Private Equity 2021 Comparisons

Singapore is a key hub for fund managers and investment entities and continues to serve as an entry point for regional South-East Asian private equity (PE) and investment activity.

Singapore has generally responded well to COVID-19 with comparatively low mortality rates and high vaccination rates. This has increased confidence in setting up in Singapore and investing both in and out of Singapore.

Special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) have also contributed to the increased deal activity in the region, as many South East Asian unicorns prepare for a capital markets exit. South East Asia and India continue to remain as rich hunting grounds as high-growth companies in the region start to mature. Many South East Asian and Indian-based businesses have restructured to have Singapore-incorporated holding entities and raised capital through these, and this may continue to drive deal flow in Singapore for M&A activity. For a more detailed discussion on current trends in PE in Singapore, see Singapore Trends & Developments. 

The sectors which have seen more deal activity in 2021 are, unsurprisingly, in COVID-19-resilient sectors, such as healthcare, telecommunications, e-commerce, fintech, data centres, transport and logistics, and sectors which are able to cater to the new normal of home-based functioning (eg, e-learning, digital healthcare and cybersecurity). There is also an increased push towards impact investing with a focus on renewable energy, transition activities and alternative food sources.

Changes to the law or practice or regulations in recent years which have impacted or may impact the PE community and transactions include the following.

Singapore Exchange SPAC Framework

With effect from 3 September 2021, SPACs are allowed to list on the Mainboard of the SGX-ST by way of a primary listing, providing companies an attractive alternative capital fund raising route. The new initiative was announced by the SGX-ST on 2 September 2021, following its consultation paper released in March 2021, and changes to the SGX-ST Mainboard Listing Rules to implement the SPACs listing framework took effect on 3 September 2021. 

The SGX-ST has emphasised that its focus on the SPAC listing framework is to seek a balanced regime that effectively safeguards investors’ interests against certain concerns posed by the unique features of SPACs, while meeting the capital raising needs of the market.

In addition to satisfying existing admission criteria for a primary listing on the Mainboard, a SGX-ST SPAC is subject to additional admission criteria under the new listing framework, such as minimum market capitalisation; public float; minimum issue price; and suitability assessment factors including profile of founding shareholders, experience and expertise of management team, nature and extent of management team compensation, SPAC business objective and strategy, extent and type of securities participation, as well as alignment of interests.

See Singapore Trends & Developments for further details.

Changes to Delisting Rules

Public-to-privates have been common in PE transactions in Singapore in recent years (see 7. Takeovers). 

Changes were introduced to the Singapore Exchange’s listing rules (Listing Rules) in July 2019 to strengthen the protection of minority investors in a public/delisting buyout. A voluntary delisting now needs to be approved by a majority of at least 75% of the shares held by shareholders of the issuer present and voting, and in order to enhance minority shareholder protection, the offeror and its concert parties are now required to abstain from voting on the delisting resolution. The revised Listing Rules also now require the exit offer to be “fair” in addition to being “reasonable”, in the opinion of an independent financial adviser, and to include a cash offer as the default alternative. However, exceptions to these requirements apply if the delisting is pursuant to an offer under the Singapore Code on Takeovers and Mergers, provided that the offeror is exercising its right of compulsory acquisition. 

The Listing Rules amendments were expected to increase the costs of privatisations generally and to render voluntary delistings, coupled with an exit offer, less attractive for a PE sponsor acting with existing controlling shareholders to privatise the company. Indeed, 2020 has seen a number of transactions involving PE funds in the offeror consortium where the transaction has instead been structured as a general offer subject to 90% acceptance condition (so as to allow for compulsory acquisition pursuant to the Companies Act). At the time of publication, there is an ongoing consultation to tighten the Companies Act provisions on compulsory acquisition, and these proposed changes are likely to further restrict structuring flexibility in take-private deals.   

Variable Capital Companies

A new structure for investment funds was introduced on 14 January 2020 – the Variable Capital Company (VCC). The VCC corporate structure can be used for a wide range of investment funds and gives fund managers enhanced operational flexibility and cost savings. 

The introduction of the VCC as a new corporate vehicle dedicated to investment funds is intended to change Singapore's fund management landscape and more fund managers are expected to establish or re-domicile funds in Singapore as VCCs. The VCC is subject to less stringent capital maintenance rules and may pay dividends out of capital, unlike a traditional Singapore company. It can be used for both open-end and closed-end funds and as a standalone fund or umbrella entity with multiple sub-funds, each with segregated assets and liabilities. The VCC provides greater operational flexibility and is entitled to the same tax benefits that existing Singapore funds enjoy. 

Dual Class Shares

In mid-2018, the Singapore Exchange (SGX) implemented a regulatory framework for the listing of companies with dual class shares structures allowing for entities with different classes of voting rights, subject to appropriate safeguards including against entrenchment and expropriation, to raise funds through an IPO on SGX. 

VIMA Documents

Less a legal development and more a development in practice – the Singapore Venture Capital & Private Equity Association and the Singapore Academy of Law have published a set of Venture Capital Investment Model Agreements (VIMAs) which comprise standardised documentation for use in seed rounds and early-stage financings and which currently include, inter alia, a Series A term sheet and subscription agreement, a shareholders’ agreement and a convertible agreement regarding equity. 

General Regulatory Landscape

Singapore’s laws and regulations are in line with those of other major financial centres and PE investors should be able to navigate them with ease. Singapore consistently ranks as one of the world’s most competitive economies according to the World Economic Forum (in 2019 it was voted the most competitive) and is an investor-friendly jurisdiction. 

For example, there are no general foreign shareholding restrictions in Singapore except in a few tightly regulated industries such as banking, broadcasting and newspaper publications. Neither does Singapore have a general national security or national interests regime in respect of foreign investment and acquisitions. Change of control or shareholding in some target companies may be subject to conditions in their licences if they are licensed entities and/or to antitrust regulations, but these are generally in line with antitrust principles which would be familiar to international PE investors. 

Key Regulators Relevant to PE Transactions and the PE Community

Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)

Fund management is a regulated activity under the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) for which a Capital Markets Services (CMS) licence is required, unless one of the available licensing exemptions applies. Typically, the manager managing the funds in Singapore must either be registered as a Registered Fund Management Company (RFMC) or licensed as the holder of a CMS licence. 

Singapore Exchange (SGX) and Securities Industry Council (SIC)

Public-to-private transactions need to comply with the regime under the Singapore Code on Takeovers and Mergers (Takeover Code), which is administered by the Securities Industry Council (SIC), and voluntary delistings under the SGX Listing Rules. 

Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS)

The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) is the regulator for competition law and regulations. 

Relevant Laws/Regulations 

PE players will often encounter these legislative provisions in the course of their business compliance or in transactions:

• the Securities and Futures Act (SFA);
• the Singapore Code on Takeovers and Mergers (Takeover Code); 
• the SGX Listing Rules – applicable to all companies listed on the SGX (whether Mainboard or the secondary Catalist board), this includes rules which require listed companies to obtain undertakings from their controlling shareholders to notify them of any share-pledging arrangements and of any event which may result in a breach of loan covenants entered into by the listed company – this may impact acquisition financing terms for buyouts;
• the Competition Act – generally, anti-competitive agreements or any mergers and acquisitions which substantially lessen competition are prohibited under the Competition Act and require clearance/consent from the CCCS; 
• the Companies Act – this is applicable to all incorporated companies in Singapore; and
• the Employment Act – this applies where the transfer of employees is involved or where employment agreements need to be entered into with key employees.

Typically, detailed due diligence is carried out by PE bidders covering the usual areas, such as, commercial, financial, tax, legal, insurance, compliance and environment. Materiality and scope depend on the PE investor's risk assessment and financing requirements, the complexity of the target's business, and the timeframe for the particular acquisition. 

Legal due diligence usually covers the following areas: 

• corporate information;
• regulatory approvals;
• licences or permits, material contracts; 
• any change of control or change in shareholding restrictions; 
• information relating to assets, including title to real estate, intellectual property rights and information technology; 
• employee and labour law matters;
• litigation that the target is involved in (including customary litigation and court searches);
• charges and encumbrances registered against the target’s assets; and 
• ESG, responsible investing and compliance matters, such as, environmental laws, data protection and anti-bribery and corruption (although these will typically be conducted with the help of specialist advisers).

Vendor due diligence (VDD) and reliance on VDD reports is not as common in Singapore as it is in other jurisdictions (eg, the UK and Europe) but there has been a growing trend towards this in recent years, especially for competitive auction deals run by PE sellers (who tend to run better-organised sale processes compared to less sophisticated sellers).

Given that VDD is not an established common practice for M&A deals generally, there is also less familiarity with and less acceptance of VDD reports, and bidders typically still conduct fairly extensive due diligence even where a VDD report is available. 

Where there is VDD, the starting position is usually for the VDD reports to be provided on a non-reliance basis to bidders, although there is a gradual increase in transactions where the successful bidder/buyer will be granted reliance. 

Acquisition structures are usually determined by the nature of the target and its assets rather than the identity of the buyer (whether PE or otherwise).

Private/Unlisted Companies

For the acquisition of private/unlisted companies, such acquisitions will be by way of private treaty sale and purchase agreement (whether through bilateral negotiations or through an auction process). Generally speaking, share acquisitions are more common than asset acquisitions.

Public/Listed Targets

For public/listed targets, acquisitions (assuming control deals) will either be by way of general offers (voluntary being more common than mandatory) or court-approved schemes of arrangement. As PE transactions are often leveraged, the “all-or-nothing” nature of schemes of arrangement lends itself better to debt “push down” and is often favoured where there is reasonable confidence that the necessary approval thresholds can be met. 

It is common for the fund making the acquisition to set up a holding company which in turn holds a special-purpose vehicle as the buyer entity (Bidco). Representatives of the fund shareholder will be appointed to the board of the Bidco but it is the Bidco that contracts with the seller. The fund itself will not usually be involved in or party to any contractual documentation (other than perhaps an equity commitment letter).

Financing

PE deals in Singapore are normally financed by traditional bank financing and banks generally show willingness to support leveraged finance transactions where the track record of the sponsor and the quality of the target assets are not an issue. For leveraged buyout structures, Singapore abolished the concept of financial assistance for private companies (which facilitates debt push-down) in 2015, but financial assistance prohibitions (with exemptions) continue to apply to public companies and their subsidiaries. 

Commitment Letter

For acquisitions of private/unlisted targets, equity commitment letters are common, although satisfactory evidence of debt financing will also often be expected in competitive processes. 

For acquisitions of public/listed targets which are governed by the Takeover Code, public confirmation of available financial resources will be required by the financial adviser at the time of announcement of the general offer. Accordingly, the financial adviser to the offeror will need to conduct due diligence, and review and be satisfied with the sources of financing. An equity commitment letter may not suffice, as these increasingly need to be supplemented by debt financing documents which are capable of being drawn on if necessary. 

Stakes

PE deals see a good mix of control deals versus minority investments. Traditionally, PE deals will see PE funds taking a majority or control stake but there is now also a trend towards minority investment deals. For example, in late 2019, global investment organisation EQT backed the privatisation of a healthcare player, Health Management International Limited (HMI), through a scheme of arrangement with an option for either a cash or securities consideration. The major shareholders and certain key management of HMI had undertaken to elect a securities consideration in the bid vehicle. Assuming no other shareholders had elected for the securities consideration, EQT would have had at best a 30.5% stake in HMI after completion. Early round venture capital investments have also increased in pace and volume.

These minority/partnership investments in buyout transactions could be a reflection of the Asian PE market, where intrinsic value is tied to the operational know-how and relationships of family owners and family-linked conglomerates, even while there is a desire for professional managers to take the businesses forward. 

Consortium Arrangements

PE deals (especially the higher-value ones) are frequently entered into by a consortium, including PE sponsors, but with other investors investing alongside them.

Broadly speaking, it is more common to see existing controlling shareholders/management as co-investors in these consortiums than other limited partners or PE sponsors but there are notable high-value exceptions, such as the acquisition and privatisation of Global Logistic Properties Limited in 2017 by Nesta Investment Holdings Limited (which is controlled by a consortium comprising various investors, including HOPU Logistics Investment Management Co, Ltd, Hillhouse Capital Logistics Management, Ltd, Bank of China Group Investment Limited, and Vanke Real Estate (Hong Kong) Company Limited) by way of a scheme of arrangement in what was Asia’s largest-ever PE buyout. In April 2021, Soilbuild Group’s Lim Family and Blackstone completed the acquisition of Soilbuild Business Space REIT through a trust scheme of arrangement for a total of approximately SGD700 million.

In September 2020, Perennial Real Estate Holdings Ltd was privatised and delisted in a privatisation buyout offer led by its major shareholders. HOPU Investment Management partnered the existing major shareholders in the transaction, with its stake in the consortium at 17.6%, making it only the third-largest shareholder in the consortium.

Some co-investments between PE players and strategic investors have also recently been announced. In August 2020, it was announced that a Gobi Partners managed fund (Meranti ASEAN Growth Fund) and Alibaba Singapore would be shareholders in a bid vehicle to acquire the entire e-commerce, e-commerce enabler and logistics business of Synagie Corporation Ltd, which is listed on the SGX.

Transaction Terms: Private Acquisitions

Consideration structures which entail post-completion audits and consequential purchase-price adjustments are more common in the sale of private companies than locked-box mechanisms, although PE sellers would usually prefer and insist on the latter. 

Earn-outs are not typically used where the buyer and the seller want a clean break after the acquisition is complete. For example, a PE fund looking to divest a portfolio entity at the tail-end of its fund cycle will not be inclined to accept earn-out as a form of deferred payment. Conversely, where PE investors are buyers, earn-outs to incentivise management sellers would be common. 

Generally speaking, PE buyers are less likely to provide protection for consideration (whether in the form of a guarantee or enforceable commitments) than a corporate buyer would. 

Interest on leakage for locked-box consideration remains a negotiated point in most deals and there is no established norm, especially because locked-box mechanisms are not that widespread in the first place, but probably, more often than not, no interest would be charged. 

In locked-box and completion accounts adjustments, it is fairly common for sale and purchase agreements to provide for resolution of disputes by expert determination by an independent accountant, rather than resort to a dispute resolution mechanism. 

Conditionality of deals is usually a heavily negotiated area and there is no “standard” norm. 

PE sellers will usually insist on certainty of transaction and will not agree to conditions other than those which are absolutely necessary or mandatory/regulatory.

Financing conditions are generally resisted and are relatively rare, while limited material adverse change (MAC) clauses are usually agreed to. 

"Hell or high water" undertakings are not common in Singapore and PE-backed buyers will resist this very strongly. 

Whilst not a general practice, break fees are agreed for some transactions. For public deals, there are restrictions and prescribed requirements to be met in the Takeover Code for a listed target to agree to any break fees. The directors of the target company (both public and private) must also consider their fiduciary duties in agreeing to such break fees, as well as the possible breach of any financial assistance prohibition under the Companies Act. For a public transaction, the financial adviser to the target company would also be required to confirm that, inter alia, they believe the fee to be in the best interests of the offeree company shareholders. 

Reverse break fees are even less common in Singapore. 

PE buyers and sellers are usually extremely focused on deal certainty and termination rights are typically heavily resisted. 

Sale and purchase agreements typically contain a long-stop date by which the closing conditions must be fulfilled, failing which the agreement will terminate but as mentioned previously, the conditions and necessity thereof will usually be heavily negotiated and any attempt at a “back door” termination will generally be viewed with suspicion. 

The right to terminate for breach of pre-closing undertakings or representations/warranties will usually be resisted and at the very least pegged to some material thresholds.

It should be noted that in a going-private transaction subject to the Takeover Code, the termination of the purchase agreement is subject to the SIC's approval, even when the condition giving rise to the termination right has been triggered.

Parties are generally free to negotiate the representations, warranties and indemnities. The scope of these varies widely from transaction to transaction and will depend on the relative bargaining power of the parties. PE sellers will want to minimise their continuing/residual liability on the sale of a portfolio company and generally, the risks they are prepared to accept (whether in the form of warranties or indemnities or covenants) will be lower compared to corporate sellers. 

Refer also to 6.9 Warranty Protection and 6.10 Other Protections in Acquisition Documentation.

Warranties and Limits on Liability

General

See also 6.8 Allocation of Risk. A PE seller will usually give fundamental warranties pertaining to title, capacity and authority, but willingness to provide extensive business warranties will depend on the extent of participation and the involvement of management. Where management holds a significant stake, they are expected to give comprehensive warranties to the buyer, together with a management representation made to the PE sellers. Where the management stake is not significant, the PE sellers may be prepared to increase the scope of the warranties, subject to limited liability caps of between 10% to 30% of the consideration.

Limits on liability

Customary limitations on a seller’s liability under a sale and purchase agreement include: 

• for fundamental warranties – capped at an amount equal to or less than the purchase price;
• for other warranties, typical caps between 10% to 30% of the consideration;
• a de minimis threshold (normally about 0.1% of the purchase price for each individual claim and 0.5% to 1% of the purchase price for the aggregate value of such claims); 
• a limitation period of 18 to 36 months for non-tax claims and between three to six years for fundamental warranty and tax claims; and
• qualifying representations and warranties with disclosure contained in the disclosure letter and all information in the data room. 

Warranty and Indemnity Insurance

The use of warranty and indemnity insurance to mitigate deal risk for PE firms has gained traction in recent years and is now widely accepted (in fact, it is a prerequisite for most PE parties). On the sell-side, it bridges the gap on the extent of warranties coverage and liability caps, and on the buy-side, it enhances the attractiveness of the PE investor's bid in competitive bid situations.

Target Company Management's Involvement

A PE sponsor will also typically look to greater commitment and support for the transaction from the management of the target company to ensure management continuity. As such, it is not uncommon to find PE sponsors insisting on the terms of the transaction, giving them the right to negotiate with or offer to the existing management of the target company the opportunity to participate with an equity stake in the bidding vehicle or enter into new service agreements. See 8. Management Incentives on usual management participation terms.

Escrows and Security

Where known risks are identified, an escrow account may be set aside from the consideration to satisfy such claims and to secure any indemnity obligations but it is extremely rare for any PE seller to agree to provide any such escrow or security.

There do not appear to have been many litigation suits in connection with PE M&A deals in Singapore. 

Take-privates are common in Singapore. As companies listed on the SGX often trade at a discount to their book values, delistings have outnumbered listings on the SGX for the past five years. 

Many of these take-privates are backed by PE investors (often as part of a consortium with existing controlling shareholders). 

However, due to changes in the voluntary delisting regime and possible changes in compulsory acquisition provisions, it is expected that privatisations will become increasingly difficult to structure and it is therefore also expected that the pace will slow somewhat. 

For listed entities, a substantial shareholder (5% or more) needs to give notice to the listed corporation within two business days of his interest and any change in the percentage level of his interest, or when he ceases to be a substantial shareholder. The issuer is then required to make the corresponding disclosures via SGX announcements. Substantial shareholders include persons who have the authority to dispose of – or exercise control over the disposal of – the relevant securities, and deemed interests are included in such securities. It should be noted that fund managers and their controllers would have to disclose their interests under this regime.

Under Rule 14.1 of the Takeover Code, the thresholds for triggering a mandatory general offer are as follows:

• where any person acquires, whether by a series of transactions over a period of time or not, shares (added together with shares held or acquired by persons acting in concert with them) which carry 30% or more of the voting rights of a company; or
• any person who, together with persons acting in concert with them, holds not less than 30% but not more than 50% of the voting rights and such person, or any person acting in concert with them, acquires in any six-month period, additional shares carrying more than 1% of the voting rights. 

Such persons who trigger the threshold must extend offers immediately to the holders of any class of share capital of the company which carries votes and in which such person, or persons acting in concert with them, hold shares. In addition to such person, each of the principal members of the group of persons acting in concert with them may, according to the circumstances of the case, have an obligation to extend the offer as well.

For voluntary and partial offers, the offeror can offer cash or securities or a combination of the two as consideration for the shares of the target, except for in certain limited instances under the Takeover Code where a cash or securities offer is required. 

For mandatory offers, the offeror must offer cash or a cash alternative for the shares of the target. 

The ability to introduce offer conditions is limited by Takeover Code restrictions.

Mandatory Offer

In the case of a mandatory offer, the only condition that can be imposed – apart from merger control clearance by the CCCS – is on the minimum level of acceptance.

Voluntary or Partial Offer

In the case of a voluntary or partial offer, conditions cannot be attached where their fulfilment depends on the subjective interpretation or judgement by the bidder, or if this lies in the bidder's hands, the SIC should be consulted on conditions to be attached. Even where a condition is permitted, the ability to revoke a general offer which has been announced due to non-fulfilment of conditions will require SIC consent. 

Cash Offer

Financing conditions would not generally be permitted. Where the offer is for cash or includes an element of cash, the bidder must have sufficient financial resources unconditionally available to allow it to satisfy full acceptance of the offer before it can announce the offer. The SIC requires the financial adviser to the bidder or any other appropriate third party to confirm this unconditionally.

Exclusivity Clauses

Deal protections could include “no-shop” or exclusivity clauses.

Break Fees

The provision of a break fee could be included subject to Takeover Code restrictions. This break fee will be payable should certain specified events occur (eg, where a superior competing offer becomes or is declared unconditional with regard to acceptance within a specified time or the board of the target public company recommends to the shareholders that they should accept a superior competing offer). 

Under Section 215(1) of the Companies Act (Cap 50), an acquirer can exercise the right of compulsory acquisition to buy out the remaining shareholders of a listed company if it receives acceptances pursuant to the general offer in respect of not less than 90% of the listed company's shares, excluding those already held by the acquirer or its related corporations (or their respective nominees) as at the date of the general offer, and excluding treasury shares (90% Squeeze-Out Threshold). Acquisitions of the listed company's shares outside of the general offer may be counted towards the 90% Squeeze-Out Threshold provided that these acquisitions are made during the period when the general offer is open for acceptances, up to the close of the general offer, and provided that the acquisition price does not exceed the offer price (or the offer price is revised to match or exceed the acquisition price). 

As mentioned in 2.1 Impact on Funds and Transactions, at the time of publication, there was an ongoing consultation to tighten the Companies Act provisions on compulsory acquisition to increase minority protection, with the proposed amendments focused on the acceptances to be included and excluded in the 90% threshold.

It is common for a bidder to seek irrevocable undertakings from key shareholders to accept its proposed offer (or to vote favourably) and thereby increase the likelihood of the offer (or scheme) being successful. 

Similarly, where shareholders’ approval for the sale is required, the PE buyer may seek irrevocable undertakings from certain existing shareholders to vote favourably. 

The undertakings can either be “soft” (which allows an out to the undertaking shareholder if a better offer is made) or “hard” (which does not allow any such out) but where the offer terms are favourable, “hard” undertakings have become increasingly common. 

Given the highly confidential and price-sensitive nature of such transactions, any approach for irrevocable undertakings will need to be handled with sensitivity and the timing carefully judged (with appropriate non-disclosure agreements and wall-crossing measures in place).

It is possible to undertake hostile bids in Singapore. However, they are not common (in fact, they are rare), possibly due to the relatively concentrated shareholding structure of many Singapore public companies.

Alignment of interests of the management with the PE investor’s financial objectives is a key consideration and therefore, equity incentives are a common feature of PE transactions. 

The form of management participation varies and could either be ordinary or preferred.

Equity securities may be subject to ratchets measured by key performance indicators. These would usually be subject to restrictions on transfer and claw-back mechanisms, or only exercisable on exit.

For take-private transactions, subject to clearance with the SIC on any “special deals” issues under the Takeover Code, management may be offered the opportunity to participate (with an equity stake) in the bidding vehicle or its holding company, where management agree to swap their shares for equity in the bidding vehicle. As shareholders in the bidding vehicle, the management is likely to be subject to the usual restrictions that a PE sponsor would expect to impose in terms of voting rights and transferability of shares.

Management equity is commonly subject to good leaver and bad leaver provisions. Vesting periods, as well as any moratorium or restrictions, would usually be for at least a period that coincides with the time anticipated for management to achieve an exit for the PE sponsor, usually in the range of three to five years. 

Management shareholders generally agree to non-compete, non-solicitation undertakings. 

Such undertakings will need to be “reasonable”. Restrictive covenants such as non-competition and non-solicitation clauses are generally not enforceable under Singapore law unless and until they are proven to be:

• reasonably required to protect a legitimate proprietary interest of the party seeking to enforce such a covenant;
• reasonable in respect of the interests of the parties concerned; and
• reasonable in the interests of the public. 

Management may have pre-emption rights to subscribe for fresh equity on the same terms but typically would not have evergreen anti-dilution rights. 

The reserved matters list will also usually be kept short and restricted, and the ability of the management team to control or influence the exit of the PE sponsor will normally be limited.

Oversight by the PE fund is usually achieved through a combination of board appointments, veto rights and information rights. PE investors typically enjoy veto rights over material corporate actions, including restrictions on further issuances of debt/equity, change of business, winding-up and other related party transactions. Depending on the size of the minority stake, the PE investor may also have veto rights over operational matters such as capital and/or operational expenditures above a certain threshold, and material acquisitions and disposals. 

Directors of the portfolio company appointed by the PE investor may disclose information received by such directors if such disclosure is not likely to prejudice the portfolio company and is made with the authorisation of its board of directors, in respect of all or any class of, or specific, information.

As a fundamental principle of company law, a company is a separate legal entity from its shareholders and its shareholders are not liable for the company’s actions. The Singapore courts would not generally pierce the corporate veil. Accordingly, it is unlikely that a PE investor will be liable for the liabilities of underlying portfolio companies, except in very unusual circumstances. 

PE funds typically impose their own compliance policies on portfolio companies – eg, those relating to applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws and environmental and social policies. 

Most exits in recent years are through trade sales rather than through public offerings. 

Holding periods seem to be on the rise and average about five to six years. 

Dual-tracked exit processes are only undertaken when PE sellers are truly unsure which option is more likely to be consummated, but they are usually keen to end the dual track as soon as possible. 

Drag rights are common in the event of an exit by the PE investor, but it is less common for the drag to actually be enforced, since interests are usually aligned and most exits are done on a consensual basis. 

Drag thresholds vary but will typically be 50% or more. In transactions where there is a significant minority or institutional co-investor, it could be that a hurdle needs to be achieved before the drag can be activated.

Tag rights in favour of management and co-investors are not uncommon, but they depend on the bargaining powers of the management shareholders. Institutional co-investors would typically expect a quid pro quo tag right for drag rights. 

Lock-up

Moratorium requirements are set out under the SGX Listing Rules for the Mainboard and Catalist respectively.

For the Mainboard 

• For promoters (which include persons with a shareholding of 15% or more and their associates), the moratorium:
1. is for the entire shareholding for at least six months after listing; and
2. may be subject to a lock-up of no less than 50% of the original shareholding (adjusted for bonus issue, subdivision or consolidation) for an additional six months thereafter, depending on the admission criteria.
• For investors with 5% or more of post-invitation share capital who acquired and paid for their shares less than 12 months prior to the date of the listing application, their shares will be subject to a six-month lock-up to be given over the proportion of shares representing the profit portion of the shares.
• For investors with less than 5% of the issuer’s post-invitation issued share capital who acquired and paid for their shares less than 12 months prior to the date of the listing application, there is no limit on the number of shares which may be sold as vendor shares at the time of the IPO. But if the investor has shares which remain unsold at the time of the IPO, the remaining shares will also be subject to a six-month lock-up to be given over the proportion of shares representing the profit portion of the shares. 
• For investors who are connected to the issue manager for the IPO of the issuer's securities, shareholdings will be subject to a moratorium of six months after listing. The moratorium will not apply to fund managers where the funds invested are managed on behalf of independent third parties, with separate and independent management teams and decision-making structures and policies and procedures to address conflicts of interest.

For Catalist

Moratorium requirements in respect of promoters, investors who acquired and paid for their securities less than 12 months prior to listing, as well as any investors who are connected to the sponsors are set out in the Catalist Listing Rules. They are broadly similar to the Mainboard requirements save that for promoters’ shareholdings, at least 50% is required to be subject to a lock-up of six months following the expiry of the initial six-month period where their entire shareholding is locked up.

Post-IPO relationship agreements are not entered into between a PE seller and the target company.