Bursa Malaysia to Enhance Listed Company Value

Bursa Malaysia is implementing new measures to increase the value of its listed companies and attract international investors. CEO Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift revealed in an interview with Bloomberg that the stock exchange is developing a new framework to achieve these objectives.

The initiative will focus on boosting shareholder returns by setting performance benchmarks for companies based on key financial metrics, including price-to-earnings ratio, return on equity, and free float. Companies falling short of these targets will receive guidance from Bursa Malaysia, which will work closely with their boards to identify areas for improvement and enhance market performance.

Looking ahead, Bursa Malaysia is targeting 50 initial public offerings (IPOs) in 2025, up from the 42 expected this year. Muhamad Umar highlighted a strong pipeline of upcoming listings, particularly in the healthcare and telecommunications sectors.

The exchange is also working to attract more regional companies, particularly from Singapore, to consider dual listings or raising capital in Kuala Lumpur. This move would further elevate the profile of Malaysia’s equity market on the global stage.

Additionally, regulatory changes are being introduced to expedite the IPO process, cutting the application timeline from six months to three. This is expected to encourage more companies to pursue public listings on Bursa Malaysia.