On March 8, Frencken Group chairman and non-executive non-independent director Gooi Soon Chai acquired 100,000 shares of the company for a consideration of S$120,000.

 

This increased his total interest in the global integrated technology solutions business from 23.32 per cent to 23.34 per cent.

 

Mr Gooi has been the chairman of Frencken Group since August 2016 and is presently senior vice-president of Keysight Technologies and president of Keysight' s Electronic Industrial Solutions Group.

 

On Feb 25, Frencken Group, which has 3,400 employees located in 17 operating sites across Asia, Europe and the United States, reported a stable net profit attributable to equity holders of S$42.6 million in FY20 (ended Dec 31), compared to S$42.4 million in FY19.

 

The group maintained a cash balance of S$151.1 million as at Dec 31.

 

In its outlook, the group noted that barring any unforeseen circumstances and further deterioration in the business environment arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, it anticipated that its revenue in H1FY21 would increase compared to H2FY20, and this would be driven by higher expected sales from the majority of its key business segments.

 

As Mr Gooi reiterated last year, since listing on the Singapore Exchange in 2005, the group has consistently paid dividends representing at least 30 per cent of its earnings every year.

 

In line with this policy, Frencken Group has scheduled a 3 cent per share dividend for FY20 to go ex-dividend on May 6, 2021.