Two training grants of up to S$15,000 and S$200,000 per company will be made available
[SINGAPORE] Industry players say training grants are important for companies to engage their investors more effectively.
The grants are a key plank of the “Value Unlock” programme launched by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Singapore Exchange (SGX) on Wednesday (Nov 19).
The initiative was first mentioned by National Development Minister and MAS deputy chairman Chee Hong Tat in October, with the aim of improving shareholder value.
The programme comprises S$30 million in funding across two grants from MAS’ Financial Sector Development Fund designed to build corporate capabilities in strategy, capital optimisation, and investor relations.
Listed companies can tap the Equip Grant, which provides up to S$15,000 per listed company to co-fund training and capacity-building initiatives in areas such as investor relations, media skills, corporate strategy, or financial management. Eligible companies are required to participate in investor or media engagement events or maintain an active presence on digital platforms.
For firms pursuing more extensive strategies, another grant named Elevate offers up to S$200,000 to co-fund professional services, including consulting in investor relations, corporate strategy, or financial management.
However, companies applying for the Elevate Grant are expected to publish their plans and targets and disclose their progress publicly.
Together, the Equip and Elevate Grants are designed to support listed companies at different stages of strategic development. Firms may apply for one or both grants depending on their specific needs and growth objectives.
Veteran investor Ang Hao Yao hopes to see more companies leveraging this package, given that many asset-rich listed companies in Singapore continue to trade at substantial discounts to their net asset value.
“Their shareholders stand to benefit if these firms take advantage of the programme to conduct strategic reviews and enhance capital efficiency,” he noted.
Stefanie Yuen Thio, joint managing partner at TSMP Law, said that her firm has already noticed rising interest from IPO (initial public offering) aspirants amid increased activity in Singapore’s stock markets.
“In order to sustain this momentum we need to help good-quality companies up their game in related skills like investor relations (and) that is where the new ‘Value Unlock’ initiative comes in,” she added.
Luke Lim, chairman of Securities Association of Singapore, noted that the initiative addresses long-standing feedback that, while Singapore-listed companies are generally well-managed and financially sound, there is still room to improve investor engagement. He added: “We can expect more Singapore chief executive officers to step forward with polished, compelling equity stories.”
Lim also expects brokers to play a more active role in the market, engaging with more companies, curating insights, and helping investors compare opportunities. This increased involvement would ensure that capital is directed toward the “best-performing and most promising businesses”, he said.
Similarly, Changqi Ong, Asean equity portfolio manager at JP Morgan Asset Management, said that the ‘Value Unlock” programme encourages proactive and transparent communication. She sees it helping listed companies to “better articulate their growth strategies and engage investors with greater consistency and impact”.
Critical areas
On the investor relations front, Ang expects greater outreach from companies through more communication channels and clearer messaging. “This enhanced transparency will empower investors to make more informed decisions,” he felt.
Thio, meanwhile, pointed out that many companies perform well operationally but struggle to communicate effectively with the market. “This means they don’t have the investor interest their performance deserves.”
She added that some firms, while strong in day-to-day operations, have not focused enough on critical areas such as upskilling, strategic planning, and succession management.
However, Thio stressed that training and support must be of high quality especially at this early stage.
Investor relations, she pointed out, is not just about having a representative with media contacts draft template announcements; it also involves clearly explaining business strategies and demonstrating progress over time. “I hope to see well-planned and executed workshops of best-in-class trainers help the smaller companies bridge the gap,” Thio added.
Terence Quek, chief executive officer of the Singapore Institute of Directors (SID), said that the institute will offer a complementary series of programmes. It will help directors strengthen competencies in corporate strategy, capital optimisation, and investor relations and stakeholder engagement.
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