CGS International Securities Singapore Pte. Ltd. receives honours at SBR Management Excellence Awards 2024

The financial services provider bagged a total of three wins, two of which applauded the company’s CEO and investment banking team.

CGS International Securities Singapore (CGS SG) emerged as the winner in the Executive of the Year – Brokerage, Team of the Year - Investment Banking, and Employee Engagement of the Year – Financial Services categories at SBR Management Excellence Awards 2024.

The Executive of the Year accolade recognises CGS SG’s CEO, Malcolm Koo, whose leadership has solidified the company’s position as the top equities broker by trading volume and as a leading commodities broker on the Singapore Exchange (SGX).

Under Koo's direction, the company has achieved a series of significant milestones, further strengthening its market presence and reputation across Southeast Asia.

Koo has been instrumental in leading CGS SG’s growth following China Galaxy Securities' acquisition of CGS International (CGSI). His leadership led to a successful rebranding of the Singapore office, aligning the firm’s offerings with the group’s long-term vision of becoming Asia’s global investment house.

Koo has also played a pivotal role in expanding CGS SG’s service offerings. The firm now provides an enhanced suite of services, including private client services and investment banking, which have helped diversify the company's revenue streams and position CGS SG for future growth.

Moreover, CGS SG’s approach to investment solutions under Koo’s leadership has further boosted its reputation in the financial industry. In 2023, the firm launched several exchange-traded funds (ETFs), including the CGS Fullgoal CSI 1000 ETF, which gives investors exclusive access to China’s small-cap stocks, and the CGS Fullgoal Vietnam 30 Sector Cap ETF, SGX’s first ETF focussed on Vietnam’s rapidly growing market.

Another significant achievement was the launch of the CSOP CGS-CIMB FTSE Asia Pacific Low Carbon Index ETF1 in 2022, the first low-carbon ETF in the Asia Pacific region for both developed and emerging markets. The ETF debuted with an impressive AUM of SG$150m, making it the largest equity ETF to launch on SGX.

CGS SG has also made impressive strides in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), with Koo as chair of the ESG Workgroup at SGX. It has partnered with a social service agency and organisation to launch an innovative Financial Literacy and Dementia Support Programme, aimed at improving financial literacy and providing dementia support for the community.

Meanwhile, the company’s Team of the Year award recognised its Investment Banking (IB) team. The team was established in Singapore in 2021 with just two staff and has since grown to a team of 14 by October 2024. CGSI’s IB division has obtained key regulatory approvals, including the “Advising on Corporate Finance” licence under the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) capital market services licence in March 2022, and SGX accreditation as an Issue Manager (IM) and Financial Adviser for IPOs and RTOs in May 2023.

CGS International’s regional offices in Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand have also received full IB licences and have successfully completed several notable transactions.

The team has also made significant strides despite challenging market conditions. The firm successfully executed a range of equity capital market (ECM) transactions, corporate finance deals, and listing services in a short period. Notably, CGS SG was the sole placement agent in Singapore’s largest non-REIT placement of 2024 and the only issue manager to complete an SGX Mainboard listing for the first 10 months of 2024.

The growth of CGS International’s IB team, along with the expansion of its regional presence, highlights the firm’s ability to provide innovative solutions and execute complex transactions across Southeast Asia.
The SBR Management Excellence Awards recognises the most exceptional business leaders, innovators, teams, and initiatives that drive growth and make a positive impact on both the business operations and its workforce in Singapore.

The awards programme, now in its 10th year, acknowledges positive change and honours those who have successfully propelled their companies to new heights of success whilst fostering a nurturing environment that positively influences their employees.

¹With effect from 5 December 2024, the ETF has been renamed to CSOP FTSE Asia Pacific Low Carbon Index ETF.

The SBR Management Excellence Awards is presented by Singapore Business Review Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2025 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's employee engagements and management initiatives, please contact Julie Anne Nuñez at [email protected].