SingPost (S08):

Latest update as of 21/07/2017 @$1.35:

• Mr Simon Israel, chairman of both Singapore Post (SingPost) and Singtel, was discharged from hospital at noon on Friday (July 21). 
• Mr Israel, 63, was hospitalised the morning before, and was therefore absent from SingPost's 25th annual general meeting on Thursday (July 20). The spokesman did not disclose the reason for his hospitalisation. 
• For more details information, please refer to sources from: 
  - straitstimes.com > SingPost chairman Simon Israel discharged from hospital after missing AGM.

Latest update as of 20/07/2017 @$1.35:

• CHAIRMAN of SingPost, Simon Israel, was absent from the postal and e-commerce service provider's 25th Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday. 
• When asked, a spokesman from SingPost would only say that Mr Israel was hospitalised on Thursday morning and "is under observation pending tests". 
• For more details information, please refer to sources from:
  businesstimes.com.sg > SingPost chairman absent from its 25th AGM. 

Latest update as of 29/06/2017 @$1.32: 

• Alibaba Group Holding announced that it is investing an additional US$1 billion in Lazada Group, raising its stake from 51% to 83% in the Southeast Asian e-commerce company in an effort to expand its footprint in the region. 
• Lazada was founded in 2012, and has its headquarters in Singapore which also operates in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Philippines. 
• With the financial support and collaboration, Alibaba has provided Lazada with several benefits, including access to a wider range of merchants and improving its logistics capabilities. 
• Lazada has been expanding its offerings over the last year, buying Singapore-based online grocer RedMart and tying up with companies such as Netflix and Uber [UBER.UL] for a membership program. 
• Will this bring positive impact to SingPost as Lazada has its warehouse operation collaborations with SingPost? 
• In my personal opinion, the e-commerce expansion of Southeast Asia market by Alibaba on Lazada going to bring more business order for Lazada, and this will indirectly involve an expansion of warehouse in order to support the huge business in the future. That could possibly be an opportunity to bring a positive impact to Singpost profits as well. 
• For more details information, please refer to sources from:
  - wealthinasia.com > Alibaba Pumps US$1 Billion Into Lazada To Fuel Southeast Asian Expansion.
  - reuters.com > Alibaba spending $1 billion to raise stake in Southeast Asia's Lazada.

Latest update as of 17/05/2017 @$1.31:

• SingPost announced that Lazada Singapore has moved its warehouse operations to SingPost Regional eCommerce Logistics Hub in Tampines Logistics Park.
• With investments by Alibaba in both companies, the move allows Lazada and SingPost to leverage on each other’s strengths to meet rising eCommerce demand in Southeast Asia. Lazada has been bought over by Alibaba. 
• The SingPost Regional eCommerce Logistics Hub integrates both warehousing and delivery hub capabilities within one building, enabling SingPost to provide Lazada faster turnaround time.
• The combination of strengths in e-commerce and logistics will enable both companies - which have each received investment from China's Alibaba - to be in a leading position in the industry to serve a wider spectrum of customers in Singapore and the region, they said in a press release.
• Although in my previous recap that the company likely will shows positive results in a much longer term of at least 1-2 years time. However in a short spam period with recent news such as Share Buy Back and close joint work with Lazada, I personally thinks that the price will slightly further push up. 
• Will do a short term trade of within 3 to 6 months, as current price is much lower compare to previous price bought by Alibaba at $1.48. There is still a change for the price to have a slight pull up. 
• For more details information, please refer to sources from:
  - singpost.com > Lazada Singapore Moves Entire Warehouse Operations to SingPost’s Regional e-Commerce Logistics Hub. 
  - businesstimes.com.sg > Lazada moves warehouse operations to SingPost's regional logistics hub.
  - theedgemarkets.com > Lazada Singapore moves entire warehouse operations to SingPost’s ecommerce logistics hub.

Latest update as of 16/05/2017 @$1.30:

• SingPost announced a share buy back by way of market acquisition, with amount of 93,000 shares at price around $1.31 ~ $1.32. 
• Share buyback usually happen when a company believes its stock is undervalued, buying some of it back from the marketplace will have the overall effect of raising its current selling price to one that is more in line with its inherent worth.
• For more details information, please refer to sources from:
  - sgx.i3investor.com > Share Buy Back - Daily Share Buy-Back Notice.

Latest update as of 15/05/2017 @$1.34:

• SingPost's share price plummeted after the firm published recent performance data.
• SingPost net profit attributable to equity holders decreased 86.6 per cent to S$33.4 million, reflecting a 24.7 per cent decline in underlying net profit and exceptional items.
• A major acquisition deal struck in 2015 by Singapore’s national post and logistics company SingPost has turned sour, dealing a blow to its e-commerce ambitions.
• SingPost on Friday evening said that it incurred a S$185 million writedown on TradeGlobal after the unit took on a S$25.8 million loss during the quarter. SingPost also cut its dividend payout to half a cent, a fifth of what it paid out the previous year.
• This would definitely takes some times for SingPost to recover, which could be at least within 1 to 2 years, 2018 or 2019. 
• For more details information, please refer to sources from:
  - techinasia.com > SingPost stock takes a hit for bad $170m ecommerce deal.
  - businesstimes.com.sg > Hot stock: SingPost slides 4.3% after TradeGlobal writedown.
  - singpost.com > SingPost revenue rises 17.1 per cent for the full year, net profit falls
  86.6 per cent on impairment charges.

Latest update as of 29/03/2017 @$1.35:

• SingPost signed a property management agreement with CapitaLand Mall Asia to manage the retail mall at the new SingPost Centre.
• CapitaLand will oversee the upcoming SingPost Centre mall.
• CapitaLand Mall Asia, has signed a contract to manage the upcoming mall at the new SingPost Centre.
• The tenants at SingPost Centre include NTUC FairPrice, Golden Village, Kopitiam, other retail brands, family entertainment outlets and enrichment centres.
• For more details information, please refer to sources from straitstimes.com.

 

Latest update as of 07/03/2017 @$1.36:

• SingPost’s head of e-commerce quits.
• SingPost is facing another challenge in finding a replacement for one of its senior executives, following the surprise resignation of Marcelo Wesseler as CEO of SP Commerce.
• Mr Wesseler will assist the company to ensure a transition of duties during his period of notice until June 5, 2017.
• This will bring a hard time for SingPost, as we knowing that the trend of traditional business of postal operation has to change to an e-commerce based business in order to survive in a competitive future. 
• For more details information, please refer to news.asiaone.com.

 

Latest update as of 20/02/2017 @$1.38:

• Alibaba Pictures Group expects to record net loss in the range of RMB950m to RMB1b for the FY16 as compared to a profit of approximately of RMB466.0m for FY15.
• Group's overall bottom line result for 2016 was primarily impacted by marketing expenses of Tao Piao Piao, which also known as Alibaba's Movie Ticketing Platform. 
• Since Alibaba's has collaboration with SingPost, will this be indirectly impacting on SingPost share price? 

For more information, please refer to sources from Reuters > Alibaba Pictures sees net loss in range of RMB950 mln-RMB1 bln for year ending Dec 31, 2016.

Latest update as of 13/02/2017 @$1.41:

• SingPost announced its lower net profit in 3QFY17 due to operating losses in the US eCommerce business, costs related to the new Regional eCommerce Logistics Hub, and a fall in domestic mail volumes.
• Volume and related expenses were greater than expected, due to higher international mail dues and higher cost of sales and outsourced services related to TradeGlobal and Jagged Peak.
• An interim dividend of S$0.005/share has been declared, lower than the S$0.015/share dividend last year.
• Prior to the announcement, its share price drop about $0.09 in a single day.  

For more details information, please refer to sgx.i3investor.com > Singapore Post: Lowers interim dividend further.

 

Latest update as of 06/02/2017 @$1.47: 

• Singapore Post Limited will be announcing its unaudited results for the third quarter and nine months ended 31st December 2016 on 10th February 2017 after the close of trading. 

For more information, please refer to sources from infopub.sgx.com.

Latest update as of 13/01/2017 @$1.50: 

• On 8 July 2015, SingPost entered into a second investment agreement with Alibaba Investment Limited, pursuant to which SingPost will issue 107,553,907 ordinary shares in SingPost to Alibaba Investment.
  
• On 11 January 2017, completion of the Proposed Issuance took place. Accordingly, Alibaba Investment now holds a direct interest in 327,649,907 Shares. As of 11 January 2017, Alibaba Group Holding Limited holds more than 50% of the shares of Alibaba Investment and SoftBank Group Corp. SoftBank hold more than 20% of the shares of Alibaba Group. By virtue of this, SoftBank has a deemed interest in 327,649,907 Shares, representing approximately 14.42% of the issued share capital of SingPost (based on company announcement dated 11 January 2017 released by SingPost via SGXNET).
• Below are the quantum of total voting shares/ units held by Substantial Shareholder/ Unitholder:
  
  
  For more details, please refer to sources from:
• SingTel - infopub.sgx.com
  Singtel.pdf
• Alibaba - infopub.sgx.com
  Alibaba.pdf
• SoftBank - infopub.sgx.com
  SoftBank.pdf

Latest update on 12/01/2017

• SingPost has allotted and issued the New Shares of 107,553,907 Ordinary shares to Alibaba Investment Limited in accordance with the terms of the Second Investment Agreement.
  
  For details please refer to:
  infopub.sgx.com
  SGX Announcement

Latest update on 29/12/2016

• Singpost appointment of new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and director, Mr Paul William Coutts.
• Mr Coutts is about 60 years old, who has more than 20 years of experience in C-suite positions at major global logistics and postal companies.
  For details, please refer to source channelnewsasia.com
• Below are the details of the latest history experience of the new CEO Mr. Paul William Coutts in the industries:February 2013 - Present
  Toll Global Forwarding
  Chief Executive Office (Based in Singapore)August 2009 - January 2013
  Toll Global Forwarding
  Global Products, Marketing and Sales Director (COO) (Based in Singapore)January 2007 - August 2009
  DPWN
  Managing Director, Marketing and Sales, Europe, DHL Express (Based in Brussels, Belgium)
  April 2006 - December 2006
  DPWN
  Chief Executive Officer, DHL Global Mail - Europe (Based in Bonn, Germany)
  Chief Executive Officer
  For details, please refer to sources from infopub.sgx.com.

• The position of Coutts as Group CEO will be officially effective on 1st June 2017.
  For details, please refer to sources from sg.news.yahoo.com.

• In the past year, SingPost had suffered from severe crisis in management succession, conflicts of interest and disclosures, and processes for mergers and acquisitions and market disclosures. This also caused the share price suffered from public crisis.With the new appointed CEO, I would still wait for a short cooling period for its organization to be stabilized before decide to enter for a BUY on the stock.  

Business Overview: 

For over 150 years, Singapore Post (SingPost) as the country's postal service provider, has been delivering trusted and reliable services to homes and businesses in Singapore.

SingPost has been listed on the Main Board of the Singapore Exchange since 2003.

The Company operates through four segments which comprises of eCommerce Solutions, Logistics Solutions, Mail Solutions and Marketing Solutions (Retail).

The Mail segment provides comprehensive services for collecting, sorting, transporting and distributing domestic and international mail, as well as sale of philatelic products.
The Logistics segment provides a range of logistics solutions, comprising freight, warehousing, domestic and international distribution, and delivery services.
The Retail & eCommerce segment provides a range of products and services beyond the scope of traditional postal services, including agency services, financial services and front-end e-commerce solutions.

For details please refer to source from sg.finance.yahoo.com

SingPost’s subsidiaries and businesses include: 

• SP eCommerce, an ecommerce enabler that provides brands and retailers with integrated end-to-end ecommerce solutions 
• Quantium Solutions which specialises in logistics and fulfilment services to businesses in the Asia Pacific region
• CouriersPlease, a leading metropolitan express parcel delivery service in Australia
• Famous Holdings, an established freight consolidator and freight-forwarder with a regional presence in 7 countries
• Lock+Store, a self-storage operator in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia
• Speedpost, a leading provider for courier service in Singapore and international shipping to more than 200 destinations across the globe 
• vPOST, one of the largest online shopping and shipping services providers in Southeast Asia
• Omigo Marketplace, Singapore’s online marketplace for consumers to shop and for SMEs and international brands to sell online 
• SAM, a digital mailbox with bill payment services which can be accessed anywhere, anytime.
  
  For details please refer to sources from SingPost.com

Dividend Payout: 

 SingPost Dividend Yield History

Column Chart Projection of SingPost Dividend Yield

How Will You Make Decision When You Have Better Choice?

This month I just received an email from my current Telco reminding me to renew my mobile postpaid contract with an offer of $100 voucher for "selected mobile" purchase. Of course with a happy smile on the face like most people will react, I started to browse their website for any good deals of mobile phone and postpaid package for renewal. 

Just coincidentally the next day, I received email from my company on their CIS promotional brochure. Just like a usual marketing strategy to attract customer with bigger font for discounts and tiny font for their T&Cs hyperlink. I carefully read through their long pages of Terms and Conditions, but ended up with disappointment. None of the deals seems benefit much for existing customer on re-contract. 

While I started to do some searching if there could be any better options for me to switch to other telco, and here I stumble upon this Singtel CIS promotions! 

Although many of us already know that there will be 4th Telco coming in Singapore, and it's definitely going to be very competitive among telcos here by throwing loads of promotion via marketing strategy, but too bad my contract due date could not wait for the new Telco next year. 

Here is what I found for the great deals by choosing to port in (which is a term knowing as switching to another telco). By port in to Singtel, I will get a deal which gives me a better offer than what I will be getting from current telco. 

Although with Singtel I will need to pay a higher monthly bill of $61.64 compare to my current telco bill which cost me only $57.32 (with is an additional of $4.32 monthly), I had calculated that with the offset on the extra free gifts, the deal is still worth the price. Let me show you why the deal for port in is still worthwhile after all. Additional monthly bill of $4.32 by choosing Singtel will cost me an additional payment of $103.68 ($4.32 X 24 months) throughout the 24 months contract tenure. 

By choosing to port in to Singtel I will get a free voucher of $200 plus additional add on of $30 for online sign up. This will total up an amount of $230. If I were to use this $230 free gift to offset the additional payment for the DataX3 of $103.68, it will still save me some amount of $126.32 ($230 - $103.68). On top of that, I will also enjoy the additional of 5GB data (with monthly data of 9GB), as compared to my current telco which only offers me 4GB data. 

Below is the table illustration on the comparison of port in to Singtel vs re-contract with my current telco: 

*With additional add on of DataX3 of additional $5.90 monthly top up (already included in $53.08 monthly bill amount). Do note that DataX3 promotion is an exclusive offer, where it’s only applicable when you select to purchase for Samsung Galaxy S8 device. If you were to select others handset, then the $5.90 monthly add on will only be applicable for DataX2 package. 

Based on my research and analysis above, I think I will consider doing a port in to Singtel instead. Even though it cost me an additional $4.24 monthly bill, but the higher amount of data suits my monthly data usage. For those who might not be utilizing more than 3GB data monthly, I doubt you may reconsider and weigh the benefits of the plan as analyzed. Although it may seems just a small amount of money which probably caused only a cup of premium coffee, but being an educated financial planner, we tempt to make a wise choice as every single penny brings a step nearer to our financial freedom goal. 

Just some out of topics add on, I had invested a portion of my cash on my current telco’s stock, but anyway I have no choice of not supporting the company I invested in. I would definitely have to make the decision to opt for a telco who offer me with cheaper price and better deals. 

Being a loyal customer of "Green" telco for about 5 years, starting from a Prepaid SIM holder and upgraded to Postpaid user. It's time to bid farewell to the telco, as they would rather throw more attractive offers to attract new customers than retaining me with better deals. 

For more information, please refer to sources from:
- singtel.com > Corporate Individual Scheme (CIS). 

Do let me know if you have any comments/ advice/ feedbacks to share with on the comments below. You may feel free to write in personally to our mailbox @ wnuff.ads@gmail.com as well. 

Hope you enjoy reading and benefits from my sharing. 

  Check out from their page if you are eligible for their CIS plan.

Access their CIS page and shop for the promotion package.

The combo package deal for CIS plan.

The details of Combo 3 deal for Samsung Galaxy S8+

The details of Combo 3 deal for Samsung Galaxy S8+

Disclaimer: This is NOT a sponsored post and I have no affiliation with Singtel. It is just a sharing of a deal which I feel worthwhile to share with all our readers.

OCBC Pay Anyone Cashback Promotion.

Some good stuff to share with readers here, there are promotions on OCBC Pay Anyone apps which gives you a cashback of $10. Quickly grab the chance to earn the cashback before the promotion ends. 

Promotion period start from 1st June - 30th June 2017. 

This promotion was launch in conjunction to their recent features release of "Scan to pay for your purchases using QR code scanning via apps". 

One thing I like about this cashback is there is no minimum amount spent in order to claim for the cashback. The cashback can be claim from their 4 participating merchants:

1. Caltex
2. Paradise Classic
3. Mark & Spencer
4. Robinsons

After I did a window shopping at Mark & Spencer Orchard store over the weekend, I decided to purchase the Lemon Verbena Shower Scrub with this cashback. I ended up paying this item with only $0.90 from my own pocket money, as its original price is $10.90. 

Do note that you will need to pay the merchant with full amount and OCBC will only cashback the $10 to your account by 31st of August 2017 (as stated in their Terms and Conditions). 

For more details information, you may refer to their Terms and Conditions page to check if you are eligible for their $10 cashback promotion:
- OCBC Pay Anyone Terms and Conditions for $10 CashBack Promotion.

For the details of the OCBC Pay Anyone you may refer to their FAQ page:
- OCBC Pay Anyone page.

Lemon Verbena Shower Scrub from Mark & Spencer - $10.90

Get this with the cashback of $10

Grab the cashback deal before the promotion ends!

You may check out the apps from your App Store/ Google Play

Check out their apps from your mobile

Disclaimer: This is NOT a sponsored post, and I have no affiliation with OCBC. Just a sharing of such a good deal with all my readers.

Singapore Telecommunications Limited (Z74):

Latest update as of 02/06/2017 @$3.81: 

• Singtel is one step closer to the mega listing of its fibre broadband network provider NetLink Trust on the Singapore Exchange (SGX), having received the conditional go-ahead from the bourse operator. 
• NetLink Trust designs, builds, owns and operates the passive infrastructure for Singapore's Next Generation Nationwide Broadband Network (NextGen NBN). 
• NetLink Trust company started since 2008 and it has been actively received governments projects and licence approval from Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA). 
• Singtel had in February said that it was preparing to take fully-owned unit NetLink Trust public. Singtel said that it plans to divest its stake in NetLink Trust to less than 25 per cent by April 22, 2018. 
• Could listing of NetLink Trust as IPO brings profits to SingTel indirectly? 
• For more details information, please refer to sources from:
  - straitstimes.com > Singtel gets SGX approval to list NetLink Trust. 
  - businesstimes.com.sg > Singtel gets nod from SGX for NetLink Trust listing.
  - netlinktrust.com > OUR HISTORY.

Latest update as of 06/04/2017 @$3.91:

• The General Spectrum Auction (GSA) concluded on the allocation of spectrum to winning bidders of telco. Singtel and Starhub were both awarded spectrum across the 700MHz, 900MHz and 2.5GHz bands, while M1 was only awarded spectrum for the 700MHz and 900 MHz bands, and TPG only for the 2.5GHz bands. 
• Spectrum relates to the radio frequencies allocated to the mobile industry and other sectors for communication over the airwaves. 
• The recently concluded Phase 1 of the General Spectrum Auction (GSA) has resulted in a higher-than-expected spectrum cost for Singapore telcos. The increment of spectrum cost would definitely impact on telcos operating cost. This could potentially affect on the dividend cuts.
• For more details information, please refer to sources from:
  - research.sginvestors.io > Telco - Overall - Shockingly High Final Spectrum Prices in GSA.
  - sbr.com.sg > How the spectrum auction will affect telco dividends.

Latest update as of 31/03/2017 @$3.92:

• Singtel: Industry outlook supportive of key growth drivers.
• Singtel is showing positive results for its growing exposure on areas such as cyber security, digital marketing and data analytics.
• For more details information, please refer to sources from sgx.i3investor.com.

 

Latest update as of 23/02/2017 @$3.98:

• Singtel announced that its digital marketing subsidiary, Amobee, has entered into a conditional agreement to acquire a 100% stake in Turn, Inc. (Turn) at an enterprise value of US$310m.
• Turn, operates both a data management platform and a demand-side platform for ad buyers.
• This acquisition will expand Amobee’s existing programmatic and data management capabilities.
• The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and fulfillment of closing conditions, and is expected to be completed within 1HCY17.
• For more details information, please refer to sources from:
  - sgx.i3investor.com > Singtel: Strengthening digital marketing capabilities.

Latest update as of 08/02/2017 @$3.83:

• SingTel next announcement for its 3Q17 financial results will be on 09 Feb 2017.

 For more details, please refer to sources from Singtel - Investor Calendar.

Business Overview: 

• Headquartered in Singapore, Singtel has more than 130 years of operating experience and played a pivotal role in the country’s development as a major communications hub.
• SingTel's subsidiary in Australia, Optus, is the second largest telecommunications company in Australia. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Singtel since 2001. 
• SingTel is one of the largest listed Singapore companies on the Singapore Exchange by market capitalisation.  

For more details, please refer to SingTel > Company Profile.

• SingTel is the company with the diversified income base as it has exposure to foreign markets such as Australia, India, Thailand, and more.  
• In fact, 74% of Singtel’s EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) had come from outside Singapore’s shores. 

For more details information, please refer to The Motley Fool > The Better Business: Singapore Telecommunications Limited vs. StarHub.Ltd. 

StarHub Ltd. (CC3) - [Hold]:

Latest update as of 26/05/2017 @$2.70: 

• StarHub Ltd today announced an agreement to acquire a 51% stake in Accel Systems & Technologies Pte. Ltd. for a total consideration of S$19,380,000. 
• Accel Systems & Technologies (ASTL) is a cyber security consultant and solutions provider incorporated in Singapore. 
• Accel will operate as a standalone StarHub subsidiary and continue to be led by its current management team. In addition, its offerings will now be enhanced by StarHub’s cyber security COE. 
• The proposed acquisition will strengthen StarHub’s cyber security portfolio, giving it the in-house capabilities to be an end-to-end provider of cyber security solutions and services. 
• The acquisition will be paid in cash and funded using internal cash resources. It is expected to close by mid-June, subject to the fulfilment of mutually-agreed conditions. 
• For more details information, please refer to sources from:
  - s3-ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com > STARHUB LTD > ANNOUNCEMENT.
  - starhub.com > StarHub to Acquire 51% Stake in Accel Systems & Technologies.
  - straitstimes.com > StarHub to buy majority stake in cyber security firm for S$19.4 million.

 
Latest update as of 07/02/2017 @$2.75:

• Analysts turn negative on Starhub. 
• After the announcement of Starhub to cut it's distributions per unit by 20% for FY17 as operating expenses for its main mobile business continue to climb, the price drop from $3.00 to $2.80 (06 Feb), with a drop of $0.20, and another drop of $0.05 on the next day, with closing price $2.75 (07 Feb).
• Below are the opinion of few different analyst on the Starhub target price:
  1. OCBC Investment Research’s analysts - $2.65 (Sell)
  2. Maybank Kim Eng's analysts - $2.49 (Sell)
  3. UBS’ analysts - $2.50 (Sell)
  4. Morgan Stanley’s analysts - $2.40 (Sell)

For details read up, please refer to sources from The Edge Markets. 

• Starhub as a telco company, which often seen as utility type of company as it provides essential services to the Singapore community. Together with it's local peers, Singapore Telecommunication Limited (Z74) and M1 Ltd (B2F), are often the favourites among dividend investors in Singapore.
• With the recent announcement of reducing quarterly dividend to $0.04 per share for 2017, this gives a huge deal for Starhub's investors.

For more details, please refer to sources from The Mootley Fool.