SGX needs to rein in delistings

LAST week's privatisation bid for Wheelock Properties (Singapore) would bring the year's tally of delistings to more than S$27 billion if it is successful. The tally includes Global Logistic Properties, a S$16 billion juggernaut which officially delisted in January this year.

There is also a handful of smaller firms still in the process of being privatised and delisted - such as Vard Holdings, Weiye Holdings and Lee Metal - which would result in approximately S$800 million in market value that would be erased from the local bourse in due time.

These numbers overwhelm when considered against the mere S$682 million raised on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) this year, and S$2.6 billion in new market value added to the bourse through initial public offerings (IPOs). The most sizeable listings this year include Sasseur Reit (S$1.3 billion), Koufu Group (S$350 million) and PropNex Limited (S$240.5 million).