The Muppets movie!

Jim Henson created the Muppets in the mid-1950s and The Muppet Show ran from 1976-1981.

The Muppets have long been known for their big musical numbers and Disney’s The Muppets movie not only maintains the tradition but also takes it to new levels with original songs, audience favorites and signature classic covers.

This is the first Muppets movie in 12 years and throughout the whole filming process, the Henson family has been on board together with the cast and crew.

Find out more about the movie which will hit the big screen on 8 December:
http://sg.churpchurp.com/AK71SG/share/muppets

Enjoy the movie!

REITs and rights issues: A Singaporean tale.

Some readers told me I should let my hair down and try blogging with a more local flavour. Should I try to inject some local flavour into my blog? Hmmm...

REITs have been getting a lot of attention lately and, generally, I think it is a good thing. However, I would like to see more balanced write ups which would do the subject justice.




Recently, another article in the newspapers was brought to my attention. The article is by Teh Hooi Leng, titled "The REIT myth busted." With a title like this, despite any claims to the contrary, the immediate impression given is a negative one.

At least two bloggers I know of have referred to the article and one highlighted that "Whatever Reits pay out in dividends, they will take back a few years later in the form of rights issues". A statement like this is not just simple, it is simplistic.

Indeed, a reader commented on the same newspaper article and expressed his displeasure. I replied to his comment in my usual fashion. See it here.




Now, let me see if I could inject some local flavour into this blog post with a somewhat simplistic analogy since being simplistic seems to be in vogue:

Once upon a time in Singapore, there was a father and son investment team. They invested in a condominium unit next to Bedok reservoir. Every year, the father would distribute 90% of the income from the rental collected from the condominium unit.

Ten years later, the father told the son that he wanted to invest in another condominium unit and asked the son if he would like to put down some capital for this new investment. The son did some calculations and realised that he would have had to "give back" all the money his father had distributed to him from the rental collected from the Bedok reservoir condominium unit over the last ten years!




"Wah, lao peh, how can liddat one?! You taking back all the money you gave me in the last ten years! You cheat my money izzit?", the son was indignant.

The father smiled indulgently at his son and explained that, with the proposed investment, he would be able to double the income distributed every year to him from rental collected from two condominium units instead of one but, of course, the son could choose not to be a part of the second investment. The son had a choice.

The father was not taking back whatever he had paid out to the son in the last ten years as the father didn't have the right to do so. The father was offering the son the right to either accept or refuse a part in the new investment.




Remember: When asked for money, ponder on the reason why. This is more important than the money involved. Looking at only the money involved is myopic.

With so many voices against REITs and their rights issues, it is easy to sing in a choir but to sing solo, that is much harder. OK, what do I know? I am just a retail investor.

Related posts:
1. REITs and rights issues: Dilutive or not?
2. Investing in REITs: A flawed strategy?

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DBS cuts Ascott Residence Trust rating Monday, 28 November 2011

© 2011 - The Edge Singapore

Bearish or bullish? Listen to experts?

Towards end of the year, often investors look forward to a run up in share prices. Some look forward to the Capricorn Effect which is expected to happen at the start of the new year. Could it happen again or would the mountain trekking herbivore do a disappearing act?

Personally, I am sticking to my plan of holding on to dividend generating investments and not adding unless compelling value is evident. I do not know if the bear is going to strengthen or if the bull would make a dramatic return. I definitely do not know when either scenario might happen.

There is quite a bit of pessimism and fear in the air, that we know. Whether we have hit extreme fear and pessimism, I am not so sure but people (including myself) are still looking forward to that big crash before we roll out our warchests. So, I suppose there is still some optimism and hope.

Conventional wisdom would say that when the last iota of hope has been crushed, we would see the market bottom. That would be when no one wants to talk about stocks anymore. Be savvy. Be brave. That would be when we pick up undervalued stocks with abandon although we might not talk about them. ;)

You might be interested in reading the following article for some expert opinions but I would say to anyone that it is important to have a plan in place and act upon it when the time comes. Do not get distracted by the news:

Article in CNA: Investors brace for bearish market.

Bear:
"Sani Hamid, director of wealth management at Financial Alliance, said: "What I suspect is that this market still has a bit way to go to downside before it burns itself out, which is a point of capitulation whereby everybody is just really gloomy and bearish. When the situation reaches that point, I think that's when markets will bottom."

Bull:
Mr Brice said: "Ultimately we believe that we will get that rebound and that quantitative easing in the US will happen in the first quarter of next year. And we believe eventually Europe will get its head around the problem and gradually move towards some sort of resolution. We do believe we will see progress there. In that environment we could see quite a significant risk rally."

Related post:
No change to my plan as I plan changes to my life.

CLINIQUE Special Deals!

Some time back, I revealed that I use hand moisturisers.

See blog post here: Should guys use hand moisturisers?

That blog post received quite a few comments in the affirmative. Yes, why not?

While surfing at an online shop for good deals, I came across this:

CLINIQUE

Dramatically Different Moisturising Lotion ( Unboxed ) 200ml/6.7oz

S$66.00 (With free shipping to your Singapore address.)

This is a lightweight moisturiser that my mom uses for her face. I tried it at my mom's recommendation and found that it absorbs quickly and does not leave an oily feeling on the skin. Good stuff.

You might want to try this or get it as a gift for someone special. If so, click on this link: Extra Special Discounts Up to 50% Off (Free shipping worldwide!)

There are plenty of other things on special offer. Happy shopping!

An article on REITs by Colin Tan.

A reader, Ray, brought to my attention an article in TODAY. This was in the comments section of a recent blog post. To read the comments, see:

REITs with pedigree are safer? - Comments.

A few lines from the article concerned:

... it must be said that REIT managers have mostly had to acquire their properties on the higher side of valuations if only because it is the only way they can get the owners to sell it to them.

A REIT can get a property on the cheap only when the owner is ignorant of its true market value or if it is a forced sale - many investors still do not realise this. At the same time, the REIT manager can only justify the acquisition to shareholders if it is yield-accretive. Otherwise, the REIT is better off not doing anything.

... As more properties in Singapore are acquired by the REITs, there will be fewer available on the market. As such, the asking price by the remaining landlords can only get higher. Given more time, it will become clear, if it is not so now, that the current model is not sustainable in the long run.

Read full article here.

S-REITs are getting more attention over time. That is a good thing, is it not?

REITs with pedigree are safer?

Many have told me that I am playing with fire investing in the REITs that I do and by now, regular readers would know how I would reply to them.

Some who do invest in REITs tell me that they only invest in "blue chip" REITs because these have strong "blue chip" sponsors and more likely to survive a downturn. They would still avoid the REITs I am invested in. I don't have a problem with that.

I just read this in The EDGE:

"Moody’s Investors Service said it has a stable outlook for Singapore Real-Estate Investment Trusts. However, stress tests show CapitaMall Trust, Suntec REIT, Mapletree Logistics Trust, and K-REIT run the most risk of exceeding Moody’s expected leverage parameters in the event of a downward revaluation of properties, the ratings company said in a statement, reported Bloomberg."

Some say just invest in all things blue chips and we should be safe. However, the blue chips card could be played so much that it could turn black. Blue could and some did become blue black.

Oh dear, I just remember that I have vested interest in Suntec REIT and K-REIT too!

Moody’s says stable outlook for Singapore REITs, notes risks
Wednesday, 23 November 2011

© 2011 - The Edge Singapore

A S$50 shopping voucher from MasterCard?

Register your Singapore-issued MasterCard cards for ‘A Season of Giving’ and you could qualify for a S$50 shopping voucher! You could also be supporting the Singapore Children’s Society at the same time!

So, do your bit for charity and stand a chance to be rewarded as you shop this festive season! Spread some festive cheer while you shop!

Register today at:
http://sg.churpchurp.com/AK71SG/share/mastercard1

Thank you. :)

Cambridge Industrial Trust: Templeton and acquisition.

In a blog post dated 14 October, I said that Cambridge Industrial Trust is worth another look as I expect its income to bump up in 2012 and 2013 without any need for further fund raising. It is interesting to note that subsequently on 1 November, Templeton became a substantial unitholder. Announcement here.

More recently, the Trust has proposed the acquisition of 3C Toh Guan Road East for S$35.5m. This acquisition to be completed in the first quarter of 2012 is to be part funded by debt and the rest by cash.

The acquisition is expected to bump up annual DPU by 0.24c. If the unit price of CIT were to decline to 46c, we would be looking at a prospective annual distribution yield of 9.92%. That could be attractive enough to increase long exposure to the trust.

Is this increase in DPU sustainable? Everything else remaining equal, it is. This is because it is secured through a three years leaseback agreement to the seller of the said property.

Any potential pitfalls. I do see one which is some 10 years away. This is a 30+30 years leasehold property which saw its land lease commencing in 1991.  So, it is only 10 years away before the land lease has to be renewed. At what price? We will know then. For the next few years, it should be a productive asset.

See announcement here.

Related post:
Cambridge Industrial Trust: Worth another look.