AirAsia targets RM10m sales from three-day travel fair

PETALING JAYA: AirAsia Bhd aims to rake in RM10mil in ticket sales from the three-day AirAsia Travel Fair 2014, which started on Friday and stretches until Sunday.

Group Chief Executive Officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said he was also optimistic about securing even higher sales than what was targeted. The fair is the first of its kind to be organised by the low cost carrier.

"We are steadfast over maintaining our market share and to remain the airline of choice when it comes to travel. This fair is one of the strategies towards providing additional access to our services and products.

"It also provides an opportunity to interact directly with current and prospective customers and get to know their expectations and opinions on our various products and services," he told reporters after launching the fair here.

Fernandes also expects ticket sales from the fair to contribute positively to the group's earnings for the first quarter ending March 31, 2014.

Customers at the fair get a 20% off seats booked on all flights for the duration of the travel fair for the travel period of March 1 until Sept 30, 2014.

Fernandes also announced free travel flight insurance of up to RM15 on return flight for all nurses in Malaysia, effective today, and for a month.

Meanwhile, on the progress of the klia2, he said the airline is leaving the matter to the regulator to handle.

"Even if the klia2 is delayed (the launch), I think it will not affect our business, as we have our own plans and will keep moving forward," he added. - Bernama

Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2014/02/28/AirAsia-targets-RM10m-sales-from-three-day-travel-fair/

AirAsia confident of paying 2013 dividend

IHH dividend policy 'not less than 20%'

IHH Healthcare posts earnings of RM631.16m in FY13

KUALA LUMPUR: IHH Healthcare posted earnings of RM631.16mil in the financial year ended Dec 31, 2013 compared with RM750.79mil in FY12 when there were exceptional items.

It said on Thursday its revenue fell 2.9% to RM6.75bil from RM6.96bil. However, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation, exchange differences & other non-operational items (EBITDA) increased 6% to RM1.66bil.

"Stripping out one-off effects of the sale of Novena medical suites in 2012, contribution from PLife REIT and exceptional items, the group's underlying operational performance saw strong growth, with revenue up 18% to RM6.75bil.

"EBITDA increased 32% to RM1.5bil and profit after tax and minority interests (PATAMI) rose a significant 70% to RM602.50mil," it said.

IHH Healthcare said the strong revenue and EBITDA performance were due to organic growth of existing operations and ramping up of new hospitals.

It explained that both Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital and Acibadem Ankara Hospitalachieved positive EBITDA in 2013.

IHH Healthcare also consolidated full 12 months of Acibadem Holdings performance in 2013 compared with 11 months in 2012 when the group acquired Acibadem Holdings on Jan 24, 2012.

It added the group recovered about RM22mil in relation to prior year tax and investment tax allowances of RM22.9mil to offset the incremental depreciation and finance costs from three new hospitals in Singapore and Turkey upon completion of construction in 2012.

In the fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2013, it posted net profit of RM230.10mil, up 47% from RM156.51mil a year ago. Its revenue rose 16.5% to RM1.78bil from RM1.527bil. Earnings per share were 2.83 sen compared with 1.94 sen.

IHH Healthcare also announced a dividend policy of no less than 20% of the group's PATAMI excluding exceptional items. It recommended a first and final single tier cash dividend of 2.0 sen for FY13.

Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2014/02/27/IHH-Healthcare-posts-earnings-of-RM631m-in-FY13/

IHH Q4'13

Finally, IHH is going to declare 2 cents dividend for financial year 2013.  At the same time, IHH announced a dividend policy of no less than 20%.

AirAsia FY13 earnings fall 53.9% to RM364.07m on forex loss, operating profit flat

KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia Bhd's earnings fell 53.9% to RM364.07mil in the financial year ended Dec 31, 2013 from RM789.61mil a year ago due to higher finance costs and foreign exchange losses on borrowings.

The low-cost carrier said on Wednesday its revenue rose 4.9% to RM5.189bil from RM4.946bil. Operating profit was flat at RM1.021bil compared with RM1.027bil.

However, in FY13, its impacted by higher finance costs of RM432.37mil compared with RM378.81mil, forex loss on borrowings of RM385.33mil, which was a contrast against the forex gain of RM145.42mil in FY12.

There was a gain on disposal of Japan AirAsia of RM78.26mil in FY13 while in the previous year, there was again on disposal of Thai AirAsia of RM118.64mil.

AirAsia said in the fourth quarter ended Dec 31, 2013, its earnings fell 19.1% to RM245.35mil (due to forex loss on borrowings of RM39.04mil) from RM303.41mil in Q4, 2012 (where there was a forex gain of RM58.41mil).

Its revenue was flat RM1.354bil compared with RM1.358bil a year ago.

"The catalyst for growth was attributed to the increase in the number of passengers carried which grew 14% on-year to 5.91 million which overtook capacity growth of 10% on-yea. Load factor was at an all-time record high of 85% on-year due to the company's very aggressive load active strategy," it said.

Operating profit was slightly lower at RM315mil compared with RM320.48mil a year ago.

Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2014/02/26/AirAsia-FY13-earnings-fall-53pt9pct-to-RM789m/

P&O Q1'14

AIRASIA Q4'13

MATRIX Q4'13

Tony Fernandes expresses shock over MAS’s losses, says aviation industry needs a review

Putrajaya needs to review aviation policies as it can't afford to spend taxpayers' money on loss-making Malaysia Airlines (MAS) which bled RM1.2 billion last financial year, said Tan Sri Tony Fernandes (pic).

The founder of AirAsia added that he was “shocked” at the amount of losses suffered by MAS.

“The whole aviation industry needs a relook,” he told The Malaysian Insider by phone today.

Saying that the industry’s policies and airline management need to shape up, Fernandes said that MAS and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) have to start churning profits to avoid burdening taxpayers.

“My point is that if you’re running a private company, could you afford to cut 16% of your costs and still lose RM1 billion?” he asked.

“It’s only because there’s taxpayers' money that one can afford to do that. And this isn’t solving the issue,” he added.

Yesterday, MAS had reported its fourth straight quarterly loss for 2013 and chalked up RM1.17 billion in losses for the year – three times as much as in 2012.

The state-owned carrier has been implementing cost-cutting measures to cut its expenses such as axing several routes and introducing lower ticket fares to increase its load.

However, the airline is also awaiting government approval to purchase 100 Airbus and Boeing passenger aircraft that would amount to several billion ringgit.

A Reuters report said that the airline’s decision to spend on newer aircraft is to boost profitability and retire its older, less fuel-efficient aircraft.

Fernandes, meanwhile, criticised MAS and MAHB’s continued spending and losses.

“It’s supposed to be profit-making. This just hurts decent players in the business when they’re spending like there’s no tomorrow,” said Fernandes.

According to MAS’s website, the carrier has 88 aircraft in its fleet, including Airbus A330s and A380s, and Boeing 777-200s and 737s.

The airline’s expenditure also went up by 10% last year to RM14.9 billion year-on-year due to high fuel prices.

MAS posted its highest ever loss in history when it recorded RM2.52 billion nett loss in 2011. The company , however, managed to narrow its losses to RM433 million in 2012. – February 19, 2014.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/tony-fernandes-expresses-shock-over-mass-losses-says-aviation-industry-need

AirAsia starts flights to Kalibo, Philippines, in April

PETALING JAYA (Feb 19, 2014): AirAsia Bhd will launch direct flights connecting Kuala Lumpur to Kalibo, the Philippines, from April 18, 2014.

In a press statement yesterday, it said the new four times weekly route to Kalibo will operate every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, marking AirAsia's third Filipino destination with direct flights available from Kuala Lumpur, Miri and Kota Kinabalu.

AirAsia CEO Aireen Omar said the Philippines is an emerging market for the low cost carrier to capture, especially with the presence of the group's affiliate, AirAsia Zest in the Philippines connecting communities domestically with low fares.

Kalibo is the capital of Aklan province and is known as the gateway to the beach paradise island of Boracay in the Philippines.

http://www.thesundaily.my/news/961242

Growth for DiGi, transformation for Maxis

EPF declares biggest payout of 6.35% dividend for 2013

The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has declared a dividend rate of 6.35% for the financial year ending December 31, 2013, an increase of 0.20% from the previous year, making it the biggest ever payout to its members, the pension fund announced today.

A total RM31.20 billion dividend payout will be made, up 13.66% over the RM27.45 billion for 2012 declared last year.

EPF chairman Tan Sri Samsudin Osman attributed the increase to the fund's prudent investment strategies and improving performance in the past five years.

"Over the years, we have been diversifying our portfolio, thereby spreading out the scope of our assets to manage market risks and generate consistent returns," he said in a statement today.

“Our achievements reflected the effectiveness of a balanced and diversified fund. 2013 was a very good year for our equity investments while the year before that showed us faring better in the fixed income portfolios. By having a diversified portfolio across many markets, we are able to take opportunities when they arise and reduce the overall risk to the fund.

"However, we remain cautious for the coming year as volatility in interest rates may possibly affect our returns, given that EPF funds are predominantly invested in low risk fixed income instruments. Additionally, we anticipate substantial volatility in emerging markets as liquidity tightens globally,” added Samsudin.

The 2013 dividend can be viewed on the EPF’s Facebook page or on its Twitter account, KWSPBuzz as well on YouTube.

EPF account statement for the crediting of the 2013 dividend is now available online via i-Akaun at myEPF website (www.kwsp.gov.my). Members may also get their EPF account statement from EPF Kiosks and branches, starting this Monday. – February 16, 2013.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/epf-declares-biggest-payout-of-6.35-dividend-for-2013

Double celebration day

Happy valentine day + Happy Chap Goh Mei

Hektar Q4'13

What is AirAsia CEO Tony's 'big battle' in M'sia about?

PETALING JAYA: AirAsia group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes(pic) is keeping the market guessing as to what he meant when he said via Twitterthat he would soon be back in Malaysia “for a big battle”.

In a Tweet on Monday night, Fernandes wrote via his official Twitter account: “Coming back to Malaysia for the big battle. I have been silent for too long. Truth needs to come out. Malaysians need to know.”

Several Tweeters sent out replies to his communique, asking him what he actually meant, but there was no response as at press time.

Fernandes did not respond to calls and text messages either, but market observers speculated that he could be referring to the oft-delayed KLIA2 terminal project. The new low-cost carrier terminal has missed several deadlines for opening, with the last one scheduled for April 30 before again being moved to May 2.

Airport operator Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) said last week that it had failed to receive the certificate of completion and compliance (CCC) for the KLIA2 terminal building, which had been scheduled for Jan 31, from main joint-venture contractor UEMC-Bina Puri, raising concerns that there would be further delays to the airport project.

However, acting Transport Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has maintained that the guarantee that KLIA2 would take off on May 2 remained. He said he would not hesitate to take the action against those who delayed this date.

Fernandes’ Tweets is reminiscent of the public spat between MAHB and AirAsia in late 2011, when both he and MAHB traded barbs on matters ranging from aerobridges to cost overruns at KLIA2.

http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2014/02/12/What-is-Tonys-big-battle-about/

3因素推高业绩 数码网络大热大起

 . 
（吉隆坡7日讯）低于预期的折旧和有效税率，加上流动网络渗透率提高，数码网络（DIGI，6947，主板基建股）2013財政年向好的业绩表现，基本上符合市场的预测。

数码网络2013財政年末季（截至12月31日止）净利为5亿4851万令吉，比较去年同期的2亿4552万令吉，激增123.4%。

营业额则为17亿3342万令吉，比较去年同期的16亿2926万令吉，成长6.39%。

2013財政年全年而言，净利由12亿零571万令吉，按年增长41.48%，至17亿零587万令吉。

营业额从63亿6091万令吉，按年上涨5.86%，至67亿3341万令吉。

同时，配合业绩出炉，该公司亦宣佈派发每股7仙的第4次单层免税中期股息。

折旧有效税率低

黄氏星展唯高达证券分析员表示，更低的折旧费用和有效税率，数码网络2013財政年末季的业绩表现超出预期。

安联研究分析员则指出，数据业务的强劲增长很大程度上，抵消了萎缩的短信业务营业额。

同时，该公司成功维持其语音业务的营业额，儘管国际长途电话业务的竞爭强烈，以及网络现代化计划上面对一些问题。

另外，拉昔胡申研究分析员指出，由於流动宽频的税收优惠，该公司的有效税率尚保持在19.7%低水平，比较2013財政年的16.7%。

然而，管理层表示，2013年將会是流动宽频税务获得奖掖的最后一年，並预计今年的有效税率將与25%的公司税不相上下。

因此，该分析员估计数码网络的2014財政年有效税率为24.5%。

提高数据业务营业额

与此同时，管理层冀望通过扩展3G的覆盖率，以提高数据业务的营业额，並放眼营业额在2014財政年成长4至6%。

大部份分析员皆认为，该营业额目標与预测相符且合理。

惟，大马研究分析员显得较为保守，预计该公司2014財政年的营业额成长为3.8%，因而对管理层所设的目標感到意外。

此外，马银行金英投行分析员则表示，由於疲弱的盈利成长和日渐上升的债券利率，我国的电讯股估计在2014年的上涨空间不大。

不过，若与明讯（MAXIS，6012，主板贸服股）的估值比较，该分析员更看好数码网络。

综合国內12家投行的报告，共有5名分析员给予数码网络「买进」评级，1名建议「短线买进」，1名给予「超越大市」，其余5名则给予「守住」或「中和」评级，目標价则介於4.85至6.33令吉之间。

数码网络周五涨12仙或2.474%，闭市收报4.97令吉，成交量达2080万9300股，並成为热门榜和上升榜的第16名。

DiGi Q4'13