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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<ul>
<li>Singapore’s 1Q22 GDP expanded 3.7% YoY, continuing the above trend momentum seen in 2021 with 7.6% growth. The GDP forecast for the full 2022 year is currently 3.0% to 5.0%, with growth likely to come in at the lower half of the forecast range. Manufacturing was again a key driver, expanding 7.1% YoY in 1Q22, extending 15.5% growth in 4Q21.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The STI has gained 3.4% in the 2022 YTD, with reinvested dividends boosting the total return to 5.5%. This has coincided with 30 constituents booking S$538 million of net institutional inflow. Singtel which reported FY22 results on Friday led the net institutional inflows of all SGX-listed stocks in the 2022 YTD, with S$666 million of net buying. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>As many as 11 of the STI stocks have generated double digit percentage gains in the 2022 YTD. These stocks are Sembcorp Industries (44%), Jardine C&amp;C (43%), Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (40%), Keppel Corp (37%), City Dev (25%), CapitaLand Invest (19%), Singtel (16%), SATS (16%), ST Engineering (11%), UOB (11%) and Singapore Airlines (10%).</li>
</ul>
 

 

The STI has generated a 5.5% total return in the 2022 YTD, outpacing the FTSE Developed Index which has generated an 11.0% decline in total return in SGD terms. With average total returns of 4.6%, the trio of DBS Group Holdings, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation and United Overseas Bank have had the most impact on the STI performance due to their leading, heavy weightage. United Overseas Bank has led the trio in the 2022 YTD, with double-digit total returns of 11.4%. Globally, banks have seen just one-third of the declines of the technology sector, with index performances significantly influenced by their technology stock weights.

Asides from United Overseas Bank, there have been another 10 STI constituents that have generated double-digit total returns over the first 21 weeks of 2022. These 10 stocks, represent as many as seven sectors and are tabled below.
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 <div class='content-caption'>10 STI constituents that have generated double-digit total returns over the first 21 weeks of 2022</div>
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Globally, Energy and Utilities stocks have been the strongest sectors for the 2022 YTD, while Indonesia has been among the strongest emerging stock markets in the 2022 YTD. This has coincided with Sembcorp Industries and Jardine Cycle &amp; Carriage leading the STI over the past 21 weeks. Meanwhile the regional re-openings, have also coincided with City Developments, CapitaLand Investment, SATS and Singapore Airlines posting double digit percentage total returns in the 2022 YTD. 

On Friday, Singapore Telecommunications reported its FY22 (ended 31 Mar) underlying net profit improved 11% YoY to S$1.92 billion, mainly lifted by Bharti Airtel’s resilient turnaround. Singapore Telecommunications is pursuing an ongoing strategic reset to develop new growth engines in ICT and digital services aiming transform NCS into an Asian B2B digital services champion, and NCS-originated revenue was up a record 9% in FY22 as NCS has continued to diversify its revenue streams, with Digital, Cloud, Platforms and Cyber revenue now contributing 49% of total operating revenue, up from 41% last year.

 

Singapore GDP forecast to grow 3.0% to 5.0%, with growth likely to come in at the lower half of the forecast range.

Last week, Singapore’s 1Q22 GDP was <a href="https://www.singstat.gov.sg/gdp?force_isolation=true">reported</a> to grow 3.7% YoY, continuing the above trend momentum of 2021 at 7.6% YoY growth.

<ul>
<li>The GDP forecast for 2022 is currently 3.0% to 5.0%, with growth likely to come in at the lower half of the forecast range. The manufacturing sector expanded 7.1% YoY in 1Q22, extending the 15.5% growth in 4Q21, while construction grew 2.1% YoY, easing from the 2.9% YoY growth in 4Q21. Services Producing industries expanded 4.2% YoY, similar to the 4Q21 pace of 4.4% YoY growth, and led by growth in the real estate, information and communications and professional services segments.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>For professional services the GDP report noted that “the rollout of the Vaccinated Travel Framework, alongside the easing of border restrictions in regional economies, is likely to boost the growth of the professional services sector as firms in segments like consultancy and legal can now better engage their overseas clients. Similarly, air travel and visitor arrivals are expected to pick up more quickly than earlier projected, thereby accelerating the recovery of aviation- and tourism-related sectors like air transport and arts, entertainment &amp; recreation”.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>On a cautionary note, the report also maintained the external environment continues to be a challenge with the Russia-Ukraine conflict, global supply disruptions, monetary policy tightening and continued impact of COVID, and thus the growth outlook for some outward-oriented sectors in the Singapore economy has weakened. For instance the report noted that “as China is a key market for petroleum and chemicals products from Singapore, its economic slowdown is likely to adversely affect the growth prospects of Singapore’s chemicals cluster and the fuel &amp; chemicals segment of the wholesale trade sector”.</li>
</ul>
 

Singapore’s April Industrial Production Up 6.2% YoY

The Singapore 1Q22 GDP report noted last week that “the electronics cluster is expected to expand more strongly than earlier projected, bolstered by robust global demand for semiconductors from the 5G and automotive markets, as well as cloud services and data centres”. Last week, Singapore’s April Industrial Production was <a href="https://www.edb.gov.sg/en/about-edb/media-releases-publications/monthly-manufacturing-performance.html">reported</a> to grow 6.2% YoY, with transport engineering and electronics growing 17.2% YoY and 10.4% respectively. This means Singapore’s industrial production has gained ~7% in the first four months of 2022, following the ~13% growth of 2021.  

 

The STI includes two Singapore-based manufacturers – Venture Corporation and ST Engineering.

<ul>
<li>
Venture Corporation has declined 2.0% in the 2022 YTD, after a similar 1.9% decline in total return 2021. On 29 April, Venture reported its growth momentum continued from 2021, with a 30% YoY increase in 1Q22 revenue to S$889M on robust demand from customers in the Lifestyle &amp; Wellness, Advanced Payment Systems, Advanced Industrial and Instrumentation, Test and Measurement technology domains. Additionally, the company highlighted that several iniatives from its R&amp;D Labs have enabled it to mitigate supply chain disruptions and expand its capabilities to fulfil more orders.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>
ST Engineering has generated an 11.5% total return in the 2022 YTD after a 2.3% gain in 2021. On 13 May, ST Engineering highlighted it had secured S$2.4B in new contracts in 1Q22, with an overall robust order book of S$21.3B, incl. $1.6B from TransCore and S$5.8B expected to be delivered in the remaining months of 2022. Management also flagged alignment with Digitalisation with the Cloud, AI Analytics, Cyber business to triple to &gt;S$500m by 2026.</li>
</ul>
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 <img src='https://api2.sgx.com/sites/default/files/2022-05/table%202.PNG' alt='The full 30 STI stocks are tabled below.' />
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 <div class='content-caption'>The full 30 STI stocks are tabled below.</div>




Singapore’s 1Q22 GDP expanded 3.7% YoY, continuing the above trend momentum seen in 2021 with 7.6% growth. The GDP forecast for the full 2022 year is currently 3.0% to 5.0%, with growth likely to come in at the lower half of the forecast range. Manufacturing was again a key driver, expanding 7.1% YoY in 1Q22, extending 15.5% growth in 4Q21.


The STI has gained 3.4% in the 2022 YTD, with reinvested dividends boosting the total return to 5.5%. This has coincided with 30 constituents booking S$538 million of net institutional inflow. Singtel which reported FY22 results on Friday led the net institutional inflows of all SGX-listed stocks in the 2022 YTD, with S$666 million of net buying. 


As many as 11 of the STI stocks have generated double digit percentage gains in the 2022 YTD. These stocks are Sembcorp Industries (44%), Jardine C&amp;C (43%), Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (40%), Keppel Corp (37%), City Dev (25%), CapitaLand Invest (19%), Singtel (16%), SATS (16%), ST Engineering (11%), UOB (11%) and Singapore Airlines (10%).

 

 

The STI has generated a 5.5% total return in the 2022 YTD, outpacing the FTSE Developed Index which has generated an 11.0% decline in total return in SGD terms. With average total returns of 4.6%, the trio of DBS Group Holdings, Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation and United Overseas Bank have had the most impact on the STI performance due to their leading, heavy weightage. United Overseas Bank has led the trio in the 2022 YTD, with double-digit total returns of 11.4%. Globally, banks have seen just one-third of the declines of the technology sector, with index performances significantly influenced by their technology stock weights.

Asides from United Overseas Bank, there have been another 10 STI constituents that have generated double-digit total returns over the first 21 weeks of 2022. These 10 stocks, represent as many as seven sectors and are tabled below.



      
    
    10 STI constituents that have generated double-digit total returns over the first 21 weeks of 2022


Globally, Energy and Utilities stocks have been the strongest sectors for the 2022 YTD, while Indonesia has been among the strongest emerging stock markets in the 2022 YTD. This has coincided with Sembcorp Industries and Jardine Cycle &amp; Carriage leading the STI over the past 21 weeks. Meanwhile the regional re-openings, have also coincided with City Developments, CapitaLand Investment, SATS and Singapore Airlines posting double digit percentage total returns in the 2022 YTD. 

On Friday, Singapore Telecommunications reported its FY22 (ended 31 Mar) underlying net profit improved 11% YoY to S$1.92 billion, mainly lifted by Bharti Airtel’s resilient turnaround. Singapore Telecommunications is pursuing an ongoing strategic reset to develop new growth engines in ICT and digital services aiming transform NCS into an Asian B2B digital services champion, and NCS-originated revenue was up a record 9% in FY22 as NCS has continued to diversify its revenue streams, with Digital, Cloud, Platforms and Cyber revenue now contributing 49% of total operating revenue, up from 41% last year.

 

Singapore GDP forecast to grow 3.0% to 5.0%, with growth likely to come in at the lower half of the forecast range.

Last week, Singapore’s 1Q22 GDP was reported to grow 3.7% YoY, continuing the above trend momentum of 2021 at 7.6% YoY growth.


The GDP forecast for 2022 is currently 3.0% to 5.0%, with growth likely to come in at the lower half of the forecast range. The manufacturing sector expanded 7.1% YoY in 1Q22, extending the 15.5% growth in 4Q21, while construction grew 2.1% YoY, easing from the 2.9% YoY growth in 4Q21. Services Producing industries expanded 4.2% YoY, similar to the 4Q21 pace of 4.4% YoY growth, and led by growth in the real estate, information and communications and professional services segments.


For professional services the GDP report noted that “the rollout of the Vaccinated Travel Framework, alongside the easing of border restrictions in regional economies, is likely to boost the growth of the professional services sector as firms in segments like consultancy and legal can now better engage their overseas clients. Similarly, air travel and visitor arrivals are expected to pick up more quickly than earlier projected, thereby accelerating the recovery of aviation- and tourism-related sectors like air transport and arts, entertainment &amp; recreation”.


On a cautionary note, the report also maintained the external environment continues to be a challenge with the Russia-Ukraine conflict, global supply disruptions, monetary policy tightening and continued impact of COVID, and thus the growth outlook for some outward-oriented sectors in the Singapore economy has weakened. For instance the report noted that “as China is a key market for petroleum and chemicals products from Singapore, its economic slowdown is likely to adversely affect the growth prospects of Singapore’s chemicals cluster and the fuel &amp; chemicals segment of the wholesale trade sector”.

 

Singapore’s April Industrial Production Up 6.2% YoY

The Singapore 1Q22 GDP report noted last week that “the electronics cluster is expected to expand more strongly than earlier projected, bolstered by robust global demand for semiconductors from the 5G and automotive markets, as well as cloud services and data centres”. Last week, Singapore’s April Industrial Production was reported to grow 6.2% YoY, with transport engineering and electronics growing 17.2% YoY and 10.4% respectively. This means Singapore’s industrial production has gained ~7% in the first four months of 2022, following the ~13% growth of 2021.  

 

The STI includes two Singapore-based manufacturers – Venture Corporation and ST Engineering.



Venture Corporation has declined 2.0% in the 2022 YTD, after a similar 1.9% decline in total return 2021. On 29 April, Venture reported its growth momentum continued from 2021, with a 30% YoY increase in 1Q22 revenue to S$889M on robust demand from customers in the Lifestyle &amp; Wellness, Advanced Payment Systems, Advanced Industrial and Instrumentation, Test and Measurement technology domains. Additionally, the company highlighted that several iniatives from its R&amp;D Labs have enabled it to mitigate supply chain disruptions and expand its capabilities to fulfil more orders.



ST Engineering has generated an 11.5% total return in the 2022 YTD after a 2.3% gain in 2021. On 13 May, ST Engineering highlighted it had secured S$2.4B in new contracts in 1Q22, with an overall robust order book of S$21.3B, incl. $1.6B from TransCore and S$5.8B expected to be delivered in the remaining months of 2022. Management also flagged alignment with Digitalisation with the Cloud, AI Analytics, Cyber business to triple to &gt;S$500m by 2026.




      
    
    The full 30 STI stocks are tabled below.

STI Maintains 5.5% YTD Total Return as Economy Grew 3.7% in 1Q22

ASEAN Insight Provider, CrossASEAN Research

Angus Mackintosh

ASEAN Insight Provider

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grab-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a>'s latest results sent a mixed message and if looked at YoY the picture looks gloomy but there is a strong sequential recovery with declining incentives for deliveries.</li>
<li>Mobility is seeing recovery with higher incentives to bring on drivers and consumers but these should start to decline in 2H2022, with company guidance for revenues reflecting this. </li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/grab-holdings-inc" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:26950:1" rel="noopener">Grab</a> continues to build its financial services offering through digital payments coupled with BNPL, and growing a digital banking footprint. Valuations are attractive and it has US$8.2bn in cash liquidity.</li>
</ul>



Grab's latest results sent a mixed message and if looked at YoY the picture looks gloomy but there is a strong sequential recovery with declining incentives for deliveries.
Mobility is seeing recovery with higher incentives to bring on drivers and consumers but these should start to decline in 2H2022, with company guidance for revenues reflecting this. 

Grab continues to build its financial services offering through digital payments coupled with BNPL, and growing a digital banking footprint. Valuations are attractive and it has US$8.2bn in cash liquidity.


Grab (GRAB US) - Rolling Recovery in Motion

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements, Aequitas Research

Sumeet Singh

Head of Research, IPOs & Placements

IPOs and Placements coverage across Asia Pacific

Aequitas Research

We cover all listing across the Asia Pacific along with follow-up placements. As of Dec 2020, our team had covered 539 IPOs with a hit rate of 73.5% and 685 placements with a hit rate of 66.8%.

We combine fundamental bottom-up views with our proprietary quantitative framework to provide a holistic coverage across new listings and placements. Our coverage includes pre-IPO notes before the deal is launched, follow-up analysis once the deal is live and post-listing trading analysis as well.

Equity Capital Markets

Converge Information and Commu / Equity Capital Markets

<ul>
<li>Warburg Pincus, aims to raise around US$138m via selling its 3.6% in Converge ICT (CICT). The sale will be accompanied by a company buyback and a private transaction.</li>
<li>Warburg had earlier sold in the IPO and then in Nov 21, and this trade will be a cleanup.</li>
<li>In this note, we will run the deal through our ECM framework.</li>
</ul>


Warburg Pincus, aims to raise around US$138m via selling its 3.6% in Converge ICT (CICT). The sale will be accompanied by a company buyback and a private transaction.
Warburg had earlier sold in the IPO and then in Nov 21, and this trade will be a cleanup.
In this note, we will run the deal through our ECM framework.


Converge ICT Placement - Clean-Up and Buyback, Just in Time for the Index Inclusion

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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

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Global Equity Research Ltd

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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. 


Singapore

Singapore Telecommunications Limited wireless telecommunication services. The Company offers diverse range of services including fixed, mobile, data, internet, TV,  and digital solutions. Singapore Telecommunications serves customers worldwide.

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