22/05/2026

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BIZ & FINANCE FRIDAY | MAY 22, 2026

Meta Bright broadens EPCC push with RM9.3m acquisition

timing variations in the Interior Fit-Out segment. However, the group’s core operations strengthened. Profit from operations increased 3.4% year-on-year to RM30.3 million, driving the operating margin up to 14.3% from 11.9% a year ago. The group reported a PBT of RM28.6 million and PBT and Minority Interests of RM12.9 million. The year-on-year decline in statutory profit was driven almost entirely by a lower share of profit from its 22.6%-owned associate Fiamma Holdings Bhd, which contributed RM2.4 million compared to RM8.2 million in Q1’25. Tune Protect remains resilient in volatile market KUALA LUMPUR: Tune Protect Group Bhd started the year on firm footing with Profit After Tax (PAT) of RM3.9 million and a combined ratio of 98.5%, demonstrating resilience despite a more challenging macroeconomic and operating environment. Market volatility led to a moderation of insurance revenue attributed to softer performance by the travel segment, although this was partially offset by the growth in the non-travel segment. The group recorded Gross Written Premium (GWP) of RM91.1 million, up 1.8% year-on-year (YoY) supported by continued strength in its non-travel business led by the motor segment, recording a 23.3% growth YoY. “We began 2026 navigating a more volatile operating environment, with geopolitical developments, foreign exchange movements and market uncertainty impacting parts of our business, particularly travel. Against this backdrop, we are encouraged by the resilience of our core fundamentals and the steady performance of our non-travel segment,” said group CEO How Kim Lian. As at March 31, 2026, the group’s investment portfolio stood at RM747.1 million, predominantly allocated to fixed income instruments via unit trust funds.

increased 160% to RM3.4 million, with margins recovering from 2.7% to 7.5%. This single-quarter profit exceeds the brand’s entire PBT contribution for the full FY25. The Interior Fit-Out Works segment recorded revenue of RM88.8 million and a PBT of RM11.2 million, reflecting project timing variations and increased staff-related expenses to support business expansion, though segment margins remained healthy at 12.6%. At the group level, Q1’26 revenue stood at RM211.8 million, compared to RM247.5 million in the corresponding quarter last year, reflecting the year. The shares will be kept locked and released in stages based on these yearly targets – FY27: RM2 million guaranteed NPAT; FY28: RM2.85 million guaranteed NPAT; FY29: RM3.15 million guaranteed NPAT; FY30: RM3.35 million guaranteed NPAT and FY31: RM3.65 million guaranteed NPAT. The acquisition also brings valuable industry licenses to Meta Bright. TIESB and its subsidiaries hold active registrations with the Sustainable Energy Development Authority Malaysia, Construction Industry Development Board, the Energy Commission, and UPKJ. This includes a Petronas licence covering 15 Standardised Work and Equipment Categories through Sangga Tiga (KL) Sdn Bhd, and a Petroleum Sarawak Bhd licence held by Sangga Tiga (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd, which opens up project opportunities in East Malaysia. These licences enable the group to expand its customer base across the oil & gas industry through the provision of energy-related services. The proposed acquisition is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Our order book has grown past RM1.2 billion, which provides us with clear earnings visibility for the coming quarters. We are also seeing a tangible recovery in the Signature brand’s profitability, proving that our recent cost-structuring efforts are working. We enter the rest of FY26 focused purely on executing our RM1.24 billion order book, maintaining our margin discipline, and driving cash flow.” The core Signature brand recorded a sharp profitability recovery during the quarter. Despite a slight revenue decline to RM45.7 million, segment PBT standard solar installer. The group specialises in low-voltage to high voltage electrical works for distribution and transmission services, supporting industrial plants and commercial facilities across maintenance, improvement and expansion projects.” He added its technical expertise covers complex substation design, electrical engineering and energy infrastructure execution, supported by essential registrations and licences including Petronas, Petros, CIDB and RPVSP. “Backed by an RM15 million profit guarantee, this acquisition strengthens our margin potential and positions Meta Bright to capture broader opportunities across the energy and electrical infrastructure sectors,” he said, adding that the RM9.29 million purchase price will be paid using RM1 million in cash and RM8.29 million through the issuance of 51.8 million new Meta Bright shares at an issue price of RM0.16 each. To protect the group and its shareholders, the seller will only receive their full shares if TTOP achieves a predetermined PAT each

o Agreement to buy 70% of TTESB transforms group into integrated electrical engineering and energy solutions provider

KUALA LUMPUR: Meta Bright Group Bhd has entered into a conditional share sale agreement to acquire a 70% equity interest in TTOP Industrial & Engineering Sdn Bhd (TIESB) for a total purchase consideration of RM9.29 million. This marks a fruitful conclusion from the earlier Head of Agreement signed between the parties on March 27 this year. By acquiring a controlling stake in TIESB, Meta Bright fundamentally and strategically transforms from a pure green energy asset investor into a fully integrated, end-to-end energy service provider. Crucially, this acquisition moves the group beyond standard solar installations and directly into relatively complex, higher-margin electrical engineering work such as specialised substation design, EV terminal construction, transmission engineering solutions,

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327% to RM18.4 million, with PBT margins jumping from 8.3% to 23.8%. This operational momentum is fully backed by the group’s unbilled order book, which expanded by RM108 million during the quarter to reach RM1.24 billion as at March 31, 2026. The Corten brand now accounts for the majority of this pipeline at RM811 million, followed by RM326 million from the Signature brand, and RM98 million from Interior Fit-Out Works. Group CEO KS Lau said, “The Corten brand had an exceptional quarter, anchored by strong demand and high margin project execution in Singapore. Corporate and strategic planning executive director Derek Phang Kiew Lim said, “The global energy landscape is changing quickly, and the push for energy transition is stronger than ever. By bringing TTOP into the group, Meta Bright is no longer just investing in renewable and energy efficiency assets; we are now a complete service provider capable of handling electrical-related projects. TTOP is more than a addition, vertical integration effectively reshapes the group’s operational cost structure. By internalising these advanced engineering capabilities, Meta Bright eliminates third-party contractor leakage, mitigating execution risk while driving significant margin expansion across its entire energy portfolio. this

Signature Q1 earnings buoyed by Corten brand, order book hits RM1.24b KUALA LUMPUR: Signature International Bhd, an integrated home and living solutions provider, aforementioned project

announced its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026 (Q1’26), anchored by a breakout performance from its Corten brand and a record unbilled order book of RM1.24 billion. The primary growth driver for the quarter was the Corten brand. The segment delivered revenue of RM77.2 million, a 48.5% increase year-on-year. Driven by high-margin project deliveries in Singapore and effective cost controls, Corten’s profit before tax (PBT) surged

Education retains its importance in the Malaysian landscape for parents, students and stakeholders. The changes are fast paced with new developments in new fields of study such as cybersecurity, data protection, augmented and virtual reality, machine learning in education, digital education and artificial Intelligence. Leading the way are universities, who are invited to showcase their latest programmes, curriculum and content in our Education Focus for 2026.

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