Harry's International, which runs the Republic's biggest pub chain with over 30 outlets, including the famed Boat Quay pub favoured by rogue trader Nick Leeson, is hoping to raise up to $5 million.

Mr Leeson brought down Britain's venerable Barings Bank in 1995 after incurring over US$1 billion (S$1.43 billion) in losses.

The funds raised, company chief executive Mohan Mulani told Reuters, would be used to fund overseas expansion into India and the Middle East.

'We are pretty much done in Singapore,' he said. 'We can't expand anymore.'

The company is already listed on the Phillip Capital OTC (over-the- counter) market but is hoping to move to Catalist by June.

Mr Mulani said the reason was to raise additional funds.

He added that Harry's investors had complained that the Phillip board was 'a bit illiquid'.

The board was set up by Phillip Securities to help smaller firms raise capital cost-effectively.

However, only selected Phillip Securities clients can trade on it.

Harry's made $1.46 million in profits, on the back of $12.36 million in revenue, in the six months ended June 30 last year.