More APTT directors up stakes; monthly buybacks at S$134m

FOR the five trading sessions that spanned Sept 24 to 30, the Straits Times Index (STI) gained 0.3 per cent, while the FTSE China A50 Index, Hang Seng Index and FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI averaged a 2.1 per cent gain.

Within the ST Index, DBS D05 , UOB U11 , Singapore Telecommunications Z74 , Hongkong Land H78 and Sats S58 : S58 0% received the highest net institutional inflows from Sept 24 to 30.

Outside the STI, Singapore Press Holdings T39 , Olam International O32 , Hutchison Ports Holdings Trust P7VU , First Resources EB5 and NetLink NBN Trust CJLU : CJLU 0% received the highest net institutional inflows during the period.

Overall, institutions were net buyers over the five sessions, with S$135 million of net inflow, while Singapore Exchange S68 , Mapletree Industrial Trust ME8U and Genting Singapore G13 : G13 0% saw the highest net institutional outflows.

Share buybacks

There were 13 primary-listed stocks conducting share buybacks over the five sessions with a total consideration of S$23.2 million, which is less than the S$28.4 million for the preceding five sessions.

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OCBC O39 , UOB and The Hour Glass AGS : AGS 0% again led the consideration tally. OCBC bought back 1.0 million shares at an average price of S$11.53 per share, while UOB bought back 360,000 shares at an average price of S$25.71 per share.

The Hour Glass bought back 448,000 shares at an average price of S$1.56 per share.

For the month of September, 20 primary-listed stocks conducted share buybacks, with a total consideration of S$133.9 million.

This was the highest monthly consideration since the S$174.2 million in consideration in November 2020, which was on the back of S$142.1 million in buyback consideration filed by Wilmar International.

OCBC, UOB and The Hour Glass also contributed over 90 per cent of the September consideration tally.

Secondary-listed Hongkong Land also bought back shares for each of the five sessions between Sept 24 and 30, paying between S$4.84 and S$4.61 per share.

On Sept 30, Jardine Matheson Holdings J36 : J36 0% proposed to buy back US$250 million shares by June 30, 2022.

Director and substantial shareholder transactions

The five trading sessions saw fewer than 90 changes in director interests and substantial shareholdings filed for close to 40 primary-listed stocks.

This included nine company director acquisitions with two disposals filed, while substantial shareholders filed a total of nine acquisitions and four disposals.

Asian Pay Television Trust

Between Sept 23 and 27, Lu Fang-Ming, non-executive director and vice-chair of the trustee-manager of APTT S7OU : S7OU 0% acquired 1,888,400 units of the business trust for a consideration of S$244,986.

At an average price of 13.0 cents per unit, this increased his total interest in APTT from 0.92 per cent to 1.02 per cent.

Mr Lu has been a corporate executive vice-president of Hon Hai/Foxconn Technology Group since the original design manufacturer (ODM) company he co-founded was acquired by Hon Hai/Foxconn Technology Group in May 2000.

In 2014, Mr Lu also took over as chairman of Asia Pacific Telecom Group, Taiwan's fourth largest mobile carrier.

Between Sept 27 and 28, Dai Yung Huei, non-executive director of the trustee-manager of APTT increased his deemed interest in the business trust from 16.73 per cent to 16.82 per cent.

The 1.6 million APTT units were acquired at an average price of 13.0 cents per share, and follow Mr Dai's appointment as non-executive director of the trustee-manager of APTT on Aug 13.

Mr Dai is the chairman of Da Da Digital Convergence and the founder of Dafeng TV - the first publicly traded cable TV provider in Taiwan, which operates in domestic markets including New Taipei City and Kaohsiung City.

Upon his appointment in August, Mr Dai highlighted that with Taiwan's 5G roll-out and TBC's broadband growth strategy, APTT is heading for an exciting journey.

APTT is the first listed business trust in Asia focused on pay-TV and broadband businesses and has an 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.

Over the first nine months of 2021, APTT generated a price gain of 9.2 per cent, with reinvested dividends boosting the total return to 16.6 per cent.

GSH Corporation

On Sept 23, GSH Corporation BDX : BDX 0% executive chairman Sam Goi Seng Hui acquired 434,400 shares of the company at 17.0 cents per share.

With a consideration of S$73,678, this increased his total interest in the property developer, hotel and resort operator from 63.60 per cent to 63.62 per cent.

GSH Corporation noted in August that the recovery of its hotel segment, will largely depend on international leisure travel being permitted and the type of measures taken by the Malaysian government, and when such measures are subsequently relaxed to allow F&B dine-in and staycation packages.

GSH Corporation also undertook a S$78 million renounceable rights issue of 5.20 per cent convertible bonds to improve its liquidity and financial position that went ex-rights on Sept 15.

The share price of GSH Corporation has declined 10.6 per cent over the first nine months of 2021.

Tai Sin Electric

On Sept 22, Tai Sin Electric 500 : 500 0% executive director and CEO Bernard Lim Boon Hock acquired 71,100 shares of the company for a consideration of S$26,663.

At an average price of 37.5 cents per share, this took his total interest in Tai Sin Electric from 17.07 per cent to 17.09 per cent.

This followed his acquisition of 350,000 shares at 38.0 cents per share on Sept 20 and 504,600 shares at 38.4 cents per share between Sept 2 and 6.

Tai Sin Electric noted in August that despite limited visibility due to Covid-19 and its associated challenges on copper price volatility and shipping constraints the group has managed to continue its transformation process to be Industry 4.0 ready and will launch new products and services when opportunities arise.

Mr Lim has been an executive director of Tai Sin Electric since 1997 and was appointed CEO in July 2013.

The share price of Tai Sin Electric has gained 22.6 per cent over the first nine months of 2021, with reinvested dividends boosting the total return to 25.4 per cent.

RE&S Holdings

Between Sept 24 and 27, RE&S Holdings 1G1 : 1G1 0% (RE&S) executive director and president Hiroshi Tatara acquired 54,000 shares of the Catalist-listed company for a consideration of S$10,492.

At an average price of 19.4 cents per share, this increased his total interest in RE&S from 62.25 per cent to 62.26 per cent.

Mr Tatara is also the founder of RE&S and has been active in overseeing the group's overall corporate strategy.

He relocated to Singapore from Osaka, Japan in 1976.

The group noted in late August that with the Covid-19 pandemic changing consumption patterns as consumers seek greater value and convenience with higher acceptance of online delivery, the group remains committed to expand its quick-service restaurants and convenience segment through the addition of new concepts and/or expansion of existing concepts, as well as the development of ready meals which are suitable for online delivery.

The share price of RE&S has gained 92.3 per cent over the first nine months of 2021, with reinvested dividends boosting the total return to 101.9 per cent.

Audience Analytics

On Sept 30, Audience Analytics 1AZ : 1AZ 0% made its debut on the Catalist Board.

Established in 2002, Audience Analytics is an enabler and growth partner to businesses and offers a range of solutions that supports companies at different stages of growth.

Its business segments comprise business impact assessment on companies to assess their eligibility to participate in the business recognition awards organised by the company, large-scale exhibitions, digital and print business media, and business intelligence and growth analytics to be launched as a Software-as-a-Service model.

The Software-as-a-Service model will include the use of the group's proprietary Total Engagement Assessment Model (TEAM) software to provide accurate and timely data to HR professionals to better understand their own workforce.

While the group's main office is located in Malaysia, it now conducts business activities in Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, the Philippines, China, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Audience Analytics chairman and managing director William Ng, and executive director Ryan Ooi have more than 22 years and over 19 years of relevant experience respectively.

Mr Ng has been the main driving force behind the group's business growth and is directly responsible for the company's subsidiaries.

His 22 years of experience is in the business impact assessment and recognition, marketing, media, and exhibitions industries.

He is also a life member of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor and the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce, and the chairman (Central Region) of the Small and Medium Enterprises Association based in Malaysia.

Mr Ooi's 19 years of experience is in the marketing and exhibitions industries.

Along with Mr Ng, Mr Ooi is a key member of the group, having co-founded AIC, BMI Malaysia, BMI Singapore and BMI Hong Kong with Mr Ng.

The company raised approximately S$6.4 million in net proceeds from placement shares.

These will be used to develop the group's business intelligence and growth analytics segment, for expansion into new geographic markets, new industry verticals and functional specialisations, digitalisation of existing business operations and general working capital purposes.

Following the share placement, the two men maintain an 84.54 per cent deemed interest in Audience Analytics.

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