Chao Hick Tin J:

The plaintiffs, Certact Pte. Ltd., are a company that deal in various types of industrial equipment. They import goods from overseas and sell to customers in Singapore as well as in other countries in this region. They are the exclusive and non-exclusive importers/distributors of highly specialised products like machine tools, diamond tools, coolants, abrasives and other component and equipment for the metal works industry.

On an ex parte application of the plaintiffs, I granted an interim injunction with an Anton Piller order against the defendants. The defendants applied to have the interim injunction (but not the Anton Piller order) dissolved.

After hearing the parties, I ordered that a substantial part of the interim injunction be continued. I now give my reasons.

At the time of the commencement of the action, Certact were, pursuant to an agreement, the non-exclusive distributors in the region for an American company, Cinciannati Milacron Marketing Company (hereinafter referred to as "Milacron"). The products of Milacron included Cimcool metalworking fluids, grinding wheels and Cimcool equipment. By another agreement dated 24 July 1987, Certact were th