contribution from this segment. What exactly would be the Group’s plans?
APFT BERHAD (“APFT” OR “THE COMPANY”)
On 18 July 2018, APFT announced that the Company had filed a Writ and Statement of Claim against its former Director, Dato’ Faruk bin Othman for (inter alia)-
- Misappropriation of funds of the Company;
- Causing the Company to trigger PN17; and
- Breach of the Main Market Listing Requirements.
The Company had also filed a Notice of Application to seek statutory injunction against Dato’ Faruk. The interim order sought by the Company includes –
- To bar Dato’ Faruk and his representatives or nominees from participating in the management of the Company; and
- To restrain Dato’ Faruk from exercising his voting rights attached to the Company shares.
On 25 July 2018, the Company announced that it was served with an Originating Summons and Notice of Application from a shareholder, Hisham Bin Mustaffa, on 24 July 2018, seeking an, inter alia, injunction to prohibit the Company from holding the 7th AGM which is scheduled to be held on 26 July 2018.
On the same day, it was announced that the said application had been dismissed by the Court and the 7th Annual General Meeting of the Company would proceed as scheduled.
At the Company’s 7th AGM:-
- All three Independent Directors (out of total five board members), including the Chairman did not seek re-election as Directors of the Company.
- Resolutions relating to re-election of two Executive Directors were not put forward for voting at the AGM pursuant to Section 196(1)(b) of the Companies Act, 2016 where a public company shall have a minimum of two (2) Directors.
- The Board of Directors had agreed to waive the Directors' fees for the period ended 31 January 2018 as well for the period from 1 February 2018 up to the next AGM, payable to the Non-Executive Directors.
- The external auditors do not wish to continue to act as the Auditors of the Company.
[Source: APFT’s announcement on Bursa Malaysia’s website on 18 July 2018, 25 July 2018 & 26 July 2018]
MSWG’s COMMENTS
As fiduciaries, directors are held to a high standard of conduct. Misappropriation of Company’s fund is a serious misconduct by a director of a Company. The Company should carry out further investigation to determine the extent of the wrongdoing, if any, the financial impact on the Company and the remedial measures taken/to be taken, as soon as possible. The shareholders should be informed of the outcome of the investigation.
The financial highlights reported in the Company’s Annual Report for the 18 months period ended 31 January 2018 indicates a weak financial position for the Group. The loss before tax has increased to RM58.7 million in FY2018 from RM4.9 million in FY2012, total assets were reduced to RM27.1 million for FY2018 from RM61.4 million in FY2012 and the shareholder equity is negative RM19.3 million as at 31 January 2018.
Given the circumstances, the AGM of the Company will be an important opportunity for the shareholders to raise questions to the Board and the management on the state-of-affairs of the Company and the direction of the Company, moving forward. It would be good that at the AGM if the shareholders had not just confined themselves to asking questions only on strategic and financial matters but importantly also on governance issues.
Given the current financial position of the Company, extensive efforts should be directed on the business operations of the Company and to turn around the Company. We hope all the unwanted issues could be resolved as soon as possible before the situation worsens.
IHH HEALTHCARE BERHAD (“IHH” OR “THE COMPANY”)
Participation in Fortis
As stated in the document attached to the announcement by the Company on 13 July 2018, one of the Independent Directors who is also the Chairman of the Audit & Risk Management Committee of the Company voted against the Proposals. She was not comfortable with the structure of the Proposals after taking into consideration the risk factors relating to the Proposals and the qualified opinion issued by Fortis’s external auditors, Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP, in the audited financial statements of Fortis for the year ended 31 March 2018, which was released on 7 July 2018.
[Source: IHH’s announcement on Bursa Malaysia’s website on 13 July 2018]
MSWG’s COMMENTS
This represents an interesting case where an independent director who helms an important position as Chairman of the Audit & Risk Management Committee has voted against a Proposal tabled for Board’s approval. This is an example of an independent director acting independently, without fear or favour, in speaking and voting. Independent directors should not fall into the trap of group-think.
Credit should be given to the Chairman and the Board for creating an environment that encourages differing opinions and for disclosing the differing opinion from a board member in their announcement.
In this case, the independent director has highlighted her concerns specifically on the structure of the Proposals and the qualified opinion issued by the external auditors. We trust that the Board would have taken cognisance of the differing opinion and would have had a robust discussion in the light of the differing opinion.
MSWG encourages boards to nurture the offering of differing perspectives and opinions by directors. This in turn will lead to robust discussions and deliberations which will eventually lead to better decisions.
MSWG’S AGM WEEKLY WATCH 30 JULY – 3 AUGUST 2018
For this week, the following are the AGMs/EGMs of companies which are in the Minority Shareholders Watch Group’s (MSWG) watch list.
The summary of points of interest is highlighted here, while the details of the questions to the companies can be obtained via MSWG’s website at www.mswg.org.my.
|
Date & Time |
Company |
Venue |
|
|
|
31.07.18 (Tue) |
AMMB Holdings Bhd |
Sime Darby Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur |
|
|
|
Some of the points of interest to be raised: |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Company |
Points/Issues to Be Raised |
|||
|
AMMB Holdings Bhd |
Given the current economic scenario, what would be the expected targets for the wholesale banking and retail segment in FY 2019?
When is the Group expected to show an upward trend for the profitability ratios and what is the target CTI ratio? |
|||
MSWG’S WATCHLIST
VERSATILE CREATIVE BERHAD (“VCB” OR “THE COMPANY”)
The Company has on 3 July 2018 announced that they have discovered financial irregularities arising from unauthorised payments to third parties between August 2017 and June 2018.
Following the discovery, the Board has appointed Crowe Malaysia to carry out a forensics audit. On 2 July 2018, Dato’ Lee Kwee Hiang, the Chairman of the Company, also lodged a police report. The Managing Director and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company have been suspended pending investigation by the forensics auditor.
The investigation and forensics audit which commenced on 03.07.2018 is expected to be completed within 3 weeks from the commencement date.
The financial impact of the said financial irregularities can only be ascertained upon completion of the forensics audit.
On 24 July 2018, the Company announced that the Company has yet to receive the report on the forensics audit from Crowe Malaysia as the investigation is still in progress.
The Board will announce the findings of the forensics audit as soon as it is available.
On 26 July 2018, the Board announced that the Company is unable to release its Annual Report (AR) 2018 together with the Audited Financial Statements for the financial year ended 31 March 2018 by 31 July 2018 to Bursa Securities due to unforeseen delays in the finalization of the AR pending the conclusion of the forensic audit. The Company targets to issue and submit its Outstanding AR to Bursa Securities not later than 5 market days from 31 July 2018, i.e. by 7 August 2018. Failing which, the trading of the Company’s share will be suspended on 8 August 2018.
[Source: VCB’s announcement on Bursa Malaysia’s website on 3 July 2018, 6 July 2018, 24 July 2018 & 26 July 2018]
MSWG’S VIGILANCE
Upliftment of PN17/GN3
CN Asia Corporation Bhd - effective from 9.00 a.m., Tuesday, 24 July 2018.
LOCAL NEWS AND DEVELOPMENTS
Govt won’t discourage innovation in fintech startups by over-regulating, says deputy minister
Palm hits one-week low on expectations of output rise
https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/palm-hits-oneweek-low-expectations-output-rise
IDEAS: Malaysia needs to be ready for the property bubble to burst
https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/ideas-malaysia-needs-be-ready-property-bubble-burst-0
Malaysia becoming a sustainable responsible investment hub — RAM Ratings
MARC projects corporate bond issuances of up to RM100b for 2018
https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/marc-projects-corporate-bond-issuances-rm100b-2018
Malaysia’s FDI flows fall 13% in 2017
https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/malaysias-fdi-flows-fall-13-2017-0
Palm oil targets 2,123 ringgit
https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/palm-oil-targets-2123-ringgit
Malaysia’s GDP may have grown faster in Q2
Direct investment abroad down 25% to RM24.9b in 2017
GLOBAL NEWS AND DEVELOPMENTS
New biodiesel recipe can cut Indonesia's fuel imports — Industry minister
Dollar, euro swing in narrow ranges ahead of Trump-Juncker meet
https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/dollar-euro-swing-narrow-ranges-ahead-trumpjuncker-meet
Swelling Deficits Are Southeast Asia's Next Test for Stability
https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/swelling-deficits-are-southeast-asias-next-test-stability
China’s Markets Embrace Risk as Traders Bet Big on Stimulus
https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/chinas-markets-embrace-risk-traders-bet-big-stimulus
Britain to tighten foreign takeover rules amid China worries
https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/britain-tighten-foreign-takeover-rules-amid-china-worries
IMF says dollar over-valued, Chinese yuan in line with fundamentals
https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/imf-says-dollar-overvalued-chinese-yuan-line-fundamentals
MSWG TEAM
Devanesan Evanson, Chief Executive Officer, [email protected]
Lya Rahman, General Manager, [email protected]
Rebecca Yap, Head, Corporate Monitoring, [email protected]
Quah Ban Aik, Head, Corporate Monitoring, [email protected]
Norhisam Sidek, Manager, Corporate Monitoring, [email protected]
Hoo Ley Beng, Manager, Corporate Monitoring, [email protected]
Elaine Choo, Manager, Corporate Monitoring, [email protected]
Lee Chee Meng, Manager, Corporate Monitoring, [email protected]
Abdul Halim Alias, Manager, Corporate Monitoring, [email protected]
Mustaqim Yusof, Senior Analyst, Corporate Services, [email protected]
DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS
• With regard to the companies mentioned, MSWG holds a minimum number of shares in all these companies covered in this newsletter, save for Tek Seng Holdings Bhd, APFT Bhd and Versatile Creative Bhd.
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This newsletter and the contents thereof and all rights relating thereto including all copyright is owned by the Badan Pengawas Pemegang Saham Minoriti Berhad, also known as the Minority Shareholders Watch Group (MSWG).
The contents and the opinions expressed in this newsletter are based on information in the public domain and are intended to provide the user with general information and for reference only. Best efforts have been made to ensure that the information contained in this newsletter is accurate and current as at the date of publication. However, MSWG makes no express or implied warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of any such information and opinions contained in this newsletter. No information in this newsletter is intended to be or should be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell or an invitation to subscribe for any, of the subject securities, related investments or other financial instruments thereof.
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