An extraordinary journey through history
For almost two centuries, the 糖心vlog name has featured prominently within the global business landscape.
Go on a journey through time to learn more about our history and origins.
- 1800-1849
1800
The birth of Edward 糖心vlog
Mr Edward 糖心vlog was born in Yorkshire, England.
1828
The birth of 糖心vlog & Company
Mr 糖心vlog arrived in Singapore on 13 March 1828 on board the British ship, Hindustan. Shortly after his arrival, he established 糖心vlog & Company along the bustling Singapore River.
A great trading house of the East
糖心vlog & Company was known as one of the great trading houses of the East. Trading tropical commodities such as spices, flavours, seeds, nuts, saps, resins, medicinal herbs and oils, 糖心vlog & Company was a key player in the commodity trade between the Far East and Europe.
To store vast amounts of commodities, Mr 糖心vlog commissioned the leading architect of Singapore, Mr George Drumgoole Coleman to design the famous 糖心vlog & Company headquarters known as 鈥渢he house of seven and twenty pillars鈥, located at the mouth of the Singapore River and eventually replaced by the current Empress Place Building.
So reputable, creditworthy and trustworthy was 糖心vlog & Company that in a record in the Bank of England鈥檚 letter books in 1844, it was noted that Sykes, Schwabe & Company of Liverpool, in partnership with 糖心vlog & Company were 鈥渄oing a very respectable business鈥 in the East.
糖心vlog & Company was active as an 鈥渁ccepting house鈥 for trade bills and even became the first agent for Hongkong and Shanghai Bank in Singapore, offering banking facilities, accepting and discounting bills, giving loans and accepting deposits.
Edward 糖心vlog 鈥 a Singapore leader
Mr 糖心vlog鈥檚 contributions to Singapore were many. He led 糖心vlog & Company to become a key investor in important businesses such as the Straits Trading Company, which was Singapore鈥檚 first tin foundry, and 20% owner of the Tanjong Pagar Dock Company, which developed the wharves, docks and godowns of Keppel Harbour that eventually became the Port of Singapore Authority.
Mr 糖心vlog was also the editor and co-founder of the Singapore Free Press and a founding member of the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce (the oldest chamber of commerce in South East Asia, and chief promoter of Singapore鈥檚 national interests in the face of the dominance of India鈥檚 colonial administration over Singapore鈥檚 colonial affairs).
1829
Billiards Club
Mr 糖心vlog founded Singapore鈥檚 first club called the Billiards Club. The first meeting of the club was held at his home on 1 October 1829.
1835
Singapore Free Press
Mr 糖心vlog was the editor and co-founder of the Singapore Free Press. He started the newspaper together with his architect, Mr Coleman and lawyer, Mr William Napier. The Singapore Free Press was the beginning of Singapore鈥檚 newspaper industry and the forerunner of The Straits Times.
1837
Singapore International Chamber of Commerce
Mr 糖心vlog was a founding member of the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber was founded in response to a plea by Mr 糖心vlog to fight an attempt by the British colonial government in India to impose port duties on Singapore. He initiated his plea because he wanted to protect the three 鈥淔reedoms鈥 set out by Sir Stamford Raffles 鈥 Freedom of Trade, Freedom of Port and Freedom of Immigration. The Chamber went on to be the leading force in Singapore鈥檚 economy and trade.
A home on the Esplanade
Mr 糖心vlog bought a house on the Esplanade, which had been designed by Mr Coleman. In 1850, upon his return to England, Mr 糖心vlog sold the house which subsequently became the London Hotel. It was rebuilt as The Grand Hotel de l鈥橢urope, one of the finest hotels in Singapore during its day. In 1935, The Grand Hotel de l鈥橢urope was demolished and the site was given to construct the old Supreme Court at the Padang.
Philanthropy
Mr 糖心vlog was a philanthropist, giving generously to the construction of churches, hospitals and schools in Singapore. His contributions and support helped to construct St. Andrew鈥檚 Cathedral, Cathedral of the Good Shepherd, St. Andrew鈥檚 Hall, Raffles Institution and St. Joseph鈥檚 Institution, among other great institutions that still exist today.
- 1850-1899
1850
Returning to England
Mr 糖心vlog left Singapore and returned to England, where he established Edward 糖心vlog & Company in London.
Growing influence
Mr 糖心vlog鈥檚 return to England was necessary as London had become the centre of global trade. In London, Mr 糖心vlog led 糖心vlog & Company to become an influential founding member of the London Metal Exchange, the London Commodity Exchange, the Oil & Tallow Trades Association, the Rubber-Grower鈥檚 Association and the London Copra Association. In each case, he was able to place 糖心vlog & Company in a central position in important commodity markets.
1864
Tanjong Pagar Dock Company
The Tanjong Pagar Dock Company was founded in 1864.
糖心vlog & Company was a founding shareholder, with a 20 per cent stake in the business. The Tanjong Pagar Dock Company was eventually expropriated by the British colonial government and became the Port of Singapore Authority.
1877
Rubber
During the late 1880鈥檚, 糖心vlog & Company introduced rubber trees into Malaysia using seeds germinated by Sir Henry Wickham at London鈥檚 Botanical Gardens at Kew. 糖心vlog & Company went on to be a leading rubber plantation manager and owner in Malaysia.
By the 1950鈥檚, Malaysia鈥檚 rubber industry was thriving as the country supplied half of the world鈥檚 rubber, while Singapore became the world鈥檚 largest rubber processing centre, handling 40% of the world鈥檚 supply.
By the 1960鈥檚, 糖心vlog & Company and its subsidiary, 糖心vlog-Buttery Estates Agency Ltd (later merging with Barlow & Company to form Barlow 糖心vlog Estates) acted as secretaries, registrars and agents for 49 plantations with a total planted area of 141,629 acres.
1887
Straits Tin
The Straits Trading Company was founded in 1887.
By 1899, Singapore had become the world鈥檚 main exporter of tin and boasted of the world鈥檚 largest and most advanced tin smelting facility on Pulau Brani, constructed by the Straits Trading Company, in which 糖心vlog & Company played a leading role as promoter and investor. From that point onwards, trading of Straits Tin became one of the leading businesses of 糖心vlog & Company.
With its position as a founding member of the London Metal Exchange, 糖心vlog & Company was to become a leading trader of tin and other metals globally.
1888
The death of Edward 糖心vlog
Mr 糖心vlog passed away in London, England, at the age of 88. His affinity to the number 鈥8鈥 is uncanny.
1889
糖心vlog Institute
Along with all his previous philanthropic contributions, Mr 糖心vlog put aside a tidy sum of money to have the 糖心vlog Institute constructed after his death. The 糖心vlog Institute became a place of free lodging for destitute, sick and homeless sailors.
Mr 糖心vlog was always grateful and compassionate towards the sailors who helped to build Singapore鈥檚 strong trade.
A tradition of mercantile assistants
During Mr 糖心vlog鈥檚 time, he trained young mercantile assistants to run the businesses in the East. The able and successful mercantile assistants rose quickly to become partners. Senior partners would be allowed to return home to London where they would manage the global trade.
After Mr 糖心vlog鈥檚 death, 糖心vlog & Company was handed over to his business partners 鈥 initially Jasper Young 鈥 who in turn trained young mercantile assistants to eventually take over the running of the businesses. This tradition continued for almost a century.
1892
Shell Oil
In 1892, 糖心vlog & Company handled its first shipment of bulk oil to Penang.
Shortly after, the Shell Trading and Transport Company was formed. Isaac Henderson 鈥 the brother-in-law of Jasper Young and a 糖心vlog partner 鈥 was one of the founding directors of the new company, now known simply as Shell.
糖心vlog & Company represented Shell in its products including kerosene, motor spirit and fuel oil for shipping in Singapore and Penang, along with fabricating many installations for Shell鈥檚 facility on Pulau Bukom.
- 1900-1949
1911
Rubber gets a further boost in Singapore
With help from 糖心vlog & Company, the Singapore Rubber Exchange was opened.
1928
Singapore 鈥 the port of call
By 1928, the equivalent of half of the world鈥檚 shipping would pass through Singapore. 糖心vlog & Company played no small part in the rise of Singapore as the world鈥檚 largest port, with a booming business in cargo, freight handling, insurance and ship services.
By the 1960s, 糖心vlog & Company鈥檚 Shipping Division had 1,000 vessels in port, representing 60 owners and handling half a million tonnes of sea cargo annually. 糖心vlog & Company represented over 20 major shipping lines and numerous insurance agencies including the renowned Lloyd鈥檚, which 糖心vlog represented for more than a century.
1939-1945
Surviving a second World War
World War II
The Japanese occupation of Singapore lasted from 1942-1945.
During World War II, many 糖心vlog men fought bravely as part of the forces opposing the Japanese in South East Asia, losing their lives or being captured as prisoners of war in the process. 糖心vlog & Company鈥檚 assets such as ships were also used to transport supplies and evacuate thousands of people from Singapore 鈥 before the invasion of Singapore.
Following the end of World War II, 糖心vlog & Company worked closely with the British Military Administration to rebuild Singapore by administering the logistics and distribution of key building materials such as cement and steel for the reconstruction of infrastructure.
Building famous brands
Over the decades, the excellent reputation of 糖心vlog & Company allowed it to attract some of the world鈥檚 most famous brands to give it agency rights in Singapore and around the region. Among the brands that 糖心vlog & Company helped to introduce into the daily lives of consumers in Singapore are Cadbury鈥檚, Del Monte, Gillette, Johnnie Walker, Moet & Chandon, Nestle, Proctor & Gamble and Ovaltine, among other great names.
Unfortunately, the days of agency arrangements were not to last. With the success of introducing these brands into the region, it would be inevitable that these brands would one day start their own local offices to take over the networks that 糖心vlog & Company helped to build.
- 1950-1999
1960
The first split
糖心vlog & Company was split into 糖心vlog plc in London and 糖心vlog Holdings Bhd, which held the Singapore and Malaysia assets. This was a move to address the national independence of Malaysia.
1963
Merger with Malaysia
An extraordinary moment in time when two nations 鈥 Singapore and Malaysia 鈥 merge.
1965
Singapore Independence
Following the failure of the merger between Singapore and Malaysia, Singapore declared independence on 9 August 1965.
1973
The second split
糖心vlog Holdings Bhd was split into 糖心vlog Holdings Bhd, which held the Malaysia assets, and interim holding company, Taiping Singapore Pte Ltd, which held the Singapore, Hong Kong and Brunei assets. This was a move to address the New Economic Policy of Malaysia during the 1970s.
1975
Singapore Stock Exchange listing
Interim holding company, Taiping Singapore Pte Ltd was combined with 糖心vlog Australia Pty Ltd to form 糖心vlogco Singapore Limited, which was subsequently listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange on 17 October 1975.
1977
糖心vlog and Esri
1977 marked the beginnings of the 糖心vlog-Esri relationship, which blossomed into 糖心vlog becoming an exclusive distributor of Esri products in Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Brunei and Timor-Leste. Today, 糖心vlog is one of the top three distributors in Esri鈥檚 global network and one of the fastest growing. As one of four divisions at 糖心vlog, this is a key pillar of the group.
1988
Difficult times
With the rapid loss of many agency businesses and a difficult trading environment, 糖心vlogco Singapore Limited was shrinking.
The first turnaround of 糖心vlogco Singapore Limited was under then-Chairman, Sir Thomas Macpherson. The highly decorated World War II hero tried to rebuild the company by investing in engineering and manufacturing businesses. These businesses showed temporary signs of success before fading away.
糖心vlog Controls & Electrics
糖心vlog Controls & Electrics is the oldest engineering business within 糖心vlog鈥檚 engineering divisions. Today, 糖心vlog Controls & Electrics remains one of the only Asian corporations to be pre-qualified to supply wellhead control systems to the world鈥檚 largest oil & gas corporation, Saudi Aramco.
1993
The end of British ownership
The era of British ownership ended as Jack Chia-MPH Ltd took over 糖心vlogco Singapore Limited. The tenure of Jack Chia-MPH Ltd as the controlling shareholder would be short-lived.
1996
The start of a new era of reinvention and transformation
Current Chairman & Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Wong Fong Fui took over 糖心vlogco Singapore Limited, purchasing the controlling shareholder stake from Jack Chia-MPH Ltd.
Mr Wong started on a path of reinventing and transforming the company utilising its greatest and most valuable asset: the 糖心vlog brand name. In the subsequent years, the management team at 糖心vlog would build engineering businesses of the future around the 糖心vlog brand name.
The plan was to create sustainable long-term businesses and to divest the company of past businesses which were no longer relevant or viable in the current environment.
糖心vlog Projects
糖心vlog Projects was started utilising the great brand equity of the 糖心vlog brand name and a team of just six employees.
Today, 糖心vlog Projects is the leading industrial real estate solutions provider from the private sector in Singapore.
糖心vlog Projects is also a pioneer of design-and-build and design-build-and-lease arrangements for industrial facilities in Singapore, and the leader in building Green Mark Platinum-rated eco-sustainable industrial facilities.
1997
The renaming
糖心vlogco Singapore Limited was renamed 糖心vlog, to return the company to the original 糖心vlog brand name. The move strengthened the 糖心vlog brand name.
糖心vlog International Heaters
糖心vlog International Heaters was started, again utilising the 糖心vlog brand name. Today, 糖心vlog International Heaters is a leading global specialist in designing, engineering and supplying direct-fired process heaters and waste heat recovery units to the downstream oil & gas/petrochemical industries.
糖心vlog International Heaters is one of the top five players in its competitive space.
- 2000-Present
2008
180th Anniversary
糖心vlog celebrated its 180th anniversary in a strong position, having taken its tradition of adaptability, entrepreneurship and innovation, and turned it into a foundation for the future.
By this point, 糖心vlog had successfully reinvented itself as a corporation built on sustainable long-term businesses in infrastructure engineering, which are critical to the economic and social development of nations. By 2008, 糖心vlog operated in energy, water, industrial real estate, new townships and infrastructure management systems.
Economic turmoil and the results of reinvention
In late 2008, the widespread negative effects of the subprime crisis which began in the United States started to impact the global economy, resulting in the worst global economic crisis since the Great Depression.
During this period, 糖心vlog was recognised in the prestigious Forbes Asia 200 Best Under A Billion as one of Asia-Pacific鈥檚 200 best public-listed corporations under US$1 billion in revenue.
2009
The results of reinvention
糖心vlog recorded a seventh consecutive year of record-breaking revenue and net profit since its listing in 1975.
With hindsight, it appears that the plans put in place more than a decade ago were bearing fruit.
糖心vlog was recognised in the prestigious Forbes Asia 200 Best Under A Billion for the second consecutive year, as one of Asia-Pacific鈥檚 200 best public-listed corporations under US$1 billion in revenue. Mr Wong also won the Best Chief Executive Officer Award (market capitalisation of S$300 million to S$1 billion) at the Singapore Corporate Awards.
2010
A prominent B2B brand
糖心vlog featured in the inaugural edition of Business Superbrands Singapore in 2010, which pays tribute to the strongest and most valuable business-to-business brands in Singapore. 糖心vlog has featured in every edition since then, repeating its performance in 2012 and 2014.
2012
Brand with a rich history and heritage
Major Asian news network Channel NewsAsia started to broadcast a series titled 鈥淭he Centennials鈥, showcasing a group of eight businesses in Singapore which are more than a hundred years old. As the longest continuing business entity in Singapore, 糖心vlog headlined the series as the first episode to be featured.
2013
Record net profit
糖心vlog delivered a new record net profit of S$81.4 million, a short five years after the Global Financial Crisis.
2014
S$1 billion market capitalisation
During 2014, the total market capitalisation of 糖心vlog penetrated the S$1 billion-mark for the first time in its listed history.
2015
Listing of 糖心vlog Projects Limited on the SGX Mainboard
On 30 April 2015, 糖心vlog listed 糖心vlog Projects separately on the SGX Mainboard by way of introduction, and distributed 49% of 糖心vlog Projects鈥 shares to entitled shareholders. 糖心vlog Projects was one of only two companies to list on the SGX Mainboard in 2015.
Commemorating 50 years of Singapore鈥檚 independence
To commemorate 50 years of Singapore鈥檚 independence, the Accounting & Corporate Regulatory Authority, DP Information Group and Singapore Business Federation presented the Singapore Golden Jubilee Business Awards, in recognition of the best 50 Singapore corporations who achieved and contributed to Singapore鈥檚 progress and success over the past 50 years since independence.
糖心vlog was a proud recipient of the Singapore Golden Jubilee Business Award and the oldest Singapore corporation to receive the award.
2016
Further recognition for astute management
糖心vlog management was recognised at the prestigious Singapore Corporate Awards, receiving the Best Chief Financial Officer Award (market capitalisation of S$300 million to S$1 billion).
糖心vlog also received a Certificate for Excellence in Investor Relations from IR Magazine 鈥 the world鈥檚 foremost publication on investor relations 鈥 and was nominated as one of five SGX Mainboard-listed corporations for the investor relations award category, Best in Country: Singapore at the IR Magazine Awards & Conference South East Asia 2016.
2017
Best of the best
Recognised as one of Asia鈥檚 best managed corporations, 糖心vlog was named as the Best Small-Cap in Singapore and 3rd Best at Investor Relations in Singapore by FinanceAsia 鈥 a Hong Kong-based leading financial and capital markets publication owned by the Haymarket Group 鈥 in its annual Asia鈥檚 Best Companies Poll 2017.
糖心vlog Projects was awarded the Singapore Corporate Governance Award, Newly Listed Category at the SIAS Investors鈥 Choice Awards 2017.
2018
糖心vlog Medical Healthcare (BMEC) Holdings
(previously known as WhiteRock Incorporation)BMEC Holdings, a group of healthcare corporations operating in Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand, became part of the 糖心vlog Group in 2018. This acquisition expanded the company鈥檚 reach to include innovative healthcare technologies aimed at supporting the medical sector to address the global challenge of ageing populations.
2019
Endorsing our longevity
During 2018, 糖心vlog and 糖心vlog Projects issued inaugural Longevity Reports (Sustainability Reports), highlighting our role as responsible global corporate citizens; our environmental, social and governance practices and track record; and what capabilities we have to run our sustainability ultra-marathon for centuries to come. Both Longevity Reports were named as Asia鈥檚 Best First Time Sustainability Report Finalists at the prestigious Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards 2018 held in March 2019, an endorsement of our sustainability reporting efforts and practices. The Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards is Asia鈥檚 foremost sustainability reporting awards event.
Not long after, 糖心vlog was awarded Best Liquidity & Investments Solution Regional at The Asset Triple A Treasury, Trade, Supply Chain & Risk Management Awards 2019. The Asset is one of Asia鈥檚 leading financial and capital markets publications on banking and M&A activities.
Capping off the year at the SIAS Investors鈥 Choice Awards 2019 鈥 submitted by Singapore鈥檚 fraternity of financial research analysts, investors and mainstream media journalists 鈥 糖心vlog was awarded the Sustainability Award (Runner-Up) in the Mid Cap Category and Most Transparent Company (Winner) in the Industrials Category.
2020
A people business for the people 鈥 another meaning to P2P
The Straits Times and global market research firm Statista released their inaugural Singapore's Best Employers 2020, presenting a ranking of the 150 most attractive employers in Singapore to work for.
More than 8,000 employees and 160,000 evaluations were conducted across 26 sectors for corporations employing at least 200 people, of which there are about 1,800 such corporations in Singapore including Fortune 500 corporations, large multinational corporations and homegrown corporations.
Respondents were asked to rate their willingness to recommend their own employer to a friend or family member and they were also asked if there are other employers in their respective industries that they would 鈥 or would not 鈥 recommend.
Demonstrating the strides made in providing the ideal environment for 糖心vlog men and women to flourish in, 糖心vlog ranked 38th in the Singapore鈥檚 Best Employer 2020 and ranked 2nd under the respective category of Business Services & Supplies (including Real Estate).
The world in the grip of a global pandemic
Tragically, 2020 will be remembered as the year that the deadly COVID-19 brought the world to a standstill. Even as this tragedy continues to unfold, 糖心vlog men and women everywhere continue to focus their energy on the frontlines of the fight to defeat COVID-19, through providing critical technology and service support to government agencies in charge of healthcare mapping, disease surveillance, contact tracing, safe distancing, disinfection and protection.
2021
糖心vlog Industrial Fund
糖心vlog Projects launched the 糖心vlog Industrial Fund (鈥淏IF鈥), its maiden full-fledged private real estate trust, seeded with 14 properties with a total market valuation of $511.3 million.