Market's view on the new SGX rules
New SGX rules welcome but much more to be done
The Singapore Exchange (SGX) has announced it would introduce new rules to promote greater transparency at general meetings and encourage greater participation by shareholders of listed companies and trusts.
This is a step in the right direction. Indeed, the call for all general meetings to be held in Singapore from the beginning of next year, except where the laws prevent companies from doing so, is long overdue.
Where there are legal constraints to holding meetings in Singapore, the SGX has called on such companies to provide alternative modes of engagement, such as webcasts, so that shareholders can meet up with board members and senior management.
This should apply to companies like Thailand’s Total Access Communication (TAC) and Thai Beverage, which under Thai law have to hold meetings in their home base. But under current rules, Singapore shareholders of these two companies are represented by the Central Depositary (CDP), which is neither obliged to vote nor to attend meetings on behalf of shareholders of the foreign securities
http://www.todayonline.com/business/new-...re-be-done