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https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/716578

KUALA LUMPUR (June 24): Digital media company Catcha Digital Bhd (KL:CATCHA) said on Monday that it will co-found KS Lagi, a new digital media business scheduled to launch in the second half of this year.

The company has inked a joint venture agreement with the founders of Keluar Sekejap Sdn Bhd, Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ) and Shahril Hamdan. KJ is the former health minister while Shahril is the former information chief of United Malays National Organisation (Umno).

In a statement, Catcha Digital said the company intends to assume the commercial and business responsibilities for the existing Keluar Sekejap’s business and KS Lagi. Additionally, KS Lagi will create and distribute new media content across Catcha Digital’s existing network that reaches about 20 million Malaysians every month.

Keluar Sekejap claims to be a fast-growing media brand centred around thought-provoking conversations and has achieved tremendous success in the digital media space since its launch in 2023. It has amassed over 1.4 million subscribers and followers across its social media platforms, and over 39 million views on YouTube.

“We are thrilled to partner with KJ and Shahril to co-found KS Lagi,” said Catcha Digital chairman Patrick Grove.

“Across Catcha Digital and Keluar Sekejap’s platform we are already reaching the vast majority of Malaysians every month, and we see our audience yearning for a new approach to content and we will be a key part of this.

This collaboration aligns with our mission to build a leading profitable digital group in Southeast Asia, as we continue to pursue strategic partnerships, investments, and acquisitions that are accretive to our earnings per share,” Grove added.

In March last year, Catcha Digital completed its acquisition of a 100% stake in iMedia Sdn Bhd, which specialises in providing digital media advertising solutions to clients in Malaysia.

About four months later, Bursa Malaysia Securities removed the company from its cash company status under Rule 8.03 and Guidance Note 2 (GN2) of the ACE Market Listing Requirements.

On the financial front, Catcha Digital recorded its fourth consecutive profitable quarter. Prior to this, the company has been in straight net losses since 1QFY2019.

The company’s net profit more than doubled to RM1.47 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024 (1QFY2024), as compared to RM399,000 in the previous year’s corresponding quarter.

Shares of Catcha Digital declined 1.5 sen or 3.4% to close at 43 sen on Monday’s closing bell, giving it a market capitalisation of RM149.71 million.

Discover the inspiring journey of Eric Tan, the Group CEO of Catcha Digital Berhad who transformed a substantial amount of capital into a thriving business empire! In this video, we delve into the remarkable story behind his success, exploring the challenges he faced, the strategies he employed, and the lessons he learned along the way.

https://www.bfm.my/podcast/morning-run/the-breakfast-grille/catcha-digital-symphony-marketing-billboard-imedia-advertising-gn2

Digital media company Catcha Digital Bhd has been in rapid growth through various acquisitions. We ask CEO, Eric Tan how these will contribute positively to the group’s earnings and overall business in the future as well as their recently completed regularisation plan from exiting GN2 status.

Produced by: Moh Heng Ying

Presented by: Philip See

https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/691849

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 28): Digital media company Catcha Digital Bhd is planning to acquire a 51% equity interest in digital agency DS Services Sdn Bhd, more commonly known as Digital Symphony, for RM21.167 million.

In a press statement on Tuesday, Catcha Digital said it has inked a letter of intent for the acquisition and that the consideration payment will be split into two tranches over two years, payable upon Digital Symphony achieving a profit guarantee of audited profit after tax of RM4 million for the first year post-acquisition, and RM4.3 million for the second year.

“The acquisition is expected to materially increase Catcha Digital’s earnings per share,” it said.

It plans to fund the purchase via a combination of internal funds, debt financing and equity financing.

Digital Symphony is a Malaysia-based data-driven digital agency that operates in Malaysia and Singapore. It provides differentiated performance marketing solutions to clients using its proprietary software and analytics tool.

Founded in 2014 by Kuhan Kumar Palaniappan, the company serves a broad range of enterprise clients with a focus on the property development sector, said Catcha Digital.

“Recognised broadly in Malaysia as one of the leaders in their field, Digital Symphony will form a key part of Catcha Digital’s strategy going forward. I am confident [in] Kuhan and his team, and I believe we can grow hand in hand. We look forward to working with the Digital Symphony team to bring the business to greater heights,” said Catcha Digital chairman, Patrick Grove.

Catcha Digital’s shares closed up 0.5 sen or 1.12% to 45 sen on Tuesday, giving the company a market capitalisation of RM158.44 million.

https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/687249

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 23): Catcha Digital Bhd (Catcha) has appointed the founder of its recently-acquired company — Ittify Sdn Bhd, Tan Guan Sheng as its head of innovation, the group said in a statement on Monday.

The appointment is in line with the group’s efforts to spearhead its Artificial Intelligence (AI) initiatives related to digital media.

“We are thrilled to announce Guan as our Head of Innovation and look forward to working with him to unlock the power of AI for our group.

“We believe this can create significant value for our customers, allowing us to offer even better marketing solutions to all our clients,” Catcha Digital CEO Eric Tan said.

To recap, earlier this month, the group announced the acquisition of the remaining 49% equity interest in Ittify not already owned by the group for a cash consideration of RM3.43 million.

It also announced the acquisition of 30% equity interest in Headline Media Sdn Bhd for RM1.24 million, with an option to acquire another 50% stake within 36 months.

Headline Media owns and operates WeirdKaya, an English language website in Malaysia, as well as emerging Malay and Chinese language sites, WeirdKaya BM, LokLokWords and EzLokal.

Meanwhile, Guan said Catcha Digital is committed to pushing the boundaries of what AI could contribute to the company.

Notably, Guan also acquired 1.14 million shares in Catcha, representing approximately 0.32% of Catha’s total outstanding shares as at October 16, 2023.

Shares in Catcha closed two sen or 4.35% lower at 44 sen, giving it a market capitalization of RM154.92 million.

Since the beginning of the year, the stock has soared more than double from merely 20 sen in early January.

https://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2023/10/09/catcha-digital-announces-two-digital-media-purchases

KUALA LUMPUR: Catcha Digital Bhd‘s wholly-owned subsidiary iMedia Asia Sdn Bhd will be making equity acquisitions in two companies that are expected to improve the profitability of the group.

In a statement, the group said it will acquire the remaining 49% equity interest of Ittify Sdn Bhd it does not already own for RM3.43mil, paid in two tranches over two years.

Ittify is an influencer platform in Malaysia, which served more than 100 brands with seven thousand influencers on its platform.

Catcha Digital will also acquire 30% equity interest in Headline Media Sdn Bhd for RM1.24mil, paid in two tranches two years, with an option to acquire another 50% equity interest in the company within 36 months.

Headline Media owns and operates WeirdKaya, one of the fastest-growing English language websites in Malaysia, as well as emerging Chinese and Malay language sites, WeirdKaya BM, LokLokWords and EzLokal.

“We expect these acquisitions to contribute positively to our earnings and overall business in the future.

“Our mission is to build a leading digital group in Southeast Asia and we will continue to pursue investments and acquisitions that are earnings accretive,” said Patrick Grove, chairman of Catcha Digital.

Catcha Digital CEO Eric Tan said the addition of Headline Media will strengthen its English language network and offer a more comprehensive advertising solution to its clients.

He added that Ittify continues to grow, with a profit after tax of about RM530,000 in the six months ended June 30, 2023.

https://www.digitalnewsasia.com/business/catcha-digital-raises-us65-mil-growth-and-expansion

Catcha Digital announced that it had raised US$6.5 million (RM29.7 million) from the Rights Issue exercise to grow and expand its business. This is the final step in its regularisation plan, and its GN2 status is now expected to be lifted.

Catcha Digital is a Malaysia-based investment holding company in the digital media, advertising and software industries.

“We can now devote our attention to building, growing and scaling the company to greater heights,” said Patrick YKin Grove (pic), Chairman of Catcha Digital.

“The company is in a strong position to accelerate its growth plans and realise our vision. We aim to attract digital and software companies to join us and create sustainable value for all stakeholders,” said Eric Tan (pic), CEO of Catcha Digital.

On 6 July, Catcha Digital launched a new business unit called “i-Gov”. It is focused on developing technology solutions and software for the Malaysian government and the public sector. 

On 28 June, Catcha Digital announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, iMedia, hit a record profit before tax of RM10.28 million in FYE 2022, representing approximately 69% year-on-year growth.

iMedia Asia is a digital media company that provides integrated advertising solutions to brands in Malaysia’s consumer goods, retail, property, entertainment and other industries.

Catcha Digital sets up new unit to develop technology solutions and software for Malaysia’s public sector

Malaysia-based Catcha Digital has on Thursday announced the formation of a new business unit called “i-Gov”, specifically focused on working to develop technology solutions and software for the Malaysian government and the public sector.

Catcha Digital said in a statement said i-Gov unit is established to contribute to the Malaysian government’s effort in digital transformation and GovTech.

On May 15， 2023, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced the establishment of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Malaysia (Malaysia Centre for 4IR), an independent centre within the World Economic Forum (WEF) global ecosystem focusing on two priorities – digital transformation and GovTech, and energy transition.

Catcha Group Pte Ltd, the major shareholder of Catcha Digital, has long maintained a meaningful dialogue with the Malaysian Government on matters related to the digital economy and government digitization, the technology ecosystem and opportunities for improving the government’s digital initiatives.

“We see tremendous opportunities to work with the Malaysian government to unify and improve digital services for the nation and its people, in accordance with The Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint and Policy for the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” said Patrick Grove, Chairman of Catcha Digital.

“We have spent considerable time in dialogue with various parts of the Government brainstorming ways to bring Malaysia’s digital services to a world class level,

“Internationally, significant progress has been made in enhancing efficiency and convenience for countries through the introduction of world class software solutions and digital access to government services,” he said.

With the launch of i-Gov, he saidm the firm aims to accelerate Malaysia’s transformation towards a digital economy.

According to the statement, i-Gov will look to acquire existing software providers to the Malaysian Government and enhance their capabilities and services, as well as engaging directly with the Malaysian Government on new initiatives and projects designed to advance the government’s technology agenda.

I-Gov will also forms a board of advisors to guide its efforts in the government space in the near future.

Catcha Digital is a Malaysia-based investment holding company focused on operating businesses in the digital media, advertising and software industries.

As a final step in its regularisation plan, Catcha Digital in last month launched an abridged prospectus in relation to a renounceable rights issue involving the issuance of up to 174.64 million new ordinary shares in Catcha Digital on the basis of one rights share for every one existing Catcha Digital share held by the entitled shareholders at an issue price for each rights share fixed at MYR 0.235 ($0.05), to raise up to MYR 41.04 million ($8.79 million).

Catch Group has already committed MYR 18 million ($3.85 million) to the rights issue.

Upon completion of the regularisation plan, Catcha Digital will have its GN2 status lifted.

Meanwhile, the group’s wholly-owned subsidiary, iMedia Asia Sdn Bhd, is a digital media company that provides integrated advertising solutions to major brands in the fast moving consumer goods, retail, property, entertainment and other industries in Malaysia.

IMedia recorded a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of MYR 10.28 million ($2.2 million) in FY2022, representing year-on-year growth of approximately 69 percent.

In the first quarter ended 31 March 2023, iMedia PBT grew by approximately 28 percent compared to the same period last year to reach MYR 3.89 million ($830,000).

IMedia reaches over 13.1 million Malaysians each month as of 31 May 2023 via its extensive portfolio of digital marketing platforms and services over 100 brands across multiple industries.