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New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
IJM Corp's construction book may expand to RM11bil with new deals
KUALA LUMPUR: IJM Corp Bhd is expected to see growth in its construction order book and a pickup in property earnings going into financial year 2026 (FY26). Hong Leong Investment Bank Bhd (HLIB Research) said the group's outstanding order book stands at RM6.6 billion, representing 2.6 times cover on FY25 construction revenue. The firm said IJM's effective order book could expand to RM11.1 billion, including contributions from construction associates JRL Group, which is pending completion, and Hexacon. "Contracts secured in FY25 amounted to RM2.7 billion, falling below management's guidance of RM5 billion, largely due to delays in the NPE extension. Nevertheless, IJM has started FY26 strongly, securing approval for the NPE extension worth RM1.4 billion. "Management is targeting a replenishment rate of RM6 billion to RM8 billion, backed by five to six data centre tenders, Penang LRT Segment 2, and airport jobs, in addition to NPE 2.0 and Nusantara PFI," it said in a note. HLIB Research also anticipates the potential conversion of two Nusantara private finance initiatives in FY26, namely the public housing project worth RM1.5 billion and the 26km multi-utility tunnel project. "In our view, IJM, possibly through a joint venture, could generate returns from availability charges. However, the conversion of the latter could spill over into FY27, in our view," it added. The research house remains upbeat on the group's longer-term prospects in the ports segment. This is supported by investments in MCKIP, the ECRL and the Phase 1 carbon capture, utilisation and storage project under the National Energy Transition Roadmap, which could add five million tonnes per annum of throughput. HLIB Research said toll volumes remained healthy in the fourth quarter and expressed confidence that the NPE restructuring will not result in toll rate cuts in the near term. It noted that IJM has also maintained that plans to monetise mature highways remain in place, though the timing remains uncertain. The firm has kept its 'Buy' call on IJM, raising its target price slightly to RM2.96 from RM2.92. "We continue to see trading opportunities in the stock given its valuation discount to peers, potential contract wins and monetisation news flow. "Key catalysts include contract awards, while risks involve unfavourable restructuring terms, high material costs and labour shortages," it said.
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
IHH Healthcare in transformation and expansion mode
KUALA LUMPUR: IHH Healthcare Bhd will continue to strengthen its presence across the healthcare continuum in key markets such as Singapore and Hong Kong, expanding into the ambulatory care segment alongside its existing primary care clinics. On the inorganic growth front, the group is on the lookout for strategic acquisitions, including hospitals in Malaysia, India and Turkiye. Group CEO Dr Prem Kumar Nair said while underperforming assets in China represent only a small fraction of IHH's overall portfolio, they have recently shown signs of improvement. 'In fact, the group remains optimistic about its prospects in China and is set to invest in a major ambulatory care centre in Shanghai,' he told reporters after the company's annual general meeting today. Dr Prem said what is particularly significant at this stage is the recognition that IHH must undergo – a comprehensive transformation to achieve many of its strategic goals. 'As a well-established organisation, some of our hospitals have been serving communities for decades – Punggol East in Singapore, Gleneagles with a 65-year legacy, Mount Elizabeth approaching 50 years, as well as Gleneagles Penang and Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, both with over half a century of service. 'Given this legacy, we are now shifting our focus towards key transformation areas. 'One of the most important is the introduction of a new care model, which we have already begun implementing in markets like Singapore and Hong Kong. We are also actively encouraging other countries within our network to adopt this forward-looking approach to healthcare delivery,' Dr Prem said. The group's revenue in FY24 increased 16% to RM24.4 billion, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) stood at RM5.4 billion, a 17% growth from FY23. Profit after tax and minority Interest (Patmi) declined 10% to RM2.7 billion, mainly due to the one-off gain from the disposal of the International Medical University in 2023. Excluding extraordinary items, Patmi grew 32% from a year ago to RM1.7 billion. Return-on-equity (ROE) growth remains a key focus, and on the back of the strong financial performance, IHH declared a total of 10 sen per share in ordinary dividends in FY24, an increase from 9 sen per share in FY23. 'Many have asked whether factors like tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty – including developments in Turkiye and the US presidency of Donald Trump – have had an impact on us. 'Despite these external challenges, we have demonstrated strong resilience, delivering double-digit revenue and profit growth and achieving an ROE of 9%, edging closer to our target of double-digit ROE,' Dr Prem said. He said IHH's success is defined by meeting or exceeding a comprehensive set of indicators for each value-driven care procedure. Currently, the group is tracking eight high-volume procedures under this framework – including total knee replacement, colonoscopy, and breast cancer – monitoring over 360 indicators every month. These procedures account for about 20% of all inpatient admissions across the network, representing a significant portion of patient care and clinical activity. 'By next year, we plan to expand this programme to include two additional procedures, such as Caesarean sections, allowing more patients to benefit from outcome-driven care. 'To achieve and elevate the level of quality we aim for, we are making strategic investments in cutting-edge medical equipment and improved infrastructure,' Dr Prem said. As a group, he pointed out, IHH reinvests its profits into clinical research, quality improvement programmes and innovations aimed at enhancing patient outcomes. The company has embraced technology-driven care, such as ProtonBeam therapy for cancer treatment, and is creating seamless digital experiences to elevate service quality, including through the MyHealth360 app, which gives patients direct access to their healthcare. Equally important, Dr Prem said, IHH is committed to empowering both patients and staff by investing in continuous learning, development and modern work tools to enable its people to deliver exceptional care and perform at their best.
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
IHH Healhcare in transformation and expansion mode
KUALA LUMPUR: IHH Healthcare Bhd will continue to strengthen its presence across the healthcare continuum in key markets such as Singapore and Hong Kong, expanding into the ambulatory care segment alongside its existing primary care clinics. On the inorganic growth front, the group is on the lookout for strategic acquisitions, including hospitals in Malaysia, India and Turkiye. Group CEO Dr Prem Kumar Nair said while underperforming assets in China represent only a small fraction of IHH's overall portfolio, they have recently shown signs of improvement. 'In fact, the group remains optimistic about its prospects in China and is set to invest in a major ambulatory care centre in Shanghai,' he told reporters after the company's annual general meeting yesterday. Prem said what is particularly significant at this stage is the recognition that IHH must undergo – a comprehensive transformation to achieve many of its strategic goals. 'As a well-established organisation, some of our hospitals have been serving communities for decades – Punggol East in Singapore, Gleneagles with a 65-year legacy, Mount Elizabeth approaching 50 years, as well as Gleneagles Penang and Pantai Hospital Kuala Lumpur, both with over half a century of service. 'Given this legacy, we are now shifting our focus towards key transformation areas. 'One of the most important is the introduction of a new care model, which we have already begun implementing in markets like Singapore and Hong Kong. We are also actively encouraging other countries within our network to adopt this forward-looking approach to healthcare delivery,' Prem said. The group's revenue in FY24 increased 16% to RM24.4 billion, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) stood at RM5.4 billion, a 17% growth from FY23. Profit after tax and minority Interest (Patmi) declined 10% to RM2.7 billion, mainly due to the one-off gain from the disposal of the International Medical University in 2023. Excluding extraordinary items, Patmi grew 32% from a year ago to RM1.7 billion. Return-on-equity (ROE) growth remains a key focus, and on the back of the strong financial performance, IHH declared a total of 10 sen per share in ordinary dividends in FY24, an increase from 9 sen per share in FY23. 'Many have asked whether factors like tariffs and geopolitical uncertainty – including developments in Turkiye and the US presidency of Donald Trump – have had an impact on us. 'Despite these external challenges, we have demonstrated strong resilience, delivering double-digit revenue and profit growth and achieving an ROE of 9%, edging closer to our target of double-digit ROE,' Prem said. He said IHH's success is defined by meeting or exceeding a comprehensive set of indicators for each value-driven care procedure. Currently, the group is tracking eight high-volume procedures under this framework – including total knee replacement, colonoscopy, and breast cancer – monitoring over 360 indicators every month. These procedures account for about 20% of all inpatient admissions across the network, representing a significant portion of patient care and clinical activity. 'By next year, we plan to expand this programme to include two additional procedures, such as Caesarean sections, allowing more patients to benefit from outcome-driven care. 'To achieve and elevate the level of quality we aim for, we are making strategic investments in cutting-edge medical equipment and improved infrastructure,' Prem said. As a group, he pointed out, IHH reinvests its profits into clinical research, quality improvement programmes and innovations aimed at enhancing patient outcomes. The company has embraced technology-driven care, such as ProtonBeam therapy for cancer treatment, and is creating seamless digital experiences to elevate service quality, including through the MyHealth360 app, which gives patients direct access to their healthcare. Equally important, Prem said, IHH is committed to empowering both patients and staff by investing in continuous learning, development and modern work tools to enable its people to deliver exceptional care and perform at their best.
New Straits Times
24-04-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Lower trading activity to weigh on Bursa Malaysia's 1Q earnings
KUALA LUMPUR: Bursa Malaysia Bhd is expected to report lower earnings for the first quarter of 2025 (1Q25) due to a decline in securities trading activity, according to CIMB Securities. The stock exchange regulator is scheduled to release its 1Q25 results on April 28. Net profit for the quarter is projected to come in between RM55 million and RM62 million, down 17.2 per cent to 26.9 per cent from a year ago, and 9.8 per cent to 20.4 per cent lower compared to the previous quarter. The earnings weakness is largely attributed to a 14.2 per cent drop in securities average daily value to RM2.7 billion, reflecting cautious investor sentiment amid global trade tensions. CIMB Securities said the decline in revenue, estimated at RM166 million to RM175 million, would push the cost-to-income ratio higher to 53 per cent to 56 per cent from 46.5 per cent in 1Q24. No dividend is expected for the quarter, as payouts are typically made semi-annually. Despite a 20.8 per cent year-on-year rise in average daily contracts in the derivatives segment, the growth was not enough to offset lower trading volumes in the securities market. The research house maintained its "Hold" rating on Bursa Malaysia with an unchanged target price of RM8.15, citing limited near-term catalysts. CIMB also warned of potential downside risks to its full-year earnings forecast of RM291.2 million should the current trading volumes persist.
New Straits Times
23-04-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Hibiscus Petroleum committed to giving back to communities
KOTA KINABALU: Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd has uplifted communities across Malaysia through corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, with a strong focus on Sabah. Its chairman, Zainul Rahim Mohd Zain, said the company's commitment extends beyond its core business operations. Hibiscus Petroleum is Malaysia's first listed independent oil and gas exploration and production company. It is focused on monetising producing oil fields and expanding its development and production assets in various locations, like Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, the United Kingdom and Australia. Hibiscus Petroleum logged RM2.7 billion in revenue for the financial year 2024, the second consecutive year surpassing RM2 billion. "Beyond business, Hibiscus Petroleum remains committed to giving back to the communities in which we operate. "In 2024, we impacted over 40,000 people through initiatives in healthcare, education and the environment," he said during the company's Hari Raya celebration at a hotel here. Among its initiatives in Sabah, are programmes to enhance livelihoods and environmental awareness. "As part of our commitment to community development here in Sabah, we've launched several impactful CSR initiatives. "These include empowering 20 B40 (Bottom 40 per cent of income earners) women in Kudat and Kota Marudu with tailoring skills, engaging 150 students and 60 teachers in a mangrove preservation outreach across Sabah, and promoting safety awareness among 500 students in Kota Belud through the upcoming Safe Programme." Zainul added that the company had also expanded its Super Sarapan breakfast initiative to address food insecurity among schoolchildren. Originally implemented in Kelantan, the programme now includes two schools in Kota Belud — SK Tamau and SMK Usukan — benefiting 80 students. In healthcare, Hibiscus has provided free human papillomavirus screenings to over 5,000 individuals for Sabahans since 2021. Hibiscus has also sponsored renewable energy access for 124 homes in Kampung Paus, Ranau. The Hibiscus Wakalah programme has benefitted over 8,000 underprivileged individuals.
