SGX Market Updates

21 SGX Primary-Listed Companies Bought Back S$91 Million in Shares in May 2021


PUBLISHED ON |

01 June 2021

  • In May 2021, 21 SGX primary-listed stocks bought back 36 million shares for a total consideration of S$91.1 million. This was up from 16 stocks conducting buybacks totaling $48.5 million consideration in April, and higher than the 18 stocks filing S$14.9 million in consideration in May 2020.

  • The STI has generated a 13.0% total return over the first five months of 2021, with the S$274 million in buyback consideration for the five months representing 0.03% of the S$899.1 billion in market capitalisation of all stocks listed on SGX as of May.

  • OCBC commenced a new buyback mandate in May, acquiring 4.21 million shares at an average price of S$12.16 per share. The preceding mandate saw OCBC acquire 6.66 million shares which represented 0.15 per cent of its outstanding shares excluding treasury shares.




Total share buyback consideration for month of May 2021 totaled S$91.1 million, up from S$48.5 million in April (click here) and up from S$14.9 million in May 2020 (click here). During May 2021, the Straits Times Index (“STI”) declined 1.7%, reversing April’s 1.7% price gain. For the month, dividend distributions halved the STI’s decline in terms of total return to 0.8%.

As many as 140 stocks went ex-dividend in May. This played a key role in converting a slight portion of company market value into shareholder income. For instance, while the share price of United Overseas Bank declined 52 cents from S$26.59 to S$26.07 over May, it also went ex-dividend with a 39 cent per share distribution on 6 May. Moreover, CapitaLand’s 9 cent per share dividend distribution in May more than offset its 6 cent price decline in May that reduced its market capitalisation from S$19.4 billion to S$19.0 billion.

Price moves brought the STI’s 2021 price gain over the first five months to 11.3%, with dividends boosting the total return to 13.0%.



SGX Share Buyback Consideration - May 2021



The combined AUM of the SPDR® Straits Times Index ETF and the Nikko AM Singapore STI ETF ended May 2021 at S$2.25 billion compared to S$2.30 billion at the end of April 2021, and compared to S$1.10 billion at the end of December 2019, with the unit creations and redemptions generating S$908 million of net inflows into the two ETFs over the last 17 months.

There were 21 primary-listed stocks that bought back shares in May. Oversea-Chinese Banking Corp (“OCBC”) led the May consideration tally with 4,213,100 shares acquired at an average price of S$12.16 per share.


  • In its FY20 (ended 31 Dec) Annual Report, OCBC noted shares purchased under the share buyback programme are held as treasury shares, and recorded as a deduction against share capital, and may be subsequently cancelled, sold or used to meet delivery obligations under employee share schemes. The preceding mandate saw OCBC acquire 6,660,000 shares or 0.15 per cent of its outstanding shares excluding treasury shares.
  • The share price of OCBC edged higher in May, with a dividend distribution boosting the monthly returns to 2.7%. Globally, banks did extend gains in May, with the top quartile by market cap generating a 3.2% total return. Key to this, the 10 year UST yields remained stable in May, oscillating around 1.6%, resilient business investment, and no fall-outs from last week’s annual US Congressional Hearings with top bank CEOs. Just as OCBC has generated a 24.5% total return over the first five months of 2021, the top quartile of global banks by market capitalisation have generated a median 22.6% total return. OCBC has also been recipient to combined net institutional and net proprietary inflows of S$708 million over the first five months of 2021.


The table below summarises the buyback considerations in May 2021. The table is sorted by the value of the total consideration amount for the month, which combines the amount of shares or units purchased and the purchasing price of the transactions.


SGX Primary Listed Stocks
that Conducted Buybacks in May 2021
Number of
Shares/units Authorised
for Purchase in
Current Mandate
Total Number of
Shares/units Purchased
in May 2021
Total Buyback
Consideration (including
stamp duties, clearing
changes etc.)
paid or payable
for the shares
Average
Price
Paid
S$
Cumulative Number of
Shares/units purchased
in Mandate to date
Percent of
Outstanding Shares
(Excl. Treasury) purchased
in Mandate to date
OVERSEA-CHINESE BANKING CORPORATION 223,511,333 4,213,100 $51,219,885 $12.16 4,213,100 0.09
WILMAR INTERNATIONAL 631,140,890 3,852,900 $18,975,632 $4.93 3,852,900 0.06
SINGAPORE EXCHANGE 107,164,240 547,400 $5,653,050 $10.33 1,092,200 0.10
AVARGA 92,777,454 10,779,700 $3,407,299 $0.32 10,779,700 1.16
SINGAPORE TELECOMMUNICATIONS 816,457,915 1,190,295 $2,879,807 $2.42 1,862,446 0.01
KEPPEL CORPORATION 36,400,461 460,000 $2,344,573 $5.10 460,000 0.03
SINGAPORE TECHNOLOGIES ENGINEERING 62,409,095 500,000 $1,907,446 $3.81 1,000,000 0.03
AEM HOLDINGS 28,088,477 545,000 $1,887,685 $3.46 545,000 0.19
GLOBAL INVESTMENTS 159,744,243 10,300,000 $1,544,088 $0.15 13,000,000 0.81
KOUFU GROUP 55,461,640 1,361,100 $913,212 $0.67 1,661,100 0.30
SANLI ENVIRONMENTAL 18,832,912 968,200 $63,282 $0.07 968,200 0.36
HC SURGICAL SPECIALISTS 15,104,573 128,000 $60,320 $0.47 2,153,500 1.43
NORDIC GROUP 28,195,900 174,800 $46,176 $0.26 174,800 0.05
GLOBAL PALM RESOURCES HOLDINGS 25,053,418 206,000 $42,362 $0.21 206,000 0.08
JAPAN FOODS HOLDING 17,385,720 100,000 $39,729 $0.40 100,000 0.06
ENGRO CORPORATION 11,861,010 27,600 $35,298 $1.28 120,000 0.10
FOOD EMPIRE HOLDINGS 53,774,969 24,800 $21,892 $0.88 124,800 0.02
KIM HENG OFFSHORE & MARINE HOLDINGS 70,790,730 465,200 $17,790 $0.04 465,200 0.07
TUAN SING HOLDINGS 118,736,488 25,000 $10,047 $0.40 25,000 0.00
CHOO CHIANG HOLDINGS 20,785,240 40,000 $9,632 $0.24 237,600 0.11
TREK 2000 INTERNATIONAL 31,350,142 40,000 $5,194 $0.13 40,000 0.01
Total 35,949,095 $91,084,399

Source: SGX, Bloomberg, Refinitiv (Data as of 31 May 2021)



Share buyback transactions involve share issuers repurchasing some of their outstanding shares from shareholders through the open market. Once the shares are bought back, they can be converted into treasury shares, which means they are no longer categorised as shares outstanding. Motivations for share buybacks can include employee compensation plans (such as share option schemes or employee share purchase plans) or long term capital management. Buybacks can pick up amidst market declines that are driven by broader moves on international macroeconomic developments.

Share buyback information can be found on the company disclosure page on the SGX website, using the Announcement category and sub-category of Share Buy Back-On Market. As best practice, companies should refrain from buying back their shares during the two weeks immediately before semi-annual financial statements and one month immediately before the full-year financial statements.







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