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.