Tag: Improved
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PIL’s Revenue Hit All-Time High for FYE 2021
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The overall performance of the Group recovered commendably in 2021, with growth driven by improved contributions from both the ATE and FAS business segments with each segment accounting for approximately 70.1% and 29.9% of the total Group's revenue, as compared to 2020 of 67.6% and 32.4%, respectively.
ATE segment
With a revenue contribution rate of 70.1%, the ATE segment continued to contribute the larger portion of the Group's overall revenue and profit. After witnessing a decline in revenue last year, total revenue from this segment marked a turnaround and grew at a double-digit rate of 22.6% to MYR358.4 million. During the year, backed by the recovery of the smartphone market and its peripheral items. the electro-optical industry continued to dominate the ATE segment with its revenue contribution rate of approximately 49.7%, derived from abroad
the product portfolio of the Group in its test solutions for the proximity sensor, 3D magnetometer sensor, ambient light sensor, wafer-level VCSEL (Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Laser) and other relevant applications under optics and photonics sensing solutions.
Owing to the Group's persistent effort in increasing its exposure to the automotive industry, revenue from this sector came in as the second-highest within the ATE segment with its contribution rate of 27.6%. In addition, the automotive sector chalked the highest growth rate at 39.9% among other industry sectors within the ATE segment. This strong demand was largely attributed to the Group's automotive test solutions covering a full range of assembly and test technologies for various aspects of the manufacturing process ranging from the component test, final test to packaging. During the year, the ATE segment was also benefitted from the semiconductor industry with its revenue contribution rate of 20.0%, where this sector captured a 26.8% growth as compared to 2020 from the continuous demand for the Group's test handling equipment which was underpinned by the growth of integrated chips and other related semiconductor contents from the acceleration of digital transformation by the pandemic over the past two years.
The ATE segment will continue to dominate the performance of the Group in the foreseeable future. With the global pandemic unleashing the unprecedented wave of technology developments coupled with the power and momentum of technology convergence, the Group is in a promising position to leverage on these significant opportunities in the ATE segment.
FAS segment
After recording a strong revenue growth in the year 2020, the FAS segment continued to witness a double-digit growth rate in its contribution to the Group's revenue, chalking 12.3% growth to achieve MYR155.3 million during the year. This was mainly driven by the robust demand for the Group's proprietary i-ARMS solutions, where a wider customer base adopted this application across different industry segments in different countries and regions. Notably, this segment gained its revenue momentum in the third and fourth quarters of the year, with revenue in the second half of the year exceeding its first half by approximately 19.5%. The main industry segment that led to FAS growth was the consumer and industrial product segment, contributing approximately 45.4% to overall FAS segment revenue. This was followed by the electro-optical segment and medical device segment with its respective revenue contribution rate of 30.4% and 19.3% where the application of the Group's i-ARMS was equally prevalent in
these segments.
The Group continues to witness huge potential and opportunities in its FAS segment given the fundamental shift towards factory automation and smart manufacturing across various industries, especially in a post-pandemic environment. With the current automation trend, the Group will continue to broaden and enrich the capability of its automated solutions to capture the growth from these developments in the years ahead.
Outlook
"It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change."
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically and fundamentally altered the way we live and work. From social distancing, quarantine, closed borders, travel bans to the buzzword "home office" have never been mandated on such a large scale. The Group, however, navigated the "unsettling" effects of the pandemic and ended the financial year relatively "healed". Such accomplishment has demonstrated the Group's resilience in taking on the undeniable challenges that demand new ways of operating in a post-pandemic business environment and its versatility and speed in emerging strongly owing to the hard work and concerted efforts of the employees of the Group.
As the saying goes, every cloud has a silver lining. The pandemic has pushed many companies over the technology tipping point and with the surge in automation, digital adoption has taken a quantum leap across many companies and industries. As a result of these developments, the Group embraces 2022 with increased optimism on the back of a strong order book momentum largely driven by another high growth potential year surrounded by several catalysts brought about by AI, big data analytics, IoT, self-driving cars, Industry 4.0 and the deepening application of 5G. With the electro-optical segment currently dominating the Group's financial performance, this segment will continue its growth momentum in 2022, albeit modestly, given the Group's growing exposure to other industry segments. In respect of the automotive segment, the Group expects to witness the continuous affluence of this segment with e-mobility emerging at an accelerated pace. With electrification playing an important role in the transformation of the transportation industry and thereby presenting major opportunities in all vehicle segments, the global transition specifically towards electric vehicles ("EV") continues to get momentum and creates major disruption in the automotive industry and the related nexus. Significant efforts are witnessed through regulators worldwide defining more stringent emissions targets which include, among others, the European Union CO2 emissions regulations for cars and vans, China's New Energy Vehicles (NEV) mandate and Biden's administration is introducing a 50% EV target by 2030. Given this context, the Group anticipates a favorable prospect for its automotive test solutions from front-end to back-end which will continue to provide an impetus to the Group's overall performance.
In the belief that there is so much room and business opportunity for further expansion and that now is the best time to be planning for the future, the upcoming new manufacturing plant will pave the way for the Group to deepen its foothold in the medical device segment and bring the growth of its FAS segment to the next level. Key technologies that have been used widely in industrial manufacturing are seen to be filtering into the healthcare sector and with AI conquering the next frontier of the medical segment, the automation opportunity within this horizon is now abundant. With these technology developments presented, the Group is heartened to witness the growing demand for its automated assembly solutions from a broader customer base within the medical device segment on the back of an encouraging booking momentum. Together with the setup of Pentamaster MediQ Sdn. Bhd. for its involvement in the manufacturing of single-use medical devices, the Group is fully prepared for the huge market opportunities in the medical industry. Having continuously witnessed revenue growth from the FAS segment in the past two years, the Group continues to benefit from the increased focus of various industries on industrial automation which is now rapidly necessitated by the effects of the pandemic. As the surge in automation continues in the coming years with the use of AI and IoT in the manufacturing processes, the huge potential and opportunities in the FAS segment will be prevalent. Girded by a year of relatively stable financial performance in 2021, the Group will continue to focus fundamentally on its operational capabilities and remain proactive in the development of new cutting-edge technologies and solutions. With a wide variety of challenges and opportunities confronting 2022, the Group, having the pulse on the global trends and requirements, is forward-looking in building another year of solid business growth. As it is, the virus is here to stay for a period of time and will be a reality in our daily lives. The Group's priority is to ensure the safety of its employees with its strict adherence to the necessary safety measures and operating procedures.
About Pentamaster International Limited
PIL (HKEX stock code: 1665) is a leading global supplier in providing automation technology and solutions to multinational manufacturers mainly in the semiconductor, automotive, electrical & electronics, medical devices and consumer industrial products sectors spanning APAC, North America and Europe. The Group's broad range of integrated automation products and solutions entails innovating, designing, manufacturing and installing automated equipment and/or automated manufacturing solutions.
To learn more about PIL, please visit us at www.pentamaster.com.my.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Email: [email protected]
Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.comPentamaster International Limited ("PIL" or "the Group") which is listed under the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited announced its financial results for the year ended 31 December 2021 today.
Hektar REIT 2021 Performance: Weathering the Challenges
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For the fourth quarter ended 31 December 2021 ("4Q 2021"), Hektar REIT recorded revenue of RM24.98 million, which is 16.2% lower compared to the same quarter of the preceding year. Property Operating Expenses reduced by RM4.86 million or savings of 27.9% compared to the same quarter in the previous year. Hektar REIT registered net property income of RM12.38 million for the quarter under review, which is a slight increase of 0.2% compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year, while realised income for 4Q 2021 was 185.5% higher at RM3.21 million compared to the RM1.12 million recorded in 4Q 2020.
The Manager noted that there are signs of recovery supported by the gradual reopening of the economy and it can also be seen in the steady rise in visitor footfall since the relaxation of restrictions by the Government. While Hektar REIT is cognisant of the economy's improved growth trajectory supported by a recovering labour market, continued policy support and expansion in external demand, as well as the possible opening of international borders as early as the second quarter, the REIT is nevertheless retaining its cautious outlook in the face of the current wave of infections stemming from the Omicron strain.
Income Distribution
As earlier announced, Hektar REIT declared an income distribution of RM11.9 million for 4Q 2021, equivalent to 2.53 sen per unit or a DPU yield of 4.96%, which is 181% higher compared to the income distribution for the corresponding period in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the retail industry significantly and the REIT has also not been spared. However, we remain committed to steering our portfolio into recovery this year, barring any unforeseen circumstances despite future Variants of Concern ("VOC") that might disrupt the overall recovery of the retail & economic sector.
Private Placement
During the quarter under review, Hektar REIT's fund size increased to 471,260,178 units from 461,960,178 units arising from the private placement exercise announced on 15 November 2021. A total of 9.30 million units out of the total proposed private placement of 23.098 million units were subsequently placed out in two tranches in December 2021, raising RM4.23 million. The private placement was undertaken to raise funding for working capital and capital work in progress, facilitating Hektar REIT's day-to-day operations as a whole by providing more flexibility in terms of cash flow management.
Sustainability Efforts
Hektar REIT remains committed to fulfill its obligation to ensure that all business activities are performed to high standards of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG). Various energy utilisation and optimisation initiatives since 2017 have been put in place for all of its shopping malls, resulting in a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (recorded as CO2e) and energy usage over the last five years. Despite the pandemic, reducing the environmental footprint of our assets and operations remain a priority. We managed to reduce the overall amount of CO2e emissions of our assets by about 11.6% to 18.8 million kgCO2e in 2021 from almost 21.3 million kgCO2e in 2020. Emissions intensity of our assets expressed as the amount of CO2e emitted per gross floor area (kgCO2e/sq.ft.) also improved to 4.0 kgCO2e/sq.ft. from 4.50 kgCO2e/sq.ft. in 2020. Overall, the portfolio's Building Energy Intensity ("BEI") is also on a declining trend. Hektar REIT is a constituent member of the FTSE4Good Bursa Malaysia Index and in its latest December 2021 evaluation, its ESG conduct has been recognised with a 3-star ESG rating by FTSE Russell.
For further information, please log on to www.bursamalaysia.com.
Copyright 2022 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.acnnewswire.comHektar Asset Management Sdn. Bhd., the Manager of Hektar Real Estate Investment Trust ("Hektar REIT"), today announced Hektar REIT's annual results for the financial year ended 31 December 2021 ("FY2021") with revenue at RM96.60 million in FY2021, down by 13.1% compared to the same period in the preceding year.
NEC Adds Advanced Billing Capability to its Converged Core, Enabling Flexible Monetization Opportunities for MNOs in B2B and B2B2X Services
5G networks are expected to provide end-users with various types of services built on enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), Massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC) and Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC). While a legacy billing model, such as flat-rate or usage-based billing, may fit for eMMB services, it will become inadequate as mMTC and URLLC services come to life in the coming years. For example, a Quality of Service model would be more suitable for a URLLC, with quality guarantees with discounts based on Service Level Agreements. mMTC billings, on the other hand, should be based on the number of concurrent connections for IoT devices, such as connected home appliances.
The CGF advanced billing capability is the latest addition to a suite of solutions called NEC Open Networks. NEC is leveraging its rich history of innovation in network architecture and telecommunications to lead our industry's transition to Open RAN for 5G. NEC's broad suite of solutions in this area is second to none, featuring disaggregated RAN components, xHaul transport, Core Networks, Operations Automation and professional Systems Integration - all enhanced by cloud-native accessibility and performance. Wireless operators can rely on NEC Open Networks to realize the real-world benefits of truly open 5G networks -- flexibility, improved speed of innovation and independence from proprietary solutions while taking advantage of the global accessibility and scalability of the cloud.
"This CGF functionality prepares our customers for the increased complexity they're likely to face as networks continue to support a growing number of connected devices," said Patrick Lopez, VP of Product Management for 5G Products, NEC. "Operators can feel free to make the best business decision when rolling out new services knowing that they have creative, nimble options in capturing revenues for those services."
NEC CGF is an NF that resides between the Converged Core and the billing system, helping MNOs improve their time to market with new solutions without modifying existing billing systems. This flexibility also provides the crucial ability to tailor billing to the diversified needs and requirements of each user. In addition, the fully cloud-native, containerized architecture of NEC Converged Core NFs, now including CGF, provides 5G networks with high scalability and resiliency.
NEC will be presenting its industry leading NEC Open Networks at MWC Barcelona 2022, at Fira Gran Via, Hall 2 2F10.
https://www.nec.com/en/event/mwc2022/
About NEC Corporation
NEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of "Orchestrating a brighter world." NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com.
Copyright 2022 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.comNEC Corporation today announced it has enhanced its Converged Core by launching a containerized Charging Gateway Function (CGF).
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