After United Overseas Bank of Singapore took over the Bank of Asia, it changed the name of this Thai bank into United Overseas Bank (Thai). The bank’s nationality is Thai, but its heart is Singaporean, its ownership is Singaporean and its management style is also strictly Singaporean.
Now that Temasek Holdings of Singapore has bought out Shin Corp, Bangkokian is not sure whether or not it plans to change the name of Shin Corp to reflect Singapore’s heart, ownership and management style. If Temasek really plans to go ahead and change the name of Shin Corp and its subsidiaries, here are some suggestions:
Singapore Corp? If Singapore Corp is too conspicuously Singaporean, how about Shingapore Corp?
AirAsia has bought in a new partner Asia Aviation Co Ltd at the eleventh hour to prevent the aviation authorities from revoking its licence. Temasek’s buyout of Shin Corp, the parent company of Air Asia, had breached the 49 per cent foreign ownership limit in the low-cost airline. Otherwise, AirAsia could be renamed AirAlien.
And Shin Satellite can change its name to Sing Satellite if the ICT Ministry decides that Temasek can keep the company. The name of its satellites – Thaicom 1, Thaicom 2 and Thaicom 3 – should get new monikers: Singaporecom 1, Singaporecom 2, and Singaporecom 3. There is no Thaicom 4 because it has turned out to be iPSTAR, the mother of all satellites. But that doesn’t not mean iPSTAR can’t get a brand new name: iPSINGSTAR.
ITV, the television company, may keep its acronym. But Independent Television can also go for a slick name change: Indispensable Temasek Vision.
Advanced Info Service, the mobile phone company, is the crown jewel cash-cow company of Shin Corp. How about Advanced Info Singservice?
Singapore by any other name.
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