Pentamaster 2Q showing declines
PETALING JAYA: Pentamaster Corp Bhd remains cautious on its outlook going forward, amid the challenging global environment that has been marked by prolonged macroeconomic uncertainties and trade tensions.
In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the automation manufacturing and technology solutions provider noted that in the first half of the year, operating conditions remained difficult as the group faced margin pressure stemming from elevated input costs and intensified pricing competition.
'These challenges were compounded by extended customer decision-making cycles given the trade tension uncertainties, global supply chain disruptions and the spill-over effects of geopolitical tensions, all of which contributed to delayed project rollouts and impacted operational efficiency.'
For its second quarter ended June 30, 2025, Pentamaster's net profit fell 41.6% to RM11.6mil, or 1.63 sen per share, bringing its first-half earnings to RM24.7mil, or 3.47 sen per share.
Revenue declined 15.4% to RM144.9mil in the quarter.
Pentamaster said revenue was mainly contributed by the automated test equipment segment and factory automation solutions, constituting approximately 57.1% and 42.2%, respectively, of the group's total revenue during the quarter.
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2025, net profit dipped to RM24.68mil from RM39.28mil a year earlier, while revenue slipped to RM276.48mil from RM342.16mil previously.
Going forward, the group anticipates a comparatively more favourable performance in the second half of the year supported by improvements in order book visibility.
This is particularly from the automated test equipment segment, where customers have gradually resumed capital investments in the next-generation test handling and burn-in systems, said the company.
In parallel, Pentamaster said its factory automation solutions (FAS) team remains proactive in expanding its customer base and broadening its industry footprint beyond its traditional strongholds.
'The FAS team continues to intensify efforts to penetrate emerging sectors such as renewable energy, data centres and healthcare automation where rising demand for intelligent, high-precision and flexible automation solutions is being driven by the increased emphasis on precision and output consistency, as well as the growing need for traceability and compliance in regulated industries.
'Additionally, as the trade tariffs imposed by the United States become clearer, manufacturing base positioning with automation is expected to provide positive momentum to the FAS segment.'
Following the successful privatisation of Hong Kong-listed Pentamaster International Ltd with Puga Holdings Ltd, a holding company backed by a renowned semiconductor private equity firm, prominent Taiwanese semiconductor companies and global sovereign wealth funds, the group said it has begun to unlock strategic advantages from this partnership.
Puga's extensive network and investment portfolios within the global technology ecosystem, particularly in Taiwan and the United States, has provided the group with greater access to new customers, collaborative research and development opportunities and strategic market entry opportunities.
Additionally, Pentamaster said it is actively building its capabilities in advanced packaging technologies, supported by the accelerating growth in artificial intelligence, high-performance computing and other data-intensive, high-speed applications.
'These developments collectively provide a favourable backdrop for the group's long-term growth trajectory, positioning it well to capitalise on next-generation technology trends in the mid to long term.'
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