Former Singapore tycoon Lim Oon Kuin declared bankrupt after oil empire crumbled

Lim and his two children were issued a bankruptcy order last week, according to the government gazette

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Lim Oon Kuin arrives at Singapore’s State Courts in November. Photo: Reuters

Published: 4:10pm, 28 Dec 2024

Former tycoon Lim Oon Kuin has been declared bankrupt in Singapore, following the collapse of his oil trading empire.

The name of the founder of Hin Leong Trading Pte. and his children Lim Huey Ching and Lim Chee Meng were listed as having been issued a bankruptcy order on December 19, the government gazette showed. The younger Lims were both directors at the company.

Leow Quek Shiong and Seah Roh Lin of BDO Advisory Pte. Ltd. are the trustees, according to the gazette.

At its peak, Hin Leong traded a range of oil products, made lubricants and operated loading terminals and storage facilities. But the downfall of the man widely known as OK Lim came in 2020, as Covid-19 sent oil prices into free fall.

Hin Leong was accused of hiding more than US$800 million in losses and leaving more than 20 banks with huge liabilities.

Singapore’s High Court in September approved the Lims’ agreements to pay US$3.59 billion to the liquidators of his collapsed firm and creditor HSBC Holdings Plc, ending the civil case against him. Lim, 82, was quoted as saying at the time that he did not have enough assets to pay all of them and would apply for bankruptcy.

Former Singapore tycoon Lim Oon Kuin declared bankrupt after oil empire crumbled

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Lim and his two children were issued a bankruptcy order last week, according to the government gazette

Lim and his two children were issued a bankruptcy order last week, according to the government gazette