English

12 May 2017

VOICE OF MSWG

NEW LICENCE FOR DIGITAL INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SERVICES

With effect from 9 May 2017, fund management companies offering automated discretionary portfolio management services will have to apply from the Securities Commission (SC) for a licence to operate. A new digital framework introduced by the SC sets out the licensing requirements and rules of conduct. Among the requirements are requisite technology capabilities, risk management and cyber security resilience and appropriate management strategy & policies.

It is hoped that this will result in increasing the cost-efficiency of the fund-management and thus benefiting investors. With lower cost complemented by “risk-aversion”, private unit trusts may be a viable alternative.

06 May 2017

MSWG’S QUICK TAKE ON ONGOING CORPORATE DEVELOPMENTS

UNITED PLANTATIONS BERHAD (“UPB”)

The Audit Committee Report in the 2016 Annual Report of UPB reported an issue highlighted by the authorities on an appearance of potential conflict of interest in the trading of derivatives in that an Executive Director who has been authorised to trade on behalf of the company in Crude Palm Oil (CPO) Futures also in his personal capacity entered into trades on such derivatives.

[Source: UPB’s Annual Report 2016]

MSWG’S COMMENTS:

Over the years, UPB had been regarded as a good company in the eyes of the shareholders for consistent delivery of decent dividends to the shareholders and double digit ‘Return on Equity’ as well as good share price performance. We are encouraged to note that the shareholders are showing concern on the corporate governance conduct of the Board besides the financial performance of the Company.