Strong leaders may tip scales in this O&M downturn

THESE days, it does not take a lot to trigger market talk of a merger between Singapore's two leading yard groups.

Sembcorp Industries president and chief executive Neil McGregor's comment about the group undertaking a strategic review sent the stock of Sembcorp Marine soaring on revived speculation of a merger with Keppel Offshore & Marine that was ditched in the early noughties.

Truth be told, however, this decade-old rumour had made its way back to the mill way before Mr McGregor's remark.

Mainstream media picked up chatter about Temasek Holdings exploring options including divestment of its interests in Sembcorp Industries, SembMarine and Keppel Corporation in January 2016.

Industry watchers further connected that with two executive appointments which they considered to be instrumental to the review of Temasek's stakes in th…