I am now more concerned about my CPF after analysing more GIC investments.
GIC appears to have no exit plans and will only divest after investments have been decimated. Link Even a novice investor knows one needs to have an exit plan.
Contrary to PAP’s claim that there’s no need to take on riskier investments, many investments by Temasek and GIC are very risky ie many have collapsed within a few years. GIC has been able to continue engaging in risky investing due to the lack of transparency and accountability.
In May 2011, GIC (formerly GSIC) became a substantial shareholder in OneSteel, an Australian company. Link to article It was renamed Arrium Ltd in 2012.
According to the same article:
– GIC bought 19.6 million shares at an average price of A$2.38 between January and May 2011.
– Prior to 2011, GIC already owned an additional 47.6 million shares bought above A$3.
– GIC owned a total of 67.2 million shares in May 2011.
Arrium Ltd (formerly OneSteel)
Image credit: Yahoo
GIC’s paper loss excluding dividends was estimated to be about A$60 million when the stock price was A$1.90. At 18 cents today, its losses would have increased to A$226.4 million. Based on the estimated average price of A$3.55 per share in the article, our CPF investment has lost about 95% in value.
But GIC’s losses are much higher than the S$1/4 billion loss because it has more than tripled its stake from 67.2 million shares to 241.26 million shares. Most of the additional shares were likely bought between A$1.6 to A$.50, translating into total losses likely to exceed A$300 million. (GIC should not disclose only profitable investments in the press)
Source: ft.com
The collapse in Arrium’s share price reflects fundamental changes in its business. Why did GIC continue to triple its stakes in Arrium, as if there was no tomorrow? This is likely due to its knowledge that there was an endless supply of CPF. It therefore need not divest Arrium despite unrealised losses amounting to more than 90%.
There are too many wipeouts which confirm GIC is not the stellar fund manager as widely believed, not only Arrium and a few others.
Unless GIC improves its transparency, similar to Norway’s GPFG, its fund management appears to be based on a ‘tikam-tikam’ model. Heads GIC/PAP wins, tails CPF members lose.
likedatosocanmeh 
I have long ago decided to write off my CPF money. CPF is essentially bankrupt. S’pore govt & MAS is basically covering the shortfall by using SSGS paper & printing SGD. Even if we can change govt and get a new accountable govt in tomorrow, we will be lucky to get back 20 cents on the dollar for our CPF. This means if you have total $200,000 in your CPF statement, you will only be able to get back $40K if CPF was to close shop today.
Since 2005, I have been living & planning my finances without considering my CPF at all. Over the years, I try to take out as much from my CPF as possible, by maxing out my OA for properties and using Medisave to buy medical insurance that can cover private hospitals & A-class wards.
If only Singaporeans are as financially educated as we are aka having a tiny sense of long term planning.
You won’t believe the amount of dumb idiots (an insult more than justified) in Singapore who refuse to buy private health insurance for ~$400 cash/year. Good luck to them when the bill shock comes at the hospital, I’m sure all that money spent on daily Starbucks visits, daily packet of cigarettes, iPhone upgrades etc is going to pay that bill for you. And by that time it’s too late for you to go private, because they won’t cover any pre-existing condition.
Sure, Singapore has an exploitative system for paying healthcare costs; but if you aren’t choosing the much lesser of the two evils (private vs lolmedishield) you are certifiable retarded.
To anyone reading this: I told ya so.
Paying to agents and insurance definitely does NOT contribute to healthcare.
Besides the premiums increases with age – not $400
It can wipe out all medisave.
What is needed is not insurance based medical system.
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