TMC Life Science continue losing streak

KUALA LUMPUR: Despite the entry of Singapore billionaire investor Peter Lim Eng Hock in 2010, TMC Life Sciences Bhd has continued to bleed losses.

For the second quarter ended Nov 30, TMC Life posted net losses of RM3.04 million on the back of RM14.46 million in revenue. For the six-month period, TMC Life suffered RM5.37 million in net losses on a revenue of RM27.68 million. According to its Bursa Malaysia filings, TMC Life attributed the losses to depreciation, finance cost and expenses incurred for its rights issue exercise.

Despite the losses, TMC Life said it is cautiously optimistic for its prospects for FY12 ending May 31.

“The main hospital continues to attract more patients and specialist doctors and is conducting more activities to promote the hospital’s advanced facilities and services,” it said. TMC Life added that it is expecting to receive more patients with the signing of several memoranda of understanding with various organisations and other marketing activities to promote medical tourism.

TMC Life said there are no comparative figures for the quarter under review due to changes in the financial year end from Dec 31 to May 31. TMC Life has been posting losses since the quarter ended March 31, 2009.

The company also announced the appointment of Dr Wong Chiang Yin as group CEO in addition to his role as executive director. Wong replaces Lim Poon Thoo who resigned as CEO to take up engagements in other organisations.

Last December, TMC Life issued 200.59 million new rights shares together with 401.17 million new detachable warrants on the basis of one rights share with two free warrants for every three existing TMC Life shares held.

TMC Life fell 30.8% from a high of 45.5 sen in the last three months to close at 31.5 sen yesterday.


This article appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, January 17, 2012.



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KL shares firmer at midday

Share prices on Bursa Malaysia ended the morning session firmer, despite regional markets winding down ahead of the festive holidays, dealers said.

Window dressing activities dominated trade as investors sought after quality stocks for their portfolio ahead of the year-end.

At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI ended at 1,494.94, up 3.48 points.

The Finance Index rose 21.89 points to 13,391.85, the Plantation Index increased 25.53 points to 7,948.78 but the Industrial Index softened by 1.93 points to 2,664.75. The FBM Emas Index added 23.96 points to 10,238.89, FBM Mid 70 Index gained
21.511 points to 11,257.98 but the FBM ACE Index declined 4.410 points to 4,023.39.

Gainers led losers 304 to 279 while 320 counters were unchanged. Turnover stood at 451.738 million shares worth RM363.868 million.

Among actives, Astral Supreme Bhd added one sen to 19.5 sen, Perisai Petroleum Teknologi rose 4.0 sen to 72.5 sen and TMC Life Sciences Bhd-Warr increased 2.5 sen to 14 sen.

In heavyweights, Maybank declined one sen to RM8.44, Sime Darby eased two sen to RM8.98 and CIMB firmed nine sen to RM7.09. -- BERNAMA



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KL shares slightly higher at midday

Share prices on Bursa Malaysia ended the morning session marginally firmer, but in quiet trading, despite regional markets winding down ahead of the festive holidays.

Dealers said the benchmark FBM KLCI could swing between its immediate support and resistance levels of between 1,475 and 1,500 pending the emergence of fresh market leads. At 12.30pm, the FBM KLCI ended at 1,485.92, up 0.94 of a point.

The Finance Index rose 17.29 points to 13,284.93, the Plantation Index increased 12.560 points to 7,920.02 and the Industrial Index perked 0.2 point of a point to 2,663.02. The FBM Emas Index added 7.940 points to 10,178.4, FBM Mid 70 Index gained 26.521 points to 11,190.99 but the FBM ACE Index declined 38.74 points to 4,027.65.

Losers led gainers 380 to 212 while 274 counters were unchanged. Turnover stood at 629.408 million shares worth RM397.789 million.

Of the active counters, TMC Life Sciences Bhd-Warr added 11.5 sen to 12 sen while Hibiscus Petroleum Warr 11/14 and Sanichi Tech both gave up 1.5 sen each to 50.5 sen and 14 sen, respectively.

In heavyweights, Maybank rose one sen to RM8.38, Sime Darby was unchanged at RM9.00 and CIMB firmed four sen to RM6.99. -- Bernama



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KL shares firmer at mid-morning

Share prices on Bursa Malaysia were firmer at mid-morning today, dealers said. They said the Asian equities would probably consolidate their gains chalked up yesterday.

Dealers said the benchmark FBM KLCI could swing between its immediate support and resistance levels of 1,475 and 1,500 respectively, pending the emergence of fresh market leads.

At 11.15am, the FBM KLCI inched up 0.06 point to 1,485.04.

The Finance Index rose 6.740 points to 13,274.38 and the Plantation Index increased 6.680 points to 7,919.56.

The Industrial Index, however, shed 0.72 point to 2,662.1. The FBM Emas Index was up 0.65 point to 10,171.11 and FBM Mid 70 Index added 15.59 points to 11,180.06. The FBM ACE Index, however, declined 33.33 points to 4,033.06.

Losers led gainers by 329 to 176 while 269 counters were unchanged. Turnover stood at 477.675 million shares worth RM248.815 million.

Of the active counters, TMC Life Sciences Bhd-Warr added 11 sen to 11.5 sen, Hibiscus Petroleum Warr 11/14 inched up two sen to 50 sen and Sanichi Tech shed 1.5 sen to 14 sen.

In heavyweights, Maybank rose one sen to RM8.38, Sime Darby was unchanged at RM9.00 and CIMB firmed five sen to RM7.00. -- Bernama



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KL shares open softer in cautious trade

Share prices on Bursa Malaysia opened softer this morning in cautious trading, dealers said. The FBM KLCI opened 0.38 points lower at 1,484.6 and trended lower to 1,484.05 at 9.50am.

However, the Finance Index rose 0.27 points to 13,267.37, Plantation Index increased 14.69 points to 7,922 and the Industrial Index gained 1.2 points to 2,664.02. The FBM Emas Index declined 4.55 points to 10,165.91, FBM Mid 70 Index added 9.601 points to 11,174.07 and the FBM ACE Index shed 29.84 points to 4,036.55.

Losers led gainers 234 to 151 while 206 counters were unchanged. Turnover amounted to 288.949 million shares worth RM123.920 million.

Of active counters, TMC Life Sciences Bhd-Warr added 11 sen to 11.5 sen, Sanichi Tech shed one sen to 14.5 and Integrated Rubber Corp increased one sen to 17 sen. In heavyweights, Maybank rose one sen to RM8.38, Sime Darby eased one sen to RM8.99 and CIMB added three sen to RM6.98. -- Bernama



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KLCI opens lower, blue chips weigh

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 21): The FBM KLCI fell in early trade on Monday, weighed by losses at select blue chips, in line with the weaker sentiment at key regional markets.

Asian shares fell on Monday as uncertainty remained over how euro zone leaders would respond to mounting funding difficulties for European banks, while a crushing election win for Spain's centre-right opposition raised hopes for reforms, according to Reuters.

At 9.05am, the FBM KLCI fell 3.90 points to 1,450.50.

Loser edged gainers by 82 to 80, while 111 counters traded unchanged. Volume was 58.68 million shares valued at RM20.39 million.

Among the early decliners were Nestle, KLK, Petronas Chemicals, Genting, IOI Corp, Sime Darby, Public Bank, Parkson and TMC Life.



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Healthcare stocks buck downtrend on Bursa

KUALA LUMPUR: Healthcare providers TMC Life Sciences Bhd and KPJ Healthcare Bhd bucked the downward trend on Bursa Malaysia yesterday, rising 1.7% and 19.3% respectively. The FBM KLCI closed almost unchanged yesterday at 1,476.84 points.

TMC Life closed up eight sen or 19.3% to 49.5 sen, the highest since April 29. It reached an intraday high of 51.5 sen, marginally higher than its closing price with 42.3 million shares traded.

KPJ, the largest listed healthcare player in Malaysia, was up seven sen or 1.7% to close at RM4.15.

Earlier in the week, The Edge Financial Daily had reported on the possibility of KPJ and TMC Life becoming beneficiaries of Singapore’s Central Provident Fund’s (CPF) Medisave scheme. The report highlighted that the Singapore government’s move was an opportunity for healthcare providers in Malaysia to capture a bigger pie of a rapidly growing market share.

Currently, only 12 Malaysian hospitals are on CPF’s approved list for Medisave funds. KPJ, which has more than 20 hospitals in its stable and with a number of them in Johor, is a potential beneficiary of this scheme should it bid to be included in the list of hospitals. Khazanah Nasional Bhd’s plan to list Parkway Pantai Ltd, reportedly raising as much as US$2 billion (RM6.3 billion), in the first half of next year may be another catalyst for healthcare counters.

Khazanah owns 70% of Integrated Healthcare Holdings Sdn Bhd, which in turn owns 100% of Parkway Pantai. Parkway Pantai operates 16 hospitals throughout Asia, mostly in Singapore and Malaysia, and plans to add eight more in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, India and the United Arab Emirates. Parkway Holdings came under Khazanah’s fold after a takeover tussle with India’s Fortis Healthcare Ltd. The deal valued Parkway Holdings at US$3.5 billion.

The 30% block in Integrated Healthcare, which holds other healthcare-related assets aside from Parkway Pantai, was sold to Japan’s second largest trader Mitsui & Co in April for RM3.3 billion, which effectively valued the healthcare group at RM11 billion.

Last week, Singapore billionaire Peter Lim announced a joint venture with the Johor royal family to build a RM4.6 billion medical hub and marina city in Johor Baru. The project is aimed at supporting the increasing demand and the government’s aspiration for Malaysia to become a major healthcare tourism destination by 2020.

The medical hub will be managed by a division of Thomson Medical, Thomson International Health Services, which is based in Singapore. Lim is the largest shareholder of Thomson Medical and Bursa-listed TMC Life.


This article appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, November 17, 2011.



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KL shares lower at mid-morning

Share prices on Bursa Malaysia continued the downtrend at midmorning today as investors stuck to reducing their holdings in key heavyweights and penny stocks, dealers said.

At 11.25 am, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) eased 6.05 points to 1,470.79, dragged down by losses mostly seen in CIMB.

The benchmark FBM KLCI was 1.32 points lower at 1,475.54 at the opening bell. The Finance Index slid 74.1 points to 13,097.83, the Plantation Index declined 28.14 points to 7,659.35 and the Industrial Index dropped 10.59 points to 2,708.16.

The FBM Emas Index slipped 31.66 points to 10,088.16, the FBM Mid 70 Index was 9.49 points lower at 11,025.84 and the FBM ACE Index decreased 12.51 points to 4,233.56.

Decliners led advancers 357 to 178 while 233 counters were unchanged, 713 untraded and 32 others suspended. Turnover stood at 538.942 million shares valued at RM294.212 million.

For the actives, Compugates slid half sen to 7.5 sen, Hibiscus Petroleum-Warrant added four sen to 44.5 sen while TMC Life Sciences shed three sen to 46.5 sen.

For the heavyweights, Maybank dropped six sen to RM8.33, Sime Darby eased two sen to RM8.91, CIMB lost 10 sen RM6.96 and Petronas Chemicals slipped three sen to RM6.18. -- Bernama



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KL shares open lower

Share prices on Bursa Malaysia started the trading day on a weaker note, tracking the bearish Wall Street market on Wednesday, and as investors globally remained cautious over the impact of the European debt woes on the economy, dealers said.

Eighteen minutes after the opening, the FTSE Bursa Malaysia (FBM KLCI) slipped 6.13 points to 1,470.71 with losses mostly seen in Sime Darby. Earlier, the benchmark index opened 1.32 points lower at 1,475.54.

The Finance Index declined 33.069 points to 13,138.86, the Plantation Index eased 5.67 points to 7,681.82 and the Industrial Index slipped 8.93 points to 2,709.82.

The FBM Emas Index dropped 31.71 points to 10,088.11, the FBM Mid 70 Index was 19.87 points lower at 11,015.46 and the FBM ACE Index decreased 13.95 points to 4,232.12.

Decliners led advancers 163 to 90 while 134 counters were unchanged, 1,094 untraded and 32 others were suspended. Turnover stood at 149.163 million shares valued at RM71.428 million.

HWANGDBS Vickers Research, in its note today, said major US equity indices plunged between 1.6 per cent and 1.7 per cent at the closing bell partly on fears that American banks could be hit by the spreading eurozone sovereign debt crisis.

Consequently, Asian equities will likely suffer from the spillover effects today, it said. "Back home, the benchmark FBM KLCI is expected to drop below its immediate support level of 1,475, possibly falling towards the next support line of 1,445 ahead," it added.

Actives, Compugates was unchanged at eight sen, TMC Life Sciences shed two sen to 47.5 sen and Tricubes edged up half-a-sen to 26.5 sen.

For heavyweights, Maybank slipped two sen to RM8.37, Sime Darby lost 11 sen to RM8.82, CIMB shed seven sen RM6.99 and Petronas Chemicals dropped six sen to RM6.15. -- Bernama



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KPJ, TMC Life may benefit from Singapore’s Medisave scheme

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian hospital groups, including listed KPJ Healthcare Bhd and TMC Life Sciences Bhd, may benefit from Singapore’s Central Provident Fund (CPF)’s Medisave scheme, after the island state relaxed regulations on its citizens receiving medical treatment from Malaysia.

Lower medical bills and cheaper drugs have lured Singaporeans and Malaysians working in Singapore to seek medical treatment in Malaysia.

Twelve hospitals in Malaysia are on the CPF’s approved list for use of Medisave funds. None of the KPJ hospitals has been included in that list yet, although KPJ is the largest listed healthcare player in Malaysia with about 20 hospitals, with several of them in Johor.

The 12 hospitals currently on the list include the Regency Specialist Hospital in Johor Bahru and Mahkota Medical Centre in Melaka, both under Health Management International Ltd (HMI), a healthcare group in Singapore, as well as Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre in Kuala Lumpur and nine other Pantai group hospitals across the country.

Analysts see the Singapore government’s move as an opportunity for Malaysian players to capture a bigger piece of an already rapidly growing market. The race for Singapore patients could also see increased competition and expansion among the existing players.

“There will always be a lot of competition. It cannot be avoided,” said a healthcare analyst. “Companies like Columbia Asia are also fast expanding to accommodate the growing demand,” he added.

None of the KPJ hospitals has been included in CPF's list yet, although KPJ is the largest listed healthcare player in Malaysia with about 20 hospitals, of which several are in Johor.

According to the analyst, it is still unclear if KPJ will be bidding to be part of the list as it has yet to make any announcement on the matter. Nevertheless, the group recently announced two new ventures to build hospitals in Klang and Penang to expand its network of hospitals.

Due to increasing demand as well as the government’s aspirations to become a major healthcare tourism destination, last week Singapore billionaire Peter Lim announced a joint venture with the Johor royal family to build a RM4.6 billion medical hub and marina city spanning 10 ha in Johor Bahru.

The first phase of the project will include a private hospital and healthcare-related facilities. A division of Thomson Medical, Thomson International Health Services, also based in Singapore, will manage the hospital once completed. Only those who are referred from Thomson Medical Centre Singapore will be able to use their Medisave reserves for treatment.

Lim is the largest shareholder of Thomson Medical as well as Bursa Malaysia-listed TMC Life Sciences, which owns a hospital in Kota Damansara.

TMC shares gained 1.5 sen or 3.7% to 42 sen on a heavy volume of 5.51 million shares while KPJ shares gained 4 sen or 1% to RM4.08 on a volume of 906,800 shares yesterday.


This article appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, November 15, 2011.



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TMC Life Sciences rights shares to go ex on Nov 21

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 9): TMC LIFE SCIENCES BHD []’s renounceable rights issue of 200.59 million new shares of 10 sen each together with 401.18 million free new detachable warrants will go ex on Nov 21.

A Bursa Malaysia circular said on Wednesday the rights shares were issued at an issue price of 30 sen per rights share on the basis of one rights share together with two free warrants for every three shares held on the entitlement date of Nov 23.