Latest news with #MSMA
The Star
21-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Ancom eyes earnings growth moving forward
PETALING JAYA: Ancom Nylex Bhd is poised for an earnings recovery, with growth expected moving forward. According to Kenanga Research, this recovery is supported by a significant increase in the amount of monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA) sold, as the company highlighted during its financial results briefing for 2025. Kenanga Research noted that 'the guidance for MSMA double-digit growth is in line with our assumptions of a 10% year-on-year uptick in 2026 (FY26), mainly on market share gains in Brazil and the United States as key Israel-based rivals face disruptions from regional geopolitical tensions.' For FY27, a higher volume growth of 15% is estimated, as Ancom is expected to secure Brazilian regulatory approvals to market MSMA beyond sugarcane applications to larger soybean plantings, said Kenanga Research. The brokerage firm added that the annual growth over the past five years ranged between 5% and 10%. Meanwhile, Ancom's timber preservative and MSMA exports to the United States will enjoy a tariff exemption. 'Altogether, we expect the timber preservative order to hold quite steady over FY26 and FY27,' it noted. It added that the group's new agrochemical artificial intelligence (AI) will start contributing in FY26 and FY27. Kenanga Research said Ancom finally integrated a new tri-phosgenation process in its commercial production of AI 'T' in April 2025. However, deliveries are expected only from the second quarter or even the second half of FY26 onwards due to audits and tests by customers to ensure quality and product consistency. Despite such backloading of FY26 sales, a similar full-year benefit is still expected for AI 'T' in FY26, albeit with a difference in timing.
The Star
20-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
New agrochemicals, stronger exports to boost Ancom Nylex profits
PETALING JAYA: Analysts remain positive on Ancom Nylex Bhd 's earnings outlook for the financial year ending May 31, 2026 (FY26), underpinned by the commercial rollout of new agrochemicals, stronger export performance and ongoing cost optimisation initiatives. The group posted a lower net profit of RM17.07mil for the fourth quarter of financial year ended May 31, 2025 (4Q25), bringing its full-year earnings to RM64.49mil. Quarterly revenue stood at RM459.37mil, while full-year revenue totalled RM1.87bil. Despite the year-on-year decline, Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) Research said the results came in slightly ahead of its expectations at 106% of its forecast, and broadly in line with consensus estimates. Looking ahead, HLIB Research said earnings growth will likely be supported by the full commercialisation of Chemical T, a new active ingredient that began production in April 2025 and is expected to reach full annual capacity of 1,000 tonnes by the second quarter of calendar year 2025. The research house maintained its 'buy' call on Ancom Nylex, with an unchanged target price of RM1.13, based on 15 times FY26 forecast earnings per share (EPS) of 7.5 sen. Kenanga Research shared a similarly positive view, projecting a 50% year-on-year increase in FY26 core EPS to 8.8 sen, up from 5.9 sen in FY25. The forecast, however, was revised lower by 9% due to delays in monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA) herbicide approvals for the Brazilian soybean market and higher-than-expected freight costs. 'FY26 earnings could have been stronger if not for the delay in regulatory approval for Brazil's soybean segment,' it said, noting that approval is now more likely in FY27. In the near term, Kenanga Research expects earnings to be supported by improved MSMA exports, steady timber preservative sales under a three-year US supply contract, and contributions from newer active ingredients. Chemical T is set to provide full-year contribution in FY26, while another compound, Chemical S, is targeted to begin contributing from FY27. The group is also expected to benefit from cost savings arising from the relocation of its Singapore tank storage facilities to Johor, although industrial chemical margins are expected to remain tight. Kenanga Research also highlighted Ancom Nylex's potential upside from the ongoing reverse takeover of Green Lagoon Technology Sdn Bhd (GLT) via its 34%-owned associate, Ancom Logistics Bhd . Upon completion in FY26, Ancom Nylex is expected to hold a 22% stake in GLT, which will contribute recurring income through an annual profit guarantee of RM8mil to RM10mil. Meanwhile, the group's issued share base rose 10% in FY25 due to private placement and conversion of Warrant B, which is expiring in September.
New Straits Times
18-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Ancom Nylex upbeat on Chemical T-driven growth
KUALA LUMPUR: Ancom Nylex Bhd's earnings prospects remain upbeat, supported by the upcoming commercialisation of Chemical T in the second quarter of 2025. Production is expected to scale up progressively, aiming for an annual capacity of 1,000 metric tonnes. Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) also noted that the registration process for MSMA use on soybean crops in Brazil is advancing as scheduled and is likely to receive approval by mid-2025. "Its successful registration will allow the group to market MSMA products in Brazil's soybean market, allowing Ancom Nylex to tap into the tremendous addressable market that is five times larger than the sugar cane crops," it added. HLIB stated that Ancom Nylex's results were in line with consensus expectations, meeting 99.8 per cent of consensus estimates but came in slightly above its own projections, reaching 106 per cent of its estimate. This outperformance was largely attributed to stronger-than-expected margins in the industrial chemicals segment. The company reported a core net profit of RM20.7 million for the fourth quarter of financial year 2025, bringing its total earnings for the year to RM64.0 million. HLIB has maintained its 'Buy' call on the company with an unchanged target price of RM1.13. The research house said it favours Ancom Nylex because it is the sole large‑scale producer of herbicide active ingredients (AIs) in Southeast Asia, a field with very high entry barriers and sees further earnings upside from the company's pipeline of new AIs scheduled for rollout.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
RSU 21 School Board weighs options for interim superintendent search
KENNEBUNK, Maine — The RSU 21 School Board is considering hiring the Maine School Management Association to guide efforts to find the district's next interim superintendent. School Board members appeared to be ready to vote to hire the association during a meeting on Monday, with a motion to that effect made and seconded. When concerns and other options surfaced during a discussion, however, the motion and its second were withdrawn and the board chose an alternate path. Following a suggestion by School Board member Mandy Cummings, the board voted to have the district's Human Resources Committee meet soon to put together a proposal for how best to search for an interim superintendent. The committee will take into consideration what the district might be able to do for itself, given its own Human Resources Department, and to what extent it might need the MSMA or perhaps another organization for additional support. The committee is expected to have that proposal ready for the School Board's next regular business meeting on April 7. More: Kennebunk boy, now a cancer survivor, becomes 'real-life superhero,' helping others Earlier this month, Superintendent Terri Cooper announced that she would be stepping down at the end of this summer after five years at the district's helm. The School Board approved a separation agreement with her following an executive session at a special meeting on March 12. The York County Coast Star has requested a copy of the agreement through the state's Freedom of Access Act. Cooper's last day will be Aug. 31. In a recent statement to the community, she said serving RSU 21 has been a 'great honor.' 'Together, we have raised academic achievement, expanded programs, and successfully navigated numerous challenges,' Cooper said. 'I am immensely proud of our collective work to provide students with an exceptional education.' Cooper expressed gratitude to the district's teachers, staff members, and administrators, as well as to School Board members, families, and community partners for their 'trust and support.' She also said that watching students thrive 'has been my greatest joy.' More: Red Barn Inn kennel expansion approval stands in Kennebunk despite noise concerns The School Board held its discussion on Monday after emerging from an executive session that had been added to the agenda by a unanimous vote. School Board member Megan Michaud, who made the motion for the executive session, said she had an agenda-related question she needed to ask that could not be done so in public. During the discussion, with a seconded motion to approve the hiring of the MSMA on the table, School Board members raised concerns about the timeline for the superintendent search, the expense of hiring external assistance, the division of responsibilities between the district and the selected firm, and whether other firms, beyond the MSMA, should also be considered. Board member Gayle Spofford said she did not have enough information about expenses, job descriptions, and assigned responsibilities for the search to vote in favor of the motion to hire the MSMA. 'We don't need to do this now,' Spofford said. 'We still have a superintendent ... I'm concerned that we're moving into this a little more quickly than we need to.' School Board Chair Matthew Stratford said he thought it was important to start the search as soon as possible to provide the time needed for an effective search. 'Hiring great people takes a long time,' he said. 'We're looking to fill this position, obviously, as close to July 1 as possible.' July 1 is the official start of the school district's new fiscal year. Spofford disagreed, stating that the district only needed a new superintendent by Sept. 1, exactly one day after Cooper officially steps down. 'I think you have adequate time to do a thorough job,' she said. Similarly to Stratford, Vice Chair Britney Gerth said she was in favor of not waiting and starting the search early. She noted that the district's legal partners put forth the MSMA as 'the best choice.' 'It can only be a bonus if there's overlap between Dr. Cooper's end date and a potential interim coming in,' Gerth said. 'I'm pessimistic that we're going to have anything final as far as a full-time replacement superintendent by the summer. I'm thinking only at this point of an interim.' Gerth praised the MSMA, saying its proposal for a search made sense to her and noting that the district has worked successfully with the association before. 'They are our gold standard in many other areas of the board, including policy,' she said. 'It seems like a natural partnership for this type of item.' School Board member Kirstan Watson emphasized the need for the district to have an interim superintendent in place during the duration of the search for Cooper's successor. 'We don't know how long it is going to take,' Watson said. 'We could need an interim superintendent for an extended period of time.' Watson did not refer to the district's previous search for a superintendent when making her point, but she could have. Phillip Potenziano served as the district's interim superintendent for pretty much the entire 2019-2020 school year while the board conducted a lengthy and complicated search that ultimately led to the hiring of Cooper. Three members of the School Board – Michaud, Abigail Spadone, and Claudia Sayre – suggested looking at other firms, in addition to the MSMA, to see what their prices for conducting a search would be. Cooper agreed. 'It's always great to look at a variety to make sure you're picking the one that's best for you,' she said. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: RSU 21 School Board weighs options for interim superintendent search
