Mano Sabnani (left) is the Chairman and CEO of Rafflesia Holdings, a company he founded in 2008 to pursue opportunities in the media and financial sectors. He was the Chief Editor of Singapore’s Business Times from 1986 to 1992. From May 1992 to the close of 1995, he was the Managing Editor of The Straits Times.
From January 1996 to August 1997, Mano was the Director of Research at DBS Securities. He then moved on to be the MD for Investments at Individual Banking, DBS. Mano also served as the MD for Equity Capital Markets, DBS Bank from July 2000 to June 2001 when he left to join Corporate Brokers International as Executive Director. He was CEO and Editor-in-Chief of daily newspaper TODAY from April 2003. He had developed the paper into the second most read in Singapore by the time he left in Nov 2006.
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Attended three AGMs on Wednesday (April 29). Brief reports:
(1) Straco Corp: A number of savvy young investors were at AGM. All keen to find out more. It seems the Singapore Flyer is already profitable.
Ebitda probably at $1m excluding one off acquisition costs in Dec (first month under Straco).
If its China attractions hold up to new competition, further growth ahead for this company. But shares are not cheap at just under $1.
CEO, who hails from Indonesia, graduated from the former Nanyang University here and is a Singapore citizen, is quite investor-friendly
 Straco's AGM @ Amara Hotel. NextInsight photo.
(2) Indofood Agri: Persuaded them to pay a higher dividend next time. Good for valuation too. I think they will.
They need to flow up more cash from listed key subsidiaries SIMP and LonSum or London Sumatra. I asked them previously on dividend ... not been to their AGM two years already.
But chairman Edward Lee seemed more appreciative of my feedback now. 0.52c dividend is too low given earnings per share of 5.7 cents
 (3) Global Invacom: Earnings would have been higher if not for one-off AIM listing costs and acquisition of Foxcom.
Also higher costs due to investment in people and infrastructure to ramp up production of products used in satellite business.
I think worth nibbling at stock now at 33c or thereabouts. This year should be better for the business.
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