https://windscopo2.blogspot.com/2021/06/edgenta-17-6-2021-e-broadcast.html?m=1

https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/covid19-screening-and-testing-expected-boost-mahbs-bottom-line

MALAYSIA Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) stands to benefit handsomely from the provision of Covid-19 screening and testing at its international airports, sources familiar with the matter tell The Edge.

It is understood that the tender document in which MAHB is seeking to award the screening and testing at its airports contains a requirement that about 25% of the top line from the services should go to MAHB.

One of the shortlisted bidders tells The Edge, “Yes, it (the 25% quantum requirement for MAHB) is in there (the tender document).”

On whether he considers the quantum to be high, he declines to comment, saying, “It’s like rental.”

When asked about the 25% quantum, the airport operator in an emailed response says, “In keeping with our corporate governance for any tender proceedings, the commercial terms are confidential between the bidder and MAHB.”

It is understood that MAHB is looking at testing as many as 10,000 passengers at KLIA and an additional 10,000 passengers at klia2, for a start. Once operations at these airports are running smoothly, the other airports will follow suit.

In 2019, KLIA had 29.2 million passengers while klia2 had 33.1 million. This works out to passenger traffic of 80,000 a day for KLIA and close to 91,000 a day for klia2. With the delay in reopening borders, travel restrictions, travel bubble arrangements and reciprocal green lane travel, MAHB is understood to be looking at testing as many as 20,000 passengers on a daily basis — 10,000 each in KLIA and klia2 — with the other international airports following later.

The Edge understands that the charges for the testing and screening per passenger can be between US$130 and US$150 (about RM535 to RM618) and will be borne by the passenger. This works out to between RM5.35 million and RM6.18 million a day for 10,000 passengers as per MAHB’s guidance in the tender documents.

This would mean annual revenue of between RM1.95 billion and RM2.26 billion for the screening and testing provider, and between RM488.19 million and RM563.92 million for MAHB, from one airport, considering 25% of revenue goes to the airport operator.

For its financial year ended December 2020, MAHB suffered a net loss of RM1.12 billion from RM1.87 billion in revenue. For FY2019, it chalked up a net profit of RM537.04 million on the back of RM5.21 billion in sales.

According to MAHB, the 64.2% drop in revenue is “in tandem with the contraction in passenger movements of 69.5% due to the unprecedented outbreak of Covid-19 which has resulted in large capacity cuts, travelling bans and border closures across the globe”.

It attributes the loss to the significant decrease in revenue and an impairment of RM500.4 million from its Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in Turkey’s concession rights, brought about by a significant contraction in passengers as a result of the pandemic.

For FY2020, MAHB recorded 43 million passenger movements, a contraction of 69.5% over the previous year, while aircraft movements decreased 58.1%, resulting in the bleeding.

“Hence this (payment from the Covid-19 screening and testing provider) will help them (MAHB) recoup some of what they have lost,” an official at one of the companies interested in the screening and testing contract says.

He adds that the 25% quantum is among the reasons many companies opted out of the tender.

“Over and above the 25% or 26%, we have to use many other facilities from MAHB, which further decreases margins … so it’s not a walk in the park; it may be difficult (to make ends meet),” he says.

The Edge understands that 31 companies had taken the tender documents, with 17 expressing interest, and 10 having been shortlisted by MAHB.

Another deterrent, the official says, is the short time frame for constructing the facilities. It is not clear if MAHB is looking at one player doing the screening and testing at all the international airports, or if the contracts will be broken down according to airports, with different operators managing and operating the services at different airports. However, among the criteria for the award is that the winning bidder has to build testing lounges at the airports.

“From what I understand, MAHB wants to start everything in a rushed manner, so it may not be conducive for some of the players,” he opines. According to him, the award and commencement of operations are slated to be in May, but MAHB has not made any announcements on this.

So far, The Edge has identified five of the 10 companies shortlisted by MAHB. They are MyEG Services Bhd (MyEG) in partnership with BP Clinical Lab Sdn Bhd; Bestinet Sdn Bhd in a joint venture with Tass Tech Sdn Bhd; Maju Healthcare Sdn Bhd with Gribbles Pathology (M) Sdn Bhd; UEM Edgenta Bhd in a standalone bid, and another involving MNC Global Sdn Bhd.

Most market watchers say UEM Edgenta could rope in Pantai Holdings Sdn Bhd, which has laboratory facilities, to strengthen its bid. Pantai Holdings, which operates the Pantai Hospital

Is time!!!!!!

（吉隆坡12日讯）在经济逐步复苏、智能科技逐渐普及的推波助澜下，资产管理服务和基建解决方案供应商Edgenta（EDGENTA，1368，主板工业股）设下目标，今年要攫取价值20亿令吉的合约，比去年获得14亿令吉合约，增长近43%。

上述20亿令吉合约目标，离不开“智能”、“数字化”这些字眼，反映出Edgenta正一步步转型，迎合新科技趋势。

Edgenta董事经理兼总执行长沙鲁尼占三苏丁，日前接受《南洋商报》独家专访时强调，该公司不会自我局限在只提供医院清洁和建筑维护这些传统服务，当中有两个原因。

第一，在相关市场中，Edgenta收取的费用并非最便宜，因此，必需利用新科技提升附加价值，来吸引更多客户。

沙鲁尼占举例，该公司可协助客户建立专属软件，助后者监控自身建筑。

“我们正帮助吉隆坡国际会展中心（KLCC）设计指挥和通讯中心。如此一来，后者无需倚赖第3方执行监控工作。”

第二，则是为了缩减成本。沙鲁尼占直言，若一味依靠传统业务获取收入，该公司会继续面临高昂的成本，因涉及的人力开销庞大。

“转型为提供科技服务后，将获得更高的赚幅，毕竟我们只需要作出一次性的投资。”

他进一步说明，该公司已锁定部分领域，好在未来5年内总计减少1亿令吉成本。

眼见国内市场发展空间有限，Edgenta的扩充版图，自然涵盖现有国外业务。该公司早已为新加坡和台湾公立医院，提供清洁服务，市占率分别达到70%。

“新加坡方面，我们正计划将触角延伸至生物医学设备维护，这更加有利可图。”

他续指，尽管Edgenta已有为新加坡商业建筑提供清洁服务，但该公司欲将足迹扩大至政府建筑。

“这需要ME-15准证，我们会透过并购当地公司，来满足相关条件。”

开拓海外业务版图

另一边厢，Edgenta也计划利用在台湾和新加坡所累积到的经验，插旗海湾合作委员会（GCC）国家市场，而沙地阿拉伯是首选国家。

“进军海湾国家确实有一定难度，我们会和当地伙伴合作。”

若以地区划分，国内市场依然是Edgenta的主要营收来源，在2020财政年占总营收的60%；台湾和新加坡则位居第二和第三，分别占19%及16%。

沙鲁尼占透露，扩充海外市场已是该公司的重要战略。

“未来3至5年内，我们会让海外业务，成为公司的主要营收来源。”

回顾去年，Edgenta取得14亿令吉新合约，其中92%属于商业合约，其余8%则是特许经营合约，包括提供维护服务予首相署办公楼，直至2032年。

另外，该公司也从卫生部手中，获得政府医院支援服务的供应合约。

沙鲁尼占对此表示，尽管该合约会在2025年结束，但Edgenta获得续约的机会相当高。

“至于在新加坡和台湾斩获的合约，期限介于两至5年，到期后我们也可选择续约。”

截至去年底，该公司手上订单也增至122亿令吉，可为业绩带来支撑直至2038年。

争取东马大道项目

针对大道维护业务，Edgenta计划部署重兵，争取更多东马泛婆罗洲大道（Pan-Borneo highway）项目合约。

沙鲁尼占表示，泛马策略（Pan Malaysia Strategy）涉及的基建合约总值1050亿令吉，而该公司已在其中取得14亿令吉合约。

当中，价值7600万令吉的检查工程、道路维护合约，是在去年到手。

他说，由于沙砂两州政府有所限制，Edgenta无法单独进军东马，必需和当地公司合作才能成事。

另一方面，他也有信心，主要客户之一南北大道公司（PLUS），中短期内会发放道路维护合约，Edgenta有望分一杯羹。

据沙鲁尼占的说法，相关合约应在去年就已颁发，奈何在疫情肆虐下，PLUS营收大受冲击，进而削减道路维护预算。

“无论如何，PLUS未来必然会发放大道维护合约，若放任道路继续损坏至无法修补的程度，该公司需要面临的成本更高。”

对此，他断定合约发放中断的情况不会延续至今年，因为PLUS始终需要将大道的等级，维持在一定水平之上。

“因此在维护道路方面，他们还能拖延多久？”

他也提及，疫苗接种率扩大，进而提振国内旅游情绪，亦是Edgenta获得更多大道维护合约的催化剂。

本财年盈利必优于上年

得益于经济活动逐步复苏，沙鲁尼占认为，Edgenta在2021财政年取得的净利和营收，必然优于上年，但他拒绝透露预期增长率。

“在强劲订单支撑下，70%的营收已有着落。同时，我们也会积极争取更多新订单。”

截至今年3月底，Edgenta已获得价值3亿令吉的新合约。此外，该公司正在竞标的合约总值达43亿令吉。

在12月底截止的2020财政年，该公司全年净利萎缩92%至1346万令吉，上年则净赚1亿8178万令吉；累积营收则按年下滑15%至20亿4058万令吉。

沙鲁尼占解释，该财年的赚幅如此低迷，归咎于疫情带来巨额营运成本，包括为前线员工购买手套、个人防护设备，和确保员工接受检测等。

“进入2021财年，相关成本会有所减少，公司的赚幅随之获得改善。”