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☆ I grew up always wanting to drive my own car. But I'm from the world's most expensive city to live in, and now I know I never will.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

AdvertisementFor car buyers, the COE is an extra cost that can easily eclipse the actual price of a car. These BMW family cars cost around $103,000 in 2017. COE prices went up to $67,000 that year for lower-end cars, despite more than 13,000 certificates being made available. On Thursday, COE prices for lower-end cars fell to about $48,000, a steep drop that shocked the market. Meanwhile, while unpopular, Singapore's COE prices are working for now.

Persons: —, Mikel Bilbao, Edgar Su, Reuters They've, EDGAR SU, Walter Theseira, Theseira, Singapore's, We've, ROSLAN RAHMAN, we've, Aditya Irawan, it's, they're, Benjamin Loo Organizations: Service, Volvo, Volkswagen, Hyundai, VW, Getty, COE, BMW, Reuters, Toyota Corolla, Singapore University of Social Sciences, ROSLAN RAHMAN Singapore, Yokohama JR Line, The New York Times, Uber, Temasek Holdings, CarTimes, Straits Times Locations: Singapore, European, New York City, Tokyo, Yokohama, New York, Asia, Jakarta, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur

☆ Singapore's Temasek warns that fake agents in China are trying to sell scam investments
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-22 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An undated photo of a signage at Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings' headquarters in the Southeast Asian city-state. Singapore's Temasek Holdings warned that scammers are allegedly trying to sell financial investment products or instruments to unsuspecting individuals while posing as agents of the firm's office in Shenzhen, China. "We have been alerted to a scam in China that involves the impersonation of Temasek in Shenzhen, using our registered office name 'Temasek Holdings Advisors (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.' / '淡马锡投资咨询 (深圳) 有限公司'," Temasek said in a statement Wednesday. Temasek does not directly sell any investment products or financial instruments in China. We have not authorized any third party to do so on our behalf," the Singapore investment company added.

Persons: scammers, Temasek Organizations: Temasek Holdings, Singapore's Temasek Holdings, Temasek, Temasek Holdings Advisors, Co, Singapore, Apple, Ikea, Xinhua Locations: Singapore, Shenzhen, China, Beijing, Shanghai, Myanmar

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsJAKARTA, Nov 13 (Reuters) - TikTok has been holding talks with Indonesian e-commerce companies about possible partnerships, an Indonesian minister said on Monday, a month after Southeast Asia's largest economy banned online shopping on social media platforms. "Some e-commerce companies in Indonesia have talked to TikTok," he said in an interview, citing what the companies' executives told him. It was a particular blow to TikTok, which was forced to close its e-commerce service TikTok Shop. A TikTok Indonesia spokesperson was not available to comment. Until it stopped operations, TikTok Shop was delivering about 3 million parcels a day in Indonesia, sources have said.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Teten Masduki, TikTok, Tokopedia, Bukalapak, Blibli, Joko Widodo, Shou Zi Chew, Teten, Indonesia's, SEA's, Stanley Widianto, Ananda Teresia, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Indonesian, GoTo's, TikTok, YouTube, Meta, Google, Temasek Holdings, Bain & Co, HK, Lazada, Thomson Locations: Rights JAKARTA, Indonesian, Indonesia, Southeast, Singapore

☆ Southeast Asia internet economy to grow 11% y/y in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

An internet LAN cable is pictured in this photo illustration taken in Sydney June 23, 2011. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSINGAPORE, Nov 1 (Reuters) - Southeast Asia's internet economy is expected to grow 11% year-on-year in 2023, slowing from last year's 20% growth, an industry report showed on Wednesday. The annual report published jointly by Alphabet (GOOGL.O)'s Google, Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings and global business consultants Bain & Company, also said the region's internet economy is seen worth $295 billion by 2025, down from a previous estimate of $330 billion. "Digital economy sectors are showing positive growth trajectories, with travel and transport on track to exceed pre-pandemic levels by 2024," the companies said in a joint statement. The region of 11 countries and more than half a billion people has a young population, widespread smartphone usage, and a growing middle class, making it one of the world's fastest growing internet markets.

Persons: Tim Wimborne, Chen Lin, Kanupriya Kapoor Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Google, Temasek Holdings, Bain & Company, Thomson Locations: Sydney, Rights SINGAPORE, Singapore

☆ India's Tata Group in talks with Temasek to buy back stake in Tata Play, Bloomberg reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of Tata Group is seen at a business meeting organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in New Delhi March 23, 2009. REUTERS/Vijay Mathur/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsBENGALURU, Oct 5 (Reuters) - India's Tata Group is in advanced talks with Temasek Holdings [RIC:RIC:TEM.UL] to buy back about 20% stake in its entertainment content distribution platform, Tata Play, at a valuation of more than $1 billion, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. Tata Group didn't immediately respond to a Reuters request for confirmation, and Temasek declined to comment. Bloomberg News had in July reported that Tata Group is considering making an offer to buy back Temasek's stake as the conglomerate was weighing delaying a potential initial public offering for Tata Play. Tata Play is a subscription-based video streaming service for television and over-the-top apps.

Persons: Vijay Mathur, Tata Group didn't, Ashish Chandra, Kashish Tandon, Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Dhanya Ann Thoppil Organizations: Tata Group, Confederation of Indian Industry, REUTERS, Rights, India's Tata Group, Temasek Holdings, Tata, Bloomberg, Temasek, Bloomberg News, Tata Play, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, Bengaluru

☆ Indonesia to ban goods transactions on social media - deputy minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JAKARTA, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Indonesia is planning to ban goods transactions on social media under new trade regulations, the deputy trade minister told a parliamentary hearing on Tuesday. Ministers have repeatedly said that e-commerce sellers using predatory pricing on social media platforms were threatening offline markets in Southeast Asia's biggest economy. Current trade regulations do not specifically cover direct transactions on social media. "Social media and social commerce cannot be combined," Jerry Sambuaga, deputy minister of trade, told the parliament, using the example of sellers using "live" features on the short video platform TikTok to sell goods. "Revisions to the trade regulations that are currently under way will firmly and explicitly ban this," Sambuaga said.

Persons: Jerry Sambuaga, Sambuaga, TikTok, Indonesia's, Dewi Kurniawati, Stefanno Sulaiman, Alex Richardson Organizations: Reuters, Facebook, Momentum, Google, Temasek Holdings, Bain & Company, Thomson Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesia, Asia's, TikTok

SINGAPORE, July 11 (Reuters) - Singapore investment firm Temasek Holdings (TEM.UL) on Tuesday posted a 5.2% drop in its net portfolio value to S$382 billion ($284.65 billion) in the financial year that ended in March. The drop in net portfolio value is its first since the 2019 financial year and came amid intensified global market volatility. Over the last decade, Temasek has grown its net portfolio value by 77.7% to S$382 billion from S$215 billion in 2013. Its portfolio value hit a record high of S$403 billion in the year ending in March 2022. Most of China's tech companies share prices have rallied since Friday on the hope that strict regulations that have stymied growth for more than two years would ease.

Persons: Chin Yee, Temasek, Rohit Sipahimalani, it's, Yantoultra Ngui, Xinghui, Robert Birsel Organizations: Temasek Holdings, Ant Group, Temasek, DBS, China Construction Bank, PSA International, Mapletree Investments, Ant, People's Bank of, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Singapore, China, Asia, Temasek, People's Bank of China

☆ Singapore state investor Temasek posts negative annual return, its first since 2020
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This was just its fifth one-year total shareholder negative return since 2003. Singapore's state investment company Temasek recorded its first annual shareholder negative return since 2020, weighed by a challenging macroeconomic and geopolitical environment. Net portfolio value came in at $382 billion Singapore dollars ($284.77 billion), compared to S$403 billion a year ago. Still, Temasek's decline in annual shareholder return in 2022/23 compares relatively favorably with global stock market returns. Its three-year total shareholder return stood at 8%, while its 10-year return was at 6% and 20-year return at 9%.

Persons: Lim Boon Heng Organizations: Temasek Holdings, Temasek, Singapore Locations: Singapore, Asia, Japan, China, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Singapore's Temasek says it's not looking to invest in crypto firms amid current regulatory uncertainties
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Sheila Chiang | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Rohit Sipahimalani, chief investment officer of Temasek Holdings Pte, speaks during a news conference in Singapore, on Tuesday, July 11, 2023. Ore Huiying | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesSingapore's sovereign wealth fund Temasek is not currently looking to invest in crypto companies amid regulatory uncertainty in the sector, its chief investment officer Rohit Sipahimalani said. "There's a lot of regulatory uncertainty in this environment. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged top U.S. crypto exchange Ripple for breaching local securities laws by selling its native token XRP without first registering it with the regulator. The SEC separately charged another U.S. crypto exchange Coinbase for operating as an unregistered securities exchange, a broker or a clearing firm.

Persons: Rohit Sipahimalani, Sipahimalani, Coinbase, We've, we'll Organizations: Temasek Holdings, Bloomberg, Getty, Temasek, CNBC, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC Locations: Singapore, cryptocurrency, cryptocurrencies, FTX

☆ Temasek-backed firms buy stake in VIVA Biotech unit ahead of listing
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

VIVA Biotech said it will use the net proceeds to redeem convertible bonds in a bid "to settle its outstanding liabilities without occupying its internal resources." The deal included capital injection into VIVA Shanghai by new investors and sale of existing interest in VIVA Shanghai from Viva Investment, another unit of VIVA Biotech, the filing showed. Ltd, will altogether hold 17.55% stake in VIVA Shanghai after the deal, according the filing. HLC SPV and Qingdao Hongyi, both linked to HighLight Capital, will obtain a total of 6.66% stake from the transaction. VIVA Biotech has initiated a restructuring which will transfer all assets and personnel related to its early-stage drug discovery business to VIVA Shanghai, and move out of the Shanghai unit any assets and personnel related to drug development and manufacturing service, the filing showed.

Persons: Roxanne Liu, Kane Wu, Stephen Coates Organizations: Singapore's Temasek, Capital, VIVA Biotech Holdings, HK, VIVA, VIVA Shanghai, VIVA Biotech, Viva Investment, Daxue Investments, Temasek Holdings, Temasek, Ltd, SPV, Qingdao Hongyi, Investors, Thomson Locations: Shanghai, Viva

☆ Singapore's Temasek cuts compensation for staff responsible for FTX investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings said on Monday it had cut compensation for the team that recommended its investment in the now-bankrupt FTX cryptocurrency exchange, as well as for its senior management team. The move comes around six months after Temasek initiated an internal review of its investment in FTX, which resulted in a writedown of $275 million. "Although there was no misconduct by the investment team in reaching their investment recommendation, the investment team and senior management, who are ultimately responsible for investment decisions made, took collective accountability and had their compensation reduced," Temasek Chairman Lim Boon Heng said in a statement posted on Temasek's website on Monday. Temasek did not detail the amount of compensation cut. Temasek also said last year it had conducted "extensive due diligence" on FTX, with its audited financial statement then "showed it to be profitable."

May 29 (Reuters) - Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings (TEM.UL) said on Monday it had cut compensation for the team and senior management that recommended its investment in the now-bankrupt FTX cryptocurrency exchange. "Although there was no misconduct by the investment team in reaching their investment recommendation, the investment team and senior management, who are ultimately responsible for investment decisions made, took collective accountability and had their compensation reduced," Temasek Chairman Lim Boon Heng said in a statement posted on Temasek's website on Monday. The move comes around six months after Temasek initiated an internal review of its investment in FTX, which resulted in a writedown of $275 million. Temasek also said last year it had conducted "extensive due diligence" on FTX, with its audited financial statement then "showed it to be profitable". "With FTX, as alleged by prosecutors and as admitted by key executives at FTX and its affiliates, there was fraudulent conduct intentionally hidden from investors, including Temasek," Lim said in the statement on Monday.

☆ Exclusive: Malaysian tycoon weighs selling a stake in $2.7 bln port business -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-22 | by ( Yantoultra Ngui | Thomson Reuters | Yantoultra Ngui Is A Southeast Asia Deals Correspondent With Reuters In Singapore | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

His conglomerate MMC Corp may sell a stake of up to 30% in MMC Ports, said one of the people, adding that financial investors and companies have approached MMC Corp about their interest in the ports business. A sale could be a precursor to a potential MMC Ports listing on the Malaysian stock exchange in a few years, said the sources. MMC Corp and MMC Ports did not respond to requests seeking comment. MMC Ports has seven ports in Malaysia - Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Johor Port, Northport, Penang Port, Tanjung Bruas Port, SPT Services and Andaman Port, according to its website. MMC Corp also owns stakes in Malaysia's largest independent power producer Malakoff Corp (MALA.KL) and the country's only supplier of reticulated natural gas in Peninsular Malaysia, Gas Malaysia (GASM.KL).

Sembcorp, which is 49.3% owned by Singapore's state investor Temasek Holdings, has hired HSBC (HSBA.L) to run the sale of SembWaste, according to the sources. First-round of non-binding bids are due by early June, said one of the sources, declining to be named as the matter is private. Last year, SembWaste's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization was S$50 million ($37.75 million), one of the sources added. Last year, Singapore's asset manager Keppel consortium bought a 80% stake in environmental services firm 800 Super Holdings for S$304 million. SembWaste is one of three public waste collectors appointed by Singapore's National Environment Agency to provide waste and recyclable collection services to residential, schools and trade premises in the city-state, according to its website.

REUTERS/Niharika Kulkarni/File PhotoBENGALURU/SINGAPORE, May 6 (Reuters) - Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings (TEM.UL) is considering investing $100 million in Indian jeweller BlueStone for a stake of about 20%, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The potential deal could boost BlueStone's plans to expand aggressively in India, the second-largest jewellery consuming nation behind China, as demand surges after the pandemic. BlueStone operates in a market that is dominated by thousands of small and large local independent jewellery stores, but also branded outlets like Titan Company-owned (TITN.NS) Tanishq and CaratLane, and Kalyan Jewellers (KALN.NS). While Temasek's interest in investing in Bluestone has been previously reported, Reuters is first to report details of an investment amount, the potential valuation and other financial details of the potential deal. BlueStone CEO Gaurav Kushwaha did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment, while Temasek declined to comment.

☆ This Asian MMA promotion wants to crack the US market -- without the blood and trash-talking
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Could 2023 be the year mixed-martial arts (MMA) in the United States finally returns to its pure, humble beginnings nurtured in Asia nearly 5,000 years ago? “I can’t wait for the US fans to be exposed to true martial arts. Fighting on American soil, it’s amazing to be able to headline this landmark event,” said the former longtime UFC champion, who joined One in 2018. Courtesy Aaron Pan/ONE ChampionshipWhat “true martial arts” means in new-era combat sports is certainly up for interpretation. That’s more true to the spirit of martial arts and its traditional values.

SINGAPORE/HANOI, March 17 (Reuters) - Asian real estate giant CapitaLand Group is in talks to acquire assets worth roughly $1.5 billion from Vietnam's biggest listed property firm Vinhomes JSC (VHM.HM), two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. A deal of that size would mark one of the largest real estate transactions in Southeast Asia in the last few years. The talks come as Vietnam's property sector is struggling with a cash crunch following an anti-graft campaign launched by the government last year. Vinhomes, Vietnam's biggest real estate developer by market capitalization, is part of Vingroup (VIC.HM), the country's largest conglomerate. Shares of Vinhomes have lost 10% so far this year, after tumbling 40% in 2022 as the property crisis deepened.

SINGAPORE, Feb 24 (Reuters) - U.S streaming giant Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) is making preparations to open an office in Vietnam after years of negotiations with authorities and completing a risk assessment, two sources with knowledge of the matter said. Netflix declined to comment in response to Reuters questions about its plans and its current operations in Vietnam. The office could open as early as late 2023 but will require a lengthy regulatory process that could take longer, according to one of the sources. As Vietnamese officials grow more confident in the country's rising consumer power, however, they have begun ramping up pressure on tech firms to abide by the rules. With the fastest growing middle class in Southeast Asia, Vietnam has become a key market for tech giants.

☆ India's Tata Motors in talks to raise $1 bln via stake sale in EV business - Report
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The company plans to sell a significant minority stake, the newspaper report added, eyeing a valuation of about $10.5 billion. The funds and investors include the UAE-based Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) and Mubadala Investment Company, the Saudi Arabia-headquartered Public Investment Fund, Singapore's Temasek Holdings, and KKR and General Atlantic. Tata Motors and some of the companies did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. Tata Motors plans to use the bulk of the proceeds to retire a part of its outstanding debt and infuse a small portion as primary equity in the EV business, the report said. Tata Motors has outlined plans to expand its electric car portfolio with new models and higher price points.

☆ Inclusive Capital takes a stake in Bayer — 3 ways it may build value with a sustainable focus
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-21 | by ( Kenneth Squire | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Activist Commentary: Inclusive Capital Partners is a San Francisco-based investment firm focused on increasing shareholder value and promoting sound environmental, social and governance practices. As a pioneering active ESG ("AESG") investor, Inclusive seeks long-term shareholder value through active partnership with companies whose core businesses contribute solutions to this pursuit. Bayer's crop science division accounts for approximately 25% of global crop farming. There are several ways to create this shareholder value. Bayer currently trades at approximately 7x earnings while its pure-play crop science peer, Corteva, trades at closer to 20x earnings.

☆ Asia's year in review: Who had it good — and who had it bad — in 2022
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-15 | by ( Curtis Chin | Jose Collazo | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

As the new year approaches, we turn again to our annual look at Asia's winners and losers. Government and business leaders in every major economy — China now included — may well hope 2023 is the year when draconian pandemic-related lockdowns become a matter of history. Underscoring the Taiwanese tech industry's critical role, a Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA)/Boston Consulting Group 2021 study found that 92% of the world's most advanced semiconductor manufacturing capacity is located in Taiwan. With numbers like those, Taiwan's semiconductor industry ends the year on the move, still building ties and winning growing support from business and government in the United States and elsewhere. Mixed Year: Asia's 'love' for cryptoAs in much of the world, investors in Asia — once bedazzled if not bewitched by the crypto industry — end the year in a mixed mood.

☆ Exclusive: Temasek's PSA evaluates multi-billion dollar exit from Hutchison Ports-sources
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Anshuman Daga | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SINGAPORE, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Port operator PSA International, fully owned by Singapore state investor Temasek Holdings, is considering selling its multi-billion dollar, 20% stake in the ports business of CK Hutchison Holdings (0001.HK), two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. PSA, the world's second-biggest container terminal operator, whose global network encompasses 160 locations in 42 countries, had acquired the stake in the Hong Kong-based conglomerate's ports business for $4.4 billion in 2006. Both Temasek and CK Hutchison, the conglomerate of retired billionaire Li Ka-shing, declined to comment. Temasek reported a nearly 6% rise in its portfolio value to a record S$403 billion ($297 billion) in the year to March 2022. Economic conditions have worsened since then, with global markets selling off along with a sharp increase in interest rates.

☆ Slowing crypto startup funding may still surpass 2021 record - Pitchbook
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Medha Singh | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Dec 8 (Reuters) - Total funding at crypto startups this year is set to exceed investments in 2021, research firm Pitchbook said on Thursday though the pace of capital deployment is slowing as a series of crypto blowups sapped private equity investment appetite. Crypto projects globally attracted $19.9 billion in venture capital (VC) investments in the first nine months of 2022, 41% higher than a year ago, according to Pitchbook data. In total, last year drew in a record $21.2 billion. "The lack of clear regulation and guidance remains one of the crypto industry's greatest concerns and limiting factors," said Robert Le, crypto analyst at PitchBook. VCs infused $1.5 billion in the so-called Web3 companies in third quarter, a 44.5% growth sequentially, according to Pitchbook.

☆ BlackRock's Fink says crypto technology still relevant despite FTX
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Carolina Mandl | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, Nov 30 (Reuters) - BlackRock Inc (BLK.N) Chief Executive Larry Fink said on Wednesday that there appear to have been "misbehaviors" by the now-bankrupt FTX crypto exchange, but that the technology behind crypto is relevant for the future. "We're going to have to wait to see how this all plays out (with FTX)," Fink said. "I mean, right now we can make all the judgment calls and it looks like there were misbehaviors of major consequences." BlackRock invested $24 million in FTX through a billionaire fund it manages, he said. Despite all the problems around FTX, Fink said he considers the technology behind crypto "will be very important."

☆ Singapore's Temasek holds internal review of $275 mln FTX-related loss
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] A Temasek logo is seen at the annual Temasek Review in Singapore July 7, 2016. But Singapore's leader-in-waiting told parliament the loss was "disappointing" and had caused reputational damage to Temasek. After pumping about $275 million into FTX, Temasek decided to write down the investment following the spectacular collapse of the exchange. The review will be conducted by an independent internal team reporting directly to the board and will not involve those who made the investment, Wong said. Wong told lawmakers the individual loss did not impact returns to Singapore's reserves, which are tied to long-term returns.

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