For the 5 trading sessions that spanned May 6 to 12, the Straits Times Index (STI) declined 5.3 per cent, with the FTSE China A50 Index declining 3.4 per cent, the Hang Seng Index falling 6.1 per cent and the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI dipping 2.6 per cent. 

Overall, institutions were net sellers of Singapore stocks over the 5 sessions with S$145 million of net outflow, following S$67 million of net inflow for the preceding 5 sessions.

DBS Group Holdings, UOB, Singapore Airlines, Yangzijiang Financial Holdings and Thai Beverage led the net institutional outflows for the 5 sessions through to May 12. Meanwhile, Singapore Telecommunications, OCBC, CapitaLand Investment, Venture Corporation and ST Engineering led the net institutional inflows for the 5 sessions. Overall, the net institutional inflows into Singapore stocks in the 2022 year to May 12 totalled S$307 million.

Share buybacks

There were 15 primary-listed stocks conducting share buybacks over the 5 sessions ended May 12, with a total consideration of S$122.8 million, significantly higher than the S$44.5 million for the preceding 5 sessions.

CapitaLand Investment bought back 10 million shares at an average price of S$3.79 per share.

This represented 0.19 per cent of its issued shares (excluding treasury shares), with the buyback conducted in the session immediately after the leading global real estate investment manager provided a March quarter business update.

For the quarter, CapitaLand Investment reported Q1 FY22 revenue increased 16 per cent year on year to S$598 million on growth in the fund management and lodging management segments, in addition to disciplined capital management.

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 21 company director acquisitions with no disposals filed, while substantial shareholders filed 12 acquisitions and 2 disposals.

UOL Group

Between May 10 and 11, Wee Investments acquired 500,000 shares of the company at an average price of S$6.99 per share. This took the total interest of UOL Group chairman Wee Cho Yaw in the company from 38.24 per cent to 38.29 per cent. The preceding acquisitions by Wee Investments were on Mar 8 with 899,200 shares acquired at S$6.80 per share, and Mar 7 with 964,000 shares acquired at S$6.85 per share. 

At the annual general meeting held on Apr 27, UOL Group’s CEO Liam Wee Sin maintained that with Singapore decisively moving from the pandemic to the endemic stage, he was cautiously optimistic that the company would emerge stronger from the pandemic with the opening of borders. He added that Singapore’s reconnection with the world would help to restore consumer confidence and give a much-needed boost to the businesses, in particular, the tourism/hospitality sector.  Liam also maintained that the company would continue to pursue asset enhancement initiatives for its investment portfolio while leveraging on its domain knowledge to deliver strong product offerings for residential projects.

Challenger Technologies

Between May 6 and 9, Challenger Technologies executive director and CEO Loo Leong Thye increased his deemed interest in the company, with his spouse Ong Sock Hwee acquiring 863,200 shares. The shares were acquired for a consideration of S$485,811 at an average price of 56.3 cents per share. This increased Loo’s total interest in Challenger Technologies from 47.11 per cent to 47.32 per cent

Loo is responsible for the overall management of the group. He also charts the corporate directions, strategies and policies and grew the business operations of the group in 1982 from a sole proprietorship, to its present scale. Last year the group incorporated a few subsidiaries under its wholly-owned Challenge Ventures. At the beginning of 2022, 2 of these subsidiaries turned operational. Kingdom Technologies, a builder of customised personal computers, sells its products exclusively online under the Kingdom brand name. The second subsidiary is ITEZ.SG, is an online platform that offers affordable IT equipment rental on a subscription format.

Bonvests Holdings

Between May 6 and 10, Bonvests Holdings executive chairman and managing director Henry Ngo acquired 167,200 shares of the company for a consideration of S$158,340, at an average price of 94.7 cents per share. The acquisition was made though Allsland, which is wholly owned by Ngo and increased his total interest in Bonvests Holdings from 83.73 per cent to 83.77 per cent. His preceding acquisitions were between Mar 7 and 8, with 40,700 shares acquired at 92.0 cents per share.

Ngo is the founder of Bonvests and responsible for mapping out the corporate and growth strategy of the group, with Bonvests establishing itself as an experienced player in the property leasing and management industry for more than 30 years. The group’s revenue increased by 11.5 per cent to S$134.4 million in 2021 from S$120.6 million in 2020, mainly due to higher revenue from the hotel division.

Tai Sin Electric

Between May 4 and 10, Tai Sin Electric executive director and CEO Bernard Lim Boon Hock’s deemed interest increased in the company by 500,000 shares at 39.0 cents per share. This was due to acquisitions made by both his spouse and daughter. With a consideration of S$195,000 the acquisitions took his total interest in the company from 17.38 per cent to 17.49 per cent. This followed his acquisition of 115,300 shares in his own name at 39.0 cents per share on Mar 23. Lim has gradually increased his total interest in Tai Sin Electric from 14.82 per cent at the end of 2019 and he has been an executive director of the company since September 1997.  

iFAST Corporation

On May 11, iFAST Corporation independent director Kok Chee Wai acquired 20,000 shares of the company at S$4.69 per share. With a consideration of S$93,795, this increased his deemed interest in the wealth management Fintech platform from 0.51 per cent to 0.52 per cent. Kok has been a partner in Allen & Gledhill LLP since 1998, where he is currently the co-head of the firm’s financial services department, regional energy, infrastructure & projects practice, and banking & finance practice. He has broad and deep experience in domestic and international financing, and general banking and finance practice includes acting for lenders and major corporates on domestic and cross-border syndicated loans, structured and acquisition financing and debt restructuring.

JB Foods

On May 9, JB Foods executive director and CEO Tey How Keong acquired 97,000 shares of the company for a consideration of S$48,015. At 49.5 cents per share, this increased his total interest in JB Foods from 46.81 per cent to 46.84 per cent. This followed his acquisitions of 82,000 shares at 49.0 cents per share on Apr 29, 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, with Tey responsible for the overall strategic, management and business development of the group. He has over 25 years of experience in the cocoa business.

Q&M Dental Group (Singapore)

On May 12, Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) independent non-executive director Harry Ng Weng Sui acquired 70,000 shares of the company for a consideration of S$34,500, at 49.3 cents per share. This increased his total interest in the private dental healthcare group from 0.04 per cent to 0.05 per cent. Similarly, on May 14, 2021, Ng acquired 60,000 shares of the company, at 63.0 cents per share.

Lendlease Global Commercial REIT

On May 6, Lendlease Global Commercial Trust Management independent non-executive director Simon John Perrott acquired 30,800 units of Lendlease Global Commercial Reit for a consideration of S$24,640. At 80.0 cents per unit, this took his direct interest to 114,650 units. Perrott was previously the chairman of CIMB Bank Australia from 2012 to 2014 and the chairman of RBS Australia from 2009 to 2012. From 2002 to 2009, he held various roles in ABN AMRO Bank where his last held role was co-head of banking.

In April, Lendlease Global Commercial Trust Management completed the acquisition of a 100 per cent direct interest in Jem, with the manager maintaining that the enlarged portfolio with high-quality tenants such as the Ministry of National Development, IKEA and NTUC FairPrice Extra provides strong and stable cashflow for unitholders.

Oxley Holdings

Between May 9 and 10, Oxley Holdings executive director and deputy CEO Eric Low See Ching acquired 100,000 shares of the company at an average price of 17.8 cents per share. With a consideration of S$17,750, this increased his direct interest in Oxley Holdings from 28.12 per cent to 28.13 per cent. Low is responsible for the operation of the group including sales and marketing, project development, business development and financial management. Low also assists the CEO in charting and executing the strategic plans for the group.

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