KUALA LUMPUR (May 15): Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Friday.

Maxis Bhd's (KL:MAXIS) net profit rose more than 12% in the first quarter ended March 31, 2026 (1QFY2026) to RM417 million from RM371 million  in the year-ago period, thanks to a modest increase in services revenue at both its consumer and enterprises segments. Revenue climbed 4.7% to RM2.73 billion from RM2.61 billion. Maxis declared an interim dividend of four sen per share, to be paid on June 23. — Maxis earnings climb 12% in 1Q, declares four sen dividend

Westports Holdings Bhd (KL:WPRTS) reported a 47% jump in net profit to RM326.5 million for 1QFY2026 from RM222.46 million a year ago, supported by stronger container revenue. Revenue rose 44% to RM896.3 million from RM621.3 million. — Westports posts 47% jump in 1Q earnings on container revenue, flags fuel cost, shipping disruption risks

Festive sales boosted Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd’s (KL:CARLSBG) 1QFY2026 net profit by nearly 5% to RM98.94 million from RM94.52 million a year earlier. The group benefitted from a longer selling period ahead of Chinese New Year this year in both Malaysia and Singapore, sending revenue up nearly 10% to RM705.95 million from RM662.81 million. Carlsberg Malaysia declared an interim dividend per share of 24 sen to be paid on Aug 12. — Carlsberg Malaysia lifts dividend as 1Q profit rises nearly 5%

Johor Plantations Group Bhd’s (KL:JPG) net profit for 1QFY2026 dropped 33.68% to RM50.35 million from RM75.93 million a year earlier, dragged by lower average selling prices of crude palm oil (CPO) and palm kernel (PK). This is the plantation group's lowest quarterly net profit since listing two years ago. Quarterly revenue, however, rose 4.78% to RM356.7 million in 1QFY2026 from RM340.42 million, mainly driven by higher CPO and PK sales. The board declared a first interim dividend of one sen per share for FY2026, payable on June 12. — Johor Plantations posts lowest quarterly profit since listing, pays one sen dividend

IJM Corp Bhd (KL:IJM) said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) probe involving its chairman Tan Sri Krishnan Tan in relation to Sunway Bhd’s (KL:SUNWAY) takeover offer had been completed and classified as “no further action”. The construction and infrastructure giant said Tan had notified the company on Friday that the MACC had, via a letter dated April 30, "confirmed to him that the investigation relating to the voluntary takeover offer by Sunway had been completed and classified as 'no further action’". Accordingly, no further proceedings or prosecution will be pursued. — IJM: MACC clears chairman Krishnan Tan as it concludes 'no further action' in Sunway takeover probe

Gas Malaysia Bhd (KL:GASMSIA) has entered into a joint development agreement (JDA) with Japan’s Tokyo Gas Co Ltd and Netherlands-based VTTI BV to develop a liquefied natural gas (LNG) regasification terminal in Yan, Kedah with an estimated cost of up to RM3 billion. Gas Malaysia will act as project lead and sponsor with a 70% participating interest, while Tokyo Gas and VTTI will each hold 15%. — Gas Malaysia partners Tokyo Gas, Netherlands-based VTTI for RM3b LNG regasification terminal in Kedah

Bursa Malaysia has queried MKH Bhd (KL:MKH) over unusual trading activity that lifted shares of the property-and-plantation company over a nine-year high. Shares of MKH hit their daily upper-limit of RM1.46 after climbing 33 sen or 29% on Friday. Trading volume also surged to nearly 27 million shares, the most since its listing in 1995 when the company was known as Metro Kajang Holdings Bhd. — MKH gets unusual market activity query as shares hit limit-up

Iris Group Bhd (KL:IRIS), whose share price ended at a seven-month high of 27.5 sen on Friday, told Bursa Malaysia that it is not aware of any corporate development that would have caused the unusual market activity (UMA). The stock jumped 83% to a more than one-year high of 33 sen, before closing the Friday session 52.78% or 9.5 sen higher at 27.5 sen. — Iris Group says unaware of any reason for share spike to over one-year high

Velesto Energy Bhd (KL:VELESTO) has secured its first asset-light rig contract from Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd (KL:HIBISCUS) for the provision of a third-party jack-up drilling rig for offshore operations in Malaysia. The contract was awarded to its wholly-owned subsidiary Velesto Drilling Sdn Bhd by Hibiscus Oil & Gas Malaysia Ltd. Operations are scheduled to commence this month. — Velesto Energy bags jack-up drilling rig services job from Hibiscus

MN Holdings Bhd (KL:MNHLDG) has secured a RM83.5 million contract to undertake electrical infrastructure works for a data centre project. Its wholly- owned subsidiary, MN Utilities Engineering Sdn Bhd (MNUE), accepted a letter of award dated May 12 from a customer involved in infrastructure for hosting and data processing services. The contract is scheduled to commence on May 11, 2026, with completion expected by Jan 31, 2027. — MN Holdings bags RM84 mil contract for data centre electrical infrastructure works

NCT Alliance Bhd (KL:NCT) is expanding its land bank in Kuala Langat, Selangor, with plans to develop an industrial project with an estimated gross development value (GDV) of RM1.5 billion. The group is acquiring an 80% stake in landowner Semanja Murni Sdn Bhd (SMSB) for RM53 million. SMSB owns 176.7 acres of land in Kuala Langat. The shares acquisition will be undertaken by its wholly-owned unit NCT World Sdn Bhd (NCTW), which has entered into a conditional share subscription and shareholders’ agreement with SMSB’s existing shareholders See Cherng Jye and Datuk Seri Sim See Hua. — NCT expands land bank in Kuala Langat via stake acquisition, eyes RM1.5 bil industrial project

The High Court has dismissed an originating summons (OS) filed by Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd to restrain corporate actions involving the now-delisted KNM Group Bhd, marking a setback for the regulator’s attempt to enforce compliance through court intervention. The OS, heard on May 14, is linked to a dispute over an extraordinary general meeting initiated by KNM’s largest shareholder MAA Group Bhd (KL:MAA) regarding the proposed disposal of Deutsche KNM GmbH (DKNM). The action was taken to stop the EGM on the proposed sale of DKNM until the Main Market Listing Requirements were fully met. — High Court dismisses Bursa's bid to restrain KNM corporate actions, says major shareholder MAA Group

Lim Seong Hai Capital Bhd (KL:LSH) has received an offer from Railway Assets Corp (RAC) to purchase two parcels of land measuring 17.4 acres in Pekan Country Height, Selangor, for RM197.9 million. The site is intended for a property development project. The offer follows LSH Capital’s earlier proposal to develop the land in response to a request for proposal from RAC. — LSH Capital gets RM197.9m land offer from Railway Assets Corp for 17.4-acre Pekan Country Height project

Azam Jaya Bhd (KL:AZAMJAYA) has proposed a private placement to raise up to RM90.3 million, less than two years after its listing, for working capital, repayment of bank borrowings, as well as purchase of construction machinery and equipment.  The proposed private placement involves the issuance of up to 100 million new shares — representing 20% of its existing issued shares — to independent third-party investors to be identified later. The illustrative issue price is assumed at 90.3 sen per share. — Less than two years after listing, Azam Jaya proposes private placement to raise up to RM90.3m

Lianson Fleet Group Bhd’s (KL:LFG) joint-venture (JV) entity has entered into a memorandum of agreement to acquire chemical tanker MT High Tide, from a company incorporated in Ireland for RM111.85 million. Lianson Fleet, which is an offshore support vessel and marine transportation provider, holds a 45% stake in the JV company. The proposed acquisition marks the group’s maiden entry into the chemical tanker segment, building upon the strategic JV established back in March 2025 with Precious Shipping (Singapore) Pte Ltd (a subsidiary of Precious Shipping PLC, listed in Thailand) and Emstraits Navigation Sdn Bhd. — Lianson Fleet JV to acquire chemical tanker worth RM111.85 mil