21/08/2026

FRIDAY | AUG 21, 2026

16

BIZ & FINANCE

BIZ & FINANCE

NexG puts preliminary value of Datasonic at RM7.5 billion

FatHopes Energy expands biofuel feedstock logistics capacity

KUALA LUMPUR: FatHopes Energy Sdn Bhd has strengthened its logistics capabilities with the acquisition of additional prime movers from Hap Seng Truck Sdn Bhd, marking another step in the company’s continued investment in biofuel feedstock infrastructure across Malaysia and the region. Each prime mover has been engineered to meet national requirements and purpose-built for the specific demands of feedstock transportation. The vehicles will be deployed across FatHopes Energy’s growing logistics network in Malaysia, strengthening the company’s capacity to collect and transport feedstock efficiently as it scales its operations. The investment is part of FatHopes Energy’s broader efforts to build the logistics infrastructure required to support increasing feedstock volumes and the company’s continued expansion. The move comes as FatHopes Energy advances a number of strategic partnerships, including collaborations with UCO Trading, MotionECO and PetroVietnam Oil Corporation, further increasing the importance of a robust and scalable feedstock network. “As we continue to scale, the ability to move feedstock efficiently and reliably becomes increasingly important. These prime movers represent a continued push to strengthen our logistics capabilities across Malaysia and ensuring we have the capacity to support the growth ahead. With the partnerships we are building and our upcoming Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) refinery, we need to ensure our logistics infrastructure grows alongside the business,” said CEO Vinesh Sinha. He added the acquisition also marks a strengthening of their long standing relationship between FatHopes Energy and Hap Seng Truck, with the commercial vehicle specialist supporting the company’s growing transportation requirements.

KUALA LUMPUR: NexG Bhd informed its shareholders that it has been requested by the government to provide an indicative price for the possible acquisition of its wholly owned subsidiary Datasonic Technologies Sdn Bhd (DTSB). On a sum-of-parts basis, the board of NexG has made a preliminary internal assessment of the value of DTSB at approximately RM7.5 billion. For context, DTSB constitutes the core operating business of NexG and is the group’s main revenue and earnings contributor. The disposal of this business would effectively leave NexG without a core business. Losing DTSB would mean losing our “Crown Jewel”, upon which the group’s future regional and international expansion is highly dependent. DTSB is a core and growing business that NexG has built over many years and which, in the ordinary course of business, would have been retained and continued to be developed for the benefit of its shareholders. The board said it acknowledges the government’s request for an indicative price in relation to a possible acquisition of DTSB and will give the request due and proper consideration. At this stage, no decision has been made by the board to proceed with any transaction, nor has any agreement been reached with the government. The board stated that the RM7.5 billion sum-of-parts valuation for DTSB is a preliminary internal assessment not an independent valuation, an agreed price or a firm offer. The board is cognisant that this assessed value of DTSB, its subsidiary, is significantly above the current market capitalisation of NexG Bhd, the listed holding company, of about RM1.04 billion. DTSB owns valuable intellectual property, including its patent-pending biometric QR citizen verification flow, with a liveness check that guards against impersonation, forged documents, spoofing, and copyright applications for the MyKad and passport designs. Its identity technology also spans ICAO-compliant e-passports and biometric systems using multimodal biometrics and facial recognition. This proprietary technology is a core driver of value and a barrier to imitation. DTSB’s solutions are independently o Company says it was requested by govt to provide indicative price for possible acquisition

DTSB’s identity technology spans ICAO-compliant e-passports and biometric systems using multimodal biometrics and facial recognition. – SUNBIZ PIX

The next-generation MyKad extends beyond a physical identity card through a proprietary encrypted QR identity function, enabling the cardholder’s identity to be securely verified using biometric facial verification and liveness detection. This creates a trusted link between the physical MyKad, the genuine citizen and thus creates a secure space for digital transactions to be approved. Under the Main Market Listing Requirements of Bursa Malaysia, a disposal of NexG’s core business would, among other things, require the approval of shareholders at an extraordinary general meeting, and the appointment of an independent adviser to advise shareholders. NexG Bhd group executive chairman Datuk Ishak Ismail said: “Our duty remains to our shareholders and to the nation. Any transaction must reflect the fair value of the business, keep the capability whole, treat every shareholder equally, and safeguard national security. On that basis, we will engage constructively and responsibly to reach an outcome that is right for the country and fair to all who have helped build the company.”

security-audited and certified, and built to national security and cryptographic standards. Credentials of trust of this kind, together with the clearances and track record achieved in the past, cannot be assembled quickly, and are central to why the business commands it’s value. For the current national identity programme, DTSB has committed investments of approximately RM1.9 billion in people, equipment, system upgrades and two manufacturing plants in Petaling Jaya and Meru. Millions of new-generation cards have already been produced and secured. Printing and support infrastructure have been installed and tested at national registration offices across the country. User acceptance testing has now been completed. DTSB is developing a modular digital ecosystem or a “SuperApp” that brings together a ready-for-commercialisation biometric QR identity verification platform for banks, merchants and other institutions, alongside a purpose-built government e wallet for targeted subsidies and assistance programmes.

From left: FatHopes Energy manager, technical & maintenance Ahmad Irshad Sani, Bin Zayed International (M) Bhd managing director Datuk Seri Dr Shamir Kumar Nandy, Vinesh, Hap Seng Truck Sdn Bhd CEO Lee Weng Yew, general manager, sales & marketing Jacky Tan and deputy general manager aftersales Teh Leng Onn.

Sunway Healthcare posts record revenue, stronger earnings in Q2 KUALA LUMPUR: Sunway Healthcare Holdings Bhd, an integrated private healthcare provider, delivered record quarterly revenue and stronger earnings in Q2’26, driven by progressive capacity activation, higher patient volumes and improving operating leverage across its hospital network. This the group said when announcing its financial results for the second quarter and six month ended June 30, 2026 (Q2’26 and 1H’26, respectively). further headroom for near term growth. Revenue rose 30% y-o-y to a record RM672.9 million (Q2’25: RM518.6 million), driven primarily by stronger patient volumes across the group’s hospital network and robust revenue contributions from Sunway Medical Centre (SMC) Sunway City, SMC Damansara and SMC Ipoh. Bed occupancy rate rose to 73% (Q2’25: 67%), as inpatient admissions increased by 19% y-o-y to 32,599, supported by 208 additional licensed beds y-o-y and improved utilisation at SMC Damansara and SMC Ipoh. Revenue per inpatient admission grew 8% y-o-y to RM12,515 (Q2’25: RM11,587). Reported ebitda increased 43% y-o-y to RM158.8 million (Q2’25: RM111.2 million), with earnings growth outpacing revenue growth as higher patient volumes and improved utilisation supported stronger operating leverage across the hospital network. Ebitda margin correspondingly strengthened by 2.2 percentage points to 23.6% (Q2’25: 21.4%). Excluding non-recurring costs, normalised ebitda rose 44% y-o-y to RM161.3 million (Q2’25: RM112.2 million), with adjusted ebitda margin expanding by 2.4 ppts to 24% (Q2’25: 21.6%), reflecting the improvement in the group’s underlying operating performance. Profit attributable to owners of the company increased 89% y-o-y to RM78.2 million (Q2’25: RM41.4 million), underpinned by stronger operating performance, notwithstanding higher depreciation from the expanded asset base. Net gearing ratio improved significantly from 42% (Dec 31, 2025) to 10% (June 30, 2026) following the group’s IPO. The strong Q2’26 performance lifted 1H’26 revenue to RM1.26 billion, up 27% y-o-y, and reported ebitda to RM270.8 million, up 32% y-o-y. Profit attributable to owners of the group rose by 39% to RM111.5 million, providing a solid base for the group entering the second half of the year. For Q2’26, the group said the total licensed beds expanded by 13% year-on-year (y-o-y) to 1,855 beds and as at June 30, 2026, they had total bed capacity of 2,072 beds, providing