Wednesday, October 23, 2024

OPUS International and HSS Engineering Forge Strategic Joint Venture to Lead Infrastructure Development Across Southeast Asia and Middle East

 

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 October – OPUS International (M) Berhad (OPUS), a leading engineering and asset management consultancy, a subsidiary of UEM Edgenta Berhad (UEM Edgenta) together with HSS Engineering Sdn Bhd (HSSE), a prominent player in engineering and project management services, a wholly owned subsidiary of HSS Engineers Berhad (HEB); today announced the signing of a Joint Venture and Shareholders’ Agreement (JVSA). This strategic partnership aims to accelerate expansion into high-growth infrastructure markets across Southeast Asia (SEA) and the Middle East.

This collaboration brings together the combined expertise of OPUS and HSS Engineering to deliver comprehensive solutions across engineering and technical services, project management and asset management consultancy and energy efficiency solutions in diverse infrastructure sectors. The joint venture will be 60% owned by OPUS and 40% by HSSE.

Sharing her thoughts on the collaboration, Hillary Chua, Managing Director, OPUS, said, “This joint venture marks a transformative step forward by merging the expertise of OPUS in asset management and energy efficiency with HSSE’s extensive international market presence and network. With over three decades of engineering excellence from both OPUS and HSSE, we are uniquely positioned to deliver innovative and sustainable infrastructure solutions not only to Malaysia but also for the high-growth markets across Southeast Asia and the Middle East. We share ambitious growth aspirations, aiming to enhance the delivery of world-class engineering practice and asset management services while contributing to the region's infrastructure development.

Echoing similar sentiments and enthusiasm, Syahrunizam Samsudin, Managing Director & CEO, UEM Edgenta, shared, "This partnership is goes beyond collaboration – it is about creating long-term value. It strengthens our ability to deliver innovative, sustainable projects. For UEM Edgenta, this aligns seamlessly with our Edgenta of the Future 2025 (EOTF 2025) vision; where innovation, sustainability, and impact are at the core of our strategy. This joint venture also enhances our competitiveness in the international market, positioning us as a leader in infrastructure asset management across Southeast Asia and the Middle East region.”

“This JV allows us to leverage the strengths of both HEB Group and Opus International. By combining HEB Group’s expertise in engineering design and project management with Opus International’s innovative approaches like asset management, geotechnical, energy efficiency and sustainability solutions. We are creating a formidable alliance primed for success. Our collaboration will certainly lead to synergistic benefits in our joint projects. We look forward to building a strong partnership with Opus International to raise the standards of infrastructure projects in modern urban landscapes,” added Ir. Sharifah Azlina Raja Kamal Pasmah, Chief Executive Officer, HSS Engineering Sdn Bhd.

Tan Sri Ir. Kuna Sittampalam, Executive Vice Chairman, HSS Engineers Berhad concluded, “Opus International’s esteemed brand and its leadership in asset management will seamlessly complement HEB Group’s proven track record in engineering solutions for infrastructure projects. This partnership is poised to significantly enhance project delivery capabilities and foster dynamic growth in both domestic and global markets. HEB Group is pivoting toward emerging fields like data centers and renewable energy while strengthening its core areas of rail, highways, ports, and water infrastructure. Hence, this JV is poised to enhance our position as Malaysia’s leading engineering consultant and strengthen the comprehensiveness of our solutions.”

Signing the agreement on behalf of OPUS was Hillary Chua, Managing Director, OPUS while HSS was represented by it’s CEO, Ir. Sharifah Azlina Raja Kamal Pasmah. The signing was witnessed by Syahrunizam Samsudin Managing Director & CEO, UEM Edgenta and Tan Sri Ir. Kuna Sittampalam, Executive Vice Chairman, HSS Engineers Bhd.

OPUS and HSSE plan to formally establish the joint venture in 2024, with initial operations focusing on major asset management projects and energy efficiency initiatives. The formation and operations of the joint venture are subject to necessary regulatory approvals.

For further information on OPUS and UEM Edgenta, log on to https://www.uemedgenta.com. 

(from left to right) Ir. Sharifah Azlina Raja Kamal Pasmah, CEO, HSS Engineers Bhd and Tan Sri Ir. Kuna Sittampalam, Executive Vice Chairman, HSS Engineers Bhd together with Syahrunizam Samsudin Managing Director & CEO, UEM Edgenta and Hillary Chua, Managing Director, OPUS International (M) Bhd at the recent Joint Venture and Shareholders' Agreement signing between OPUS International (M) Bhd, a sub-subsidiary of UEM Edgenta Bhd, and HSS Engineers Bhd's wholly-owned subsidiary HSS Engineering Sdn Bhd to provide engineering and technical services.

About UEM EDGENTA BERHAD

About UEM Edgenta Berhad  

UEM Edgenta (www.uemedgenta.com) is a leading Asset Management and Infrastructure Solutions company in the region and is a subsidiary of the UEM Group. Listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad (KLSE: EDGENTA), our expertise covers Healthcare Support and Property & Facility Solutions, and Infrastructure Services covering Expressways and Rail, including project management & engineering design capabilities via our Opus Consultants business arm.

Guided by our ‘Edgenta of the Future 2025’ vision, UEM Edgenta’s full suite of business services is driven by technological advancements throughout the business assets’ life cycle including consultancy, procurement & construction planning, operations & maintenance, as well as optimisation, rehabilitation and upgrades. Digital solutions across multiple industries positions UEM Edgenta as a powerhouse to become a Technology-Enabled Solutions Company with a focus on healthcare by 2025. 

UEM Edgenta has operational presence in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates and The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

About HSS Engineers Bhd  

HSS Engineers Berhad (HEB or the Company) is an investment holding company which was incorporated on 23 January 2015 under the Companies Act, 1965 as a private limited company under the name of HSS Engineers Sdn. Bhd. before it was converted into a public limited company. The Company assumed its present name on 31 March 2015. 

HEB, through its subsidiaries (HEB Group or the Group) and associates, is principally involved in the provision of engineering and project management services including engineering design, construction supervision, project management, environmental services and building information modeling services.

HEB Group’s workforce grew to approximately 1,000 (of which more than half are engineers) upon the completion of the acquisition of SMHB Engineering Sdn Bhd on 28 March 2018. With a combined experience of more than 80 years, the Group possesses longstanding experience in a wide array of sectors including urban infrastructure, transportation planning, roads and highways, railways and metro systems, water resources and supply, waste management, building and structures, power generation and recently diversified into telecommunication and digital technology.

As one of the leading and by far the largest listed engineering consultancy group in Malaysia, the Group is and has been involved in many notable large-scale projects including MRT 1, 2, & 3, Pan Borneo Highway (Sabah), Maju Expressway 2, West Coast Expressway, SUKE Expressway, Pahang – Selangor Water Raw Transfer, Development of Sungai Selangor Phase 1, 2 and 3, Sarawak Water Grid Study and East Coast Rail Link. 

The Group now operates from 5 main offices, based in Kuala Lumpur (2 offices), Sabah, and Sarawak in Malaysia, and Chennai in India.

This press release has also been published on VRITIMES

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Bitcoin Futures, Next Bullish Move Preparing?

  

preview

Bitcoin, as the largest cryptocurrency, continues to attract the interest of investors from various circles. One of the interesting aspects of Bitcoin is the futures market which allows traders to speculate on the price of Bitcoin without needing to buy or sell physical coins.

This article will discuss the increase in Bitcoin open interest along with an analysis of the Bitcoin futures market. Read to the end to understand the entire explanation.

Bitcoin Futures Market Analysis

Recent analysis suggests that the Bitcoin futures market may be heading into its second bullish phase. Data from CryptoQuant shows increased leverage in the  BTC USDT futures market, which could be an indication of potential significant price movements.

Source: @ki_young_ju/X
Source: @ki_young_ju/X

Ki Young Ju, CEO of CryptoQuant, analyzed two important metrics: the ratio of BTC-USDT open interest to reserves and the ratio of BTC-USDT open interest to USDT market capitalization. These two metrics indicate a significant increase in leverage in the Bitcoin futures market.

Increased Open Interest

Bitcoin (BTC) open interest reached a staggering $19.8 billion at 574,680 BTC on October 15. Data from CryptoQuant reflects a significant increase in demand for the largest cryptocurrencies, indicating how much new money has entered the digital asset market in recent months.

The funding rate has surged to the highest level since August, indicating that most of those open positions are long positions expecting further appreciation.

While an increase in open interest is usually a positive indication for Bitcoin price action, some market observers have expressed concerns that increased volatility could be threatened.

The highly leveraged nature of the futures market will eventually pave the way for large-scale liquidations if and when sudden price swings occur.

According to data from Glassnode, a large number of Bitcoin futures contracts are cash-margined and not crypto-margined, meaning they are collateralized by US dollars or dollar-pegged stablecoins and not the cryptocurrency itself.

Bitcoin Price Increase Potential

Source: Market Futures Bitrue
Source: Market Futures Bitrue

At the moment, Bitcoin price in the Bitrue futures market it was at $67,764 with an increase of 0.78%. Previously, within 24 hours, Bitcoin reached its highest price in the futures market at $68,353.

It can be seen from the BTC price chart excerpt above that the RSI value is 63, which means a trend to buy Bitcoins is much more dominant than the selling trend. However, this dominance is still within reasonable limits, not overbought.

The MACD line appears to have a downward trend, but the position of the line which is still above the threshold indicates that the BTC position is currently strong in its bullish possibility.

An increase in open interest can be a positive indication of Bitcoin's potential price increase. However, keep in mind that the crypto market is highly volatile, and factors such as changes in regulatory policies and technological developments can affect the price of Bitcoin.

Risks to be Aware of

The crypto market is known for its high volatility, so the price of Bitcoin can experience sharp fluctuations. Changes in regulatory policies can also affect Bitcoin prices.

Using leverage can increase potential profits, but also increases the risk of loss. Apart from that, Bitcoin also faces competition from other cryptocurrencies. 

Conclusion

The increase in Bitcoin open interest shows the high interest of investors in the futures market. However, keep in mind that high open interest can also increase the risk of volatility. If the market moves against a trader's position, massive liquidations can occur.

For those of you who are interested in investing in Bitcoin in the futures market, do not immediately invest without studying current market conditions. Do your own research (DYOR) by knowing price statistics, price conversions from BTC to USD, and how the project is progressing. Knowing the fundamentals of a token is also very good for knowing where you stand as an investor.

About Bitrue
Bitrue is a leading cryptocurrency exchange, offering a wide range of digital assets, innovative features, and user-focused services. Founded with the mission to empower the world’s crypto enthusiasts, Bitrue continues to expand its platform with new products, events, and opportunities for users worldwide.
This Press Release has also been published on VRITIMES

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