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28 Jun, 2001
Dimpy, you asked:
What is your dividend policy? What has been your dividend record since IPO?
Our answer:
We try to adopt common policy practiced by most public companies in Singapore. Our dividend payout policy is not too aggressive since we will have several projects that need own fund/equity participations. However, besides trying enhance investor awareness and interest, we will look at the possibility to improve our dividend payout ratio in future.
In 1997 and 1998, we paid dividend of 5 cents per share, and increased it by 20% to be 6 cents in 1999, and increased again to be 6.2 cents, and we have been and will be consistent with our profit growth.
Apart from going online in this forum, which is very useful and encouraging, what have been some of your investor relations activities? As you can see from some of the questions some of us out there are a disappointed in the performance of Samudera, and wonder if you are doing enough to promote to the fund managers.
Thank you
I believe I have answered a similar question. Please see my answer to Lestat’s question, posting 202 no. (vi).
Thank you for your questions.
By Samudera
On Thursday, 28 Jun 2001 03:09pm
Posting #224
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Hi Thedoors, you asked:
From my understanding, Samudera works on a hub-and-spoke concept in the world of feedering.
My questions are:
1) what are the underlying trends in that area of Hubbing?
Our answer:
There are more hubs coming to the picture such as Tanjong Pelepas, West Port and Laem Cha Bang in South East Asia and Eden and Salalah in gulf areas. These hubs need feeder service to connect with the spoke ports.
2) what shifts taking place in the region represent opportunities and others spell threats? For instance, the planned expansion of regional ports in Thailand, Westport, Port of Tanjung Pelepas etc to fend of competition from PSA must certainly pose challenges for Samudera?
Our answer:
This trend creates opportunities as the port operators are competing with each other to attract shipping lines to call at their port. Our liner activities (direct customers) can benefit from the lower transportation cost.
However, with more hubs, the volume distribution is spread to more hubs, resulting in less volume at individual port, which may cause less volume for feeder operators. To mitigate this situation, we will adjust our ships size in line with market demand.
3) There was mention among mgt that Europe/Mediterranean sector represents an untapped growth market...what updates of action taken to tap this?
Our answer:
We have never tried to enter the European market for our feeder services. We did look at the possibility of entering the Mediterranean feeder services. However, after reviewing we felt China market presents greater opportunity.
Oh I forgot to ask Mr Randy:
What power and role do freight forwarders exercise in your business? Is it significant?
We see the freight forwarders as valuable customers for our liner services, which represent about 15% of our current volume. They are critical in the sense that they connect us to the end customers.
Thank you, Thedoors.
By Samudera
On Thursday, 28 Jun 2001 03:17pm
Posting #225
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Hi Zeppelin, you asked:
Based on conversations with freight forwarders in Singapore, it seems that freight rates for the Asia-US routes have fallen by around 15% from end-2000. As I understand it, Asia-US is the major trunk route for most MLOs that ply the trade. A sharp drop is freight rates could have a very negative impact on their bottomlines.
Q: What will be the impact for Samudera? How does the company shield itself from the volatility of freight rates?
Our answer:
I believe I have answered a similar question. Please see my answer to the posting of Thedoors
Further, I also gather that container volume growth has slowed down (Singapore traffic already down 13% in April) at a time when container & port capacity is expected to rise by some 11%.
Q: What does Samudera see the outlook like for rest of 2001 and whole of 2002?
Our answer:
First of all, the 13% drop in Singapore Traffic is not a reflection of the entire market. It is primarily due to relocation of Hub by Maersk from Singapore to Tg. Pelapas.
The container volume from this region depends largely on the economic health of two major regions i.e. USA and Europe. I think it is difficult for me to predict the year 2001 especially year 2002. We just have to closely watch and monitor the situation and adjust our resources accordingly. As I mentioned earlier, we have the flexibility through chartered ships to adjust quickly.
By Samudera
On Thursday, 28 Jun 2001 03:26pm
Posting #226
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