David Michael Webb

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David Michael Webb, usually known as David Webb, is a well-known activist and share market analyst in Hong Kong. He is a retired Investment Banker, and now devotes his time to corporate governance advocacy and researches on small companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and is frequently called upon by the media to comment on all matters relating to company governance.

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[edit] Biography

Webb graduated in Mathematics from Exeter College, Oxford in 1986. He wrote a few books on computer programming before moving on to being a investment banker in London. He moved to Hong Kong in 1991. He retired from Investment Banking in 1998. Webb lobbies extensively for increased transparency and public accountability of Directors of public companies as well as for the Government of Hong Kong[1].

[edit] Activism

He uses the webb-site.com as his official mouthpiece on all matters commercial and political.

He has purchased shares in all the companies which form the Hang Seng Index, and demands formal votes to resolutions which he judges detrimental to the interests of minority shareholders during the annual general meeting of public listed companies. To force real votes, Webb launched "Project Poll" to push for formal votes on all proposals at annual meetings of Hang Seng index constituent companies; he initiated Project Vampire, to block resolutions that allow for bypassing of pre-emption of rights issues and massive share dilutions.[1]

Webb is also seen as a bit of a political activist: in December 2005, he advocated dramatical widening the electorate of the functional constituencies, arguing that professionals in fields such as bankers and stockbrokers should get to elect their own representatives.[2] At present, only accountants, lawyers, doctors and teachers are able to exercise that right[2]; stockbrokers are represented by a convicted fraudster,[3] whilst the banking seat has only been contested once in 20 years.[2]

[edit] Hong Kong Stock Exchange

Webb argues that there is inherently conflict between the commercial and regulatory roles of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and has been arguing for a super regulatory authority to assume that role. In the meantime, he argues for improved investor representation on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. He was elected an independent non-executive director of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd. in 2003, and was re-elected by a landslide in April 2006[4].

In early 2007, Webb spoke up against the vested interests of smaller local stockbrokers acting against investors' interests, and was the only member to vote against reversing the decision by the former board of directors to cut minimum trading spreads for equities and warrants trading at between 25 HK cents and HK$2. The reforms were to be implemented in the first quarter, but was put back on the table following protests by brokers[5].

In September 2007, the government increased its stake in the Exchange from 4.41% to 5.88%. The Government declared the stake would be held by the Exchange Fund as a "strategic asset".[6].

Webb remarked that the government was the second-largest single investor in the Hong Kong market after Beijing, with a portfolio of local equities estimated to be worth about HK$150 billion. He said the purchase violated the government's stated principle of "big market, small government".[7] On top of already having its own appointed directors, the Government exercised its 63 million share-votes on directors' appointments as a shareholder at General Meeting in April 2008. Webb suggested that "As a `strategic' investor, the government shouldn't have voted".[8]

In May 2008, Webb resigned one year prior to the expiry of his term as an independent non-executive director, citing back door politics by the Government to install a professional board that would exclude retailers and adopt more flexible standards for new listings; he also slammed the management for withholding information,[9] which the management denies.[10] Commentator Mary Ma suggested that "commonsense allows me... to ask why there are so many board directors who disagree with Webb."[9]

[edit] Cyberport

The project to develop a "Cyberport" was controversially granted to PCCW, controlled by Richard Li, son of Hong Kong's wealthiest man Li Ka-Shing, without the benefit of a formal tender[11].

In October 2004, Webb cited lack of transparency in the government's business dealings and demanded audited financial accounts and directors' reports for three companies related to the project, namely Hong Kong Cyberport Development Holdings Ltd., Hong Kong Cyberport Management Ltd. and Hong Kong Cyberport (Ancillary Development) Ltd., to be released under the non-statutory Code on Access to Information.

[edit] Disneyland

In 2005, Webb criticised the government for its lack of accountability, through its refusal to uphold a promise of independent directors on the board of Hong Kong Disneyland. The Hong Kong Government was heavily involved in the project, and is the company's 57% shareholder[12].

[edit] Other

His makes annual Christmas share tips where he would recommend undervalued but well-run companies, and these have been known to influence the price of stock strongly[13].

Webb was named in CFO Magazine Global 100, as a "Gadfly" in 2002[14].

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Clifford, Mark (May 19, 2003). A Crusader in Hong Kong. Business Week. Retrieved on 2007-03-20.
  2. ^ a b c "Hong Kong Confidential", The Standard, December 06, 2005
  3. ^ Darren Schuettler, Reuters, With friends like these..., The Standard, September 23, 2004
  4. ^ Hilken, Daniel (April 27, 2006). HKEx rings changes after vote for reform. Hong Kong Standard. Retrieved on 2007-03-19.
  5. ^ Cheung, Jackie (February 15, 2007). Plan for tighter spreads dropped. Hong Kong Standard. Retrieved on 2007-03-19.
  6. ^ Benjamin Scent, Exchange Fund boosts stake in HKEx, The Standard, September 08, 2007
  7. ^ Benjamin Scent, Exchange face-off, The Standard, September 11, 2007
  8. ^ Katherine Ng, Government role in HKEx directors voting slammed, The Standard, April 25, 2008
  9. ^ a b Mary Ma (May 19, 2008). Webb gets out of exchanges hair. Hong Kong Standard. Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
  10. ^ Alfred Liu (May 20, 2008). HKEx says nothing hidden from Webb. Hong Kong Standard. Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
  11. ^ Ko, Eric (March 21, 1999). Cyberport critics get stake hint. Hong Kong Standard. Retrieved on 2007-01-11.
  12. ^ Crets, Doug (November 21, 2005). Promise on Disney directors `broken'. Hong Kong Standard. Retrieved on 2007-03-19.
  13. ^ Lee, Yvonne (December 5, 2006). Sino Golf drives 36pc as Webb festive pick. Hong Kong Standard. Retrieved on 2007-03-19.
  14. ^ Calabro, Lori (June 28, 2002). The Global 100: Gadflies. CFO Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-03-20.

[edit] External links

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