KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 20): Based on corporate announcements and news flow today, companies in focus on Monday (Aug 23) may include: Hubline Bhd, Carlsberg Brewery (M) Bhd, Advancecon Holdings Bhd, Country Heights Holdings Bhd, Malakoff Corp Bhd, Berjaya Sports Toto Bhd (BToto), Pharmaniaga Bhd and BP Plastics Holding Bhd.

Hubline Bhd and MISC Maritime Services Sdn Bhd inked a Memorandum of Understanding to explore a potential collaboration in the port and terminal management and operations space, as well as related marine services segment in Sarawak.

Carlsberg Brewery (M) Bhd’s net profit for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021 increased more than three times to RM37.14 million from RM10.65 million in the previous year as revenue gained 21.6% to RM349.21 million from a year ago. The increase in revenue comes as both Malaysia and Singapore operations saw better overall sales compared with the same quarter last year.

Civil engineering and infrastructure group Advancecon Holdings Bhd’s indirect wholly-owned unit LSS TPG Sdn Bhd has signed a 21-year power purchase agreement with Tenaga Nasional Bhd to design, construct, own, operate and maintain a solar photovoltaic energy-generating facility with a capacity of 26 megawatts of alternating current in Kuala Langat, Selangor.

Property developer Country Heights Holdings Bhd plans to undertake a private placement of up to 54.71 million new shares that represents 20% of the company’s existing number of issued shares to raise an indicative RM58.81 million. The sum raised will be used to partially finance the construction cost of the group’s Mines Wellness Suites office project and College Heights Estate retail and industrial real estate development.

Malakoff Corp Bhd booked a 12.14% rise in net profit in the second quarter ended June 30, 2021 to RM117.73 million from RM104.96 million a year ago, mainly due to higher applicable coal price, and higher contributions from Alam Flora Sdn Bhd and foreign investments. Revenue grew 5.2% to RM1.58 billion from RM1.51 billion, mainly due to the higher payments recorded from its Tanjung Bin coal plants on the aforementioned increase in applicable coal price, offset by lower energy payments from Segari Energy Ventures and Prai Power due to decrease in despatch factor.

Berjaya Sports Toto Bhd (BToto) reported a net profit of RM30.47 million for its fourth quarter ended June 30, 2021, compared with a net loss of RM43.27 million a year earlier, as its number forecast operations saw a significant jump in the number of draws conducted compared with the same quarter last year. Quarterly revenue rose to RM1.13 billion, about 2.4 times the RM475 million it made a year ago on the back of better results reported by its subsidiaries Sports Toto Malaysia Sdn Bhd and HR Owen Plc.

Pharmaniaga Bhd’s net profit expanded 37.3% in the second quarter ended June 30, 2021 to RM13.7 million from RM9.98 million, as revenue rose 82.28% to RM1.18 billion from RM645.76 million on the sale of Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines to the government, which more than offset weaker contributions from the group's logistics and distribution division, as well as its Indonesia division.

BP Plastics Holding Bhd posted a record profit and revenue for the second financial quarter ended June 30, 2021, as net profit grew 74.4% to RM14.77 million from RM8.47 million in the previous corresponding quarter, while revenue expanded 35.7% to RM108.95 million from RM80.29 million. This comes as the industrial plastic packaging producer enjoyed better demand across the board, led by the Asian market, as well as improved pre-tax margin of 17% from 14% a year ago.