Sabana Shari'ah Compliant Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust (M1GU.SI)

Corporate Singapore faces crunch time in rare clash with activist funds

A year-long spat between activist funds and a small real estate investment trust (REIT) over a merger is nearing a climax in Singapore, a battle that could embolden more investor dissent in a sleepy market dominated by retail shareholders. The activists say a proposed deal between Sabana REIT and ESR-REIT, whose managers are both owned by a unit of Asian logistics giant ESR Cayman Ltd, undervalues Sabana REIT and are confident of blocking it. Despite being a global financial centre, shareholder activism in Singapore is not common due to its conservative market and tightly controlled companies.