Protasco's Puzzling Purchase (7)

Three independent directors of Nexgram resigned according to announcements on the Bursa website (here, here and here).

The three directors were unanimous in their reason to resign:

"Because of the newspaper report on Protasco Berhad filing legal suit against a director of the Company."

Quite remarkable to give a development in another company as the reason for ones resignation.

The Star published an interesting article regarding this same matter: "More than meets the eye".


"The resignation of three Nexgram Holdings Bhd directors, following a suit by Protasco Bhd against Nexgram founder Tey Por Yee, has raised some eyebrows within industry circles. Observers are questioning the reasons for the directors resigning from Nexgram right away following the suit. The directors in question are Leou Thiam Lai, Ungku Razak Ungku Rahman and Yap Siok Teng. Nexgram, in announcing their resignations to Bursa Malaysia, said that they had resigned “because of the newspaper report on Protasco filing a legal suit against a director of the company”. It, however, did not elaborate. Questions are being raised as to whether there is something else brewing in Nexgram which caused this succession of events."


For the time being it seems Nexgram is "rather light" on independent directors. That however didn't stop the company (listed on the ACE market) from making another announcement, from The Star again:


"Nexgram, which started off as a mobile applications and platform provider, said the proposed acquisition would allow it to “participate in Fiji’s economic development and growth process, which is still currently in the early stages of development” and that the proposed deal would be financed by a combination of internal funds and/or bank borrowings."


I don't immediately see the synergy between a Malaysian based tech company and a Fiji based developer.

Regarding Protasco, an interesting situation seems to be that the company is not taking any steps to remove Tey Por Yee and Ooi Kock Aun as directors, despite filing a legal suit against them for "breach of their fiduciary and statutory duties including the duty to disclose their interest in the transaction, conspiracy to defraud Protasco and the making of secret profit".

Apparently, both Tey and Ooi are still welcome to stay on as directors of Protasco and to join board meetings.

There is quite an interesting web of connections between Protasco, Nexgram and PT Inovisi Infracom Tbk. To be continued.