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Singapore Law Watch
6 days ago
- Business
- Singapore Law Watch
Park Hotel Management director breached fiduciary duty by selling assets to himself under value
Park Hotel Management director breached fiduciary duty by selling assets to himself under value Source: Straits Times Article Date: 07 Aug 2025 Author: Grace Leong The court has ruled that Allen Law transferred the viable assets and businesses of his company, Park Hotel Management, effectively to himself 'at a gross undervalue'. Mr Allen Law, the scion of Hong Kong-based billionaire Law Kar Po, was found to have breached his fiduciary duties and prejudiced the interests of creditors, while navigating his company Park Hotel Management (PHMPL) through financial challenges resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a 165-page High Court judgment released on Aug 6, Mr Law, the sole director and shareholder of PHMPL, sold assets to himself at 'gross undervalue' and diverted more than $32 million in cash and receivables for his benefit. 'When (Mr Law's) company was in financial peril, he transferred its viable assets and businesses (effectively) to himself at a gross undervalue and manipulated the books of the company to eliminate receivables owed by him and his entities, leaving the creditors with nothing,' High Court Judge Hri Kumar Nair noted. 'Far from demonstrating selflessness, Mr Law showed contempt for his fiduciary obligations... While PHMPL may have failed because of events beyond his control, his response was entirely regrettable. 'He appropriated PHMPL's assets for himself and manipulated PHMPL's books to hide his subterfuge. His conduct, both in relation to the 'restructuring' and his defence of these proceedings, was dishonest and dishonourable. His first and only thought was to benefit himself,' the judge said. Mr Law and three other companies were sued by PHMPL and its liquidators over matters relating to assets sold to entities related to him before the company was placed in liquidation in July 2021 in the wake of the pandemic, which had devastated the hospitality industry globally. The three defendant companies are Park Hotel Group Management (PHG), British Virgin Islands-incorporated Good Movement Holdings and Singapore Institute of Hospitality (SIOH). PHG and SIOH are owned by Good Movement, which in turn is owned by Mr Law, who is married to Ms Tan Shin Hui, granddaughter of former UOB chairman, the late Mr Wee Cho Yaw. She is the executive director of PHG. PHMPL was also the sole shareholder of hotel management company Park Hotel Management (Maldives), restaurant operator Yan and Park Hotel Affiliates (PHA). Due to plummeting occupancy rates and pandemic-related restrictions, Park Hotel CQ, operator of the former Park Hotel Clarke Quay property in Unity Street; and Grand Park OR, operator of the former Grand Park Orchard hotel, were unable to meet their lease obligations. Despite efforts to negotiate with landlords and seek relief under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act, PHMPL's financial position became increasingly precarious. A sale of PHMPL's assets was done in March 2021. But the liquidators said that PHMPL did not receive any consideration for the substantial assets it disposed of. This included a sum of $2.7 million for assets sold to PHG under an asset share and transfer agreement (ASTA) in March 2021. The assets included 12 hotel management agreements, licence agreements, business names, and PHMPL trademarks. The shareholdings in Park Hotel Maldives were purchased by PHG and Good Movement for US$40,000 (S$51,490), while the shareholding in Yan was purchased by Good Movement for $500,000, and the assets of the Singapore Institute of Hospitality were sold by PHMPL for $200,000. 'The effect of the agreements was that PHMPL's assets... were transferred to the defendant companies for a total sum of $3.4 million and US$40,000,' according to the judgment. 'But Mr Law... arranged it such that PHMPL did not even receive these sums,' Justice Nair said. Furthermore, the judge found that the market value of these assets amounted to $26.4 million and US$2.42 million. 'The transfer of assets and businesses from PHMPL to the defendant companies was only one part of Mr Law's plan. In the period when Park Hotel CQ and Grand Park OR were failing to meet their obligations under their respective leases, Mr Law extracted substantial amounts of cash from all three companies,' according to the ruling. In addition, Mr Law also breached the no-profit rule of the Companies Act when he diverted an opportunity to manage Park Hotel Kyoto to PHG, to the detriment of PHMPL. The second part of the plan, the judge found, 'was to cause PHMPL to declare and backdate substantial dividends in Mr Law's favour and to effect a series of transfers and set-offs in PHMPL's books, most of which were also backdated, to eliminate his and his entities' liabilities to PHMPL.' Mr Law received cash payments from PHMPL and also diverted receivables of $22.3 million due from his related companies to PHMPL. These amounts were set off against dividend declarations of $22 million and $5.9 million, and an accounting entry of $6.75 million in his favour. But the judge found that the dividend declarations were invalid as PHMPL was insolvent at the time they were made. As a result, Mr Law must repay $10.1 million in cash payments and $22.3 million in receivables. 'Given my findings that PHMPL was at the very least financially parlous by 31 December 2020 and Mr Law knew this, the cash payments were not in the interests of PHMPL and amount to breaches of Mr Law's fiduciary duties to PHMPL,' Justice Nair said. A representative from the defendants said: 'This remains a legacy matter arising from the exceptional circumstances of Covid lockdowns in 2020 and their unprecedented impact on the hospitality sector. The judgment is being reviewed and appropriate next steps are being considered.' Allen & Gledhill partners William Ong and Lee Bik Wei are acting for the plaintiffs, while Mr Law and the three defendant companies are represented by TSMP Law's senior counsel Thio Shen Yi. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction. Park Hotel Management Pte Ltd (in liquidation) and others v Law Ching Hung and others [2025] SGHC 149 Print
Straits Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Park Hotel Management director breached fiduciary duty by selling assets to himself under value
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Mr Allen Law, the sole director and shareholder of PHMPL, sold assets to himself at 'gross undervalue' and diverted more than $32 million in cash and receivables for his benefit. SINGAPORE – Allen Law, the scion of Hong Kong-based billionaire Law Kar Po, was found to have breached his fiduciary duties and prejudiced the interests of creditors, while navigating his company Park Hotel Management (PHMPL) through financial challenges resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a 165-page High Court judgment released on Aug 6, Mr Law, the sole director and shareholder of PHMPL, sold assets to himself at 'gross undervalue' and diverted more than $32 million in cash and receivables for his benefit. 'When (Mr Law's) company was in financial peril, he transferred its viable assets and businesses (effectively) to himself at a gross undervalue and manipulated the books of the company to eliminate receivables owed by him and his entities, leaving the creditors with nothing,' High Court Judge Hri Kumar Nair noted. 'Far from demonstrating selflessness, Mr Law showed contempt for his fiduciary obligations... While PHMPL may have failed because of events beyond his control, his response was entirely regrettable. 'He appropriated PHMPL's assets for himself and manipulated PHMPL's books to hide his subterfuge. His conduct, both in relation to the `restructuring' and his defence of these proceedings, was dishonest and dishonourable. His first and only thought was to benefit himself,' the judge said. Mr Law and three other companies were sued by PHMPL and its liquidators over matters relating to assets sold to entities related to him before the company was placed in liquidation in July 2021 in the wake of the pandemic, which had devastated the hospitality industry globally. The three defendant companies are Park Hotel Group Management (PHG), BVI-incorporated Good Movement Holdings and Singapore Institute of Hospitality (SIOH). PHG and SIOH are owned by Good Movement, which in turn is owned by Mr Law, who is married to Ms Tan Shin Hui, granddaughter of former UOB chairman, the late Mr Wee Cho Yaw. She is the executive director of PHG. PHMPL was also the sole shareholder of hotel management company Park Hotel Management (Maldives), restaurant operator Yan and Park Hotel Affiliates (PHA). Due to plummeting occupancy rates and pandemic-related restrictions, Park Hotel CQ, operator of the former Park Hotel Clarke Quay property in Unity Street; and Grand Park OR, operator of the former Grand Park Orchard hotel, were unable to meet their lease obligations. Despite efforts to negotiate with landlords and seek relief under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act, PHMPL's financial position became increasingly precarious. A sale of PHMPL's assets was done in March 2021. But the liquidators said that PHMPL did not receive any consideration for the substantial assets it disposed of. This included a sum of $2.7 million for assets sold to PHG under an asset share and transfer agreement (ASTA) in March 2021. The assets included 12 hotel management agreements, licence agreements, business names, and PHMPL trademarks. The shareholdings in Park Hotel Maldives were purchased by PHG and Good Movement for US$40,000 (S$51,490), while the shareholding in Yan was purchased by Good Movement for $ 500,000, and the assets of the Singapore Institute of Hospitality were sold by PHMPL for $ 200,000. 'The effect of the agreements was that PHMPL's assets... were transferred to the defendant companies for a total sum of $ 3.4 million and US$40,000,' according to the judgment. 'But Mr Law... arranged it such that PHMPL did not even receive these sums,' Justice Nair said. Furthermore, the judge found that the market value of these assets amounted to $ 26.4 million and US$2.42 million. 'The transfer of assets and businesses from PHMPL to the defendant companies was only one part of Mr Law's plan. In the period when Park Hotel CQ and Grand Park OR were failing to meet their obligations under their respective leases, Mr Law extracted substantial amounts of cash from all three companies,' according to the ruling. In addition, Mr Law also breached the no-profit rule of the Companies Act when he diverted an opportunity to manage Park Hotel Kyoto to PHG, to the detriment of PHMPL. The second part of the plan, the judge found, 'was to cause PHMPL to declare and backdate substantial dividends in Mr Law's favour and to effect a series of transfers and set-offs in PHMPL's books, most of which were also backdated, to eliminate his and his entities' liabilities to PHMPL.' Mr Law received cash payments from PHMPL and also diverted receivables of $ 22.3 million due from his related companies to PHMPL. These amounts were set off against dividend declarations of $ 22 million and $ 5.9 million, and an accounting entry of $ 6.75 million in his favour. But the judge found that the dividend declarations were invalid as PHMPL was insolvent at the time they were made. As a result, Mr Law must repay $ 10.1 million in cash payments and $ 22.3 million in receivables. 'Given my findings that PHMPL was at the very least financially parlous by 31 December 2020 and Mr Law knew this, the cash payments were not in the interests of PHMPL and amount to breaches of Mr Law's fiduciary duties to PHMPL,' Justice Nair said. A representative from the defendants said: 'This remains a legacy matter arising from the exceptional circumstances of Covid lockdowns in 2020 and their unprecedented impact on the hospitality sector. The judgment is being reviewed and appropriate next steps are being considered.' Allen & Gledhill partners William Ong and Lee Bik Wei are acting for the plaintiffs, while Mr Law and the three defendant companies are represented by TSMP Law's senior counsel Thio Shen Yi.
CNA
07-07-2025
- Health
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - The Wellness Hour - Check-in to wellness
Hotels are being reimagined as wellness hubs with diagnostics, fitness and personalised care built into every stay. Cheryl Goh looks at how medical-wellness is changing the way we travel with Allen Law, Healthspan Entrepreneur and the Founder of Park Hotel Group.
New Straits Times
17-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Seveno Capital, Borderless Healthcare eyes US$1.8 trillion global wellness market
KUALA LUMPUR: Seveno Capital and Borderless Healthcare Group have launched The Well Estate, the world's first medical wellness real estate company to target the growing US$1.8 trillion global wellness market. According to a statement, the new joint venture between Seveno Capital and Borderless Healthcare Group will focus on asset owners within the 'wellness archipelago' of Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia. Seveno Capital is led by Park Hotel Group founder and healthspan entrepreneur Allen Law while Borderless Healthcare Group is led by global healthcare technology, media, telecommunication, service and content pioneer Dr Wei Siang Yu. Law said The Well Estate will enable hospitality asset owners to align their business and guest offerings with the global wellness and longevity revolution that will be equally as transformative as artificial intelligence. Meanwhile, Dr Wei added that The Well Estate sets a new standard for immersive guest experiences that is profitable, purposeful and scalable. The Well Estate will support hotel and hospitality asset owners to shift from a 'room yield' to a 'room plus' business model by providing turnkey medical wellness solutions, giving guests live access to health and medical experts as well as famous content creators. By unlocking new revenue streams and increasing the value of each guest stay, The Well Estate aims to improve asset utilisation, particularly for underused spaces such as gyms and spas, with guests also having access to personalised diets, fitness, yoga, mindfulness and health programmes. According to the Global Wellness Institute, the global wellness industry was valued at US$5.6 trillion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$8.5 trillion by 2027. The wellness economy is also expected to grow by 8.6 per cent annually through 2027, outpacing global gross domestic product (GDP), while luxury wellness resorts can generate 30 to 50 per cent higher daily rates than traditional hotels. The initiative comes as hotels are investing heavily to meet this demand and to capture a larger share of this lucrative market; integrating labs, diagnostics, intravenous (IV) drips and longevity hubs into their amenities, positioning themselves at the forefront of the evolving wellness economy.
Business Wire
17-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Seveno Capital and Borderless Healthcare Group launch JV to provide ‘medical wellness service' to hospitality owners
SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Seveno Capital and Borderless Healthcare Group have launched the world's first medical wellness real estate company to target the growing $1.8 trillion global wellness market as the world enters a 'longevity boom' that UBS reports will be worth US$8 trillion by 2030. The Well Estate will provide a turnkey solution for hospitality asset owners to be able to offer transformative medical wellness experiences to guests as the global hospitality industry seeks to harness the US$1.8 trillion global wellness boom. Share The Well Estate will support hotel and hospitality asset owners to shift from a 'room yield' to a 'room plus' business model by providing turnkey medical wellness solutions that give guests live access to health and medical experts as well as famous content creators. Guests will also have access to personalised diets, fitness, yoga, mindfulness and health programs. The Well Estate solution will unlock new revenue channels for hospitality asset owners that will drive higher transaction value per stay, longer guest retention and full utilization of underperforming facilities like gyms and spas. The new company will focus on asset owners within the 'wellness archipelago' of Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia. The global wellness industry is booming, valued at $5.6 trillion in 2023 and projected to reach $8.5 trillion by 2027, according to the Global Wellness Institute. The wellness economy is also expected to grow by 8.6% annually through 2027, outpacing global GDP. Hotels are playing a growing role, with wellness tourism accounting for $651 billion globally in 2022 and expected to hit $1.4 trillion by 2027. Travelers increasingly seek wellness experiences, with over 50% preferring hotels that offer spa, fitness, and nutrition services. Luxury wellness resorts can generate 30–50% higher daily rates than traditional hotels. Hotels are investing heavily to meet this demand and to capture a larger share of this lucrative market; integrating labs, diagnostics, IV drips and longevity hubs into their amenities. The Well Estate is a JV between Borderless Healthcare Group, led by global healthcare technology, media, telecommunication, service and content pioneer Dr Wei Siang Yu; and Seveno Capital, led by Park Hotel Group founder and healthspan entrepreneur, Allen Law. Allen Law said: 'The Well Estate will enable hospitality asset owners to align their business and guest offering with the global wellness and longevity revolution that will be equally as transformative as AI.' Dr Wei said: 'This represents a new phase for the hospitality sector and a new benchmark for immersive guest experiences that are profitable, purposeful and scalable.'
