Hermes EOS, the executive arm of the UK's BT Pension Scheme, advises institutional investors on corporate governance issues and has £50bn of assets under stewardship.
In spite of south-east Asia's reputation for poor corporate transparency, “the region offers enough companies that have the ability and will to improve corporate governance and make them attractive to international investors,” said Colin Melvin, chief executive of EOS. “We believe that their valuation could increase by 25 per cent if they take the necessary steps.”
Some 20-30 medium-sized listed companies in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines will be selected by EOS in partnership with Kuala Lumpur-based Corston-Smith Asset Management.