SINGAPORE - A businesswoman from China, who invested $30.7 million into a chain of aesthetic clinics here, has sued its founder and his daughter for misrepresentation and breach of contract, in a case that opened in the High Court on Tuesday (Oct 30).
Madam Wang Xiaopu had signed two contracts to buy over Dr Goh Seng Heng's shares in Aesthetic Medical Partners (AMP), the parent company of the PPP Laser Clinic chain, for $32.5 million.
In the first contract in October 2013, she agreed to buy 20,000 shares at $500 per share.
In a second contract in September 2014, she agreed to buy another 50,000 shares at $450 per share.
Madam Wang, 50, who is a non-executive director of Chinese skincare company Marubi, eventually paid a total of $30.7 million for 66,000 shares.
Represented by a team from Drew & Napier led by Senior Counsel Jimmy Yim, she is seeking a full refund of her investment.
On Tuesday, in presenting her case, Mr Mahesh Rai told the court how, on Oct 15, 2013, Dr Goh had wooed Madam Wang by bringing her on board his million-dollar yacht at Sentosa Cove.
"Dr Goh was very keen to sell Madam Wang a picture of success and profitability," he said.
At this meeting, Dr Goh allegedly told Madam Wang that AMP made pre-tax profits of $10 million in 2012, and its pre-tax profit was growing at a rate of more than 30 per cent a year.
She claimed Dr Goh also told her that he had previously sold his shares in the company to others for $600 to $700 per share, but he was willing to give her a discounted price of $500.
The court heard that prior to the agreement with Madam Wang, Dr Goh had not sold his shares at $600 to $700 per share.
Madam Wang asserted that Dr Goh, 62, made further false claims to mislead her into signing the second contract.
She alleged that he suggested that she buy out a group of minority shareholders, who were only willing to sell their shares at $450.
This was done in a back-to-back arrangement, in which Dr Goh bought the shares from the minority shareholders and sold them to Madam Wang.
She said Dr Goh also promised not to sell any more of his shares without her permission.
Madam Wang said she did not pay for the last tranche of 4,000 shares when she found out in January 2015 that Dr Goh was selling his shares to a third party, Liberty Sky Investments (LSI).
She accused him of profiteering from the second contract by selling the shares to her at $450 when he had in fact bought them at $350.
Shealso accused Dr Goh and his daughter Michelle, 32, who is also a medical doctor and the former chief executive of AMP, for breach of contract for resigning from AMP.
Dr Goh had resigned from AMP on Feb 2, 2016, and Michelle on June 30, 2015.
Dr Goh has counter-sued Madam Wang, alleging that she was in breach of contract by not buying the remaining 4,000 shares as agreed.
He is seeking damages to be assessed by the court, said his lawyer, Senior Counsel Lok Vi Ming of LVM Law Chambers.
Dr Goh contended that he did not mislead Madam Wang into signing the contracts.
He said he had no reason to make misrepresentations when his offer price was justifiable.
He said he was looking for a long-term joint venture partner to make inroads in the China market and it made no sense for him to pull a fast one on Madam Wang.
He also denied having told her that the minority shareholders were only willing to sell at $450.
The trial continues.
Separately, the Gohs have been sued by LSI and AMP.
The chain, which originally had 14 branches, is now facing insolvency, it emerged on Tuesday.
