33 director acquisitions and S$30 million in buybacks filed

FOR the five trading sessions that spanned May 14 to 20, the Straits Times Index (STI) declined 0.4 per cent, bringing the STI's total return for the 2021 year to May 20 to 11.0 per cent.

Within the STI, DBS, Singapore Telecommunications, Singapore Airlines, OCBC and Wilmar International received the highest net institutional inflows from May 14 to 20.

Outside the STI, Singapore Press Holdings, NetLink NBN Trust, Medtecs International Corporation, iFAST Corporation and Frencken Group received the highest net institutional inflows over the five sessions.

Share buybacks

There were 10 primary-listed stocks conducting share buybacks over the five sessions with a total consideration of S$29,640,606. OCBC, Wilmar International and Keppel Corporation led the consideration tally.

Director and substantial shareholder transactions

The five trading sessions saw more than 120 changes in director interests and substantial shareholdings filed for 50 primary-listed stocks. This included 33 company director acquisitions with eight disposals, while substantial shareholders filed nine acquisitions and eight disposals.

First Sponsor Group

Between May 18 and 19, First Sponsor Group (FSGL) non-executive chairman Calvin Ho Han Leong acquired 4,039,518 shares of the company for a consideration of S$5,357,356. At an average price of S$1.33 per share, this increased his total interest in the property development, property holding and property financing company from 46.19 per cent to 46.63 per cent.

Appointed as the non-executive chairman of the company in April 2015, Mr Ho had served as the non-executive vice-chairman of the company since October 2007.

UOB-Kay Hian Holdings

Between May 12 and 17, UOB-Kay Hian Holdings (UOBKH) chairman and managing director Wee Ee-chao acquired 769,000 shares of the company for a consideration of S$1,184,760 at S$1.54 per share.

This increased his total interest in UOBKH from 30.85 per cent to 30.94 per cent.

Mr Wee's preceding acquisition was on Jan 5 with 125,100 shares acquired at S$1.44 per share. His total interest in UOBKH has gradually increased from 27.98 per cent at the end of 2018.

Leader Environmental Technologies

On May 14, Leader Environmental Technologies executive chairman and CEO Lin Yucheng acquired 5,892,300 shares of the company for a consideration of S$687,898.

At an average price of 11.7 cents per share, this took his direct interest in the technology-driven environmental solutions provider from 15.37 per cent to 15.81 per cent.

His preceding acquisition was on May 5, with 5,960,700 shares acquired at 13.6 cents per share.

The entrepreneur, who has founded and invested in a spectrum of environment-related businesses, took on the executive chairman and CEO role at Leader Environmental Technologies effective Jan 1.

ABR Holdings

Between May 12 and 18, ABR Holdings managing director Ang Yee Lim acquired 1,063,600 shares of the company for a consideration of S$564,854 at an average price of 53.1 cents per share.

This took his stake in the restaurant operator from 50.57 per cent to 51.10 per cent.

His preceding acquisition of 59,000 shares at 68.4 cents per share was on Jan 21.

Mr Ang has over 10 years of experience in the food and beverage business and more than 30 years of experience in property development and investment in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

Medtecs International Corporation

On May 12, Medtecs International Corporation deputy chairman, executive director and CEO William Yang Weiyuan acquired 500,000 shares of the Catalist-listed company for a consideration of S$479,000 at an average price of 95.8 cents per share.

This took his deemed interest in the supplier and distributor of personal protective equipment and provider of logistics services to healthcare institutions, from 0.27 per cent to 0.36 per cent.

His preceding acquisition was on Dec 22, with 500,000 shares bought at S$1.05 per share.

Last month, Mr Yang noted that with its resilient supply chain, the group was moving towards its goal of becoming the first multi-national purchasing platform of personal protection equipment, medical devices, and health products in Asia with one-stop-shop capability.

Frencken Group

On May 14 Frencken Group chairman and non-executive non-independent director Gooi Soon Chai acquired 200,000 shares of the company for a consideration of S$286,526 at S$1.43 per share.

This has brought his total interest in the high-tech capital and consumer equipment service provider from 23.34 per cent to 23.38 per cent.

His preceding acquisition was on March 8, with 100,000 shares acquired at S$1.20 per share.

Mr Gooi has been the chairman of Frencken Group since August 2016, and he is a board member of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority.

Also on May 14, Frencken Group president and executive director Dennis Au acquired 100,000 shares of the company at S$1.42 per share, increasing his total interest in the group from 0.82 per cent to 0.84 per cent.

AEM Holdings

On May 14, AEM Holdings non-executive, non-independent director James Toh Ban Leng acquired 100,000 shares of the company at S$3.35 per share.

This took his total interest in the global leader in comprehensive semiconductor and electronics test solutions, from 5.13 per cent to 5.17 per cent.

Mr Toh is also a founding director of Novo Tellus Capital Partners.

Asian Pay Television Trust

Between May 18 and 19, Leong Shin Loong, independent director of the trustee-manager of Asian Pay Television Trust (APTT) acquired one million units of the business trust for a consideration of S$112,000 at an average price of 11.2 cents per unit.

This increased his total interest in APTT from 0.07 per cent to 0.12 per cent.

It follows Mr Leong's acquisition of 850,000 units at 10.6 cents per unit between March 4 and 5.

iFAST Corporation

On May 19, iFAST Corporation independent director David Toh Teng Peow acquired 10,000 shares of the company for a consideration of S$70,360.

He maintains a 0.08 per cent total interest in the wealth management and fintech business.

Mr Toh is also director and chief technology officer at NTUitive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Nanyang Technological University of Singapore. NTUitive is responsible for commercialising the university's scientific research and incubating startups.

Q & M Dental Group (Singapore)

On May 14, Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) independent non-executive director Harry Ng Weng Sui acquired 60,000 shares of the company for a consideration of S$37,800, at 63.0 cents per share.

This increased his total interest in the private dental healthcare group from 0.03 per cent to 0.04 per cent.

Mr Ng is currently the executive director of HLM (International) Corporate Services, a company that provides business consultancy, accounting and corporate service.

On May 17, Chong Kai Chuan, the appointed alternate director to Q & M chief operating officer Raymond Ang Ee Peng, decreased his interest in the company.

Dr Chong disposed of 100,000 shares at an average price of 65.6 cents per share, reducing his interest in the company from 0.32 per cent to 0.31 per cent.

• The writer is the market strategist at Singapore Exchange (SGX). To read SGX's market research reports, visit sgx.com/research.