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14-02-2013, 07:22 AM
In every cycle, there isbound to be some sort of someone impact. It will be up to one to decide if they want to participate in the impact. There is no right or wrong but certainly history has told us that all bubbles will eventually burst one day. Remember the NOW impact?
Popiah King to expand his empire
Sam Goi plans to buy over 10 private food companies in the next 2 years
Published on Feb 14, 2013
Mr Goi has set the market abuzz with his recent buys, but the "Popiah King" says he is done investing in listed firms, for now. -- ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG
Mr Goi has set the market abuzz with his recent buys, but the "Popiah King" says he is done investing in listed firms, for now. -- ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG
Mr Goi has set the market abuzz with his recent buys, but the "Popiah King" says he is done investing in listed firms, for now. -- ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG
Share prices of condensed milk producer Etika (above) and cocoa ingredient maker JB Foods have soared by over 50 per cent since TYJ's investment. Market watchers have labelled this keen interest and surge as the "Sam Goi effect". -- ST FILE PHOTO
By Alvin Foo
"POPIAH King" Sam Goi has hit the investing trail, taking huge stakes in two listed food companies in recent months and setting the market abuzz over which firm he will set his sights on next.
But market watchers looking at where he might put his money next will be sorely disappointed: Mr Goi, 66, is done investing in listed firms, for now.
Instead, the executive chairman of food company Tee Yih Jia (TYJ) revealed that he plans to acquire more than 10 private food companies in the region over the next two years, and add them to his company's stable before considering listing his firm.
This includes countries such as China, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia.
He said: "I want to acquire more than 10 private food companies in the next two years and make them part of Tee Yih Jia. It would not be easy to acquire them after listing."
Mr Goi added that he has no immediate plans to invest into listed food companies.
His decision will likely disappoint market punters, who had quickly bought up the stock of the companies he had invested in.
The share prices of the two companies - condensed milk producer Etika International and cocoa ingredient maker JB Foods - have soared by more than 50 per cent since Mr Goi's TYJ Group invested in them.
Since Dec 6, when it was announced that Mr Goi's company planned to invest in it, Etika's shares have soared 63 per cent from 25.5 cents to 41.5 cents yesterday. Mr Goi sees great potential for Etika's milk exports to grow overseas, especially in China, where it can tap TYJ's existing network.
As for JB Foods, its shares have jumped 52 per cent from 31 cents on Jan 23 - the day TYJ's investment was announced - to 47 cents yesterday.
Mr Goi sees a big market for cocoa in China, and hopes to lend his expertise to increase its capacity and grow its own brands.
This has prompted some market watchers to label this as the "Sam Goi effect", for the keen interest and red-hot surge in those two counters since his entry.
Comparisons have been drawn with prominent businessmen Koh Boon Hwee and Oei Hong Leong, whose investing moves are often quickly followed by other market participants.
But Mr Goi insists he is no market shaker. Instead, he sees himself as a long-term value investor. "I'm still very small. I'm not in the market to buy and sell and be a trader. I'm just a normal businessman, I'm not a market mover," said Mr Goi.
"I've got calls from at least four to five food companies to invest in their companies. These investment opportunities are sometimes very funny. Sometimes suddenly they happen, sometimes you plan but they won't sell. It's really down to fate."
Asked how he makes his investment decisions, Mr Goi said: "I'll check on the company, who are the directors, who's controlling the whole company, its production.
"I prefer companies which are family-owned, with a not very big market cap, say just over $100 million, and mainly in the food sector."
The recent investments mean that he could be the chairman or vice-chairman of the boards of four listed companies soon.
He is already the vice-chairman of instant beverage-maker Super Group as well as Etika, and is the non-executive chairman of GSH Corp, a distributor of medical consumer goods and photographic and imaging equipment.
Mr Goi has also been proposed as the vice-chairman of JB Foods.
He sees his involvement in these companies as more an advisory than a hands-on one, sharing his expertise and experience.
"I don't have the energy and time to take over a new company and be in charge. Rather, we can grow together, with my know-how, contacts and some finance. It's win-win for both."
alfoo@sph.com.sg
Popiah King to expand his empire
Sam Goi plans to buy over 10 private food companies in the next 2 years
Published on Feb 14, 2013
Mr Goi has set the market abuzz with his recent buys, but the "Popiah King" says he is done investing in listed firms, for now. -- ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG
Mr Goi has set the market abuzz with his recent buys, but the "Popiah King" says he is done investing in listed firms, for now. -- ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG
Mr Goi has set the market abuzz with his recent buys, but the "Popiah King" says he is done investing in listed firms, for now. -- ST PHOTO: SEAH KWANG PENG
Share prices of condensed milk producer Etika (above) and cocoa ingredient maker JB Foods have soared by over 50 per cent since TYJ's investment. Market watchers have labelled this keen interest and surge as the "Sam Goi effect". -- ST FILE PHOTO
By Alvin Foo
"POPIAH King" Sam Goi has hit the investing trail, taking huge stakes in two listed food companies in recent months and setting the market abuzz over which firm he will set his sights on next.
But market watchers looking at where he might put his money next will be sorely disappointed: Mr Goi, 66, is done investing in listed firms, for now.
Instead, the executive chairman of food company Tee Yih Jia (TYJ) revealed that he plans to acquire more than 10 private food companies in the region over the next two years, and add them to his company's stable before considering listing his firm.
This includes countries such as China, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia.
He said: "I want to acquire more than 10 private food companies in the next two years and make them part of Tee Yih Jia. It would not be easy to acquire them after listing."
Mr Goi added that he has no immediate plans to invest into listed food companies.
His decision will likely disappoint market punters, who had quickly bought up the stock of the companies he had invested in.
The share prices of the two companies - condensed milk producer Etika International and cocoa ingredient maker JB Foods - have soared by more than 50 per cent since Mr Goi's TYJ Group invested in them.
Since Dec 6, when it was announced that Mr Goi's company planned to invest in it, Etika's shares have soared 63 per cent from 25.5 cents to 41.5 cents yesterday. Mr Goi sees great potential for Etika's milk exports to grow overseas, especially in China, where it can tap TYJ's existing network.
As for JB Foods, its shares have jumped 52 per cent from 31 cents on Jan 23 - the day TYJ's investment was announced - to 47 cents yesterday.
Mr Goi sees a big market for cocoa in China, and hopes to lend his expertise to increase its capacity and grow its own brands.
This has prompted some market watchers to label this as the "Sam Goi effect", for the keen interest and red-hot surge in those two counters since his entry.
Comparisons have been drawn with prominent businessmen Koh Boon Hwee and Oei Hong Leong, whose investing moves are often quickly followed by other market participants.
But Mr Goi insists he is no market shaker. Instead, he sees himself as a long-term value investor. "I'm still very small. I'm not in the market to buy and sell and be a trader. I'm just a normal businessman, I'm not a market mover," said Mr Goi.
"I've got calls from at least four to five food companies to invest in their companies. These investment opportunities are sometimes very funny. Sometimes suddenly they happen, sometimes you plan but they won't sell. It's really down to fate."
Asked how he makes his investment decisions, Mr Goi said: "I'll check on the company, who are the directors, who's controlling the whole company, its production.
"I prefer companies which are family-owned, with a not very big market cap, say just over $100 million, and mainly in the food sector."
The recent investments mean that he could be the chairman or vice-chairman of the boards of four listed companies soon.
He is already the vice-chairman of instant beverage-maker Super Group as well as Etika, and is the non-executive chairman of GSH Corp, a distributor of medical consumer goods and photographic and imaging equipment.
Mr Goi has also been proposed as the vice-chairman of JB Foods.
He sees his involvement in these companies as more an advisory than a hands-on one, sharing his expertise and experience.
"I don't have the energy and time to take over a new company and be in charge. Rather, we can grow together, with my know-how, contacts and some finance. It's win-win for both."
alfoo@sph.com.sg