KUALA LUMPUR (May 7): Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Thursday:

SD Guthrie Bhd (KL:SDG) saw its net profit for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026 (1QFY2026) slip to RM560 million from RM567 million a year earlier amid weaker earnings from its upstream plantation business. Revenue fell 2.6% to RM4.69 billion compared with RM4.82 billion in the corresponding quarter last year. — SD Guthrie posts marginally lower 1Q profit amid weaker upstream operations

Datuk Abdul Rahman Ahmad has returned to Sime Darby Bhd (KL:SIME) as its non-independent non-executive chairman, effective immediately. He replaces Tan Sri Samsudin Osman, who stepped down Dec 31 last year for personal reasons. Abdul Rahman, 56, previously held the same post at Sime Darby from 2019 to 2020. His return comes as his second stint at Permodalan Nasional Bhd is set to end by end-May. — Abdul Rahman returns to Sime Darby as chairman effective immediately

CIMB Group Holdings Bhd (KL:CIMB) has appointed outgoing Standard Chartered Malaysia chief executive officer Mak Joon Nien as the regional lender’s CEO of growth markets and CIMB Singapore, subject to regulatory approval. In his role as CEO of growth markets, Mak, who is slated to step down as Standard Chartered Malaysia CEO on May 8, will lead CIMB Singapore and oversee CIMB Thailand and CIMB Cambodia. — CIMB Group appoints outgoing StanChart Malaysia CEO Mak Joon Nien to lead growth markets, Singapore unit

AirAsia X Bhd (KL:AAX) has signed a firm order with Airbus Canada Ltd Partnership valued at roughly US$19 billion (RM74.3 billion) at list prices for 150 A220-300 aircraft. The deal includes an option for an additional 150 aircraft from the A220 family, potentially bringing the total order to 300 planes. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2028 and continue through 2039. This comes as the aircraft will gradually replace AirAsia Group’s older A320ceo fleet and support expansion across Asean and the wider Asia-Pacific region. — AirAsia X places US$19 bil firm order for 150 Airbus A220-300s

Lotte Chemical Titan Holding Bhd (KL:LCTITAN) narrowed its net loss to RM122.7 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026 (1QFY2026) compared with RM125.7 million a year earlier, supported by improved margins in its olefins and derivatives segment, coupled with higher reversal of inventory write-downs to net realisable value. Quarterly revenue jumped 70% year-on-year to RM2.53 billion from RM1.49 billion, driven by stronger contributions from the Lotte Chemical Indonesia New Ethylene (LINE) project in Merak, Indonesia, which commenced commercial operations in October last year. — Lotte Chemical Titan’s 1Q net loss marginally narrows on better margins, higher inventory write-back

Pavilion Real Estate Investment Trust (KL:PAVREIT) reported an 11.3% rise in net property income (NPI) to RM158.93 million in 1QFY2026 from RM142.75 million a year earlier, driven by contributions from newly acquired hotel assets and stronger performance of its retail properties. Gross revenue rose 7.8% to RM245.90 million from RM228.18 million, while distributable income grew 12.4% to RM110.33 million from RM98.16 million. Distribution per unit improved to 2.80 sen from 2.68 sen in 1QFY2025, while the annualised distribution yield strengthened to 6.56% from 5.52%. The distribution for 1QFY2026 will be payable together with the distribution for the next quarter. — Pavilion REIT sees domestic demand supporting growth amid Mideast conflict, posts 11% rise in 1Q property income

Pentamaster Corp Bhd (KL:PENTA) saw its net profit for 1QFY2026 climb 37.28% to RM17.94 million from RM13.07 million in the same period a year ago, thanks to a surge in revenue at its factory automation solutions business. Revenue increased by 37.05% to RM180.36 million — its highest in over two years — from RM131.6 million previously. — Pentamaster 1Q earnings up 37%, expects automation business to overtake equipment revenue

Hard disk drive (HDD) component maker Dufu Technology Corp Bhd (KL:DUFU) reported a 9.44% increase in first-quarter net profit, attributed to higher sales as a stronger ringgit squeezed margins. Net profit for 1QFY2026 stood at RM7.63 million compared with RM6.97 million a year earlier, on the back of a 14.1% jump in revenue to RM76.29 million from RM66.88 million. — Dufu's 1Q net profit rises 9.4% on strong demand for hard disk drive components

Maybulk Bhd (KL:MAYBULK) swung to a net loss of RM52.92 million in 1QFY2026 from a net profit of RM3.16 million a year earlier, mainly due to a RM54.03 million currency translation loss arising from the liquidation of a foreign subsidiary. Quarterly revenue fell 15% to RM18.19 million from RM21.46 million in 1QFY2025, dragged mainly by the group's shelving and storage solutions segment. — Maybulk swings to RM53 mil quarterly loss on currency effect after foreign unit liquidation

GuocoLand (Malaysia) Bhd (KL:GUOCO) posted a net loss of RM6.21 million for its third quarter ended March 31, 2026 (3QFY2026) — its first quarterly net loss in four years — compared to a net profit of RM1.83 million a year earlier, mainly due to a RM7.2 million inventory write-down for its PJ City project. The weaker performance during the quarter was also due to additional rebates under new sales packages and a higher revenue mix from the lower-margin affordable segment of the Emerald 9 project in Cheras. Revenue rose 57.17% to RM151.77 million from RM96.57 million a year ago, driven by continued strong sales and progressive billings from Emerald 9, as well as higher unit sales at Oval KL and DC Residensi. — GuocoLand posts first quarterly loss in four years on inventory write-down

Gold miner Niche Capital Emas Holdings Bhd (KL:NICE) is exploring a partnership with local rare earth firm Greensnow Consolidated Bhd to build a full rare earth supply chain covering mining, processing and infrastructure development. Niche Capital said Greensnow plans to explore about 412,000 acres of rare earth-rich land in Kedah, Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan, while securing selected mining rights by 2027. A memorandum of understanding was inked between Niche Capital’s rare earth unit, NICE REE Sdn Bhd, and Greensnow to set up the framework for the collaboration. — Gold miner Niche Capital explores end-to-end rare earth venture with local firm Greensnow

Practice Note 17 (PN17) company Reneuco Bhd (KL:RENEUCO) will be delisted from the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia on May 12 after the regulator dismissed its appeal for more time to submit a regularisation plan. Reneuco slipped into PN17 status in February 2024 after its auditors were unable to obtain sufficient evidence to support an audit opinion on its financial statements, particularly concerning trade receivables and payables, as well as revenue and cost of sales. — Reneuco to be delisted on May 12 after Bursa dismisses appeal