MONEY MASTER

Renewable energy player  Verdant Solar Holdings Bhd (KL:VERDANT)  surged  19% in its maiden trading session  on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia on Wednesday, underscoring strong investor enthusiasm for the solar sector. The company’s shares  opened at 37 sen , above its  IPO price of 31 sen , and climbed as high as  38.5 sen  before stabilizing at  38 sen at 9:10 a.m. , with more than  49 million shares traded  in the opening minutes. Strong Demand Fuels Stellar Debut Verdant’s debut follows a  heavily oversubscribed IPO , where retail investors snapped up shares nearly  40 times over the available amount , reflecting optimism in Malaysia’s accelerating clean energy transition. Managing director  Lim Tzer Haur  highlighted the company’s mission to make solar energy more accessible: “Every step of our mission has been clear — to reduce the burden of electricity bills through world-class solar solutions that enabl...

What Does Semico Do? Toys & Collectibles Distributor: Distributes toys from  53 brands , including  Pop Mart  (famous for Labubu plushies), to: Toy stores Hobby shops Convenience stores Arcade operators (for use as game prizes) Arcade & Amusement Machines Business: Supplies and rents machines to family entertainment centres Operates one centre at  The Mines Business model includes  revenue-sharing & machine rental Financial Snapshot (2024) Metric Value Revenue RM22.1 million Net Profit RM6.7 million Toys & Collectibles:  55%  of revenue Arcade & Amusement:  45% IPO Structure & Use of Proceeds Public Issue:  92.67M new shares → funds for: Expanding toy inventory Purchasing  188 new arcade machines Replacing 55 older machines  (claw, racing games, etc.) Offer for Sale:  18M existing shares → proceeds to CEO  Tai Lee Chuen  and  Ang Sew Fong  (his wife & Executive Director) Current m...

A1 A.K Koh Group Bhd (KL:0365) , a fast-growing  processed food and F&B manufacturer , debuts today on Bursa Malaysia’s ACE Market. Investors have shown keen interest — the IPO was  oversubscribed by 1.11x  at an issue price of  RM0.25 , valuing the company at  RM210 million . IPO Snapshot RM27.3 million raised  to fund: New factory construction Existing plant upgrades Marketing and promotions Working capital & debt repayment Regional Growth Focus Managing Director  Koh Ah Kuan  highlights  Malaysia (77.85% of FY2024 revenue)  and  Singapore (9.32%)  as key focus markets, citing promising economic outlooks and demand trends. “We aim to position A1 as a leading processed food brand in both Malaysia and Singapore,” – Koh Expansion Into HoReCa COO  Koh Lian Jie  says the group will  aggressively pursue the HoReCa segment  — hotels, restaurants, and cafés — in its core markets to expand distribution chan...

As 2024 concludes,  Malaysia’s IPO market  has experienced its most vibrant year in over a decade. With  55 companies going public , marking a  71% increase  compared to 2023, Bursa Malaysia has cemented itself as a top destination for investors seeking high returns. Key Highlights from 2024 IPOs 1. Record Number of Listings Total IPOs : 55, the highest since 2009. ACE Market Dominance : 40 IPOs, the most since the market's inception. Main and ACE Market Combined : 51 IPOs, with 46 companies posting gains on their first trading day, resulting in a  90% success rate  for investors. 2. Top Performers UUE Holdings Bhd ($UUE 0310.MY$) : First-day gain : +189.6% (largest IPO surge of the year). Sector : Underground utility construction and pipeline solutions. Ocean Fresh Berhad ($OFB 0312.MY$) : First-day gain : +170% (frozen seafood processor, exporter, wholesaler, and retailer). Go Hub Capital Bhd ($GOHUB 0311.MY$) : First-day gain : +170% (specializing i...

  ACE Market IPOs may soon require bumiputera equity allocations in line with Main Market, according to industry sources. Regulators, including the Securities Commission Malaysia and Bursa Malaysia, are reportedly considering a 12.5% bumiputera equity threshold for ACE Market IPOs, matching the Main Market's public spread requirements. This would require ACE Market applicants to allocate 12.5% of their enlarged share base to Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI)-approved bumiputera investors at the time of listing. Currently, ACE Market companies meet bumiputera requirements only after achieving Main Market profit thresholds or listing for five years. In addition, regulators are said to be expanding the recognition of bumiputera shareholders to include those holding less than half of the company's enlarged share base, broadening eligibility for fulfilling the bumiputera quota. While the new rule may increase IPO costs , it aligns ACE Market requirements with broa...

  Fibromat Bhd , a company specializing in geotechnical services and erosion-control products, has filed for an initial public offering (IPO) as part of its listing transfer from the Leap Market to the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia. The IPO aims to raise fresh funds following the depletion of capital from its previous Leap Market listing in May 2019. Fibromat plans to use the IPO proceeds to acquire additional machinery to expand its operational capacity and support anticipated growth. The company will invest in new stitching machines for its Rasa factory, which will more than double its production capacity to 101,340 rolls of erosion-control blankets annually. Additionally, hydraulic excavators will be acquired to bolster its in-house capabilities, particularly for the installation of prefabricated vertical drains (PVD) . A dust collector to be connected to the stitching machines is also on the company's shopping list. Fibromat, based in Selangor, specializes in erosion cont...

Crest Group Bhd made its ACE Market debut, with shares rising 13% following its RM82.11 million initial public offering (IPO). The stock opened at 39.5 sen , compared to its IPO price of 35 sen per share , reaching a high of 40 sen before settling at 37 sen around 9:10 a.m. after more than 42 million shares were traded. At this price, Crest Group’s market capitalization stood at RM320 million .

Solar District Cooling Group Bhd made a strong debut on the ACE Market on Thursday, with its shares surging 32% as investors rushed to buy into the building management systems company. The stock opened at 50 sen , up from its initial public offering (IPO) price of 38 sen per share . The stock climbed to a high of 56 sen and was trading at 52.5 sen at 9:10 am , giving the company a market capitalization of RM222.5 million . Trading volume reached 60.2 million shares in early trade, reflecting high investor interest in the company.