SINGAPORE, April 3rd - An unassuming boss of a precision engineering firm, a flamboyant telco CEO and an enterprising homegrown logistics provider are winners of the prestigious Singapore Business Awards for 2002 announced today by The Business Times and DHL.

All three share a common winning streak: they started small or from scratch but managed to transform their companies and extend their reach through their leadership, entrepreneurial drive and the ability to adapt and seize opportunities.

The Businessman of the Year is Mr Lee Ah Bee, 57, Executive Chairman of Amtek Engineering Limited, which grew from a humble single factory stamping precision metal parts and casings to a mainboard listed company and a global operation with 20 plants in 10 countries. The Group employs 8,000 staff worldwide.

Citation:

"For his exemplary steadfastness, entrepreneurial drive and vision in establishing Amtek Engineering group as a global enterprise in the precision engineering industry."

The Outstanding Chief Executive of the Year is Mr Neil Montefiore, 50, who built MobileOne (M1) Limited into Singapore's No. 2 cellular phone operator. Within six years of its launch, M1, which now employs 1,500 staff, has grabbed 33 per cent of the market share, with more than a million customers. A British national, Mr Montefiore is the first foreigner to receive the award since it was first given out in 1990.

Citation:

"For his outstanding success and leadership in steering the growth of a fledgling company into a dynamic and innovative player in the Singapore telecommunications industry."

The Enterprise Award for 2002 goes to Accord Express, which started as a freight forwarding company and grew to become an integrated logistics provider with more than 33 overseas offices and 103 "care centres", employing 1,750 staff worldwide.

Citation:

"For its enterprise and far-sightedness in seizing the opportunity to transform itself into a comprehensive and integrated logistics provider in the Asia-Pacific region."

The winners will receive their awards at a black-tie dinner on a date to be fixed later. The dinner was originally scheduled to be held this evening at The Ritz Carlton but has been postponed due to continuing concerns over the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars).

The coveted annual Singapore Business Awards is now into its 18th year. The winners are chosen by a panel of judges drawn from industry, academic and official agencies. It is jointly organised by The Business Times, Singapore's business daily published by Singapore Press Holdings, and DHL, the world's leading express and logistics company.

Mr Patrick Daniel, chairman of the SBA organising committee and managing editor of SPH's English and Malay newspapers, said: "In these trying times, it is all the more important that we give recognition to outstanding achievers in Singapore's business community. All three of our winners deserve high praise for their achievements."

Added Mr Charles Chan, general manager of DHL International (S) Pte Ltd and co-chairman of the organising committee: "DHL is proud of its continued involvement with the most prestigious business event in Singapore. The winners this year display exceptional qualities of adaptability, fortitude and leadership. On behalf of DHL and The Business Times, I would like to congratulate the winners for serving as role models to the Singapore business community and we would like to wish them continuous success in all their undertakings."

For more information, please contact:

DHL

DHL is the world's leading express and logistics company offering customers innovative and customised solutions from a single source. With global expertise in solutions, express, air and ocean freight and overland transport DHL combines worldwide coverage with an in depth understanding of local markets. DHL's harmonised international network links more than 220 countries and territories worldwide.

DHL continues to be at the forefront of technology and, with more than 150,000 dedicated employees, guarantees fast and reliable services aimed at exceeding customers' expectations. Based in Brussels, Belgium, DHL is 100% owned by Deutsche Post World.

DHL International (Singapore) was the first international air express company to set up operations in Singapore in 1972. It is the dominant market leader with more than 50 per cent market share. Visit DHL's local web site at http://www.dhl.com.sg

SPH

The Business Times is Singapore's own business daily published by Singapore Press Holdings (SPH). Main board listed SPH is the leading news and information provider, offering quality content for print, Internet, TV and radio. It is licensed to publish 15 newspapers in the four official languages and six lifestyle periodicals. Everyday, 2.78 million individuals, or 90 per cent of people above 15 years old, read one of 15 newspapers published by SPH while the online edition of its six main dailies enjoy some 120 million pageviews a month. SPH also operates two popular free-to-air TV channels, Channel U in Chinese and Channel i in English.