Coffee shop operator with 84 outlets seeks mainboard listing on Singapore Exchange

In an bourse filing Wednesday, the group said a mainboard listing would raise its corporate profile, improve access to capital and attract a broader range of investors, including institutional and international investors, according to The Straits Times.

The move would also provide Kimly with a stronger platform to pursue "larger-scale and transformative opportunities".

The SGX mainboard is the exchange’s primary market for more established companies, while Catalist is a board designed for smaller and growth-oriented companies.

A coffee shop operated by Kimly in Singapore. Photo courtesy of Kimly

Listed on Catalist since March 2017, Kimly operates across three main business segments: outlet management, outlet investment and food retail. Its operations are supported by a network of food outlets, central kitchen capabilities and technology.

Kimly currently operates and manages 84 coffee shops and food courts under various brands across Singapore, along with nearly 180 individual food stalls and concept brands such as Kedai Kopi and Tonkichi.

The group said it plans to grow through a combination of organic expansion, strategic investments, business diversification and value-adding acquisitions.

It is selectively expanding into other sectors with growth potential, which may include the halal market.

Chee Zheng Feng, analyst at DBS Group Research, noted in a May report that Kimly has expanded into the "underpenetrated" halal coffee shop segment via joint ventures and acquisitions, according to The Business Times.

DBS Group Research estimated the halal food and beverage market size to be worth approximately S$1 billion.

The transfer to the mainboard remains subject to several conditions, including shareholders’ approval through a special resolution at an extraordinary general meeting. The meeting is expected to take place on the same day as its annual general meeting in January 2027.