PASAY CITY, Philippines, Nov. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- SM Investments Corporation, the parent company of the SM Group, received the Five Golden Arrow Award from the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) for the third consecutive year, achieving the highest rating under the corporate governance awards program.
SM Prime Holdings, Inc. and China Banking Corporation (Chinabank) received Five Golden Arrows while BDO Unibank, Inc. and Belle Corporation received the 4 Golden Arrows.
The awards assess how companies protect shareholder rights, disclose material information and provide effective board oversight. The 2026 recognition is based on the 2025 ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard assessment.
"We aim to continuously create long-term value for our stakeholders, and strong governance is central to that," said Amando M. Tetangco Jr., Chairman of the Board, SM Investments.
SM Investments' Board is led by an independent Chairman. Tetangco is the first independent Chairman of the company, and a former two-term Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
The Board oversees the parent company's strategy, risk management and major investment decisions across its interests in retail, banking, property and portfolio businesses. This oversight supports decisions on where to invest, how to manage financial obligations, and how much cash to return to shareholders. The operating companies retain their own boards and management teams, accountable for their respective businesses.
"The achievement reflects SM Investments' continuing commitment to integrity, transparency, accountability and responsible stewardship, with sound corporate governance serving as a foundation for sustainable growth and long-term stakeholder value," said SM Investments President and CEO Frederic C. DyBuncio.
The ACGS assessment covers shareholder rights and equitable treatment, sustainability and resilience, stakeholder relations, transparency and accountability through timely disclosure, and the Board's strategic guidance and accountability. It provides investors with a basis for comparing corporate governance practices.
The recognition comes as SM marks 68 years since the opening of its first Shoemart store. As the businesses have grown, the founder's values of trust and integrity have remained a foundation for how the Group is governed.
About SM Investments Corporation
SM Investments Corporation (SM) is an owner-operator of market-leading businesses in retail, banking, and property, with investments in high-growth opportunities in the Philippine economy. Through its portfolio, SM generates resilient cash flows and reinvests with discipline to compound value over the long term.
Its retail operations are the largest and most diversified in the country. Its property arm, SM Prime Holdings, Inc., is the largest integrated property developer in the Philippines. Its banking interests include BDO Unibank, Inc., the country's largest bank, and China Banking Corporation, one of the country's largest private domestic banks.
For more information, please visit www.sminvestments.com
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
SM Investments earns third consecutive Five Golden Arrow Award
Bringing Together Industry, Academia and Research to Drive Mobility Innovation
HONG KONG, Nov. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) announced the establishment of an Advisory Board for the Smart Mobility Technology Alliance (SMTA), an industry-leading initiative designed to accelerate the adoption and scaling of next-generation smart mobility technologies across the Greater Bay Area and beyond. The SMTA aims to address critical challenges and foster a commercially-driven ecosystem for innovation in the smart mobility sector.
The newly-formed Advisory Board comprises distinguished leaders from infrastructure, transport, telecommunications, and academia, offering a wide-ranging blend of industry expertise, market intelligence and policy insight. Drawing on their extensive network and experience across the public and private sectors, the Advisory Board will shape the SMTA's strategic priorities, identify emerging opportunities, and provide guidance on the evolving mobility landscape.
"The formation of the SMTA Advisory Board underscores ASTRI's commitment to advancing Hong Kong as a regional leader in technology-driven mobility," said Ir Dr Ted Suen, Chief Executive Officer of ASTRI. "By uniting industry, government, academia and research around a shared vision, this strategic alliance will unlock commercial opportunities and deliver transformative solutions that redefine the future of mobility," he added.
The Advisory Board provides strategic guidance on SMTA's vision and research and development priorities, helping to align its initiatives with market needs and commercialisation opportunities. It supports ecosystem development by fostering partnerships across industry, academia and the public sector, while facilitating pilot projects and encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship. The Board also offers insights on policy and standards, and promotes engagement with key stakeholders and international partners to advance future mobility innovation.
Members of the Advisory Board for Smart Mobility Technology Alliance include:
Chairman
- Dr Ying Huang, Chief Technology Officer, ASTRI
Deputy Chairman
- Mr Dominic Chow, Deputy Director-General of Civil Aviation, HKSAR Government
Secretary
- Dr Ivan Sham, Chief Director, Technical Solutions Business Development, ASTRI
Members (by alphabetical order in surname)
- Mr Lawrence Fong, Director, Digital and IT, Cathay Pacific Airways Limited
- Mr William Ho, Executive Director, Corporate Development, Airport Authority Hong Kong
- Ir Dr John Hui, Deputy Executive Director, Vocational Training Council
- Mr Ryan Ip, Vice President of Our Hong Kong Foundation
- Prof Mei-po Kwan, Director, Institute of Space and Earth Information Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- Dr Gabriel Leung, Chief Executive Officer, Enterprise Solutions, Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited
- Mr Roger Ma, General Manager (Operations), Citybus Limited
- Mr Steve Ng, Managing Director, Commercial Group, HKT Limited
- Ms Sylvia Ng, Deputy Director, Corporate Development, MTR Corporation Limited
- Mr BY Sim, General Manager (Hong Kong SAR), Thales Solutions and Services Hong Kong Limited
- Mr Alex Wong, Deputy CEO, Corporate Affairs, Hong Kong Representative Office, Huawei International Co Limited
- Dr Rosana Wong, Deputy Chair and Executive Director, Yau Lee Holdings Limited
- Ms Yan Yan, General Manager, Keeta Drone Hong Kong
- Ms Theresa Yeung, Managing Principal, East Asia, Ove Arup & Partners Hong Kong Limited
Launched by ASTRI in April 2023, the Smart Mobility Technology Alliance (formerly the Smart Mobility Technology (C-V2X) Alliance) provides a networking and knowledge sharing platform for ecosystem stakeholders. These include infrastructure manufacturers, telecommunications providers, EV and drone developers, system integrators, and end users from China, in particular the Greater Bay Area, and overseas markets, all seeking to explore collaboration and technology commercialisation in the smart mobility field.
SMTA Website: https://smta.astri.org/
Photos Download: https://bit.ly/4s0M9ex
About ASTRI
Founded in 2000 by the HKSAR Government, Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) is the city's largest government-funded R&D centre. Committed to transforming high-impact research into practical innovations, ASTRI drives market-driven, interdisciplinary advancements across sectors, including Smart City, FinTech, Digital Health and Life Sciences, New Industrialisation and Intelligent Manufacturing, Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) and Advanced Electronics, New Energy and Energy Storage, and Green and ESG Technologies. Following its merger with the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute, ASTRI has further strengthened its capabilities, with over 1,500 patents and 2,200 successful cases of technology transfer. Recognised with numerous international awards, ASTRI continues to nurture top I&T talent and foster collaborations among the I&T ecosystem, contributing to Hong Kong's high-value economic development. For more information, please visit: https://www.astri.org
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
ASTRI Establishes Advisory Board for Smart Mobility Technology Alliance