Notable filings

For the week of July 25 to 29, notable shareholding changes at Bursa Malaysia-listed companies included those at Sapura Energy Bhd.

The ailing oil and gas company saw Amanah Saham Bumiputera, a unit of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), acquiring 99.33 million shares in the company, nudging up its shareholding to 4.61 billion shares, or 28.88% equity interest, from 28.26% previously.

The last time Amanah Saham Bumiputera traded — either acquired or sold — shares in Sapura Energy was on Nov 23, 2020.

With this acquisition, PNB’s stake in Sapura Energy has been increased to 40.21%.

On Nov 23, 2020, when Amanah Saham Bumiputera last acquired Sapura Energy’s stock, it was trading at 12 sen. Last Wednesday, Sapura Energy shares closed at four sen, translating into a market capitalisation of RM639.16 million.

At gold mining outfit, Bahvest Resources Bhd, Mohd Amir Masry ceased to be a substantial shareholder after selling 6.35 million shares. He previously had 66.92 million shares, or a 5.4% stake, in Bahvest.

Mohd Amir first surfaced as a substantial shareholder in Bahvest in January 2017, when he sold his 25% stake in gold mining company Wullersdorf Resources Sdn Bhd for RM24 million, which was satisfied via the issuance of 25.53 million Bahvest shares at 94 sen apiece.

Bahvest shares ended trading at 33.5 sen last Wednesday, valuing the company at RM415.33 million.

Elsewhere, Microplus Elite Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned private company of billionaire businessman Tan Sri Surin Upatkoon @ K K Lau, sold three million shares in transport and logistics player Transocean Holdings Bhd, trimming its stake to nine million shares, or a 13.82% stake.

Lau also owns a 36.71% stake in number forecast operator Magnum Corp Bhd and 36.63% equity interest in insurance outfit MPHB Capital Bhd.

He had bought Microplus Elite from businessman Tan Sri Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh on Nov 9 last year, giving him an indirect 12 million shares, or an 18.43% stake in Transocean.

When Lau acquired Microplus Elite, Transocean’s stock gained 50.17%, jumping from RM2.89 to RM4.34. The euphoria was short-lived, however, and Transocean shares closed last Wednesday at RM2.18, valuing the company at RM141.91 million.

Privately-held YBG Yap Consolidated Sdn Bhd acquired 6.61 million shares in construction and property developer NCT Alliance Bhd, strengthening its shareholding to 594.38 million shares, or 55.82% equity interest.

YBG Yap Consolidated is the private vehicle of NCT Alliance’s executive chairman and managing director Datuk Seri Yap Ngan Choy and his brother Datuk Yap Fook Choy, who is NCT Alliance executive director.

NCT Alliance shares ended Wednesday at 41 sen for a market capitalisation of RM434.97 million.

Notable movements

Over the past three weeks, shares in MBM Resources Bhd have gained more than 5%, or 14 sen, to close at RM3.24 last Wednesday, valuing it at RM1.27 billion.

MBM Resources’ volume has been higher as well, with both the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and pilgrim fund Lembaga Tabung Haji trading the automotive player’s stock.

During the week in review, EPF sold 268,500 shares in MBM Resources, reducing its stake to 38.87 million shares, or 9.94%. Tabung Haji hived off 97,600 shares, reducing its stake to 19.92 million shares, or 5.1% equity interest.

In June, EPF had a 9.58% stake in MBM Resources, or 37.44 million shares; and Tabung Haji had a 5.18% stake, or 20.26 million shares, in the company.

Since late May, banking outfit AMMB Holdings Bhd’s shares have gained more than 15%, or 51 sen, closing at RM3.88 last Wednesday. This gives the banking group a market value of RM12.86 billion.

During the week in review, EPF acquired 5.96 million shares, increasing its stake to 332.28 million shares, or 10.04% equity interest.

EPF has been accumulating AMMB’s stock. According to AMMB’s FY2021 annual report, as at June 21 this year, EPF held a 9.52% stake, or 315.25 million shares.

The provident fund is the third-largest shareholder in AMMB after Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd, which has a 21.64% stake, and Tan Sri Azman Hashim, with 11.81%. Azman is now the chairman emeritus-cum-honorary adviser of the financial group, after relinquishing his role as its non-independent non-executive chairman on April 29 when he retired.