Howard's area of expertise is in corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions. He has been involved in many initial public offerings, both local and international, such as the initial public offerings by Eurosports Global Limited (Catalist Board), Gaylin Holdings Limited, China Minzhong Food Corporation Limited, China Energy Limited, China Sports International Limited, China Zaino International Limited and Li Heng Chemical Fibre Technologies Limited.
Howard has also been involved in various public merger and acquisitions transactions where he has acted for the offeror, offeree or financial adviser. He is also active in cross border merger and acquisitions transactions, most recently, having acted as the lead counsel for various multi-nationals in Singapore-Myanmar transactions.
His experience also includes various fund raising exercises for listed and unlisted companies such as the issue of bond instruments, convertible instruments and placements. In addition, he also handles general corporate and advisory work, such as joint ventures, trade transactions and investments.
Howard is also a specialist in corporate governance matters and is heavily involved in continuing sponsorship activities whereby he is a registered professional of two Singapore Exchange Ltd Catalist Board-listed companies, Medtecs International Corporation Limited and KLW Limited.
Experience
Transactions of significance which Howard has been involved in include acting for:
Corporate Finance – IPO and RTO
Hong Kong
- Hon Corporation, in its HK$288 million initial public offering and listing on Hong Kong Stock Exchange (GEM)
- FSM Holdings Limited, in its HK$650 million initial public offering and listing on Hong Kong Stock Exchange
- Republic Healthcare Limited, in its HK$312 million initial public offering and listing on Hong Kong Stock Exchange (GEM)
- Indigo Star Holdings Limited, in its HK$60 million initial public offering and listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (GEM)
- GT Steel Construction Group Limited, in its HK$84 million initial public offering and listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (GEM)
- ZACD Group Limited, in its HK$165 million initial public offering and listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
- Chuan Holdings Limited, in its HK$253 million initial public offering and listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange
- Cool Link (Holdings) Limited, in its HK$82.5 million initial public offering and listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (GEM)
- RMH Holdings Limited, in its HK$72 million initial public offering and listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (GEM)
Singapore
- Eurosports Global Limited, in its S$23 million initial public offering and listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange Trading Limited
- China Minzhong Food Corporation Limited, in its S$235 million initial public offering and listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange Trading Limited
- Li Heng Chemical Fibre Technologies Limited, in its S$320 million initial public offering and listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange Trading Limited
- Gaylin Holdings Limited, in its S$39 million initial public offering and listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange Trading Limited
- China Hongxing Sports Limited, in its S$48 million initial public offering and listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange Trading Limited
- China Energy Limited, in its S$206 million initial public offering and listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange Trading Limited
- China Sports International Limited, in its S$80 million initial public offering and listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange Trading Limited
- China Zaino International Limited, in its S$87 million initial public offering and listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange Trading Limited
- DBS Bank, the underwriter, in connection with the initial public offering and listing on SESDAQ of Kinergy Limited
- OCBC Bank Limited, the underwriter, in connection with the initial public offering and listing of UE E&C Limited
- SM Summit Holdings Limited, as solicitors, in its acquisition of Centurion Dormitory by way of a reverse takeover
Public Offers and Delistings
- C&P Holdings Pte Ltd (Offeror), in connection with its acquisition of a majority stake in the issued capital of CWT Distribution Limited, and its mandatory takeover offer in respect of CWT Distribution Limited
- The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Ltd, in its capacity as the Independent Financial Advisor (IFA) to Neptune Orient Lines Limited (“NOL”) in connection with the takeover offer of NOL by the Temasek group
- Thinkpac Limited (Offeror), in connection with its acquisition of a majority stake in the issued capital of SM Summit Holdings Limited, and its mandatory takeover offer in respect of SM Summit Holdings Limited
- Singapore Retail Group, in its mandatory unconditional cash offer for Courts (Singapore) Limited
- Purchasers (Offeror) in respect of the exit offer and delisting of Pakara Technologies Limited
- Purchasers (Offeror) in respect of the exit offer and delisting of Centraland Limited
- Purchasers (Offeror) in respect of the exit offer and delisting of Pine Agritech Limited
- Issuer (Offeree) in respect of the exit offer and delisting of Synear Food Holdings Limited
- Issuer (Offeree) in respect of the unconditional voluntary offer and delisting of Li Heng Chemical Fibres Limited
Corporate Finance - General
- China Hongxing Sports Limited, in the placement of 400 million shares at an issue price of S$1.18 raising an aggregate of approximately S$450 million.
- Investment fund in an investment of up to US$40 million by way of subscription of convertible bonds in a Singapore company involved in the development and/or sale of land parcels in the Asia Pacific region to petroleum companies for use as petrol kiosks.
- Lindeteves-Jacoberg Limited (“LJL”), in relation to its fund raising and debt restructuring exercise by way of an investment by ATB Austria Antriebstechnik AG of approximately S$25 million in LJL through a share subscription and scheme of arrangement between LJL and its creditor banks.
- Company involved in the sale of land parcels to certain oil majors in relation to the issue of convertible bonds of up to US$50 million to investors.
- United Test and Assembly Center Ltd, in a selective capital reduction exercise and proposed share buyback mandate.
- Pine Agritech Limited, in the issue of RMB$2 billion in aggregate principal amount of U.S. dollar settled zero coupon convertible bonds.
- China Hongxing Sports Limited, in the issue of US$100 million redeemable convertible preference shares.
Mergers and Acquisitions
- A Myanmar conglomerate, in connection of its asset disposal and joint venture with Wilmar International Limited in relation to the sugar business in Myanmar.
- A multinational food and beverage company, in its acquisition and joint venture in Myanmar with local conglomerate in relation to the soft drinks business.
- Swiss Re, as the Singapore counsel advising on the Singapore component, to its acquisition of GE Insurance Solutions, the fifth largest reinsurer worldwide, from General Electric Company in a global US$6.8 billion transaction.
Litigation/ Arbitration
- Bangladesh Telecommunications Company, in an international arbitration conducted in Singapore in an action against a Malaysian telecommunications company, for breach of a joint venture agreement in a claim amounting to approximately US$200 million.
- Minority shareholder, in a minority oppression dispute involving the shareholders of a local construction company in a claim amounting to approximately S$10 million. Subsequent arbitration to resolve the dispute as to the valuation of the share of the minority shareholder in a buyout of the minority shareholder.
- Acted as defence counsel in numerous prosecutions under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
- Acted as defence counsel in prosecutions in respect of insider trading and market manipulation.
Reported Cases
- Public Prosecutor v Cheong Hock Lai and Other Appeals [2004] 3 SLR 203
- Public Prosecutor v Cheong Hock Lai and Others [2004] SGDC 37
- Public Prosecutor v Mohamed Ridwan Bin Omar and Others [2003] SGHC 49
- Law Society of Singapore v Quan Chee Seng Michael [2003] SGHC 140
- Lim Boon Ming v Tiang Choo Yang [2002] 2 SLR 183
- Public Prosecutor v Pek Eng Hua [2001] SGMC 44
Memberships / Directorships
- Member, Singapore Academy of Law
- Member, Law Society of Singapore
- Volunteer, Criminal Legal Aid Scheme
- Registered Professional with the SGX-ST
- Former independent director of Edition Limited formerly known as Oniontech Limited (resigned in 2014), a company listed on the Catalist Board of the SGX-ST
- Director, R&T Asia (Thailand) Limited
- Director of Rajah & Tann Corporate Services Pte Ltd
Continuing Sponsorship Activities
- Registered Professional of SGX Catalist Board companies (i) Medtecs International Corporation Limited and (ii) KLW Limited