SingPost divests freight forwarding business Famous Holdings for S$177.9 million
The sale resulted in an estimated realised gain on disposal of S$10.5 million and about S$104 million in cash for the company, said the national postal service provider on Tuesday (Jul 22).
It noted that the sale was carried out in two parts. Supply chain solutions provider DP World Logistics FZE acquired the entire issued share capital of SingPost Logistics Investments' unit for about US$97.7 million.
A consortium, which includes some of Famous Holdings' minority shareholders, acquired the entire issued and outstanding shares of Rotterdam Harbour Holding for about 35.7 million euros (S$52.4 million). Rotterdam Harbour Holding is a unit of SingPost eCommerce Logistics Holdings.
The net asset value of Famous Holdings as at Mar 31 is about S$176 million, including Rotterdam Harbour Holding, which was a subsidiary of Famous Holdings. Excluding Rotterdam Harbour Holding, the net asset value of Famous Holdings is S$146 million as at end-March 2025.
Rotterdam Harbour Holding's net asset value was S$30 million as at Mar 31.
BT in your inbox
Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.
Sign Up
Sign Up
'This is a step in SingPost's strategy announced in March 2024, to divest non-core assets and businesses to recycle capital,' said Simon Israel, SingPost's chairman.
'Following a comprehensive international sale process to explore various options for Famous Holdings, the board concluded that selling the business in two parts would secure the highest possible valuation.'
The disposals are expected to benefit SingPost by monetising non-core assets, reducing financial liabilities and improving shareholder value. Proceeds from the sale will contribute to SingPost's cash balance.
Shares of SingPost ended Tuesday 0.8 per cent or S$0.005 lower at S$0.64.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Mediation, arbitration or litigation: What works when global trade breaks down
Supply chain disruptions are creating more commercial disputes, but forward-thinking companies are choosing cooperation over conflict, building new alliances From escalating trade wars to raging military conflicts, the headlines paint a stark picture of a world increasingly fractured along geopolitical lines. As traditional diplomacy struggles under mounting global tensions, many are left wondering whether collaborative approaches to conflict resolution remain viable in today's rapidly shifting global order. Yet amid this apparent retreat from multilateral cooperation, one veteran legal practitioner believes that mediation – far from becoming obsolete – offers a critical path forward. 'In today's increasingly polarised and unpredictable global landscape, mediation offers a constructive and non-adversarial path to resolve disputes, foster dialogue, build mutual understanding and encourage creative problem-solving,' says Senior Counsel George Lim, chairman of the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC). 'We've seen this in action during recent crises in Ukraine and Gaza, where mediators – often working quietly behind the scenes – have helped open channels of communication and reduce the risk of further escalation. 'These efforts underscore the quiet power of mediation. It doesn't always dominate the headlines, but it can change outcomes,' says Mr Lim, whose legal career spans over 40 years. A collaborative option for dispute resolution in Singapore When geopolitical tensions strain commercial relationships across global supply chains and trade networks, this could result in more commercial disputes – and a growing need for effective, amicable solutions to resolve them. 'Businesses need choices. Depending on the nature of the dispute, their business strategy, values and culture, some may prefer mediation, while others may prefer arbitration or litigation. As a dispute resolution hub, Singapore offers a suite of tools and options – be it mediation, arbitration or litigation – for businesses to resolve their disputes,' says the Ministry of Law's deputy secretary (development) Charlene Chang. 'While 'ADR' typically refers to 'alternative dispute resolution', we prefer to say that 'ADR' represents 'appropriate dispute resolution', where parties work out a dispute resolution strategy that best suits their needs,' she adds. To support businesses operating across borders, the ministry has been working hard in developing Singapore's international dispute resolution sector. Since its launch in 2014, SIMC has complemented the Singapore International Arbitration Centre and the Singapore International Commercial Court – forming a trio of institutions offering mediation, arbitration and litigation options for parties in international commercial disputes. To date, SIMC has handled over 500 cases involving parties from 68 jurisdictions, with dispute values exceeding US$26 billion (S$33.3 billion). Why global businesses are turning to mediation Mediation has been gaining popularity in the business world, with mediation clauses frequently seen in commercial contracts as a suitable tool for disputes, as observed by Ms Mariana Zhong, a partner of Hui Zhong Law Firm based in Beijing. Unlike adversarial processes, mediation offers greater room for diplomacy and flexibility where both sides collaborate to achieve win-win solutions outside of the court system. This is particularly valuable in cross-border disputes, where cultural sensitivities and different legal systems are involved. Less confrontation also means less strain on relationships, notes Ms Chang. A key milestone in the field of mediation was the adoption of the Singapore Convention on Mediation (Singapore Convention) by the United Nations General Assembly in 2018. It provides a legal framework for the recognition and enforcement of cross-border settlement agreements arising from mediation. This means that parties in cross-border disputes can enforce their agreements in countries that are party to the Singapore Convention. Hosted by then Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Second Minister for Law Edwin Tong (front row, sixth from left) and then Minister of State for Law and Transport Murali Pillai (front row, eighth from left), the Speakers' Dinner for Singapore Convention Week 2024 was attended by local and international speakers and other participants of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Academy. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF LAW Mr Lim calls the convention a 'game-changer' in putting mediation on the global agenda. He says: 'A decade ago, mediation was rarely discussed at the governmental level. With the Singapore Convention, internationally mediated settlements are now more enforceable around the world.' Advocate and arbitrator King's Counsel Ng Jern-Fei of Duxton Hill Chambers concurs, attributing the increasing adoption of the Singapore Convention as one of the key drivers for the continued growth of mediation. Mediation's less adversarial approach also has a unique draw for commerce. 'In many cases mediated at SIMC, we've helped parties turn old disputes into new deals, and business people love this,' adds Mr Lim. Shaping the future of dispute resolution To build trust in the field of international dispute resolution, one way is to foster shared understanding within the legal community. Since 2019, the Singapore Convention Week (SC Week) has served as a key platform for this purpose. This year's edition, taking place from Aug 25 to 29, will feature a full and diverse programme of conferences, workshops and networking sessions. Legal and business professionals from around the world will join global leaders and fellow experts in shaping the future of dispute resolution. The event continues to draw more professional organisations with each iteration. 'This year, we are excited to welcome several new partners including, among others, the Japan Ministry of Justice, the Bahrain International Commercial Court, the European Chinese Arbitrators Association, the India International Arbitration Centre, the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board and the Korean Council for International Arbitration, all of whom will add to the diversity of perspectives represented,' says Ms Chang. Participants at the Breaking with Convention networking event during Singapore Convention Week 2023. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF LAW Apart from insightful sessions and expert-led discussions, participants can look forward to the highly anticipated Breaking with Convention networking event, where they can unwind over canapes and drinks with like-minded old and new friends. For Mr Ng, SC Week is a highlight event on the legal industry's calendar. 'It is not an exaggeration to say that SC Week has grown over the past few years into one of the most significant events in the international commercial disputes arena.' Giving mediation legal weight across borders Mediation is a process in which a neutral third party – known as a mediator – facilitates a settlement agreement between disputing parties. However, countries vary in whether, when, as well as how such agreements are enforced. The Singapore Convention on Mediation (Singapore Convention) addresses this by providing a uniform legal framework that allows these agreements to be enforced or invoked across jurisdictions through a simplified and streamlined procedure. As of July 2025, the Singapore Convention has 18 parties and 58 signatories, and it is also the first Convention of the United Nations organisation to be named after the city-state.


CNA
4 hours ago
- CNA
GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke to step down, plans new startup
GitHub Chief Executive Thomas Dohmke said on Monday he will leave the Microsoft-owned code-hosting platform to launch a new startup, capping a tenure that included a major push into artificial intelligence through the company's Copilot products. Dohmke, who moved to the U.S. from Germany more than a decade ago after selling his startup to Microsoft, said his "startup roots" prompted the decision. "I've decided to leave GitHub to become a founder again," he said in a blog post, but did not provide details about the new venture. Before becoming CEO, Dohmke helped lead mobile developer tools at Microsoft and worked on GitHub's acquisition alongside former CEO Nat Friedman. Microsoft acquired GitHub in a $7.5 billion all-stock deal in 2018. More than 150 million developers use GitHub's tools to build, maintain and collaborate on software projects, according to the company's website. Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Dohmke's successor. His transition period concludes at the end of the year. Dohmke said that under his leadership, GitHub expanded globally, earned U.S. FedRAMP certification for federal use and doubled AI projects on the platform. Axios, which first reported the news, said Microsoft developer division head Julia Liuson will oversee GitHub's revenue, engineering and support. GitHub's chief product officer, Mario Rodriguez, will report to head of product for Microsoft's AI platform Asha Sharma, according to the report.
Business Times
5 hours ago
- Business Times
Temasek Trust leads US$11.6 million Series A funding for carbon removal startup
[SINGAPORE] A catalytic capital vehicle by Temasek Trust – the philanthropic arm of Singapore investment company Temasek – is leading a US$11.6 million Series A fundraising for Equatic, a carbon removal and green hydrogen climate-tech startup. Besides Catalytic Capital for Climate and Health (C3H), Kibo Invest – which is a Singapore-based private investment office with a focus on climate technology – is another co-lead in this fundraising round. Equatic uses seawater electrolysis to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in the ocean, while simultaneously producing carbon-negative hydrogen. The Series A financing will support the ongoing engineering of Equatic's first 100 kilotonne carbon dioxide removal commercial facility, alongside further commercialisation, manufacturing and technological development, indicated a media release from C3H on Tuesday (Aug 12). The technology has been validated through pilots in Los Angeles and Singapore, with strong offtake interest. Equatic has also adopted an international standard for monitoring, reporting and verifying the amount of carbon dioxide removed. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 12.30 pm ESG Insights An exclusive weekly report on the latest environmental, social and governance issues. Sign Up Sign Up This has been validated by two carbon removal registries – Isometric and – allowing Equatic the ability to generate carbon dioxide removal credits under both registries. Gaurav Sant, founder and chief technology officer of Equatic, said this financing will catalyse its mission to deliver cost-effective and durable carbon removal at scale. 'The Temasek Trust ecosystem has been a foundational partner to Equatic, from early-stage philanthropic backing from Temasek Foundation to catalytic investment through C3H. We are excited to accelerate our journey with partners who share our thesis that technology translation and innovation is fundamental to mitigate worsening climate change, quickly and at scale,' he added. Ryan Tan, head of C3H, said that Equatic's technology and approach exemplify the type of bold and scalable innovation that aligns with C3H's mandate. 'We are delighted to support Equatic's goal in advancing promising climate mitigation solutions that offer permanent, durable carbon removal with green hydrogen production for scalable, tangible impact and commercial benefit,' he added. The company was awarded S$1 million in catalytic funding in 2021, when it won The Liveability Challenge, a global crowdsourcing platform for sustainability solutions presented by Temasek Foundation. It then piloted its carbon removal technology in Singapore in collaboration with national water agency PUB. Equatic was named a finalist in September last year for The Earthshot Prize, a global challenge that spotlights and supports innovative solutions to repair the planet. Temasek Trust is a founding partner of the programme.