C.F.F. Wearne and Co was founded on 1 April 1906 by two brothers Charles and Theodore Wearne. They set up the motorcar agency with $700 in capital.
On 23 November 1912, C.F.F. Wearne and Co became a public company under the name of Wearne Brothers Limited (Wearnes) with a capital of $275,000.
Subsidiary companies formed to handle different car agencies. Malayan Motors opened its doors at Orchard Road, handling all car makes except Ford.
When the company celebrated its 20th anniversary, it already has more than 1,000 staff under its employment, with operations in Burma, Malaya and the Straits Settlements.
Wearnes launched the first commercial air service between Singapore and Malaya with Wearne’s Air Service.
A subsidiary, General Transport Company, led the way in public transport and introduced three double-decker bus services.
Wearnes became a holding company, all trading activities were carried out by wholly owned subsidiaries.
Associated Motor Industries was formed to manufacture cars in Jurong, Singapore’s first industrial estate.
The first Jaguar cars roared into Wearnes’ showroom.
Mr Tan Chin Tuan was appointed Chairman of the company, and intensified efforts to diversify the company’s businesses.
Tan Sri Tan Chin Tuan retired, Mr Tang I-Fang took over as Chairman. The company took advantage of its strong financial position to diversify into new, profitable businesses at home and abroad.
Wearnes computers designed by its Wearnes Technology subsidiary Advanced Logic Research (ALR) enjoyed impressive sales.
Wall Street Journal named Wearnes as one of the 66 companies of the future “that could make our world different tomorrow”.
Chairman Tang I-Fang wins “Businessman of the Year” Award.
Wearnes was one of the first Singapore companies to venture into Shenyang, China.
Wearne Brothers Limited was renamed WBL Corporation Limited.
ALR was divested at a capital gain of S$44.6 million as the Group turned its strategic focus on technology to software development and web-based applications.
Technology subsidiary MFS Technology was listed on SESDAQ.
Group turnover crossed $1 billion mark for the first time.
Group records revenue of $1.8 billion and second highest net profit of $66m under Chairman Tang’s leadership.
Mr Tan Choon Seng appointed new Group CEO.
MFLEX is listed on NASDAQ while MFS Technology is upgraded onto SGX Mainboard.
Wearnes streamlined its businesses into three core divisions: Technology Manufacturing, Technology Solutions and Automotive Distribution.
Wearnes celebrated its centennial on 1 April 2006.
Mr Tang I-Fang retired; Mr Wong Nang Jang became the Group’s first non-executive Chairman
Wearnes streamlined its Investment portfolio – divestment of biomedical and water treatment businesses.
The Property division joined Technology, Automotive and Engineering & Distribution as a key pillar of the Group's restructured core businesses.
Wearnes received the gold award for the Best Managed Board in the mid-cap category at the annual Singapore Corporate Awards.
Mr Wong Nang Jang retired; Mr Ng Ser Miang was appointed Chairman.
Wearnes’ Automotive division rebranded all its businesses under a single brand – Wearnes Automotive – with a new tagline “Passion Driven • Since 1906”.
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