SM Investments Corporation has secured the highest distinction in the Institute of Corporate Directors’ (ICD) Golden Arrow Awards for the third consecutive year, highlighting its sustained performance in corporate governance.
The parent company of the SM Group received the Five Golden Arrow Award based on the 2025 ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS) assessment, which examines how companies safeguard shareholder rights, disclose material information and ensure effective board oversight.
Other companies in the group also earned recognition. SM Prime Holdings, Inc. and China Banking Corporation received Five Golden Arrows, while BDO Unibank, Inc. and Belle Corporation earned Four Golden Arrows.
“We aim to continuously create long-term value for our stakeholders, and strong governance is central to that,” said SM Investments Chairman Amando M. Tetangco Jr.
Tetangco, a former two-term governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, serves as SM Investments’ first independent chairman.
Under his leadership, the board oversees the parent company’s strategy, risk management and major investment decisions across its retail, banking, property and portfolio businesses.
That oversight helps guide how SM allocates capital, manages financial obligations and determines shareholder returns. Its operating companies maintain their own boards and management teams, each 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 Chief Executive Officer Frederic C. DyBuncio.
The ACGS assessment evaluates shareholder rights and equitable treatment, sustainability and resilience, stakeholder relations, timely disclosure, and the board’s strategic guidance and accountability. It also gives investors a basis for comparing governance practices across companies.
The latest recognition comes as SM marks 68 years since the opening of its first Shoemart store. From that retail beginning to its expansion into multiple industries, the group continues to emphasize its founder’s values of trust and integrity as the foundation of its governance.