1883
John Fraser and David Chalmers Neave started The Singapore and Straits Aerated Water Company to produce soft drinks. The company later became F&N.
The genesis of a tropical lager
Malayan Breweries introduced Tiger Beer in 1932. PHOTO: BT FILE
1898
F&N is publicly listed, embarking on regional expansion.
1931
F&N and Heineken form a joint venture, Malayan Breweries Limited (MBL). Singapore’s first modern brewing facility is constructed behind the Alexandra Brickworks.
1937
Tiger Beer gets military endorsement. The servicemen of Malaya’s RAF 230 Squadron adopt the Tiger Beer and Traveller’s Palm logo as their official unit insignia.
A can of Tiger Beer, Nov 11, 1988. PHOTO: BT FILE
1939
First international accolade: Tiger Beer wins a silver medal at the Commonwealth Beer Competition, validating the Heineken-backed brewing process.
1933
Archipelago Brewery Company (ABC), a million-dollar competing brewery, backed by Germany’s Beck’s Brewery, opens at Alexandra Road with a 450,000-gallon annual capacity.
1933
ABC launches Anchor Beer, leading to a fierce domestic duopoly and sparking intense competition with Tiger Beer.
A print advertisement for Tiger Beer in the 1930s. PHOTO: BT FILE
1941
Tiger brewer MBL acquires ABC. After Britain declared war on Germany in 1939, the German managers and technical experts overseeing the ABC facility were forced to leave then British Malaya. MBL capitalises on this sudden vacuum, buying out ABC and effectively re-monopolising the market.
Pre-war duopoly, corporate consolidation
Around 1942
Global naval blockages halt the importation of essential brewing malt, forcing a reformulation of the product.
Cans of Tiger Beer. PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK
1942
Following the fall of Singapore to Japan, MBL is seized and renamed Kirin Beer Kaisha; the ABC facility is renamed Asahi Beer Brewery.
Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore building in Jalan Ahmad Ibrahim. PHOTO: BT FILE
1945
Following the Japanese surrender, F&N and Heineken regain control of the brewing assets, though material shortages delay the return of the original beer.
1955
MBL acquires South Pacific Brewery in Papua New Guinea, marking its first major expansion beyond the Malayan peninsula.
1981
Tiger Beer officially extends its reach beyond regional borders, commencing direct exports to mature beer markets in the United Kingdom and Germany.
1965
The brewery rolls out its first canned beer.
Regional dominance
1988-1997
To penetrate the China market, APBS buys a controlling stake in Shanghai Mila Brewery (1988) and later acquires full control of the Hainan brewery (1997).
1992-1995
APBS takes on the Indochina market, opening facilities in Vietnam (1992), Cambodia (1995) and Myanmar (1995).
July 2012
Thai billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi buys a 22 per cent stake in F&N and 8.6 per cent of APBS.
The 2012 corporate battle
November 2012
Heineken formally completes the acquisition of F&N’s direct and indirect interests, securing a 95.3 per cent stake in APBS.
August 2012
Heineken initially offers S$5.1 billion to buy F&N stake in APBS, before raising it to S$5.6 billion.
GRAPHICS: TEOH YI CHIE, BT
1932
On Oct 1, Tiger Beer is introduced as the world’s first tropical lager.
The Japanese Occupation and the Tiger Cub
Around 1942
Introduction of Tiger Cub. Brewers supplement reduced malt with local rice to create Tiger Cub, a lower-alcohol variant packaged in smaller bottles to conserve materials.
1947
Global supply chains normalise, allowing MBL to cease Tiger Cub production and bring back the original Tiger lager to the market.
Brand evolution
1985
F&N announces the relocation of its Singapore brewing facilities.
1989
The original Alexandra brewery ceases operations in September 1989, closing a 57-year chapter at the location.
1990
A new S$200 million brewing facility opens at Tuas.
1990
MBL is officially renamed Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore (APBS).
1991
APBS initiates a takeover of New Zealand’s DB Group with a S$245 million initial stake.
1998 and 2004
Global accolades: Tiger Beer wins the gold medal at the Brewing Industry International Awards (1998) and the World Beer Cup (2004).
September 2012
ThaiBev launches an S$8.7 billion offer for the entire F&N parent company.
September 2012
A deal is struck. ThaiBev agrees to vote in favour of Heineken getting APBS. In exchange, Heineken agrees not to challenge ThaiBev’s takeover of the rest of F&N which it did not already own.
January - February 2013
Heineken executes a mandatory general offer to acquire all remaining public shares. On Feb 18, APBS is officially delisted from the Singapore Exchange.
The import transition
2026-2027
A progressive phase down will result in the layoff of roughly 130 employees.
Mar 24, 2026
The EverGreen 2030 announcement: APBS officially announced the cessation of large-scale brewing at the Tuas facility by 2027, transitioning its Singapore operations to an import-led supply model.