Semico Capital Berhad has entered into an underwriting agreement with Affin Hwang Investment Bank Berhad for its forthcoming initial public offering (IPO) on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad. The IPO will see the issuance of 92.7 million new shares, representing 25.7% of the company’s enlarged share capital, alongside an offer for sale of 18 million existing shares, accounting for 5%.

The distribution of the 92.7 million new shares includes 18 million shares available to the Malaysian public via balloting, 15 million shares allocated to eligible directors, employees, and business associates, and 59.7 million shares offered through private placement to selected investors. The 18 million existing shares will also be available via private placement.

Affin Hwang has agreed to underwrite 33 million shares for the Malaysian public and the Pink Form Allocation. Semico Capital, known for its family entertainment products and services, operates a family entertainment centre in Selangor and distributes toys and collectables across Malaysia. It holds exclusive distributorships for brands like Superwing and Dreamfuns.

Executive Director and CEO Tai Lee Chuen stated, “The signing of this underwriting agreement with Affin Hwang marks an important milestone for Semico Capital as we progress towards our ACE Market listing on Bursa Securities.”

The company aims to strengthen its market position and expand its offerings. The listing is expected by January 2026, with Affin Hwang serving as the Principal Adviser, Sponsor, Sole Placement Agent, and Sole Underwriter.

Monash University Malaysia has become the first university worldwide to join the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Global Innovation Partnership. Announced on 25 November 2025, this collaboration aims to address complex humanitarian issues by combining the university’s research expertise with the IFRC’s extensive humanitarian experience.

The partnership was unveiled at the IFRC Global Innovation Partnership Launch held at Monash University Malaysia. The event, officiated by Her Highness Dato’ Seri DiRaja Tan Sri Tunku Puteri Intan Safinaz, National Chairperson of the Malaysian Red Crescent, gathered representatives from humanitarian organisations, government agencies, NGOs, and academic partners for discussions, workshops, and exhibitions.

Monash University Malaysia’s President and Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Emeritus Dato’ Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, expressed the significance of the collaboration, stating, “We are honoured to be the first university to join the IFRC Global Innovation Partnership. This collaboration allows us to combine our research and academic expertise with IFRC’s humanitarian experience, tackling some of the most complex challenges faced by communities today.”

The partnership will focus on developing programmes that enhance digital and leadership capabilities within humanitarian organisations, empower students and volunteers through experiential learning, and accelerate the creation of innovative products and services. This initiative aligns with Monash University Malaysia’s commitment to driving meaningful change across ASEAN and beyond, reinforcing its position as a regional hub for research and capacity building in humanitarian innovation.

Allianz Malaysia Berhad has announced a strong financial performance for the third quarter ending 30 September 2025, with insurance revenue reaching RM1.58b, a 10% increase from the previous year. This growth was attributed to higher revenue from both the general and life insurance segments. Profit Before Tax (PBT) also saw a significant rise, climbing 21.8% to RM298.6m compared to the same period in 2024.

The general insurance arm, Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Berhad, contributed RM911.9m to the quarter’s revenue, marking a 10.3% increase from the previous year. The segment’s Gross Written Premiums (GWP) for the year-to-date rose to RM2.80b, up 9.1% from the previous year, maintaining its market leadership with a 15.3% share.

Meanwhile, Allianz Life Insurance Malaysia Berhad reported a 9.6% increase in insurance revenue to RM672.5m for the quarter. The life insurance segment’s GWP for the year-to-date reached RM3.08b, a 4.5% increase from the previous year, with Annualised New Premiums (ANP) rising by 5.8% to RM680m.

Sean Wang, CEO of Allianz Malaysia, highlighted the company’s strategic focus on sustainable growth and service enhancement, stating, “Allianz Malaysia’s performance in the third quarter this year reflects our strength, adaptability and dedication to excellence.”

Overall, Allianz Malaysia’s total assets as of 30 September 2025 amounted to RM30b, up from RM28.49b at the end of 2024. The company remains optimistic about concluding the year on a strong note, driven by its strategic initiatives and market leadership.

CGS International Securities Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (CGS MY) has announced significant leadership changes effective 1 January 2026. Current Deputy Chief Executive Officers Khairi Shahrin Arief bin Baki and Alan Inn Wei Loon will step into the roles of CEO and Country Head, respectively. This transition follows the retirement of current CEO Azizah Mohd Yatim, who will step down at the end of this year.

The leadership change is part of CGS MY’s strategy to strengthen its governance and expand its services both within Malaysia and across Asia. The company aims to maintain its position as the top broker on Bursa Malaysia whilst growing its investment banking, wealth, and asset management businesses.

Carol Fong, Group CEO of CGS International Securities Pte. Ltd., expressed gratitude for Azizah’s contributions since 2023, highlighting achievements such as maintaining the No.1 broker ranking on Bursa Malaysia and achieving a trading value exceeding MYR 120 billion by October 2025. Azizah’s tenure also saw the introduction of market-first financial products and a broadened service portfolio.

Khairi, the incoming CEO, emphasised the importance of governance excellence and strategic leadership, aiming to leverage CGS MY’s strengths in regional and global markets. Alan, the new Country Head, highlighted the company’s strong China heritage as a key asset in fostering cross-border collaborations.

The appointments are expected to bolster CGS MY’s position as a leading investment house in Asia, with a focus on expanding its influence in the China and ASEAN regions.

UK-based pyrolysis company Onnu has partnered with Agrotech Bioenergy to convert agricultural residues in Malaysia into renewable energy, high-grade biochar, and verified carbon credits. The collaboration, which began operations last week in Sabah, utilises Onnu’s proprietary CarboFlow technology to process plantation residues like palm trunk and bamboo, marking a significant advancement in sustainable biomass utilisation.

Onnu’s CarboFlow technology is designed to make biomass projects viable and scalable, addressing industry challenges such as high costs and long lead times. “CarboFlow is engineered for scalability and commercial viability,” said Giles Welch, CEO of Onnu. The system is priced at two-thirds of traditional systems, can be manufactured 4.5 times faster, and achieves payback in as little as three years.

The project in Sabah will process approximately 41,820 tonnes of wet biomass annually, producing 1,924 tonnes of biochar and generating 2,800 kW of renewable heat. It is expected to deliver 3,937 carbon credits each year, verified under the Puro.earth standard. The initiative has been independently evaluated by BeZero, a leading carbon rating agency.

Agrotech Bioenergy plans to expand the use of CarboFlow technology across plantations in Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia over the next five years. This expansion aims to sequester 360,000 tonnes of CO₂e annually and produce 180,000 tonnes of biochar. The energy generated will power a torrefaction plant to produce black pellets, displacing coal in power generation and reducing global carbon emissions by 1.3 million tonnes of CO₂e annually.

Malaysia’s ambitions for digital transformation took a significant step forward as the Smart Nation Expo 2025 commenced at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC). Running from 18 to 20 November, the event features over 300 global companies and is expected to attract more than 21,000 industry professionals, marking it as Southeast Asia’s largest tech innovation showcase.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, who is also the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation, delivered the opening address, emphasising Malaysia’s commitment to becoming a leader in the digital economy. “Our national digital initiatives align seamlessly with the themes of this expo—Driving Digitalisation Towards a Smart Economy,” he stated.

The expo is strategically colocated with EVM Asia and Data Centre Asia Malaysia, enhancing its comprehensive approach to digital transformation. EVM Asia focuses on electric vehicle innovations, whilst Data Centre Asia Malaysia addresses the growing demand for advanced data infrastructure. The event also features three major summits: the Digital Economy Leaders Summit 2025, the Asia Smart Cities Summit 2025, and the EIC Energy Industries Council Forum.

The expo’s Chairman, Tan Sri Nasir, highlighted the event’s focus on tangible business outcomes, stating, “We have designed this space to facilitate not just conversations but conversions—where handshakes turn into partnerships and discussions transform into deals.”

Supported by the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Smart Nation Expo 2025 aims to reshape Malaysia’s digital landscape and the broader ASEAN region. With expert-led sessions covering topics like 5G technology and AI developments, the expo promises to provide attendees with valuable insights into the transformative power of technology.

Techbond Group Berhad, a leader in industrial adhesives and sealants, has announced a net profit of RM4.8m for the first quarter of FY26, ending 30 September 2025. The company’s revenue reached RM32.9m, a slight decrease from RM36.4m in the same period last year, attributed to strategic product portfolio optimisation.

The company’s profit before tax saw a significant increase of 94% year-on-year, rising to RM5.7m from RM3m in Q1 FY25. This growth was largely due to improved product mix and portfolio optimisation efforts. Additionally, Techbond recorded an unrealised foreign exchange gain of RM0.1m, contrasting with a loss of RM2.1m in the previous year.

Techbond’s CEO, Lee Seh Meng, highlighted the challenges posed by global macroeconomic conditions, including the impact of US reciprocal tariffs on supply chains and investor sentiment. However, he noted that recent US Federal Reserve interest rate cuts could stimulate business investment and consumer demand.

In Malaysia, the reciprocal tariff rate is set at 19%, aligning with other ASEAN manufacturing nations. Despite these challenges, Techbond remains focused on expanding its export market, particularly in Vietnam, where it has secured new customers in newly penetrated regions.

The company declared a first interim dividend of 0.75 sen per share and maintains a strong financial position with a net cash per share of 15.6 sen as of 30 September 2025. Looking ahead, Techbond is optimistic about its growth prospects and continues to engage with potential customers in its upstream polymerisation segment.

Vantage Data Centres has finalised a $1.6b equity investment in its Asia-Pacific (APAC) platform, led by GIC and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA). This investment facilitated the acquisition of Yondr Group’s 300MW hyperscale data centre campus in Johor, Malaysia, announced on 24 November 2025. The acquisition enhances Vantage’s regional footprint, bringing its operational and planned IT capacity to 1GW across Australia, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

The Johor campus, known as JHB1, spans nearly 73 acres and will provide over 300MW of IT capacity across three data centres once fully developed. Located within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, JHB1 offers strategic connectivity with dark fibre routes and access to regional hubs. Originally financed through a green loan, the campus incorporates sustainability-focused technologies, including direct-to-chip liquid cooling, and aims to meet EDGE certification standards.

Jeremy Deutsch, president of Vantage Data Centres APAC, stated, “Finalising the acquisition of this campus in Johor marks an important step in our growth strategy for APAC. We are bringing one of Southeast Asia’s largest and most advanced hyperscale campuses into our platform.”

The expansion is part of Vantage’s broader strategy to serve AI and cloud customers with sustainable and scalable infrastructure. The integration of more than 30 Yondr APAC team members into Vantage is expected to bolster the company’s capabilities in key markets such as Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand.

MEASAT Global Berhad, in collaboration with Apadilangit Space Academy, has launched the Malaysia Space Dream initiative, aiming to inspire young Malaysians to pursue careers in space science and technology. The initiative kicked off on 22 November at MEASAT’s Teleport and Broadcast Centre in Cyberjaya, where 50 students aged 13 to 18 participated in the Postcard to Space activity. These students created AI-generated postcards expressing their space dreams, which will be sent to the edge of space via Blue Origin’s Club for the Future and returned as keepsakes.

The Malaysia Space Dream initiative, organised by Apadilangit Space Academy, is a multiphase programme that includes the Earth & Space Online Hackathon and National Space Camp. It seeks to align with Malaysia’s National Space Policy 2030 by nurturing a future workforce in the space sector. Participants in the Postcard to Space activity will also engage in interactive demonstrations and guided tours of MEASAT’s facilities, gaining insights into satellite technology and spacetech careers.

Yau Chyong Lim, Chief Operating Officer of MEASAT, expressed the company’s commitment to developing a robust talent pipeline for the spacetech sector, stating, “It is inspiring and beneficial for young Malaysians to have a tangible space experience through Postcard to Space.” Hafez Murtza, CEO of Apadilangit Space Academy, added, “We want to give young Malaysians a tangible connection to space exploration.”

The initiative aims to collect at least 5,000 postcards nationwide and engage students in solving real-world challenges through the hackathon phase. Supported by various Malaysian organisations, the programme is set to contribute significantly to the country’s space ecosystem.

TransNusa has inaugurated its Jakarta-Penang route, marking a significant step in its regional expansion strategy. The airline, in collaboration with Tourism Malaysia and Penang International Airport (PIA), launched the service within six months, aiming to enhance international connectivity and meet rising travel demand between Indonesia and Malaysia. Initially, flights will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with daily services commencing from 1 December.

The new route is part of TransNusa’s vision to expand access to major regional hubs. PIA, Malaysia’s second-busiest airport, offers connections to over 20 destinations, making it a strategic addition to TransNusa’s network. “This route was realised through close collaboration with Tourism Malaysia and PIA,” said TransNusa Group CEO Bernard Francis, highlighting the strong cross-border support.

Penang becomes TransNusa’s third active route connecting Indonesia and Malaysia, following Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur. The airline is working with Tourism Malaysia to boost bilateral travel ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026, through promotional activities and trade engagements.

Flight 8B 633 departs Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 5:30 am, arriving in Penang at 9:00 am. The return flight, 8B 632, leaves Penang at 9:30 am, landing in Jakarta at 10:55 am. Fares start from IDR1,199,000 (US$75). TransNusa offers premium services with competitive pricing, including product bundles like SEAT, SEATPLUS, and FLEXIPRO, which provide additional benefits such as increased baggage allowance and flexible scheduling options.

TransNusa, led by Bernard Francis, has rapidly expanded since its inception three years ago, establishing itself as a Premium Service Carrier with innovative routes across Southeast Asia and beyond.