SembCorp Industries Ltd announces that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Singapore Mint Pte Ltd, has taken a 25 per cent equity stake in RLS, S.A., a joint venture corporation incorporated in Andorra. Singapore Mint’s Spanish partners, Messrs. Pere Matamales Iscla and Pere Matamales Pujol, collectively own the remaining 75 per cent equity stake in the new corporation. The share capital of RLS is €31,000 (S$62,000). RLS’ principal object will be the acquisition, holding and licensing  of trade marks, starting with four newly acquired trade marks, MONPLAY, OKFUN!, FACE NORD and ANNAPURNA, for which it paid a consideration of €1,484,000 (S$2,968,000). 

For its 25 per cent equity stake in RLS, Singapore Mint’s investment is €371,000 (S$742,000), which has been funded from internal resources. Singapore Mint has an option to acquire up to another 20 per cent equity stake in RLS exercisable within the next 2 years.

Singapore Mint has also acquired a 27.5 per cent equity stake in Ok 2 Play S.L. This is a joint venture corporation set up by Mr. Pere Matamales Iscla and his other Spanish partners in Spain. The share capital of Ok 2 Play is €600,000 (S$1,200,000), of which Singapore Mint has contributed €165,000 (S$330,000) for its 27.5 per cent share. This investment is funded from internal resources.

Ok 2 Play will manufacture and distribute sports apparel products bearing licensed trade marks, including trade marks licensed from RLS. The initial focus of Ok 2 Play is on the Spanish market and the long term plan is to build a global presence for the trade marks owned by RLS.

The investment does not have a material impact on SembCorp Industries’ earnings per share and net tangible asset per share for the current financial year.

About Singapore Mint

Singapore Mint is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SembCorp Industries. Its main activities include the production, sourcing and marketing of commemorative coins, medallions and other gifts and collectibles. Singapore Mint is pursuing growth through brand ownership and channel building strategy to drive its commemorative products business. In recent years, sporting events have proven to be good drivers for commemorative products and Singapore Mint expects to derive synergy from this investment for its core commemorative products business.

About the European partners

The European partners of Singapore Mint are entrepreneurs who are experienced in the commemorative products business and in building brand names in the sports apparel business.

 
Submitted by Linda Hoon Siew Kin, Group Company Secretary on 28/11/2003 to the SGX