Singapore’s annual general meetings (AGMs) were once a thing of legend, with investors often turning up as much for the free sumptuous buffet dinner as to grill senior management.

I fondly remember my first Cosco Corp (Singapore) AGM, where I found myself caught in the stampede of Singaporean retirees as they rushed from the meeting to fight over their “bonus” dividend of sushi, baked salmon and roast chicken at the Raffles Hotel.