SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income, Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Geoff Howie

SGX Market Strategist, Equity & Fixed Income

Asia’s leading multi-asset exchange

Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX)

Singapore Exchange is Asia’s leading and trusted market infrastructure, facilitating the exchange of capital and ideas to create value for people, businesses and economies. As a multi-asset exchange operating equity, fixed income and derivatives markets to the highest regulatory standards, SGX is a vertically integrated business that provides listing, trading, clearing, settlement, depository and data services.

With about 40% of listed companies and over 80% of listed bonds originating outside of Singapore as well as established linkages across the region and in Europe, SGX is Asia’s most international and connected exchange. Offering a full suite of derivatives products across Asian equity indices, commodities and currencies, SGX is the world’s most liquid international market for the benchmark equity indices of China, India, Japan and ASEAN.

As Asia’s pioneering central counterparty, SGX is globally recognised for its risk management and clearing capabilities, and was one of the first globally to adopt the Principles for Financial Market Infrastructure.

Headquartered in AAA-rated Singapore, SGX has over 800 employees including offices in Beijing, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, New York, Mumbai, San Francisco, Shanghai and Tokyo.

Equity Bottom-Up

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For the 5 trading sessions that spanned May 13 to 19, the Straits Times Index (STI) gained 0.8 per cent, with the FTSE China A50 Index adding 0.2 per cent, the Hang Seng Index gaining 2.5 per cent and the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI declining 1.0 per cent.  
Overall, institutions were net buyers of Singapore stocks over the 5 sessions with S$3.4 million of net inflow, following S$145 million of net outflow for the preceding 5 sessions. OCBC, Keppel Corporation, UOB, Singapore Exchange and Singapore Telecommunications led the net institutional inflows for the 5 sessions through to May 19. Share buybacks

There were 17 primary-listed stocks conducting share buybacks over the 5 sessions ended May 19, with a total consideration of S$67,410,124, down from the S$122.8 million for the preceding 5 sessions. 
After buying back 10 million shares on May 12, CapitaLand Investment bought back another 6,106,600 million shares at an average price of S$3.80 per share, while Keppel Corporation led the consideration tally with 3,689,000 shares bought back at an average price of S$6.69 per share.   Director and substantial shareholder transactions

The 5 trading sessions saw over 100 changes to director interests and substantial shareholdings filed for more than 40 primary-listed stocks. This included 20 company director acquisitions with 2 disposals filed, while substantial shareholders filed 8 acquisitions and 4 disposals. UOL Group

On May 12, Wee Investments acquired 200,000 shares of UOL Group at an average price of S$6.99 per share. This took the total interest in the company of UOL Group chairman Wee Cho Yaw from 38.29 per cent to 38.32 per cent. It followed Wee Investments’ acquisition of 500,000 shares also at S$6.99 per share between May 10 and 11. Wee also serves as the chairman of UOL Group, United Overseas Insurance, Haw Par Corporation and Singapore Land Group. Trans-China Automotive Holdings

On May 18, Trans-China Automotive Holdings executive chairman and CEO Francis Tjia acquired 4.0 million shares of the Catalist-listed company at 21.0 cents per share, through Octo Holdings which he wholly owns. With a consideration of S$840,000, this increased his deemed interest in the vehicle dealership group from 77.93 per cent to 78.61 per cent. Tjia has more than 20 years of experience in the industry in China. Frencken Group

On May 19, Frencken Group non-executive non-independent chairman Gooi Soon Chai acquired 200,000 shares of the company at S$1.15 per share. With a consideration of S$230,000, this took his total interest in the integrated technology solutions company from 23.48 per cent to 23.53 per cent.

It followed his acquisition of 50,000 shares on Mar 11 at S$1.53 per share. He was appointed the group’s chairman in August 2016.

Also, on May 19, Frencken Group president and executive director Dennis Au acquired 200,000 shares of the company at S$1.16 per share. This took his interest from 0.89 per cent to 0.94 per cent. His preceding acquisitions were between Mar 7 and 8, with 150,000 shares acquired at S$1.52 per share. Chip Eng Seng Corporation

On May 13, Chip Eng Seng Corporation lead independent director Abdul Jabbar bin Karam Din acquired 292,400 shares of the company at 42.0 cents per share. With a consideration of S$122,808, this took his direct interest in the homegrown property development and construction group to 0.04 per cent.

Abdul Jabbar joined the board on Feb 2, 2018 as an independent director and was appointed lead independent director in April 2021. An executive committee partner with Rajah and Tann Singapore, he heads the firm’s corporate and transactional practice. He has more than 25 years’ extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, employment, banking and finance, general commercial and private client work, both local and international. Transit-Mixed Concrete

Between May 11 and 12, Transit-Mixed Concrete executive director Lee Sai Sing acquired 833,400 shares at 14.5 cents per share. With a consideration of S$120,843, this increased his direct interest in the provider of concrete pumping services and waste management, from 55.07 per cent to 55.87 per cent. His preceding acquisition was on Dec 21, with 63,400 shares acquired at 13.9 cents per share.

Lee has extensive experience in investing in unlisted and listed Asian equities and serves as independent director at Maxi-Cash Financial Services Corporation. He is involved in advising corporations in restructurings, pre-initial public offerings and initial public offerings and has worked in the fund management industry for many years in major financial institutions like GIC, BNP Paribas Private Bank and Maybank-Kim Eng.

On Apr 27, the company reported that turnover grew by 64 per cent to S$8.24 million for the year ended Feb 28, compared with S$5.01 million in the previous year. JB Foods

On May 13, JB Foods executive director Goh Lee Beng acquired 192,000 shares of the listed company for a consideration of S$95,040. At 49.5 cents per share, this took Goh’s total interest from 1.59 per cent to 1.65 per cent. JB Cocoa Group Sdn Bhd also maintains a 45.52 per cent interest in JB Foods, of which Goh has a deemed interest. This brings her total interest in JB foods to 47.17 per cent.

With over 25 years of experience in the cocoa business, she is responsible for procurement of raw materials and managing the cocoa trading positions, which includes sourcing of cocoa beans and cocoa ingredients, managing the group’s cocoa hedging book, monitoring world cocoa trends, and marketing of cocoa butter. Bonvests Holdings

Between May 11 and 17, Bonvests Holdings executive chairman and managing director Henry Ngo acquired 86,300 shares of the company for a consideration of S$82,737, at an average price of 95.9 cents per share.

The acquisition was made though Allsland, which is wholly owned by Ngo and increased his total interest in Bonvests from 83.77 per cent to 83.80 per cent. Asian Pay Television Trust

On May 17, the CEO of the trustee-manager of Asian Pay Television Trust, Brian McKinley, acquired 300,000 units at 13.3 cents per unit. With a consideration of S$39,900, this increased his direct interest in the business trust from 0.13 per cent to 0.15 per cent.

His preceding acquisitions were on Feb 28, with 200,000 units acquired at 13.7 cents per unit; Nov 19, with 200,000 units bought at 13.6 cents per unit; and on Sept 10, with 400,000 units bought at 13.1 cents per unit. Prior to his appointment as CEO in Apr 2017, McKinley was the CFO of the trustee-manager, an office he held since the listing of APTT in May 2013.

On May 13, APTT reported revenue of S$73.6 million for its Q1 2022 which was down 1.1 per cent from S$74.4 million in Q1 2021, while Ebitda declined 4.8 per cent to S$43.2 million, on higher operating expenses. Broadband revenue for Q1 2022 recorded 16.5 per cent growth from Q1 2021, with continued increases in subscribers, ARPU and revenue in both S$ and NT$.

APTT is the first listed business trust in Asia focused on pay-TV and broadband businesses, with its current investment mandate to acquire controlling interests in and to own, operate and maintain mature, cash generative pay-TV and broadband businesses in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore. Dyna-Mac Holdings

On May 13, Dyna-Mac Holdings executive director and CEO, Lim Ah Cheng acquired 168,000 shares of the company at 14.2 cents per share. With a consideration of S$23,856, this increased Lim’s direct interest in the global multi-disciplinary contractor from 0.18 per cent to 0.19 per cent.

On May 12, Dyna-Mac Holdings reported its revenue increased to S$67.5 million in Q1 2022, from S$41.1 million in Q1 2021, mainly due to higher progress achieved for the projects carried out in Q1 2022. At the same time, Q1 2022 gross profit declined by S$0.2 million to S$5.7 million, from S$5.9 million in Q1 2021, mainly due to additional variation works recognised in Q1 2021.

Lim has more than 20 years of extensive working experience in project management, commercial management, yards operations and design engineering in the Oil and Gas Industries and was a Keppel Corporation Scholarship recipient. Prior to joining Dyna-Mac Holdings, he held various senior management positions in Keppel Offshore and Marine group. Oxley Holdings

Between May 13 and 18, Oxley Holdings executive director and deputy CEO Eric Low See Ching acquired 100,000 shares of the company at an average price of 17.4 cents per share, with a consideration of S$17,435. Low maintains a 28.13 per cent direct interest in the firm and is responsible for the operation of the group including sales and marketing, project development, business development and financial management. He also assists the CEO in charting and executing strategic plans. Inside Insights is a weekly column on The Business Times,<a href="https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/hong-fok-continues-buybacks-as-joint-ceo-raises-stake-0"> </a><a href="https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/uol-trans-china-automotive-frencken-chairmen-raise-stakes">read </a>the original version.
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    Share buyback


For the 5 trading sessions that spanned May 13 to 19, the Straits Times Index (STI) gained 0.8 per cent, with the FTSE China A50 Index adding 0.2 per cent, the Hang Seng Index gaining 2.5 per cent and the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI declining 1.0 per cent.   
Overall, institutions were net buyers of Singapore stocks over the 5 sessions with S$3.4 million of net inflow, following S$145 million of net outflow for the preceding 5 sessions. OCBC, Keppel Corporation, UOB, Singapore Exchange and Singapore Telecommunications led the net institutional inflows for the 5 sessions through to May 19.  Share buybacks

There were 17 primary-listed stocks conducting share buybacks over the 5 sessions ended May 19, with a total consideration of S$67,410,124, down from the S$122.8 million for the preceding 5 sessions.  
After buying back 10 million shares on May 12, CapitaLand Investment bought back another 6,106,600 million shares at an average price of S$3.80 per share, while Keppel Corporation led the consideration tally with 3,689,000 shares bought back at an average price of S$6.69 per share.    Director and substantial shareholder transactions

The 5 trading sessions saw over 100 changes to director interests and substantial shareholdings filed for more than 40 primary-listed stocks. This included 20 company director acquisitions with 2 disposals filed, while substantial shareholders filed 8 acquisitions and 4 disposals.  UOL Group

On May 12, Wee Investments acquired 200,000 shares of UOL Group at an average price of S$6.99 per share. This took the total interest in the company of UOL Group chairman Wee Cho Yaw from 38.29 per cent to 38.32 per cent. It followed Wee Investments’ acquisition of 500,000 shares also at S$6.99 per share between May 10 and 11. Wee also serves as the chairman of UOL Group, United Overseas Insurance, Haw Par Corporation and Singapore Land Group.  Trans-China Automotive Holdings

On May 18, Trans-China Automotive Holdings executive chairman and CEO Francis Tjia acquired 4.0 million shares of the Catalist-listed company at 21.0 cents per share, through Octo Holdings which he wholly owns. With a consideration of S$840,000, this increased his deemed interest in the vehicle dealership group from 77.93 per cent to 78.61 per cent. Tjia has more than 20 years of experience in the industry in China.  Frencken Group

On May 19, Frencken Group non-executive non-independent chairman Gooi Soon Chai acquired 200,000 shares of the company at S$1.15 per share. With a consideration of S$230,000, this took his total interest in the integrated technology solutions company from 23.48 per cent to 23.53 per cent.

It followed his acquisition of 50,000 shares on Mar 11 at S$1.53 per share. He was appointed the group’s chairman in August 2016.

Also, on May 19, Frencken Group president and executive director Dennis Au acquired 200,000 shares of the company at S$1.16 per share. This took his interest from 0.89 per cent to 0.94 per cent. His preceding acquisitions were between Mar 7 and 8, with 150,000 shares acquired at S$1.52 per share.  Chip Eng Seng Corporation

On May 13, Chip Eng Seng Corporation lead independent director Abdul Jabbar bin Karam Din acquired 292,400 shares of the company at 42.0 cents per share. With a consideration of S$122,808, this took his direct interest in the homegrown property development and construction group to 0.04 per cent.

Abdul Jabbar joined the board on Feb 2, 2018 as an independent director and was appointed lead independent director in April 2021. An executive committee partner with Rajah and Tann Singapore, he heads the firm’s corporate and transactional practice. He has more than 25 years’ extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, employment, banking and finance, general commercial and private client work, both local and international.  Transit-Mixed Concrete

Between May 11 and 12, Transit-Mixed Concrete executive director Lee Sai Sing acquired 833,400 shares at 14.5 cents per share. With a consideration of S$120,843, this increased his direct interest in the provider of concrete pumping services and waste management, from 55.07 per cent to 55.87 per cent. His preceding acquisition was on Dec 21, with 63,400 shares acquired at 13.9 cents per share.

Lee has extensive experience in investing in unlisted and listed Asian equities and serves as independent director at Maxi-Cash Financial Services Corporation. He is involved in advising corporations in restructurings, pre-initial public offerings and initial public offerings and has worked in the fund management industry for many years in major financial institutions like GIC, BNP Paribas Private Bank and Maybank-Kim Eng.

On Apr 27, the company reported that turnover grew by 64 per cent to S$8.24 million for the year ended Feb 28, compared with S$5.01 million in the previous year.  JB Foods

On May 13, JB Foods executive director Goh Lee Beng acquired 192,000 shares of the listed company for a consideration of S$95,040. At 49.5 cents per share, this took Goh’s total interest from 1.59 per cent to 1.65 per cent. JB Cocoa Group Sdn Bhd also maintains a 45.52 per cent interest in JB Foods, of which Goh has a deemed interest. This brings her total interest in JB foods to 47.17 per cent.

With over 25 years of experience in the cocoa business, she is responsible for procurement of raw materials and managing the cocoa trading positions, which includes sourcing of cocoa beans and cocoa ingredients, managing the group’s cocoa hedging book, monitoring world cocoa trends, and marketing of cocoa butter.  Bonvests Holdings

Between May 11 and 17, Bonvests Holdings executive chairman and managing director Henry Ngo acquired 86,300 shares of the company for a consideration of S$82,737, at an average price of 95.9 cents per share.

The acquisition was made though Allsland, which is wholly owned by Ngo and increased his total interest in Bonvests from 83.77 per cent to 83.80 per cent.  Asian Pay Television Trust

On May 17, the CEO of the trustee-manager of Asian Pay Television Trust, Brian McKinley, acquired 300,000 units at 13.3 cents per unit. With a consideration of S$39,900, this increased his direct interest in the business trust from 0.13 per cent to 0.15 per cent.

His preceding acquisitions were on Feb 28, with 200,000 units acquired at 13.7 cents per unit; Nov 19, with 200,000 units bought at 13.6 cents per unit; and on Sept 10, with 400,000 units bought at 13.1 cents per unit. Prior to his appointment as CEO in Apr 2017, McKinley was the CFO of the trustee-manager, an office he held since the listing of APTT in May 2013.

On May 13, APTT reported revenue of S$73.6 million for its Q1 2022 which was down 1.1 per cent from S$74.4 million in Q1 2021, while Ebitda declined 4.8 per cent to S$43.2 million, on higher operating expenses. Broadband revenue for Q1 2022 recorded 16.5 per cent growth from Q1 2021, with continued increases in subscribers, ARPU and revenue in both S$ and NT$.

APTT is the first listed business trust in Asia focused on pay-TV and broadband businesses, with its current investment mandate to acquire controlling interests in and to own, operate and maintain mature, cash generative pay-TV and broadband businesses in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore.  Dyna-Mac Holdings

On May 13, Dyna-Mac Holdings executive director and CEO, Lim Ah Cheng acquired 168,000 shares of the company at 14.2 cents per share. With a consideration of S$23,856, this increased Lim’s direct interest in the global multi-disciplinary contractor from 0.18 per cent to 0.19 per cent.

On May 12, Dyna-Mac Holdings reported its revenue increased to S$67.5 million in Q1 2022, from S$41.1 million in Q1 2021, mainly due to higher progress achieved for the projects carried out in Q1 2022. At the same time, Q1 2022 gross profit declined by S$0.2 million to S$5.7 million, from S$5.9 million in Q1 2021, mainly due to additional variation works recognised in Q1 2021.

Lim has more than 20 years of extensive working experience in project management, commercial management, yards operations and design engineering in the Oil and Gas Industries and was a Keppel Corporation Scholarship recipient. Prior to joining Dyna-Mac Holdings, he held various senior management positions in Keppel Offshore and Marine group.  Oxley Holdings

Between May 13 and 18, Oxley Holdings executive director and deputy CEO Eric Low See Ching acquired 100,000 shares of the company at an average price of 17.4 cents per share, with a consideration of S$17,435. Low maintains a 28.13 per cent direct interest in the firm and is responsible for the operation of the group including sales and marketing, project development, business development and financial management. He also assists the CEO in charting and executing strategic plans.  Inside Insights is a weekly column on The Business Times, read the original version.



UOL, Trans-China Automotive & Frencken chairmen raise stakes

IPOs and Catalysts/Events, Global Equity Research Ltd

Arun George

IPOs and Catalysts/Events

Uncompromised, Independent, Conflict-Free Research

Global Equity Research Ltd

Global Equity Research was started in 2017 by a group of experienced research professionals. It was founded on a passionate belief in the importance and the need for uncompromised, independent, conflict-free research. We aim to provide differentiated and actionable primary and bottom up fundamental research.

Event-Driven

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-05-18/hong-kong-telco-hkbn-said-to-draw-interest-from-stonepeak-pag" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bloomberg reported</a><a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/kkr-co-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27333:1" rel="noopener">KKR &amp; Co Inc (KKR US)</a> and PAG are carrying out due diligence on <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/hkbn-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:289:1" rel="noopener">HKBN Ltd (1310 HK)</a>, with a view to launching a privatisation bid.</li>
<li>HKBN has a relatively concentrated shareholder register which suggests a requirement for a high takeover premium.</li>
<li>Precedent transactions suggest a privatisation forward EV/EBITDA multiple of at least 10x, implying a minimum offer price of HK$11.80 per share, a 23% premium to the last close. </li>
</ul>



Bloomberg reportedKKR &amp; Co Inc (KKR US) and PAG are carrying out due diligence on HKBN Ltd (1310 HK), with a view to launching a privatisation bid.
HKBN has a relatively concentrated shareholder register which suggests a requirement for a high takeover premium.
Precedent transactions suggest a privatisation forward EV/EBITDA multiple of at least 10x, implying a minimum offer price of HK$11.80 per share, a 23% premium to the last close. 


<ul>
<li>At the last close prices, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/total-access-communication" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:948:1" rel="noopener">Total Access Communication (DTAC TB)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/true-corp-pcl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8:1" rel="noopener">True Corp Pcl (TRUE TB)</a>’s gross spread to the dividend-adjusted VTO price is 5.6% and 11.1%, respectively.  </li>
<li>The merger has received DTAC and True shareholder approvals. The merger hinges on regulatory approval.</li>
<li>The LONG True and SHORT DTAC trade is attractive, with the current spread of 5.5% trading above the average spread since the merger announcement of 3.4% (ex. transaction costs).</li>
</ul>


At the last close prices, Total Access Communication (DTAC TB) and True Corp Pcl (TRUE TB)’s gross spread to the dividend-adjusted VTO price is 5.6% and 11.1%, respectively.  
The merger has received DTAC and True shareholder approvals. The merger hinges on regulatory approval.
The LONG True and SHORT DTAC trade is attractive, with the current spread of 5.5% trading above the average spread since the merger announcement of 3.4% (ex. transaction costs).


Technical Analyst, Vermilion Research

Joe Jasper

Technical Analyst

Technical and Quantitative Research

Vermilion Research

Vermilion’s objective is to deliver timely, actionable, and unique technical research to professional investors through the application of our various technical indicators.

Our research strategists seek to highlight securities which we believe are at major inflection points, based on our various technical and quantitative indicators, and offer asymmetric risk/return profiles. Our unique research methodology, centered on relative strength, enables our strategists to deliver superior investment recommendations.

Our process begins by organizing the universe of actively traded stocks into discrete sectors, then into industry groups. We then apply our technical and quantitative tools to identify developing price trends. Once attractive trends are identified within a selected sector or group, we screen for individual stocks which we believe offer the best risk/reward profile. We provide a historical perspective that often reveals, through our long-term charts, how price patterns often repeat themselves over time.

Technical Analysis

<ul>
<li>Downtrends remain intact for Japan’s TOPIX/Nikkei 225, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng, Europe’s EURO STOXX50, Germany's DAX, China (MCHI-US), and all the MSCI global indexes (ACWI, ACWI ex-US, EM, and EAFE).</li>
<li>The majority of these indexes are in well-defined downtrends; that means when the downtrends eventually reverse, it will be clear and we will be ready to buy/turn bullish.</li>
<li>Relative strength on Japan's TOPIX is reversing topside a 4.5-year downtrend, signaling Japan is emerging as leadership. We highlight buy opportunities in Japan and also in defensive Sectors</li>
</ul>


Downtrends remain intact for Japan’s TOPIX/Nikkei 225, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng, Europe’s EURO STOXX50, Germany's DAX, China (MCHI-US), and all the MSCI global indexes (ACWI, ACWI ex-US, EM, and EAFE).
The majority of these indexes are in well-defined downtrends; that means when the downtrends eventually reverse, it will be clear and we will be ready to buy/turn bullish.
Relative strength on Japan's TOPIX is reversing topside a 4.5-year downtrend, signaling Japan is emerging as leadership. We highlight buy opportunities in Japan and also in defensive Sectors


Japan Emerging as Leadership; Actionable Themes: Japan and Defensives

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For the 5 trading sessions spanning Apr 29 to May 5, the Straits Times Index (STI) gained 0.3 per cent, with the FTSE China A50 Index gaining 0.3 per cent, the Hang Seng Index gaining 2.5 per cent and the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI declining 0.7 per cent. 

Overall, institutions were net buyers of Singapore stocks over the 5 sessions with S$67 million of net inflow, following S$53 million of net outflow for the preceding 5 sessions.

OCBC, Keppel Corporation, Singapore Telecommunications, Venture Corporation and Jardine Cycle &amp; Carriage led the net institutional outflows for the 5 sessions through to May 5.

Meanwhile, Yangzijiang Financial Holdings, UOB, Mapletree Logisitics Trust, Mapletree Industrial Trust and Thai Beverage received the highest net institutional outflows for the 5 sessions.

Overall, the total net institutional inflows into Singapore stocks in the 2022 year to May 5 came up to S$452 million, while the STI generated an 8.4 per cent total return. Share Buybacks 
There were 12 primary-listed stocks conducting share buybacks over the 5 sessions with a total consideration of S$44.5 million, up from S$10.5 million for the preceding week. 
Wilmar International, Keppel Corporation and Hong Fok Corporation led the consideration tally. 
Wilmar bought back 5.4 million shares at an average price of S$4.41 per share. 
For the previous year’s mandate, it bought back 19.9 million shares, which represented 0.32 per cent of the company’s issued shares (excluding treasury shares). 
The buybacks followed the company reporting financials for its Q1 FY22 (ended Mar 31) on Apr 29. Wilmar reported that its Q1 FY22 core net profit increased by 18.8 per cent year on year to US$503.4 million, attributed to the strong performance in the plantation and sugar milling segment, which was aided by firm palm oil prices. The company also noted that it has officially commenced its first central kitchen operations in Hangzhou, China in early April 2022.  
On Adani Wilmar, the company noted that from an IPO valuation of US$4 billion when it listed on the National Stock Exchange of India on Feb 8, 2022, its market capitalisation had increased by more than 3 times to above US$13 billion as at Apr 28, 2022. 
In addition, the valuation for Shree Renuka Sugars, the 62.5 per cent owned Indian sugar subsidiary, has also gone up sharply from US$863 million on Dec 31, 2021 to US$1.6 billion as at Apr 28, 2022. 
The company added that commodity prices had surged since the onset of the Russian and Ukraine conflict in February 2022 and while the contribution from the Russian and Ukrainian investments is not material, the sustained high commodity prices would benefit its plantation and sugar milling segment in the coming months. Director and substantial shareholder transactions 
The 5 trading sessions saw 100 changes to director interests and substantial shareholdings filed for close to 40 primary-listed stocks. 
This included 18 company director acquisitions with no disposals filed, while substantial shareholders filed 3 acquisitions and 3 disposals. Yangzijiang Financial Holding 
The 5 sessions saw multiple directors of Yangzijiang Financial Holding (YZJFH) acquire shares in the company on the open market. 
YZJFH was spun off from Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Holdings, with the aim of unlocking value for the company’s shareholders. 
YZJFH intends to focus on investing in growth opportunities to achieve attractive risk-adjusted return, while seeking to provide a steady stream of dividends to shareholders through income generated from investment and fund management businesses. 
Shareholders in Yangzijiang Shipbuilding received shares of YZJFH via a dividend in-specie on a one-to-one basis. 
On Apr 29, YZJFH executive director and CEO Vincent Toe Teow Heng acquired 400,000 shares for a consideration of S$228,000 at 57.0 cents per share. 
Toe has over 25 years of experience in fund management and investment advisory, M&amp;A, IPO deals and fundraising, throughout Asia. 
Prior to joining ICHAM, a Singapore-based fund management company as managing director, he was an investment banker at UBS, DBS Bank and JP Morgan. 
Between Apr 29 and May 5, YZJFH lead independent director Chew Sutat acquired 312,000 shares for a consideration of S$164,820 at an average price of 52.8 cents per share. 
Chew was senior managing director and a member of Singapore Exchange’s executive management team for 14 years. 
Prior to joining SGX, he held senior roles at Standard Chartered Bank, OCBC Securities and DBS Bank, where he held varying portfolios in strategic planning and business development for institutional banking and private clients. 
Between May 4 and 5, YZJFH independent director Chua Kim Leng acquired 150,000 shares for a consideration of S$73,500 at an average price of 49.0 cents per share. 
He currently serves on the board of the Casino Regulatory Authority, United Overseas Insurance, ADDX and TEHO International. In 2018, Chua stepped down from his role as special adviser (financial supervision) at the Monetary Authority of Singapore after 25 years of distinguished service. Sabana Industrial REIT 
On Apr 28, Sabana Real Estate Investment Management CEO Donald Han Yong Lee acquired 100,000 units of Sabana Industrial Reit at 45.0 cents per unit. 
On Apr 21, Han noted that the Reit had renewed 44.1 per cent of leases expiring this year and did so at positive rental reversion, while keeping the portfolio occupancy steady at 85.2 per cent. 
For its FY21 (ended Dec 31, 2021) the gross revenue of Sabana Industrial Reit increased by 14.2 per cent year on year to S$81.9 million with net property income increasing 16.4 per cent year on year to S$52.0 million. 
Han is an accomplished and respected consultant across most sectors in the property market, including industrial, having spent more than 30 years in various senior management and advisory positions. 
His experience ranges from residential agency to collective en bloc, office investment sales to retail leasing, regional hospitality and hotel disposition to international project marketing. JB Foods 
On Apr 29, JB Foods executive director and CEO Tey How Keong acquired 82,000 shares of the company for a consideration of S$40,180. 
At 49.0 cents per share, this increased his total interest in JB Foods from 46.78 per cent to 46.81 per cent. 
This followed his acquisition of 29,600 shares at 47.3 cents per share on Mar 23 and 400,000 shares at 52.0 cents per share on Dec 27. 
JB Foods core business is in the production and sale of cocoa ingredient products, namely cocoa mass, cocoa butter and cocoa powder. 
Tey is responsible for the overall strategic, management and business development of the group and has over 25 years of experience in the cocoa business. 
He recently noted that while recent price volatility in cocoa has put pressure on the group to carefully manage its pricing strategy and the pace of expansion, investment and the ramp up of manufacturing capacity, the easing of travel restrictions around the world will continue to fuel stable growth of the cocoa and chocolate industry. 
Tey added that the group remains optimistic that the overall cocoa consumption environment will continue on its growth trajectory post-pandemic. Baker Technology 
On May 4, Baker Technology executive director Benety Chang acquired 82,300 shares of the company at an average price of 43.9 cents per share. 
With a consideration of S$36,127 this increased his total interest in the from 52.92 per cent to 52.96 per cent. 
Prior to this he acquired 279,000 shares of the company at an average price of 44.8 cents per share on March 9. 
He is the major shareholder of the company and has extensive experience in the offshore oil and gas industry. A-Sonic Aerospace 
Between Apr 29 and May 4, A-Sonic Aerospace chief executive officer Janet LC Tan acquired 30,000 shares of the company for a consideration of S$21,300, at 71.0 cents per share. 
This took her total interest in the company from 59.94 per cent to 59.98 per cent. 
She has gradually increased her total interest in A-Sonic Aerospace from 53.35 per cent at the end of 2018. 
Tan has over 20 years of extensive experience in the aviation industry, with her responsibilities at A-Sonic Aerospace including the setting of the overall long-term business direction, developing business strategies, and implementing growth strategies for the A-Sonic Aerospace and its subsidiaries. 
On Apr 22, A-Sonic Aerospace announced it had submitted to SGX-ST an application to extend the cure period beyond Jun 4, 2022 to exit the SGX Watch List. Inside Insights is a weekly column on The Business Times,<a href="https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/hong-fok-continues-buybacks-as-joint-ceo-raises-stake-0"> </a><a href="https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/wilmar-leads-buyback-tally-yzjfh-directors-acquire-shares">read </a>the original version.
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    Share buyback


For the 5 trading sessions spanning Apr 29 to May 5, the Straits Times Index (STI) gained 0.3 per cent, with the FTSE China A50 Index gaining 0.3 per cent, the Hang Seng Index gaining 2.5 per cent and the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI declining 0.7 per cent. 

Overall, institutions were net buyers of Singapore stocks over the 5 sessions with S$67 million of net inflow, following S$53 million of net outflow for the preceding 5 sessions.

OCBC, Keppel Corporation, Singapore Telecommunications, Venture Corporation and Jardine Cycle &amp; Carriage led the net institutional outflows for the 5 sessions through to May 5.

Meanwhile, Yangzijiang Financial Holdings, UOB, Mapletree Logisitics Trust, Mapletree Industrial Trust and Thai Beverage received the highest net institutional outflows for the 5 sessions.

Overall, the total net institutional inflows into Singapore stocks in the 2022 year to May 5 came up to S$452 million, while the STI generated an 8.4 per cent total return.  Share Buybacks  
There were 12 primary-listed stocks conducting share buybacks over the 5 sessions with a total consideration of S$44.5 million, up from S$10.5 million for the preceding week.  
Wilmar International, Keppel Corporation and Hong Fok Corporation led the consideration tally.  
Wilmar bought back 5.4 million shares at an average price of S$4.41 per share.  
For the previous year’s mandate, it bought back 19.9 million shares, which represented 0.32 per cent of the company’s issued shares (excluding treasury shares).  
The buybacks followed the company reporting financials for its Q1 FY22 (ended Mar 31) on Apr 29. Wilmar reported that its Q1 FY22 core net profit increased by 18.8 per cent year on year to US$503.4 million, attributed to the strong performance in the plantation and sugar milling segment, which was aided by firm palm oil prices. The company also noted that it has officially commenced its first central kitchen operations in Hangzhou, China in early April 2022.   
On Adani Wilmar, the company noted that from an IPO valuation of US$4 billion when it listed on the National Stock Exchange of India on Feb 8, 2022, its market capitalisation had increased by more than 3 times to above US$13 billion as at Apr 28, 2022.  
In addition, the valuation for Shree Renuka Sugars, the 62.5 per cent owned Indian sugar subsidiary, has also gone up sharply from US$863 million on Dec 31, 2021 to US$1.6 billion as at Apr 28, 2022.  
The company added that commodity prices had surged since the onset of the Russian and Ukraine conflict in February 2022 and while the contribution from the Russian and Ukrainian investments is not material, the sustained high commodity prices would benefit its plantation and sugar milling segment in the coming months.  Director and substantial shareholder transactions  
The 5 trading sessions saw 100 changes to director interests and substantial shareholdings filed for close to 40 primary-listed stocks.  
This included 18 company director acquisitions with no disposals filed, while substantial shareholders filed 3 acquisitions and 3 disposals.  Yangzijiang Financial Holding  
The 5 sessions saw multiple directors of Yangzijiang Financial Holding (YZJFH) acquire shares in the company on the open market.  
YZJFH was spun off from Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Holdings, with the aim of unlocking value for the company’s shareholders.  
YZJFH intends to focus on investing in growth opportunities to achieve attractive risk-adjusted return, while seeking to provide a steady stream of dividends to shareholders through income generated from investment and fund management businesses.  
Shareholders in Yangzijiang Shipbuilding received shares of YZJFH via a dividend in-specie on a one-to-one basis.  
On Apr 29, YZJFH executive director and CEO Vincent Toe Teow Heng acquired 400,000 shares for a consideration of S$228,000 at 57.0 cents per share.  
Toe has over 25 years of experience in fund management and investment advisory, M&amp;A, IPO deals and fundraising, throughout Asia.  
Prior to joining ICHAM, a Singapore-based fund management company as managing director, he was an investment banker at UBS, DBS Bank and JP Morgan.  
Between Apr 29 and May 5, YZJFH lead independent director Chew Sutat acquired 312,000 shares for a consideration of S$164,820 at an average price of 52.8 cents per share.  
Chew was senior managing director and a member of Singapore Exchange’s executive management team for 14 years.  
Prior to joining SGX, he held senior roles at Standard Chartered Bank, OCBC Securities and DBS Bank, where he held varying portfolios in strategic planning and business development for institutional banking and private clients.  
Between May 4 and 5, YZJFH independent director Chua Kim Leng acquired 150,000 shares for a consideration of S$73,500 at an average price of 49.0 cents per share.  
He currently serves on the board of the Casino Regulatory Authority, United Overseas Insurance, ADDX and TEHO International. In 2018, Chua stepped down from his role as special adviser (financial supervision) at the Monetary Authority of Singapore after 25 years of distinguished service.  Sabana Industrial REIT  
On Apr 28, Sabana Real Estate Investment Management CEO Donald Han Yong Lee acquired 100,000 units of Sabana Industrial Reit at 45.0 cents per unit.  
On Apr 21, Han noted that the Reit had renewed 44.1 per cent of leases expiring this year and did so at positive rental reversion, while keeping the portfolio occupancy steady at 85.2 per cent.  
For its FY21 (ended Dec 31, 2021) the gross revenue of Sabana Industrial Reit increased by 14.2 per cent year on year to S$81.9 million with net property income increasing 16.4 per cent year on year to S$52.0 million.  
Han is an accomplished and respected consultant across most sectors in the property market, including industrial, having spent more than 30 years in various senior management and advisory positions.  
His experience ranges from residential agency to collective en bloc, office investment sales to retail leasing, regional hospitality and hotel disposition to international project marketing.  JB Foods  
On Apr 29, JB Foods executive director and CEO Tey How Keong acquired 82,000 shares of the company for a consideration of S$40,180.  
At 49.0 cents per share, this increased his total interest in JB Foods from 46.78 per cent to 46.81 per cent.  
This followed his acquisition of 29,600 shares at 47.3 cents per share on Mar 23 and 400,000 shares at 52.0 cents per share on Dec 27.  
JB Foods core business is in the production and sale of cocoa ingredient products, namely cocoa mass, cocoa butter and cocoa powder.  
Tey is responsible for the overall strategic, management and business development of the group and has over 25 years of experience in the cocoa business.  
He recently noted that while recent price volatility in cocoa has put pressure on the group to carefully manage its pricing strategy and the pace of expansion, investment and the ramp up of manufacturing capacity, the easing of travel restrictions around the world will continue to fuel stable growth of the cocoa and chocolate industry.  
Tey added that the group remains optimistic that the overall cocoa consumption environment will continue on its growth trajectory post-pandemic.  Baker Technology  
On May 4, Baker Technology executive director Benety Chang acquired 82,300 shares of the company at an average price of 43.9 cents per share.  
With a consideration of S$36,127 this increased his total interest in the from 52.92 per cent to 52.96 per cent.  
Prior to this he acquired 279,000 shares of the company at an average price of 44.8 cents per share on March 9.  
He is the major shareholder of the company and has extensive experience in the offshore oil and gas industry.  A-Sonic Aerospace  
Between Apr 29 and May 4, A-Sonic Aerospace chief executive officer Janet LC Tan acquired 30,000 shares of the company for a consideration of S$21,300, at 71.0 cents per share.  
This took her total interest in the company from 59.94 per cent to 59.98 per cent.  
She has gradually increased her total interest in A-Sonic Aerospace from 53.35 per cent at the end of 2018.  
Tan has over 20 years of extensive experience in the aviation industry, with her responsibilities at A-Sonic Aerospace including the setting of the overall long-term business direction, developing business strategies, and implementing growth strategies for the A-Sonic Aerospace and its subsidiaries.  
On Apr 22, A-Sonic Aerospace announced it had submitted to SGX-ST an application to extend the cure period beyond Jun 4, 2022 to exit the SGX Watch List.  Inside Insights is a weekly column on The Business Times, read the original version.



Wilmar leads buyback tally; YZJFH directors acquire shares

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