Institutional investors see two telcos, three banks & Sime Darby among best M'sian firms in SEA poll

by **Cals** Tue 17 Jun 2014, 01:13

Business & Markets 2014

Written by Bernama

Monday, 16 June 2014 11:17

KUALA LUMPUR (June 16): Today, Alpha Southeast Asia revealed the results of their fourth annual poll to find Southeast Asia's top companies.

The awards are based on tallied votes among 477 investors, pension funds, hedge funds, equity and fixed income brokers and analysts with investment interests in the Southeast Asia region.

Listed-companies in Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines were ranked according to institutional investors’ perceptions of their performance in financial management, adherence to corporate governance, integrated reporting/ corporate social responsibility and investor relations.

In Malaysia, the six leading companies with the best perception among investors include regional powerhouses CIMB Group, Maybank and Public Bank, telecom giants TM and Axiata as well as diversified multinational conglomerate Sime Darby.

Ms. Tong Poh Keow, CFO, Sime Darby was voted the Best CFO in Malaysia.

Across the region, the award for the Strongest Commitment to Sustainable Energy in Southeast Asia went to Thailand’s leading integrated energy company Thai Oil for the third consecutive year.

Best CFO in Southeast Asia went to Bank Mandiri’s Group CFO Pahala Mansury, responsible for managing the financial resources of its growing domestic and regional footprint.

Conversely, MAS Airlines, SP Setia and Petronas Dagangan did not score so highly with investors due to “perceived” poor management access and unpredictable investor relations' strategy.

Results for Malaysia are as follows (ranked according to most # of votes):

* Most organized investor relations (IR): Maybank (#1), CIMB (#2), TM (#3)
* Best Senior Management IR Support: Sime Darby (#1), Maybank (#2), TM (#3)
* Strongest Adherence to Corporate Governance: CIMB (#1), Maybank (#2), Axiata
(32)
* Most Consistent Dividend Policy: Axiata (#1), Maybank (#2), Public Bank (#3)
* Best Strategic CSR: Sime Darby (#1), TM (#2), Maybank (#3)
* Best CFO in Malaysia: Ms. Tong Poh Keow, CFO, Sime Darby
* Best Annual Report in Malaysia: TM

Alpha Southeast Asia Magazine is now in its eighth year of publication.

Alpha Southeast Asia, published 10 times a year - is the first and only Hong Kong-based institutional investment magazine focused on Southeast Asia's banking and capital markets, written for professional investors and corporates.