SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS
Principle:
14 Companies should treat all shareholders fairly and equitably, and should recognise, protect and facilitate the exercise of shareholders' rights, and continually review and update such governance arrangements.
Guidelines:
14.1 Companies should facilitate the exercise of ownership rights by all shareholders. In particular, shareholders have the right to be sufficiently informed of changes in the company or its business which would be likely to materially affect the price or value of the company's shares.
14.2 Companies should ensure that shareholders have the opportunity to participate effectively in and vote at general meetings of shareholders. Shareholders should be informed of the rules, including voting procedures, that govern general meetings of shareholders.
14.3 Companies should allow corporations which provide nominee or custodial services to appoint more than two proxies so that shareholders who hold shares through such corporations can attend and participate in general meetings as proxies.
COMMUNICATION WITH SHAREHOLDERS
Principle:
15 Companies should actively engage their shareholders and put in place an investor relations policy to promote regular, effective and fair communication with shareholders.
Guidelines:
15.1 Companies should devise an effective investor relations policy to regularly convey pertinent informationto shareholders. In disclosing information, companies should be as descriptive, detailed and forthcoming as possible, and avoid boilerplate disclosures.
15.2 Companies should disclose information on a timely basis through SGXNET and other information channels, including a well-maintained and updated corporate website. Where there is inadvertent disclosure made to a select group, companies should make the same disclosure publicly to all others as promptly as possible
15.3 The Board should establish and maintain regular dialogue with shareholders, to gather views or inputs, and address shareholders' concerns.
15.4 The Board should state in the company's Annual Report the steps it has taken to solicit and understand the views of the shareholders e.g. through analyst briefings, investor roadshows or Investors' Day briefings.
15.5 Companies are encouraged to have a policy on payment of dividends and should communicate it to shareholders. Where dividends are not paid, companies should disclose their reasons.
CONDUCT OF SHAREHOLDER MEETINGS
Principle:
16 Companies should encourage greater shareholder participation at general meetings of shareholders, and allow shareholders the opportunity to communicate their views on various matters affecting the company.
Guidelines:
16.1 Shareholders should have the opportunity to participate effectively in and to vote at general meetings of shareholders. Companies should make the appropriate provisions in their Articles of Association (or other constitutive documents) to allow for absentia voting at general meetings of shareholders.
16.2 There should be separate resolutions at general meetings on each substantially separate issue. Companies should avoid "bundling" resolutions unless the resolutions are interdependent and linked so as to form one significant proposal.
16.3 All directors should attend general meetings of shareholders. In particular, the Chairman of the Board and the respective Chairman of the AC, NC and RC should be present and available to address shareholders' queries at these meetings. The external auditors should also be present to address shareholders' queries about the conduct of audit and the preparation and content of the auditors' report.
16.4 Companies should prepare minutes of general meetings that include substantial and relevant comments or queries from shareholders relating to the agenda of the meeting, and responses from the Board and Management, and to make these minutes available to shareholders upon their request.
16.5 Companies should put all resolutions to vote by poll and make an announcement of the detailed results showing the number of votes cast for and against each resolution and the respective percentages. Companies are encouraged to employ electronic polling.