OREANDA-NEWS. The Code of Corporate Governance 2012 was introduced three years ago. The Code provides principles and guidelines to listed companies and their Boards to spur them towards a high standard of corporate governance. The Code provides guiding principles on board matters, remuneration matters, and accountability and audit, in addition to shareholder rights and responsibilities. 

Last week, rankings of the 100 largest  listed companies in Singapore under the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard 2014-2015 were unveiled. This scorecard is an initiative of the Asian Development Bank.

According to Singapore Institute of Directors (SID) and Centre for Corporate Governance, Institutions and Organisations (CGIO) at NUS Business School, National University of Singapore, the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (Scorecard) measures the corporate governance performance of companies in five major areas:

  1. Rights of shareholders
  2. Equitable treatment of shareholders
  3. Role of stakeholders
  4. Disclosure and transparency
  5. Responsibilities of the board

Of the 100 largest SGX-listed companies ranked in the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard for 2014-15, there were 11 companies that have significant exposure to the China market.

The 11 companies – in order of their ranking – were Biosensors International Group, China Aviation Oil (Singapore) Corporation, China Fishery Group, Hyflux, Yanlord Land Group, COSCO Corporation (Singapore), Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (Holdings), China New Town Development Company, SIIC Environment Holdings, United Envirotech, and China Merchants Holdings (Pacific). Four of the companies are in Industrials, two are in both Utilities and Financials, while the rest are in the Healthcare, Energy and Consumer Staples sector.

These 11 stocks have a combined market capitalisation of S\$17.9 billion and averaged a 17.5% price gain in the year thus far. The YTD price performances range from 55.8% advance for SIIC Environment Holdings to a decline of 29.3% for China Fishery Group. They also maintain an average dividend yield of 2.6%, with yields ranging from 0.4% to 8.9%.

Source: SGX StockFacts (Data as of 6 May 2015)

Biosensors International Group

Biosensors International Group develops, manufactures, and markets various medical devices for interventional cardiology and critical care procedures in China, Japan, and internationally. The company operates in four segments: Interventional Cardiology, Critical Care, Cardiac Diagnostic, and Licensing Revenue. The company was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Singapore. Biosensors International Group has a market capitalisation of S\$1,346.1 million and the stock trades at a price-earnings ratio of 36.6.

China Aviation Oil (Singapore) Corporation

China Aviation Oil (Singapore) Corporation engages in the trading of aviation oil and petroleum products. It operates in three segments: Middle Distillates, Other Oil Products, and Investments in Oil-Related Assets. The company was incorporated in 1993 and is based in Singapore. China Aviation Oil (Singapore) Corporation is a subsidiary of China National Aviation Fuel Group Corporation. China Aviation Oil (Singapore) Corporation has a market capitalisation of S\$705.4 million and the stock trades at a price-earnings ratio of 11.7.

China Fishery Group

China Fishery Group sources, harvests, onboard-processes, and delivers fishes worldwide. It operates in three segments: Contract Supply Business, Peruvian Fishmeal, and China Fishery Fleet. China Fishery Group was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. The company is a subsidiary of Super Investment Limited. China Fishery Group has a market capitalisation of S\$392.9 million and the stock trades at a price-earnings ratio of 4.9.

Hyflux provides integrated water management and environmental solutions worldwide. It operates through two segments, Municipal and Industrial. Hyflux was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Singapore. Hyflux has a market capitalisation of S\$746.4 million and the stock trades at a price-earnings ratio of 55.8.

Yanlord Land Group

Yanlord Land Group invests in, develops, and manages real estate properties in the People's Republic of China. The company operates through Property Development, Property Investment, and Others segments. The company was founded in 1993 and is based in Singapore. Yanlord Land Group is a subsidiary of Yanlord Holdings Pte. Ltd. Yanlord Land Group has a market capitalisation of S\$2,319.0 million and the stock trades at a price-earnings ratio of 8.0.

COSCO Corporation (Singapore)

COSCO Corporation (Singapore) provides ship repairing, ship building, and marine engineering services primarily in the People’s Republic of China and Singapore. The company’s services include ship repair, conversion, and jumbolisation; new builds; and oil rig repair and construction services. The company was incorporated in 1961 and is based in Singapore. COSCO Corporation (Singapore) is a subsidiary of China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company. COSCO Corporation (Singapore) has a market capitalisation of S\$1,198.0 million and the stock trades at a price-to-book value of 0.9.

Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (Holdings)

Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (Holdings) provides agency services for ship building and related activities. It produces a range of commercial vessels, such as containerships, bulk carriers, and LNG vessels; and undertakes offshore engineering projects. The company operates in the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, Germany, other European countries, Other Asian countries, Canada, and the United States. Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (Holdings) was founded in 1956 and is based in Jingjiang, China. Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (Holdings) has a market capitalisation of S\$5,422.1 million and the stock trades at a price-earnings ratio of 7.2.

China New Town Development Company

China New Town Development Company plans and develops large-scale new town projects in the suburbs of large cities in the People’s Republic of China. The company operates through Land Development, Property Development, Property Leasing, Hotel Operations, Golf Operations, and Others segments. The company was founded in 2002 and is based in Central, Hong Kong. China New Town Development Company has a market capitalisation of S\$758.2 million and the stock trades at a price-earnings ratio of 34.9.

SIIC Environment Holdings

SIIC Environment Holdings engages in waste water treatment and water supply business in the People’s Republic of China and Singapore. It operates through three segments; Construction, Water Treatment and Water Supply, and Waste Incineration. The company was formerly known as Asia Water Technology and changed its name to SIIC Environment Holdings in November 2012. The company was incorporated in 2002 and is based in Singapore. SIIC Environment Holdings is a subsidiary of S.I. Infrastructure Holdings Limited. SIIC Environment Holdings has a market capitalisation of S\$2,061.7 million and the stock trades at a price-earnings ratio of 35.2.

United Envirotech

United Envirotech provides environmental engineering services primarily in the People’s Republic of China and Malaysia. It operates through two segments, Engineering and Treatment. The company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Singapore. United Envirotech has a market capitalisation of S\$1,714.8 million and the stock trades at a price-earnings ratio of 33.7.

China Merchants Holdings (Pacific)

China Merchants Holdings (Pacific) invests in, manages, and operates toll roads in the People’s Republic of China. The company operates through two segments, Toll Road Operations and Property Development. The company was formerly known as China Everbright Pacific and changed its name to China Merchants Holdings (Pacific) in 2001. The company was incorporated in 1981 and is based in Singapore. China Merchants Holdings (Pacific) is a subsidiary of Easton Overseas Limited. China Merchants Holdings (Pacific) has a market capitalisation of S\$1,187.0 million and the stock trades at a price-earnings ratio of 10.2.