Kuala Lumpur, Tuesday, 27 April 2010 – HELP International Corporation Berhad closed its 2009 accounts with its highest revenue earned at RM96.6 million, an increase of 11.6% compared to last year, and pre-tax profit up 35.7% to RM21.8 million.
The Group’s share also hit its highest on 26 April 2010 at RM2.60 closing at RM2.45 on the same day since its IPO on 22 May 2007 at 80sen.
Despite the world financial crisis, the HELP Group has continued to be profitable with its programmes in demand, which proves that education is recession proof.
The Group also recently reported a 96.7% increase in net profit for the first quarter ended 31 January 2010 to RM2.42 million compared to RM1.23 million last corresponding first quarter. Revenue rose 13% to RM23.5 million compared to RM20.86 million, and earnings per share rose to 2.7 sen compared to 1.4 sen previously.
The strong growth is due to an increase in home grown programmes and higher student numbers, as well as prudent cost management.
HELP International Corporation Berhad was also recently chosen by Standard and Poor’s, and OSK Research, as one of their top stock picks for 2010.
During the Group’s Annual General Meeting, Datuk Dr Paul Chan, President, HELP International Corporation, shared with shareholders the company’s plans for the future which includes the development of two new campuses in the Klang Valley: Fraser Business Park, and the Subang 2 campus, and new partnerships.
HELP International College of Technology (HICT) which is currently based in Klang will be moving to the Fraser Business Park along the Old Jalan Sungei Besi. Operations are expected to commence in September this year.
“We are very confident that this move will be a beneficial one. First of all, it is geographically well situated, as the catchment area is much larger. Secondly, we will be offering new programmes such as culinary arts, music, animation and information technology, and health sciences, as well as the existing engineering, business and pre-university courses. There are also very few colleges or universities based in the city centre. HICT will be a very different college once it moves, and we are in the process of improving the management and administration,” says Datuk Dr Paul Chan, who also informed shareholders that the plans for the Subang 2 campus are on track.
HELP University College also recently entered into two significant collaborations with the Suzhou, China, based Global EduTech Management (GEM) Group, and Singapore’s EggStory Digital Arts Academy.
HELP-GEM is set up to manage the delivery of HELP University College’s programmes, as well as selective international programmes in Suzhou, China. This platform will also help to internationalise the learning experience and exposure for Malaysians, ASEAN and other international students who can split their studies between 2 to 3 countries. The programs will be delivered at the excellent facilities of the GEM International Colleges. The GEM-HELP project is located in the Duzhou Education Park, inside the Suzhou Industrial Park.
As for the joint venture with EggStory Digital Arts Academy in Singapore, HELP will be working with leading CG animator Nickson Fong in the production of creative content: animation, serious games, and interactive graphics. The programmes and courses will be developed between HELP and EggStory Digital Arts Academy of which Nickson is the founder. Nickson has worked with Hollywood companies like Dreamworks, Sony Pictures, ESC Entertainment and Centropolis, on blockbusters such as Shrek, Starship Troopers, Stuart Little, Matrix Reloaded and Matrix Revolutions.
The HELP Group also plans to grow its franchise programmes by targeting to partner with at least 4 institutions in Indonesia per year. It also plans to strengthen its presence in Vietnam and Indochina.
ENDS
HELP International Corporation Berhad was incorporated on 20 June 2005 as the investment holding company for its various businesses, which are primarily in the field of education. It was listed on the Second Board of Bursa Malaysia on 22 May 2007. HELP University College (“HUC”), its flagship subsidiary, is the main contributor to HELP International Corporation, and has been a pioneer and innovator in tertiary education in Malaysia since 1986, and has an established reputation and brand recognition in the market.
Currently, the HELP International Corporation and its subsidiaries (“HELP Group”) consists of six main institutions: HELP University College (HUC), HELP ICT (HICT), HELP Training Centre (“HTC”), HELP Academy (“HA”), HELP Executive Advanced Training (“HEAT”), the International Centre for Security Management (“ICSM”), and HELP M&E.
HUC was among the pioneers who introduced foreign ‘twinning’ and external programmes to Malaysia in the 1980s, and is also one of the leading colleges’ conferred University College status by the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) in August 2004. HUC’s current registered enrolment is currently over 8,000 students, of which there are more than a thousand foreign students from 61 countries across the globe pursuing their degrees at the institution.
HICT was formerly Sepang Institute of Technology (SIT), a college based in Klang, Selangor, Malaysia. It offers courses in pharmacy, engineering, and various social science courses including the University of London External Programme.
HTC concentrates on providing vocational education and training, and other skill based programs.
HA is set up to complement HELP University College in selected areas of tertiary education particularly in 3-year programs with UK and Australian universities and 4-year programs with US universities among others.
HEAT is mainly targeted to provide executive education and it focuses on Management of Fraud, Sales and Islamic Banking among others.
HELP M&E will provide pre-university courses/services which will include tuition classes, specialized education workshops and courses at pre-school, kindergarten, primary, and secondary school levels. It will also be involved in the distribution or agent for educational products and services.
These subsidiaries are under the holding company of HELP International Corporation, which will continue to provide excellence in education and strive to reinforce Malaysia’s position as an education hub.
Media Contacts:
Juliet Chan, Public and Investor Relations Officer, HELP International Corporation chanjq [at] hic [dot] com [dot] my
Asha Nair, Assistant Manager, Corporate Communications Department, HELP University College, ashanc [at] help [dot] edu [dot] my
Shreen Chew, Executive, Corporate Communications Department, HELP University College, chewwl [at] help [dot] edu [dot] my
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