KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 18): Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Tuesday.

AMMB Holdings Bhd's (KL:AMBANK) net profit came in higher at RM520.23 million in the first quarter ended June 30, 2026 (1QFY2027), up marginally from RM516.18 million a year ago. The banking group attributes the slightly higher earnings to net interest income growth. The group did not declare any dividends during the quarter under review. – AMMB 1Q earnings rise marginally on net interest income growth

Duopharma Biotech Bhd (KL:DPHARMA) reported a 48% earnings jump in the second quarter thanks to higher-margin products and a stronger ringgit that lowered input costs. Net profit for the three months ended June 30, 2026 (2QFY2026), was RM29.9 million compared to RM20.2 million in the same quarter in 2025. Duopharma declared an interim dividend of 1.5 sen per share, payable on Sept 21. – Duopharma Biotech’s 2Q profit jumps 48% as margin expands

Four shareholders have withdrawn their requisitions to remove four directors of Destini Bhd (KL:DESTINI) ahead of an extraordinary general meeting on Friday (Aug 21). The withdrawal came after the four board members resigned. They are former executive chairman Datuk Abd Aziz Sheikh Fadzir, who is also the single largest shareholder, executive director Ismail Mustaffa, and non-executive directors Datuk Bahudin Mansor and Norashikin Mat Yusof. – Destini shareholders withdraw requisition after four directors resign

West River Bhd (KL:WESTRVR) has won approval for two small hydropower projects in Perak under the feed-in-tariff programme. The projects within the forest reserves of Bukit Kinta and Bukit Tapah are expected to begin in August 2031. –  West River wins two small hydropower projects in Perak

Dutch Lady Milk Industries Bhd's (KL:DLADY) second-quarter net profit rose to RM38.2 million — its highest quarterly profit in five years — from RM23.4 million in 2QFY2025, driven by stronger revenue, favourable exchange rate effects and the absence of one-off transition costs incurred a year earlier. Revenue edged up nearly 3% to RM386.6 million from RM375.6 million, driven by strong sales of its core liquid milk range. – Dutch Lady 2Q net profit surges 63% to RM38.2m, highest in five years

Johor Plantations Group Bhd’s (KL:JPG) second-quarter net profit fell 32% to RM51.15 million from RM75.19 million a year ago, weighed down by higher production costs. Quarterly revenue rose 4.4% to RM415.84 million from RM398.29 million on higher crude palm oil (CPO) sales. A second interim dividend of 1.10 sen per share was declared, payable on Sept 14. – Johor Plantations posts 32% fall in 2Q net profit despite higher revenue

KPJ Healthcare Bhd (KL:KPJ) reported a 27% increase in its second-quarter net profit to RM103.92 million from RM82.02 million a year earlier, driven by higher patient visits, more surgeries and improved case mix. Quarterly revenue increased 17% to RM1.20 billion from RM1.02 billion. – KPJ Healthcare's 2Q profit jumps 27% on higher patient visits, surgeries

Highway concessionaire WCE Holdings Bhd (KL:WCEHB) saw an 11.2% growth in its toll revenue for the first quarter of its financial year 2027, keeping operational earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) positive, even as financing costs kept its bottom line in the red with a net loss of RM24.5 million — little changed from the RM25.33 million recorded a year ago. Toll collection rose to RM46.74 million from RM42.02 million, though total revenue for the quarter saw a sharp 64.2% drop to RM140.8 million from RM393.85 million due to lower construction activities. – WCE’s 1Q toll collection up 11% to RM46.7m, operational Ebitda remains positive

DRB-Hicom Bhd’s (KL:DRBHCOM) second-quarter net profit fell 47.4% to RM30.56 million from RM58.09 million a year earlier, as it booked a tax expense of RM26.56 million compared with a RM4.49 million tax credit in the same quarter last year, while costs rose. Quarterly revenue jumped 33% to RM5.50 billion from RM4.14 billion, largely driven by higher sales across the group's mobility, banking, postal and services businesses. – Tax swing weighs on DRB-Hicom's 2Q net profit, revenue up 33%

ITMAX System Bhd (KL:ITMAX) has secured a RM186.84 million contract from the Social Security Organisation (Socso) to develop and operate an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered employment portal. ITMAX managing director and chief executive officer William Tan Wei Lun said the five-year contract represents an extension of the group's existing AI and digital platform capabilities. – ITMAX lands RM187 mil Socso job to develop AI-powered employment portal

Glovemaker Kossan Rubber Industries Bhd (KL:KOSSAN) has proposed to acquire two cleanroom product businesses for RM48.41 million. Kossan said it had entered into separate agreements to acquire a 100% stake in Singapore-based Inout Enterprise Pte Ltd (IOS) and a 51% stake in Inout Enterprise (Thailand) Ltd (IOT). – Kossan to acquire two cleanroom businesses for RM48.4m

Lotte Chemical Corp is reviving plans to sell Lotte Chemical Titan Holding Bhd (KL:LCTITAN) as well as a stake in its Indonesian unit, Korea Economic Daily reported. Citing unidentified Korean government officials, the newspaper said the Malaysia-listed unit is the primary sale target. Also in the works is the partial divestment of its Indonesian project, and it is in talks with sovereign wealth fund Danantara. – Korean parent to dispose of Malaysia-listed Lotte Chemical Titan — report