Commentaries

Commentary: Privatisation offers too often a dilemma for shareholders

First published in Straits Times on 27 March 2023 Over the past decade, thanks to low interest rates, depressed valuations and poor liquidity, takeover-cum-privatisation exercises have become commonplace in the local stock market. Many well-known companies such as Osim International, Koufu, Eu...

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Commentary: Shareholder-Board dispute resolution should be in the Boardroom, not the Courtroom

Over the past few years, there have been several disputes between minority shareholders of mainly smaller companies and the Board of Directors of those companies. Most of these revolved around dissatisfaction with the direction...

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Commentary: SATS and WFS – short-term pain, long-term gains

When a company announces a significantly large purchase that requires a rights issue to help raise the money to pay for the deal, the market’s knee-jerk reaction is usually to sell the shares,...

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Commentary: Why investors should look at companies’ dividend policies

First published in Straits Times on 11 December 2022 The average Singaporean shareholder used to be keen on only two things when attending annual general meetings (AGMs) – free food and asking for more dividends. That has now changed. According to many...

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Commentary: MAS proposals on the right track, but retail investors should still steer clear of crypto

First published in Straits Times on 16 November 2022 In the light of the collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange, the recent proposals of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to reduce risks of crypto trading take...

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Commentary: Local market would benefit from companies having a formal statement of purpose

First published in Business Times on 19 October 2022 Shareholders hoping to learn about a listed company would invariably head to that company’s website and look under the “About Us” section. Here, most companies would include their mission statement outlining the...

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Commentary: Serious Lapses In Corporate Governance Practices In Incredible Holdings Ltd And Watches.com Ltd

If companies consistently practise poor corporate governance, are repeatedly queried by the Singapore Exchange (SGX) over some of their business deals which had also been flagged by their external auditors and then increase the salaries of their senior management despite...

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Commentary: Good corporate governance is about achieving the right blend

First published in Business Times on 9 May 2022 Much of what constitutes good corporate governance involves issues that are not new. Proper and timely disclosure of material information, ensuring directors discharge their fiduciary duties to shareholders whilst overseeing management, and...

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Commentary: What can be done to avoid repeat of 2013’s penny stock crash in S’pore

First published in Straits Times on 8 May 2022 The penny stock crash of 2013 must surely rank as one of the darkest chapters in the annals of the local market, given that it wiped out more than $8 billion in...

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Commentary: Quarz has a case for opposing appointment of director, but other objections not as clear-cut

First published in Business Times on 18 March 2022 Shareholders regularly have to vote on various corporate actions either at annual general meetings (AGMs) or extraordinary general meetings (EGMs). Sometimes, the issues at hand are fairly routine - such as the reappointment...

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