Tag: Motley Fool

  • Is the Telstra (ASX:TLS) dividend still safe from a cut?

    two women looking intently at computer screen

    Telstra Corporation Ltd (ASX: TLS) shareholders might be forgiven for being a little nervous about their dividends. After all, Telstra used to be regarded as one of, if not the best, ASX dividend shares on the market. That’s the reputation a couple of decades offering a fully franked, ~7% dividend yield can build.

    However, that all came crashing down in 2017. That’s when the ASX telco slashed its annual dividend from 31 cents per share to 22 cents per share. It hit investors again in 2019, reducing the 22 cents per year to 16 cents. That remains the annual payout Telstra shareholders have been receiving to date.

    Last October, Telstra promised to keep this dividend steady at 16 cents in 2021 and perhaps beyond. Here’s some of what Telstra CEO John Mullen said at the time:

    The board is acutely aware of the importance of the dividend to shareholders, and we understand the nervousness from some that COVID and other pressures may force Telstra to again cut its dividend… The board clearly understands the importance of the dividend and if necessary is prepared to temporarily exceed our capital management framework principle of paying an ordinary dividend of 70-90% of underlying earnings to maintain a 16c dividend.

    Well, so far so good. In March, Telstra paid out another dividend of 8 cents per share, keeping to this commitment.

    Does AT&T spell trouble for Telstra shares?

    But a piece of news out of the United States might be getting investors worried about Telstra’s dividend of late. AT&T Inc (NYSE: T) is one of the largest telcos in the US. It bears many semblances to Telstra, given its old role as a monopolistic telephony service provider.

    Recently, AT&T announced a big restructuring, which will include a large dividend cut. It will end AT&T’s dividend aristocrat status on US markets. Until now, the company had raised its dividend every single year for 36 years.

    Could this be a canary in the coalmine for Telstra?

    Well, the company doesn’t think so. In February, Telstra delivered its results for the first half of FY2021. It discussed its dividend further at that time. Here’s some of what the company said:

    Our aspiration [is] for mid to high single digit growth in Underlying EBITDA for FY22 and for Underlying EBITDA to be in the range of $7.5–8.5b in FY23. This range is important to support a 16c dividend inside our dividend payout ratio and to deliver a ROIC of around 8%. We know how important this dividend is to our shareholders and that is why and the board expects to pay a total dividend for FY21 of 16c per share including an interim dividend of 8c per share. 

    So, in other words, Telstra remains committed to its current dividend, which it thinks it can afford if sufficient earnings growth is achieved (which the company evidently thinks it can hit). If this proves to be the case, it’s good news for Telstra’s dividend-conscious investors.

    On the current share price of $3.45, Telstra’s dividend is worth a yield of 4.64%. Or 6.63% grossed-up with Telstra’s full franking.

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    Returns As of 15th February 2021

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  • ASX tech shares roar higher, puts ASX 200 index in the shade

    A happy woman at her laptop punches the air, indicating a rising share price

    Having recently been beaten, battered and bruised, smaller tech shares had a well deserved day in the sun on Thursday, with the S&P/ASX All Technology Index (ASX: XTX) handily out-pacing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

    Could the resurgence have anything to do with the latest COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne, with  ‘stay at home’ shares being beneficiaries again? 

    Market movers

    The Alcidion Group Ltd (ASX: ALC) share price hit an all-time high on Thursday, jumping 4 cents or 9.8% higher to 45 cents at the time of writing, and is now up an impressive 242% for Motley Fool Hidden Gems members since it was first recommended as a buy in May 2019.

    In late April the provider of healthcare analytics software reported continued strong organic sales growth in the UK, Australia and New Zealand, with revenue for the first three quarters of FY21 surpassing revenue for the full year of FY20. 

    The Hidden Gems team recently reiterated Alcidion as a buy, saying the company has “proven technology and product that is increasingly appealing to hospitals and allied health professionals, and still has a lot of market share to claim.”

    The Costa Group Holdings Ltd (ASX: CGC) share price slumped 23% to $3.39 after the horticulture company warned that growth for the first half of 2021 is expected to be only marginally ahead of the comparable period. 

    Costa is seeing mixed performances from its domestic operations, with berries looking strong, but mushrooms, citrus and tomato operations facing near term production and/or pricing pressures. When it comes to agriculture, as the old saying goes, it never rains but it pours.

    Perhaps pre-empting such an event, the team at Motley Fool Share Advisor recently downgraded Costa to a hold, citing concerns about valuation and the volatility of its growing products. 

    Having recently fallen to a 10-month low, the Whispir Ltd (ASX: WSP) share price jumped 9% higher on Wednesday and another 6.6% today after an article in The Australian mentioned a potential partnership with Chemist Warehouse. According to The Australian, Chemist Warehouse is reportedly set to link with Whispir as it looks to roll out an e-prescription service.

    Whispir is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) communications workflow platform provider. As with many similar companies, its share price has been on the nose in recent times as tech shares across the board have taken a beating. 

    Shaken but not stirred, Whispir remains an active buy recommendation across six different Motley Fool services. 

    Stock of the Week

    Our newest feature continues apace, with Motley Fool Chief Investment Officer Scott Phillips joined by Director of Research Kevin Gandiya to deep dive into our Stock of the Week, Netwealth Group Ltd (ASX: NWL).

    Netwealth is a leading specialist platform provider and one of Australia’s fastest growing wealth management businesses. Senior Motley Fool Analyst Ryan Newman recently added it to the real money Motley Fool Pro 2.0 portfolio, saying its solid management team is overseeing strong and consistent market share growth. Click here to see Scott and Kevin’s take on Netwealth. 

    Thought of the day

    Shares can ‘only’ fall 100%. But they can rise 300%, 1,000% or 5,000%, gains that will absolutely wipe out many losers in your portfolio. The catch is such astronomical returns will take many years, require you holding on during periods of extreme volatility, and need you to avoid the urge to sell a great company simply to lock in a profit.  

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    Scott just revealed what he believes could be the five best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now.

    *Returns as of May 24th 2021

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  • 2 blue chip ASX 200 shares analysts love

    soaring hydrix share price represented by doctor riding on top of heart high up in the clouds

    If you’re looking for blue chip ASX 200 shares to buy, then you might want to look at the ones listed below.

    These shares have strong market positions, robust business models, and positive long term growth potential. Here’s why they have been rated as buys:

    ResMed Inc. (ASX: RMD)

    The first blue chip ASX 200 share to look at is ResMed. It is one of the world’s leading medical device companies with a focus on the sleep treatment market.

    ResMed’s digital health technologies and cloud-connected medical devices transform care for people with sleep apnoea, COPD, and other chronic diseases. In addition to this, its comprehensive out-of-hospital software platforms support caregivers who help people stay healthy in the home or care setting of their choice.

    Combined, this is improving the quality of life of sufferers, reducing the impact of chronic disease, and lowering costs for consumers and healthcare systems.

    With education around sleep disorders increasing, more and more sufferers are seeking treatment options. This puts ResMed in a great position to benefit, which should be supported by the structural shift to home healthcare.

    Credit Suisse is positive on the company and currently has an outperform rating and $29.50 price target on its shares.

    Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES)

    Wesfarmers is the conglomerate that owns and operates a diverse group of businesses across several sectors. This includes Bunnings, Catch, Covalent Lithium, Kmart, Officeworks, and Target. Collectively, these businesses are in fine form in FY 2021, supporting strong sales, profit, and dividend growth.

    The company is also generating strong free cash flow, which is adding to its acquisition firepower.

    In respect to that, according to a recent note out of Goldman Sachs, its analysts believe Wesfarmers has over $8 billion in excess of credit requirements, prior to the Mt Holland development. It feels this gives it a lot of options when it comes to making value accretive acquisitions.

    It is partly because of this that Goldman currently has a buy rating and $59.70 price target on the company’s shares.

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    *Returns as of May 24th 2021

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  • Why the Carpentaria (ASX:CAP) share price soared 20% higher today

    mining asx share price rise represented by female mining exec talking happily on phone

    The Carpentaria Resources Ltd (ASX: CAP) share price has rocketed today after the company provided an update about its flagship project.

    Near the close of trading, the mineral exploration company’s shares are swapping hands for 15 cents apiece, up 20%.

    This comes after a statement to the ASX about its Hawsons Iron Project in New South Wales.

    What did Carpentaria announce?

    Investors are pushing the Carpentaria share price higher following the news of potential development partners stepping up.

    In today’s update, Carpentaria advised it has received significant interest in relation to its product offtake for the Hawsons Project.

    This follows the company’s recent acquisition of its flagship project from Pure Metals.

    According to Carpentaria, the Hawsons project, near Broken Hill, has been identified by independent analysts as the world’s leading undeveloped high-quality iron ore concentrate and pellet feed project.

    A pre-feasibility study completed in 2017 revealed the open pit mine had a probable magnetite iron ore reserve of 755 million tonnes.

    Carpentaria has a 68.69% interest in the project, with the remaining 31.31% owned by Pure Metals.

    Pleasingly, both national and international third parties have signalled their interest to be a preferred offtake partner. Carpentaria said it had begun the process of selecting its development partner for the project.

    Furthermore, Carpentaria noted that negotiations with Mitsui & Co. Ltd have restarted, along with other interested parties.

    Carpentaria executive chair, Mr Bryan Granzien commented:

    Carpentaria has a clear path to development and production and will select its development partners based on a number of criteria.

    A key aim is to unlock the full value of the Hawsons Iron Project, as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible, to the benefit of Carpentaria shareholders

    How has the Carpentaria share price performed?

    Carpentaria shares have performed particularly well since the acquisition announcement in May. While there was not much movement in the 12 months prior, the Carpentaria share price has jumped close to 600%.

    On valuation grounds, Carpentaria commands a market capitalisation of about $76 million, with more than 475 million shares on its registry.

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  • Why the Ramsay Health Care (ASX:RHC) share price tumbled lower today

    worried doctor looking through glass door representing falling share price

    The Ramsay Health Care Limited (ASX: RHC) share price was out of form on Thursday.

    The private hospital operator’s shares fell 3.5% to $62.30.

    Why did the Ramsay share price tumble?

    The Ramsay share price came under pressure on Thursday after the market responded cautiously to the announcement of a new acquisition.

    After the market close on Wednesday, Ramsay announced that it had made an offer of 1 billion pounds (A$1,822 million) to acquire 100% of Spire Healthcare. It is a London Stock Exchange-listed independent hospital group in the United Kingdom with a focus on the private patient market. It is also a leading provider of high-acuity care.

    The Spire Board is unanimously recommending its shareholders vote in favour of the scheme. It also notes that major shareholders and directors, accounting for 30.4% of its shares, have made irrevocable undertakings to vote in its favour.

    Management believes the acquisition will be transformational for Ramsay’s UK business. It also expects to deliver benefits of at least 26 million pounds per annum from procurement savings, improved capacity utilisation, and cessation of UK listing costs. This is forecast to result in high single digit earnings per share accretion in FY 2024.

    What was the response?

    One leading broker that gave the acquisition a lukewarm response was Citi. In response to the news, the broker has held firm with its neutral rating and $67.00 price target.

    Citi notes that the deal will increase its market share in the UK to 25% and is expected to generate decent synergies. However, the broker has some doubts over whether those synergies will be realised.

    Commenting on the acquisition, Citi said: “Guiding to high single digit EPS accretion in FY24 Ramsay Healthcare has announced that it has bid 240p per share for Spire Healthcare Group, a 24% premium to the last close in an agreed deal. This values the equity of Spire at ~£1bn (A$1.822bn) and the EV post AASB16 at £2.064bn.”

    “The combined group would have ~25% of the UK private hospital market, with Spire currently having ~17% market share (~£1bn revenue in CY19) and RHC ~8% market share (~£540m revenue in FY19).”

    “In CY19, Spire reported EBIT of £98m and RHC said its CY19 (pre-exceptional items) EBIT was £42m (but reported £26m in FY19). The company is forecasting “at least” £26m in synergies for the combined group, which seems reasonable on a combined revenue of ~£1.5b, although when Ramsay acquired Capio it made similar statements, and it is not obvious that those synergies have been realised (although in a different market).”

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  • Mosaic (ASX:MOZ) admits dodgy ads on hand sanitiser, masks

    A man at a computers rests his head in his hands with a sanitiser bottle in the foreground

    Retail giant Mosaic Brands Ltd (ASX: MOZ) has paid a $630,000 penalty after admitting to making misleading claims on advertising for hand sanitisers and face masks.

    Mosaic runs more than 1200 clothing stores across Australia under brands such as Katies, Millers, Rivers, Noni B, Autograph and Rockmans.

    The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced Thursday that the company had confessed to breaching Australian Consumer Law (ACL) with misleading advertising for its “Health Essential” hand sanitisers and protective masks.

    The alleged offences occurred at the height of the first wave of COVID-19 in Australia between March and June 2020.

    NoniB’s sanitiser claimed 70% alcohol content, Millers’ sanitiser claims 75% and another sold online claimed they were “WHO-approved”. None of these claims were true.

    “Independent testing of the hand sanitisers commissioned by the ACCC found that one of the sanitisers tested contained an alcohol content of 17% and another had an alcohol content of 58%,” said ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard.

    “This was also below the minimum 60% alcohol concentration recommended by Australian health authorities.”

    Mosaic also advertised its KN95 Kids Safety Masks as “CE/FDA certified” and that KN95 Adult Face Masks were “non-refundable”. Both these claims were false.

    “Our investigation also found that Mosaic Brands’ Kids KN95 mask was not certified by European and US standard authorities as they had advertised,” said Rickard.

    Mosaic did not respond to The Motley Fool’s request for comment. The Mosaic share price was down 1.47% on Thursday afternoon, to trade at 67 cents.

    Mosaic’s ‘outrageous’ ads designed to ‘make a quick buck’

    Consumer advocacy body Choice originally tipped off the ACCC to investigate Mosaic.

    According to Choice campaigner Dean Price, the company is now paying the price for misleading the public at the height of health fears.

    “It’s never ok to make a quick buck by misleading people and Mosaic Brand’s actions were particularly outrageous when people were doing their best to protect themselves from a deadly pandemic,” he said.

    “This action by the ACCC is a win for people and a reminder to businesses that they cannot get away with misleading consumers.”

    Mosaic would have got away with it if it weren’t for the actions of one person.

    “A supporter tipped us off that they didn’t think the hand sanitiser they bought from Mosaic Brands was up to scratch,” Price said.

    “Independent testing that was funded by Choice supporters confirmed their suspicion and led us to make a formal complaint to the ACCC.”

    Refunds for customers

    In addition to paying the fine, Mosaic has entered a court-enforceable undertaking that it would refund customers who bought the affected COVID protective gear.

    The company will identify and contact customers who bought the products to offer a refund — even those who previously were refused.

    The undertaking also compels Mosaic to execute a 3-year program of ACL compliance.

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  • Brokers name 3 ASX shares to buy now

    Australia’s top brokers have been busy adjusting their estimates and recommendations once again. This has led to the release of a number of broker notes.

    Three broker buy ratings that have caught my eye are summarised below. Here’s why brokers think these ASX shares are in the buy zone:

    BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP)

    According to a note out of Macquarie, its analysts have retained their outperform rating and $57.00 price target on this mining giant’s shares. Although the iron ore price has pulled back notably from recent highs, the broker remains positive on miners with exposure to the steel making ingredient. Particularly given the strong free cash flow that BHP is generating at current prices even after recent weakness. This is expected to support generous dividend payments. The BHP share price is currently fetching $46.90.

    Nearmap Ltd (ASX: NEA)

    Analysts at Morgan Stanley have retained their overweight rating and $3.20 price target on this aerial imagery technology and location data company’s shares. According to the note, the broker was pleased to see Nearmap provide more colour on rival Eagleview’s legal claim. It notes that Eagleview’s patent infringement claim relates to roof-management techniques and not all elements of its product. Morgan Stanley estimates that this accounts for less than a quarter of its US business. In addition to this, it points out that the company hasn’t experienced any material sales impacts because of the claim. The Nearmap share price is trading at $1.85 this afternoon.

    Straker Translations Ltd (ASX: STG)

    A note out of Ord Minnett reveals that its analysts have retained their buy rating and lifted their price target on this translation services company’s shares to $2.46. This follows the release of a strong full year result by Straker earlier this week. Ord Minnett believes the company is well placed for growth as trading conditions improve. Particularly given its Lingotek acquisition, which provides cross-selling opportunities. It also sees opportunities for the company to grow through further acquisitions as the industry consolidates. The Straker share price is fetching $2.11 on Thursday.

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    *Returns as of May 24th 2021

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  • Why the Dacian Gold (ASX:DCN) share price is sliding 5% today

    Block of solid Gold and gold coins

    The Dacian Gold Ltd (ASX: DCN) share price is in reverse today following the completion of its fully underwritten placement.

    During afternoon trading, the gold miner’s shares are down 4.92% to 29 cents. In comparison, the All Ordinaries Index (ASX: XAO) is up 0.38% at 7,359 points.

    Details of the placement

    Investors are fleeing today as the company is set to add more shares to its registry, diluting shareholder value.

    According to its announcement, Dacian advised it has successfully completed its fully underwritten two-tranche institutional placement of $40 million. The offer received strong support from both existing and new domestic and international investors.

    The placement sees approximately 142.9 million ordinary shares issued at a price of 28 cents apiece.

    The funds raised will be put towards a number of company initiatives to drive its growth strategy. These include:

    • Accelerating a 300-kilometre drill program across Mt Morgans and Redcliffe, targeting new base load opportunities
    • Advancing the high-grade Redcliffe deposits into production
    • Re-starting underground production from the Greater Westralia Mining Area
    • Funding general working capital.

    Dacian managing director Leigh Junk commented:

    We are very pleased with the equity raising result and thank our existing shareholders for their ongoing support and welcome the new shareholders to the register. Dacian looks forward to pursuing its three-pillar growth strategy, focused on exploration success and advancing further deposits into production.

    In addition to the completed placement, Dacian launched a Share Purchase Plan (SPP) for eligible investors. The SPP will be offered on the same terms as the placement, and will seek to raise $5 million.

    About the Dacian share price

    It has been a rollercoaster ride for Dacian shareholders. The Dacian share price hit a 52-week high of 56.5 cents in early January following positive results from its phase 2 drilling campaign at McKenzie Well, but its shares have lost more than 36% year to date.

    At the current share price, Dacian has a market capitalisation of roughly $235 million, with around 811 million shares outstanding.

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  • Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) job ad sparks Bitcoin rumours among enthusiasts

    bitcoin shirt

    The Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) twittersphere is blowing up today, after Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) posted a job advertisement for a business development manager in “alternative payments”. A specific mention of cryptocurrency has led to speculation spreading like wildfire.

    Ironically, it all sounds quite cryptic – so let’s have a look at the details.

    Partnerships, not development

    The ad, which was posted yesterday on Apple’s website, states that the role is for a person to help lead the charge in partnering with alternative payment partners. That addresses one area of speculation: Apple still doesn’t plan to create its own cryptocurrency.

    Instead, Apple’s wallets, payments, and commerce team is seeking to partner with alternative payment providers. What kind of payment providers? Well, the ad requests more than 5 years of experience working in or with the likes of digital wallets, BNPL, fast payments, and cryptocurrency.

    https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

    It’s probably no coincidence that Apple is rumoured to be working with Coinbase Global Inc (NASDAQ: COIN) to offer Apple Pay integration. An article from Apple Insider on 28 April reported that code found in the Coinbase app indicated that Apple Pay support for its debit card might be coming soon.

    The most recent job listing may relate to working on similar partnerships in the future. However, unfortunately for crypto-enthusiasts, it doesn’t necessarily spell out Bitcoin adoption by Apple.

    Other Bitcoin developments outside Apple

    While the Apple and Bitcoin news is mere speculation, the latest update from Paypal Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: PYPL) regarding the cryptocurrency is factual.

    Paypal will allow users in the near future to withdraw their Bitcoin to move to third-party wallets. While the payments giant has offered purchasing cryptocurrencies since October 2020, withdrawals have not been supported.

    Paypal vice president Jose Fernandez da Ponte said:

    They want to bring their crypto to us so they can use it in commerce, and we want them to be able to take the crypto they acquired with us and take it to the destination of their choice.

    At the time of writing, the price of Bitcoin is hovering around A$48,886. Despite a resurgence in the last week, Bitcoin is still more than 40% off from its all-time high of A$83,819.60 set on 14 April 2021.

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  • ANZ and BHP among ASX 200 shares aiming for 40% female leadership

    Group of executives meeting around a board table

    Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd (ASX: ANZ) and BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) are among the first 10 signatories of the 40:40 Vision gender diversity initiative. The 40:40 Vision initiative aims to see women make up at least 40% of leadership roles in S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) companies. Signatories must commit to reach the goal by 2030.

    They’ve also agreed to publicly set gender targets for 2023 and 2027, disclose plans made to meet said targets, and report their progress each year.

     Also included in the 40:40 Vision’s first 10 ASX 200 signatories are:

    Let’s take a closer look at the 40:40 Vision initiative.

    ASX 200 companies aiming for 40% female leadership

    According to industry super fund HESTA, which oversees the 40:40 Vision initiative, last year, the WGEA and the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre found increasing the amount of female senior managers by 10% led to a 6.6% increase in an ASX-listed company’s market value.

    BHP is already kicking goals gender diversity goals, with 50% of its executive leaders being women.

    Currently, only 4 of ANZ’s 11-strong executive committee are women.

    HESTA’s CEO and 40:40 Vision steering committee chair, Debby Blakey, today welcomed the ASX 200 signatories, saying:

    Changing our national culture cannot be achieved without courageous leadership. This must involve more women in leadership as well as men who value the perspective they bring…

    By creating more equitable and inclusive workplaces, these companies will reap the rewards, because there’s compelling evidence that better gender balance in leadership is not just fairer, but also good for business – resulting in better performance, better profits and better corporate governance.

    ANZ’s CEO Shayne Elliott commented on the bank’s involvement in the 40:40 Vision initiative, saying:

    [By including more women in ANZ’s senior executive team], not only will we continue to attract great talent to our organisation, but our team will better reflect the community we live in, including more women in leadership roles, and committing to the 40:40 Vision helps reinforce that focus

    BHP’s CEO Mike Henry also commented:

    Inclusive, diverse teams are safer, more productive, and make better decisions. They improve performance… BHP has a balanced senior executive team and we support the 40:40 Vision and the goal of achieving gender balanced corporate leadership in Australia.

    Learn where to invest $1,000 right now

    When investing expert Scott Phillips has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for more than eight years has provided thousands of paying members with stock picks that have doubled, tripled or even more.*

    Scott just revealed what he believes could be thefive best ASX stocks for investors to buy right now. These stocks are trading at near dirt-cheap prices and Scott thinks they could be great buys right now.

    *Returns as of May 24th 2021

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