THE son of the largest shareholder of Aturmaju Resources Bhd, Yeo Gee Kuan, who is also an executive director, disposed of 2.9 million shares or a 4.32% stake off market via direct deals on Oct 19 and ceased to be a substantial shareholder of the Tawau-based group.

According to the group’s announcement to Bursa Malaysia on Oct 22, the shares changed hands at 45 sen apiece, which is a 40.6% to 45.2% premium to the prevailing prices of the stock on Oct 19.

While the identity of the buyer was not disclosed by Aturmaju, on the same day, Datuk Liew Kok Leong acquired 1.57 million shares of the wood-processing and contract logging company through Ukay One Sdn Bhd, increasing his stake to 6.73% from 4.83%.

Liew is an executive director of Aturmaju, having been appointed to the board on Aug 30. The acquisition made him a substantial shareholder of the group. The largest shareholders of Aturmaju are still the Yeo family, led by Datuk Yeo Wang Seng, with a 34.92% stake.

At SWS Capital Bhd, Datuk Seri Serm Juthamongkhon, an independent non-executive director, acquired one million shares or a 0.55% stake in the furniture and plastic ware manufacturer on Oct 18.

The shares were acquired at 65 sen apiece, which is a 0.78% to 4% premium to the prevailing prices of the stock on that day. The acquisition increased Juthamongkhon’s stake to 6.41%, making him the second largest shareholder in SWS, behind Tan Sri Tan King Tai with 9.54%.

SWS’ share price has been on a downward trend so far this year, dropping to its 52-week low of 60.5 sen last Wednesday. The group’s net profit for the nine months ended May 31, 2018, declined 78.7% to RM371,000 on the back of a 14.24% drop in revenue to RM96.82 million.

Maha Gayabina Sdn Bhd sold 50 million shares, or a 1.22% stake, in Priceworth International Bhd at four sen apiece on Oct 17 and 19, according to the logging company’s filing with Bursa.

After the disposal, Maha Gayabina is left with a 12.61% stake.

According to RAM Credit Information, Maha Gayabina’s shareholders are Tengku Badrul Hisham Tengku Mohamed Salim, Mohd Shahrizuan Nordin and Sukmah Bidu.

Despite the reduction in shareholding, Maha Gayabina remains the largest shareholder in Priceworth. Other substantial shareholders include RHB Bank Bhd founder Tan Sri Rashid Hussain, with a 7.3% stake.

At Sanbumi Holdings Bhd, its second largest shareholder, Tan Sri Chai Kin Kong, disposed of 10 million shares, or a 4.42% stake, in the travel and tourism service company at 31 sen apiece on Oct 19.

The disposal reduced Chai’s stake to 6.16%, from 10.58% on June 29. At the time of writing, it was not known who the buyer of the stake was.

Despite being in the red, Sanbumi’s share price has risen 56.4% year to date. The stock closed at 30.5 sen per share last Wednesday.

On Oct 18, the largest unitholders of KIP Real Estate Investment Trust and the co-founders of the KIP Group, Datuk Ong Kook Leong and Datuk Chew Lak Seong, each acquired 4.28 million units, or a 0.85% stake, in the REIT at 70 sen per unit.

The units were acquired from KIP Mart Tampoi Sdn Bhd, a company under the KIP Group. The prices paid by Ong and Chew were at a 14.63% to 15.15% discount to the prevailing prices of the units on Oct 18.

Ong and Chew hold 37.2% and 36.4% of the REIT respectively. The latter is the managing director of KIP REIT Management Sdn Bhd, the REIT’s manager. KIP REIT closed at 83 sen per unit last Wednesday.