MAXWELL International Holdings Bhd saw 20 million shares or a 5.01% stake change hands on Nov 27. The seller was likely non-executive director Li Kwai Chun, who sold 20 million shares at two sen each on Nov 27, according to filings with Bursa Malaysia. This was a 0.5 sen discount to the market price of 2.5 sen. Li, a Hong Kong citizen, was redesignated non-executive director from company president on July 31.

Maxwell, a China-based shoe and garment manufacturer, saw a net loss of RM10.49 million for the nine months ended Sept 30 (9MFY2017), compared with a net loss of RM13.12 million in the same period last year. The company fell into Practice Note 17 status in August last year, when its external auditors expressed a disclaimer opinion on its audited financial statements for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2015.

BIMB Holdings Bhd saw a total of 55.8 million shares, or 3.41% equity interest, cross off market in direct and crossed trades from Nov 22 to 24. Of these, 1.5 million shares were done at RM4.18 in crossed trades on Nov 22, while the rest changed hands at RM4.40 to RM4.41 apiece.

For the second quarter ended June 30, the bank reported a net profit of RM135.67 million, a drop of 5.6% from RM143.71 million a year ago. However, revenue was higher at RM943.19 million, up 6.9% from RM882.44 million over the same period.

Over at Vertice Bhd, formerly known as Voir Holdings Bhd, 4.95 million shares worth RM5.48 million or a 3.41% stake changed hands in direct trades on Nov 22. The company, which initially manufactured and traded fashion apparel, has slowly morphed into a construction company.

The seller is likely Vista Lestari Development Sdn Bhd, which sold 4.6 million shares on Nov 22, paring its holdings to 29.4%. Vertice chairman Datuk Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli, Mohd Asfirdaus Asri and Zarul Ikhwan Zarul Ahmad are all deemed interested in the stake, reportedly having 50:25:25 ownership of Vista Lestari.

Separate filings show that Vertice executive directors Ibrahim Sahari and Wong Kwai Wah had each acquired 1.8 million shares at RM1.10 apiece on Nov 22, raising their holdings to 2.73% and 2.69% respectively on Nov 22.

Sterling Progress Bhd saw 8.36 million shares or 2.99% equity interest move off market in direct and block trades at 18 sen apiece on Nov 27. The parties involved in the transaction were not known at the time of writing.

For its second quarter ended Sept 30, the company is still in a net loss position of RM3.47 million from RM4.03 million previously. Revenue shrank to RM5.9 million from RM27.87 million. The ICT company said the decline in revenue was mainly due to lower sales of notebooks and smartphones. Sterling Progress was formerly known as 1Utopia Bhd.

Poultry company Lay Hong Bhd saw 16.5 million shares or 2.71% equity interest cross off market in direct trades on Nov 22 and 24 at 95 sen each, at a discount to the 99 sen to RM1.01 apiece the stock traded at on the open market before closing at RM1 on both days.

Earlier this month, Lay Hong announced a net profit of RM12.17 million in the second quarter ended Sept 30, from RM3.54 million a year ago, as higher revenue from its livestock division pushed earnings higher. For the same period, revenue rose 20% to RM204.56 million, with the integrated livestock farming segment registering an increase in revenue to RM171.3 million on higher quantity and higher-priced eggs and frozen products.

The week in review also saw 42.58 million shares or a 2.62% stake in Trive Property Group Bhd change hands in block trades for 6 sen to 7 sen apiece. The parties involved in the deal had not been disclosed at the time of writing.

Trive Property returned to the black during its second quarter ended July 31, with a RM76,000 net profit versus a net loss of RM146,000 a year ago. For the first half, net profit was RM304,000 compared with a RM838,000 net loss previously.