Datapulse proposes special payout to get minorities' backing

Singapore

AMID a shareholder revolt to oust the newly-appointed board members of Datapulse Technology, the digital storage maker has proposed a special cash dividend of one Singapore cent per share once the S$53.5 million sale of its main industrial property - the company's headquarters - becomes a done deal.

The overture is not lost on market watchers; their hunch is that proposed payout may be a sweetener to win over the hearts of minority shareholders before they vote at two fast-approaching special meetings to oust four directors and endorse the board's controversial diversification (sans details) plan.