This survey covers the performance of the top companies in 10 countries in Asia. Investors and other executives from financial centers such as Hong Kong, Singapore, New York and London are among those who participated in this survey. We had 497 votes.
Best Managed Company, Most Committed to Shareholder Value, Best in Investor Relations - Singapore Airlines
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Best Managed Company | ||
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Rank | Company | Votes |
1 | Singapore Airlines | 66 |
2 | Datacraft Asia | 12 |
3 | DBS | 10 |
4 | Singapore Technologies Engg | 9 |
5 | Chartered Semiconductors | 6 |
5 | Overseas Union Bank | 6 |
7 | Singapore Press Holdings | 5 |
8 | Venture Manufacturing | 4 |
9 | City Development | 2 |
9 | Natsteel Electronics | 2 |
9 | OCBC Bank | 2 |
9 | United Overseas Bank | 2 |
9 | Creative Technology | 2 |
9 | Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) | 2 |
9 | Noble Group Limited | 2 |
9 | Singapore Telecom | 2 |
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Best in Investor Relations | ||
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Rank | Company | Votes |
1 | Singapore Airlines | 33 |
2 | DBS | 22 |
3 | Chartered Semiconductors | 13 |
4 | Datacraft Asia | 10 |
4 | Singapore Press Holdings | 10 |
6 | Singapore Technologies Engg | 9 |
7 | Singapore Telecom | 8 |
8 | Keppel Capital Holdings | 5 |
8 | Natsteel Electronics | 5 |
10 | OCBC Bank | 3 |
11 | Overseas Union Bank | 2 |
11 | Sembcorp Industries | 2 |
11 | Star Cruises | 2 |
14 | United Overseas Bank | 1 |
14 | Venture Manufacturing | 1 |
14 | Noble Group Limited | 1 |
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Commitment to Shareholder Value | ||
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Rank | Company | Votes |
1 | Singapore Airlines | 27 |
2 | Singapore Telecom | 13 |
3 | DBS | 10 |
4 | Singapore Technologies Engg | 7 |
5 | Chartered Semiconductors | 6 |
5 | Natsteel Electronics | 6 |
7 | Singapore Press Holdings | 5 |
8 | Datacraft Asia | 4 |
9 | Venture Manufacturing | 3 |
10 | City Development | 2 |
10 | Keppel Capital Holdings | 2 |
10 | OCBC Bank | 2 |
10 | United Overseas Bank | 2 |
10 | Creative Technology | 2 |
10 | Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) | 2 |
10 | Noble Group Limited | 2 |
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Singapore Airlines mopped up the most votes in three out of the four categories surveyed.
The same passenger approval that puts the airline at the top of travel magazine ratings manifests itself in a nearly S$2 billion balance sheet that allowed the airline to continue investing and making acquisitions even as other companies struggled during Asia's economic crisis.
It was able to cut costs as the government reduced contributions to the national pension plan and the Singapore airport lowered landing fees.
In the first half of the year ended 30 September 2000, the company's profit doubled to S$1.14 billion ($650 million) as higher passenger sales offset higher fuel prices. It boosted its dividend to 15 cents a share compared with 10 cents for the year-earlier period, and used the decline in its share price to buy back shares, a popular move among survey voters.
Poll respondents also felt the airline's forthright approach to the crash of an aircraft in Taipei was a boost for its investor relations ability.
Several business-class road warriors also expressed their fondness for the airline's branding strategy, particularly its memorable 'Singapore Girl'.
Best E-commerce Strategy - DBS Group
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Best E-commerce Strategy | ||
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Rank | Company | Votes |
1 | DBS | 24 |
2 | Singapore Airlines | 14 |
3 | Singapore Press Holdings | 11 |
4 | OCBC Bank | 8 |
5 | Datacraft Asia | 7 |
5 | Natsteel Electronics | 7 |
7 | Singapore Telecom | 6 |
8 | Singapore Technologies Engg | 4 |
8 | United Overseas Bank | 4 |
10 | Chartered Semiconductors | 2 |
11 | ECNet | 1 |
11 | Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) | 1 |
11 | Noble Group Limited | 1 |
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DBS Group, Southeast Asia's largest bank, is considered by voters to have the Best E-commerce Strategy in Singapore. In September last year the group's securities unit, DBS Securities, launched its www.dbssecurities.com website, an online trading service that also provides investors with market news and research. "We aim to create a new model of full-service electronic brokerage," said Chong Chin Cheong, DBS Securities' managing director, at the time of the launch.
It is also going after new straight-through processing technology and has introduced a direct debit online payment services.
Voters commented upon the reasons behind this success: a focus on innovation and clear strategic thinking. "They are efficient and driven not by politics but by shareholder value maximization," says a respondent.
The results of this poll first appeared in the April issue of FinanceAsia magazine. To buy a copy please send an e-mail to: [email protected].
