Investor Relations

We are dedicated to fostering long- term relationships with our investors, analysts and media through consistent engagement across multiple channels. Wilmar’s Investor Relations (IR) team ensures that stakeholders are equipped with timely and accurate information on the Group’s financial performance, strategic direction and business developments to assist them in making informed investment decisions.

ENGAGING WITH THE INVESTMENT COMMUNITY VIRTUALLY

Despite the challenges brought about by the outbreak of Covid-19, the IR team strived to maintain our level of engagement with our stakeholders, moving our meetings online. During the year, management and the IR team engaged with over 200 investors via one-on-one conference calls, group video and teleconferences, virtual investor conferences, analyst meetings and results briefings. These events provide a platform for existing and potential investors to interact and have meaningful discussions with Senior Management on the Group’s strategic direction, industry trends, sustainability issues and financial performance. Investors who do not attend these conferences are also able to have their immediate concerns addressed via e-mails or phone calls in a prompt and accurate manner.

Amidst the pandemic, we held our inaugural virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 12 June 2020. The Chief Financial Officer provided insights into the Group’s business operations, progress and financial highlights in the past year. The Board of Directors as well as the Senior Management also joined the AGM as panelists to address any queries and concerns raised by shareholders.

Our efforts to reach out to the retail investing community also include a long-term sponsorship of the Securities Investors Association (Singapore) (SIAS). This sponsorship helps to support a wide variety of programmes such as investor education, corporate actions and membership drive.

We continue to build on the relationships with sell-side research analysts and have 14 analysts providing regular coverage on Wilmar.

IR Resources

The IR website is a key resource for corporate and stock information, financial data, policies, financial results, annual reports and significant business developments. All disclosures submitted to the Singapore Exchange (SGX) are uploaded to the Investors & Media section of the Group’s corporate website in a timely and consistent manner. Members of the investment community can also subscribe to our e-mail alerts and request for information through the website.

FOCUS ON ESG INVESTING

We continue to see greater emphasis on environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations amongst investors and in their decision-making process. The IR team works in tandem with the Group’s Sustainability team to keep stakeholders up to date on our sustainability endeavours. Resource materials such as sustainability briefs on various programmes, the annual sustainability report as well as important updates on sustainability-related topics are made available on the Group’s Sustainability Dashboard. We also regularly engage with proxy providers and ESG rating agencies to understand their voting requirements and ensure timeliness and accuracy of ESG data reported.

CHINA IPO

Our Chinese subsidiary, Yihai Kerry Arawana Holdings Co., Ltd (YKA) was successfully listed and commenced trading on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE) ChiNext Board on 15 October 2020. Net proceeds amounting to US$2.02 billion were received from the new YKA shares issued in connection with its initial public offering of 10% of the enlarged share capital of YKA.

Having established a strong presence in China of over 30 years, the listing will allow YKA to accelerate its growth in its homeland which we believe will become the world’s largest and most sophisticated food market.

With effect from 29 October 2020, YKA was added to the MSCI China All Share Index. YKA was also included in the Shenzhen-Hong Kong Stock Connect, SZSE Component Index, ChiNext Index and SZSE 100 Index with effect from 14 December 2020. As of the close of 26 February 2021, YKA was added to the MSCI Global Standard Index.

Our investment in key growth areas such as consumer products, rice and flour businesses will continue to enhance long-term shareholder value. The Group’s resilient integrated business model has proven to be effective amidst macroeconomic uncertainty and fluctuations in commodity prices in recent years. We believe our integrated business model will help to achieve long term sustainable growth.

In FY2020, we bought back about S$190 million of Wilmar shares, the second highest buyback consideration on the Singapore Exchange during the year. To commemorate the successful listing of YKA, we are proposing a special dividend of 6.5 Singapore cents per share. This is in addition to the dividend of 13 Singapore cents per share. In total, we are proposing a cash dividend of 19.5 Singapore cents per share for the year, the highest since the Group’s listing.