SGX best performers boosted by M&As as companies restructure, go private

MERGER and acquisition activity stood out as a theme for Singapore-listed companies this year, with many stocks moving due to general offers and restructurings. Some saw their prices rise on the back of such corporate action, but several deals were also poorly received.

Among the counters with a market capitalisation of at least S$300 million, the majority of the top 10 gainers for the year to Dec 14 (excluding real estate investment trusts) had some help from takeover or merger deals. But better operational circumstances helped too.

Golden Energy and Resources (Gear), for instance, proposed an exit from its thermal coal business and a delisting from the Singapore Exchange with an offer, following which the stock shot up 18.6 per cent.