[2025] SGHC(A) 16 — KOK KUAN HWA v YAP WING SANG

Catchwords

Trusts — Resulting trusts Contract — Formation — Subsequent conduct Contract — Formation — Certainty of terms Contract — Formation — Whether the commercial plausibility of a contract may be considered

Practice Areas

Trusts Contract

Judges (3)

Ang Cheng Hock Delivered Debbie Ong Siew Ling Coram Kannan Ramesh Coram

Counsel (10)

Dentons Rodyk & Davidson LLP Firm Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP Firm Cheng Wai Yuen Mark Counsel Appellant Lee Eng Beng Counsel Appellant Low Chai Chong Counsel Respondent Naomi Lim Bao Bao Counsel Appellant Sean Chen Siang En Counsel Respondent Tan Ee Kuan Counsel Appellant Too Fang Yi Counsel Respondent Zhulkarnain Bin Abdul Rahim Counsel Respondent

Parties (9)

Chang Cheng Group Pte Ltd Defendant HOL 40 Pte Ltd Defendant MS 136 Pte Ltd Defendant MS 166 Pte Ltd Defendant NL 10 Pte Ltd Defendant TP 802 Investment Pte Ltd Defendant TP406 Pte Ltd Defendant Kok Kuan Hwa Appellant Yap Wing Sang Respondent

Summary

Cross-appeals arising from a dispute between two business partners who built a highly successful food and beverage enterprise but disagreed over the terms of an oral agreement to split the business. The Appellate Division allowed the plaintiff's appeal and dismissed the defendant's cross-appeal, declaring the existence of a first agreement and setting aside resulting trust findings.

Cases Cited (17)

SG (6)

[2015] SGHC 282 [2016] SGHC 147 [2023] SGCA 39 [2023] SGHC 294 [2024] SGHC 330 [2025] SGHC 19

SLR (9)

[2008] 2 SLR(R) 108 [2008] 3 SLR(R) 1114 [2009] 2 SLR(R) 332 [2013] 4 SLR 308 [2015] 4 SLR 69 [2019] 1 SLR 696 [2021] 2 SLR 1054 [2022] 2 SLR 314 [2024] 5 SLR 1234

UK (2)

[1991] 1 QB 1 [1996] AC 669

Cited By (2)

[2025] SGHC 201

TUFFI (PTE.) LTD. v TECHKON PTE LTD & Anor

[2025] SGHC 187

YANG QIANG & ANOR V GALLOP APAC PTE LTD & 5 ORS