KUALA LUMPUR (May 17): Mlabs Systems Bhd, which principally engages in the business of research and development of mobile application solutions, has proposed to diversify its business activities to include factoring and related business activities.

This came after Mlabs completed the acquisition of an entire stake in Ikhlas Al Dain Sdn Bhd in December 2021, which aims to diversify the group’s earnings base and reduce business concentration risk.

Ikhlas has been approved by the Ministry of Finance (MOF) to conduct the business of factoring, development financing, leasing, and building credit since 2011. As an MOF-approved factoring company, Ikhlas is able to collect payment directly from the ministry for invoices factored from government contractors and service providers who are Ikhlas’ main clientele.

Ikhlas' company website showed that its financial products cover both accounts payable and receivable financing and it funds government procurement contracts as well as that from government-linked companies (GLC).

Mlabs’ bourse filing with Bursa Malaysia on Wednesday (May 17) showed that the rationale for the proposed diversification stems from the group facing intense competition in the market and was loss-making for years, including the latest cumulative six-month period ended Dec 31, 2022 (6MFY2023).

“In an effort to further expand its earning bases, Ikhlas serves as an entry point for the group to venture into the factoring industry. Should the proposed diversification be approved by the shareholders of the company, Mlabs is able to expand its revenue stream to include factoring and related business activities,” it said. 

In view of the growing demand within the factoring market segment, Mlabs said the proposed diversification is expected to improve the group’s financial performance and would allow the group to be in a better financial footing in the long run.

However, the management of Mlabs remains cautiously optimistic of the long-term prospects associated with the expansion of the group to include factoring as part of its business activities.

Hence, the board anticipates that the proposed diversification will enhance the group’s financial performance and business portfolio moving forward.

The proposed diversification into the factoring business is anticipated to potentially contribute 25% or more of the group’s net profit, and/or result in a diversion of 25% or more of the group’s net assets, said Mlabs.

The diversification proposed is subject to the approval of the shareholders of Mlabs at the EGM.

It should be noted that the factoring business contributed revenue of RM2.63 million, or 23.56% of the group’s total revenue of RM11.01 million, for 6MFY2023, making the segment the second largest revenue contributor after research and development and the assembling segment, which contributed 63.45% or RM7.07 million of the group’s revenue.

For Ikhlas, audited financial results showed the company posting losses after tax (LAT) of RM1.05 million in FY2020, RM295,000 in FY2021 and RM721,000 in FY2022.

Shares in Mlabs settled unchanged at 1.5 sen, translating into a market value of RM22 million.