Singapore Press Holdings (SPH)

[Temperament]

Warren Buffett’s Letter to Newly Acquired Publishers and Editors

http://www.gurufocus.com/news/178231/war...nd-editors

Tks for the link. i think WB wold have love to takeover SPH if he could base on those criterias that he listed below:
(1) The town or city had two or more competing dailies; -- sph is a monopoly

(2) the paper lost its position as the primary source of information important to its readers, or -- sph is still the only source either electronically or in print

(3) the town or city did not have a pervasive self-identity. -- singapore brand is still strong

Fully agreed with WB views on newspaper biz.

In VB, the majority of the topics discussed are from the SPH's newspapers content. Imagine one day, if we will not refer to SPH newspaper content anymore, our discussion scope will be highly limited.

One last point, i believe the shareholding of SPH is restricted to oversea investor, but i am not sure the detail.

Yes, you are right. Not only that at AGM or EGM voting is skew towards the "PAPYS" due to the restricted local holdings too or something like that. i think someone (DOG) had elaborated before. Another words, from "Old Man's" time, Papys ensures nobody in Singapore can own >50.1% of SPH except you know who directly or indirectly.

If you are old enough, you will remember:-
The Singapore Herald saga

Enjoy this Historical extract from INT.

{ON 28 May 1971, the publishing licence of independent newspaper the Singapore Herald was suspended by the government, which accused it of being involved in "black operations", of being funded by questionable foreign sources, of working up agitation against national policies and institutions, and of "taking on the government". }

So you see why Singaporeans think SPH is never an independent Press.