Arbitral Digest

Matter

Singapore Commodities Group Co, Pte Ltd v Founder Group (Hong Kong) Ltd (Singapore Court of Appeal [2026] SGCA 24)

  1. 8 May 2026Singapore

    8 May 2026Singapore

    Decision of the Court of Appeal of Singapore in the case Civil Appeal No 36 of 2025 dated 8 May 2026

    Court of Appeal of Singapore

    Decision summary
    The court allowed the appeal, set aside the winding-up order, and dismissed Companies Winding Up No 120 of 2022 because the respondent had not established standing as a creditor or contingent creditor while the alleged debt remained unresolved by arbitration. It held that the appellant had not abused the court’s process by disputing the alleged debt, ordered the return of US$14,117,585.50 with accrued interest, and awarded indemnity costs against the respondent.

    Supporting details

    44 authorities · 7 participants
    Singapore Commodities Group Co, Pte Ltd
    Representative
    William Ong (For: Singapore Commodities Group Co, Pte Ltd)
    Founder Group (Hong Kong) Ltd (in liquidation)
    Representative
    Hoang Linh Trang (For: Founder Group (Hong Kong) Ltd (in liquidation))
    Court of Appeal of Singapore

    Authorities cited

    44
    • Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (Singapore) (Insolvency, Restructuring and Dissolution Act 2018 (2020 Rev Ed))
      statute
    • Arbitration Act 2001 (Singapore) (Arbitration Act 2001 (2020 Rev Ed))
      statute
    • International Arbitration Act 1994 (Singapore) (International Arbitration Act 1994 (2020 Rev Ed))
      statute
    • Arbitration Act 1996 (United Kingdom) (Arbitration Act 1996 (c 23) (UK))
      statute
    • Singapore Commodities Group Co, Pte Ltd v Founder Group (Hong Kong) Ltd ([2025] SGCA 35)
      case
    • AnAn Group (Singapore) Pte Ltd v VTB Bank (Public Joint Stock Co) ([2020] 1 SLR 1158)
      case
    • Founder Group (Hong Kong) Ltd v Singapore JHC Co Pte Ltd ([2023] 2 SLR 554)
      case
    • Founder Group (Hong Kong) Ltd v Singapore JHC Co Pte Ltd ([2023] SGHC 159)
      case
    • Metalform Asia Pte Ltd v Holland Leedon Pte Ltd ([2007] 2 SLR(R) 268)
      case
    • BNP Paribas v Jurong Shipyard Pte Ltd ([2009] 2 SLR(R) 949)
      case
    • Sun Electric Power Pte Ltd v RCMA Asia Pte Ltd ([2021] 2 SLR 478)
      case
    • Mann v Goldstein ([1968] 1 WLR 1091)
      case
    • Tallington Lakes Ltd v Ancasta International Boat Sales Ltd ([2012] EWCA Civ 1712)
      case
    • Deloitte & Touche AG v Johnson ([1999] 1 WLR 1605)
      case
    • In re Great Britain Mutual Life Assurance Society ((1880) 16 Ch D 246)
      case
    • Pacific Recreation Pte Ltd v S Y Technology Inc ([2008] 2 SLR(R) 491)
      case
    • Stonegate Securities Ltd v Gregory ([1980] Ch 576)
      case
    • RCMA Asia Pte Ltd v Sun Electric Power Pte Ltd ([2020] SGHC 205)
      case
    • Coilcolor Ltd v Camtrex Ltd ([2016] BPIR 1129)
      case
    • Parmalat Capital Finance Ltd v Food Holdings Ltd ([2009] 1 BCLC 274)
      case
    • Re a company (No 006685 of 1996) ([1997] 1 BCLC 639)
      case
    • In re JN 2 Ltd ([1978] 1 WLR 183)
      case
    • Salford Estates (No 2) Ltd v Altomart Ltd (No 2) ([2015] Ch 589)
      case
    • Tomolugen Holdings Ltd v Silica Investors Ltd ([2016] 1 SLR 373)
      case
    • Sian Participation Corpn v Halimeda International Ltd ([2025] AC 1321)
      case
    • V Medical Services M Sdn Bhd v Swissray Asia Healthcare Co Ltd ([2025] 2 MLJ 744)
      case
    • Henderson v Henderson ((1843) 3 Hare 100)
      case
    • BWG v BWF ([2020] 1 SLR 1296)
      case
    • Tjong Very Sumito v Antig Investments Pte Ltd ([2009] 4 SLR(R) 732)
      case
    • Marchand Navigation Co v Olam Global Agri Pte Ltd ([2024] 3 SLR 1695)
      case
    • Getwick Engineers Ltd v Pilecon Engineering Ltd ([2002] HK CU 1020)
      case
    • Gulf International Holding Pte Ltd v Delta Offshore Energy Pte Ltd ([2023] 5 SLR 1455)
      case
    • Mercantile & Maritime Investments Pte Ltd v Iceberg Energy Pte Ltd ([2024] 3 SLR 628)
      case
    • Vinmar Overseas (Singapore) Pte Ltd v PTT International Trading Pte Ltd ([2018] 2 SLR 1271)
      case
    • Fustar Chemicals Ltd (Hong Kong) v Liquidator of Fustar Chemicals Pte Ltd ([2009] 4 SLR(R) 458)
      case
    • Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp v Merck KGaA ([2021] 1 SLR 1102)
      case
    • Carl Zeiss Stiftung v Rayner & Keeler Ltd ([1967] 1 AC 853)
      case
    • AKN v ALC ([2016] 1 SLR 966)
      case
    • Giant Light Metal Technology (Kunshan) Co Ltd v Aksa Far East Pte Ltd ([2014] 2 SLR 545)
      case
    • Community Development Pty Ltd v Engwirda Construction Co ((1969) 120 CLR 455)
      case
    • Darsan Jitendra Jhaveri v Lakshmi Anil Salgaocar ([2025] 3 SLR 716)
      case
    • BIT Baltic Investment & Trading Pte Ltd v Wee See Boon ([2023] 1 SLR 1648)
      case
    • Airtrust (Hong Kong) Ltd v PH Hydraulics & Engineering Pte Ltd ([2016] 5 SLR 103)
      case
    • Lim Oon Kuin v Ocean Tankers (Pte) Ltd ([2022] 1 SLR 434)
      case
  2. Date not availableArbitration

    Date not availableArbitration

    CIETAC arbitration award concerning the alleged US$14,117,585.50 debt under the copper cathodes Purchase Contract

    China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission

    Decision summary
    The tribunal rejected the jurisdictional objections and declined the appellant’s requested negative declaration, but expressly made no finding whether the alleged debt existed because the respondent had not brought a counterclaim. The tribunal also questioned whether the respondent had performed its delivery obligations under the Purchase Contract.

    Supporting details

    2 authorities · 2 participants
    Singapore Commodities Group Co, Pte Ltd
    Founder Group (Hong Kong) Ltd
    China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission

    Authorities cited

    2
    • Civil Code of the People’s Republic of China
      statute
    • Arbitration Law of the People’s Republic of China
      statute
  3. Date not availableSingapore

    Date not availableSingapore

    Decision of the Court of Appeal of Singapore in the case Singapore Commodities Group Co, Pte Ltd v Founder Group (Hong Kong) Ltd dated 2025

    Court of Appeal of Singapore

    Decision summary
    The court set aside the payment-out order, reinstated the winding-up application, and remitted it to the High Court because the respondent had not established the alleged debt in the arbitration.
  4. Date not availableSingapore

    Date not availableSingapore

    Decision of the General Division of the High Court of Singapore in the case Founder Group (Hong Kong) Ltd v Singapore Commodities Group Co, Pte Ltd

    General Division of the High Court of Singapore

    Decision summary
    The court ordered payment of US$14,117,585.50 to the respondent and granted leave to discontinue the winding-up application.

Matter record

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Singapore Commodities Group Co, Pte Ltd v Founder Group (Hong Kong) Ltd (Singapore Court of Appeal [2026] SGCA 24) · Matter