EQT Private Capital Asia agrees .1bn deal for PropertyGroup Guru; buys Korean recycler and seeks .5bn fundraise | FinanceAsia

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PropertyGuru Group ( PropertyGuru), a leading property technology company in Southeast Asia ( SEA ), has been acquired by Hong Kong-based EQT Private Capital Asia for$ 1.1 billion in cash.

TPG ( through TPG Asia VI SF and TPG Asia VI SPV, in its capacity as general partners of TPG Asia VI Digs ), which owns around 26.5 %, and KKR ( through Epsilon Asia Holdings II ), which owns around 29.6 % of the business. In order to help the bargain, both companies have entered into voting and aid contracts with the business and EQT Private Capital Asia. &nbsp,

PropertyGuru’s board of directors, acting upon the advice of a particular commission, unanimously approved the deal and recommends acceptance of the acquisition by PropertyGuru’s owners, according to an August 16 news.

The offer is equal to$ 6.70 per share and represents a 52 % premium to PropertyGuru’s closing share price on May 21, 2024, the last unaffected trading day prior to media speculation regarding a potential transaction, and a 75 % and 86 % premium to the company’s 30-day and 90-day volume-weighted average share price, respectively, for the period ending May 21, 2024, the announcement said. &nbsp,

The deal is expected to close in Q4 2024 or Q1 2025, subject to final problems, including acceptance by PropertyGuru’s shareholders and certificate of regulatory approvals.

Upon completion of the transaction, PropertyGuru’s shares will no longer trade on the New York Stock Exchange ( NYSE), and PropertyGuru will become a private company. PropertyGuru’s office will be in Singapore.

 

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acted as the unique committee’s legal counsel, and Moelis &amp, Company is its financial consultant. Ropes &amp, Gray serves as EQT Private Capital Asia’s legal advisor, and Morgan Stanley Asia ( Singapore ) serves as its financial advisor. Latham &amp, Watkin is KKR and TPG’s legal advisor, and JP Morgan Securities Asia Private is their financial director.

 

PropoertyGuru Group has a consolidation program with members of BPEA Private Equity VIII, a purpose-driven international investment company, in order to have the business acquired by EQT Private Capital Asia. &nbsp,

 

Development potential&nbsp,

 

The firm was founded in 2007 by Steve Melhuish and Jani Rautiainen, and provides online property markets for home seeking, real estate agents, home developers, banks and brokers across Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand. In a special purpose acquisition ( SPAC ) agreement with Bridgetown 2 Holdings, which Richard Li and Peter Thiel supported, PropertyGuru was listed on the NYSE in March 2022 and raised$ 254 million. &nbsp,

Hari Krishnan, chief executive officer &amp, managing director, PropertyGuru, said in a statement,” We are pleased to embark on this new chapter with EQT. This agreement comes after decades of transformative growth, which TPG and KKR have supported, making us the industry’s top proptech platform.

Krishnan added:” As we continue to innovate and provide value to our consumers, customers, and stakeholders across the place, EQT’s international experience in building marketplaces and commitment to sustainable development will further improve our perception to power communities to live, function, and thrive in tomorrow’s cities”.

” PropertyGuru has firmly established itself as the leading property market system in Lake, and we are deeply impressed by the strong base it has built over the past 17 years as well as with its brilliant team,” said Janice Leow, partner in the EQT Private Capital Asia consulting team and head of EQT Private Capital SEA.

Leow continued,” We think our offer strategically positions PropertyGuru to fully exploit its long-term growth potential while offering shareholders compelling value and certainty.” With EQT’s significant experience in the technology, online classifieds and marketplace sectors, we aim to further strengthen PropertyGuru’s platform, driving enhanced innovation and deeper engagement with its consumers, customers and stakeholders”.

Buys Korean recycler, seeks$ 12.5bn raise

For an undisclosed sum, EQT Infrastructure VI purchased a KJ Environment from Genesis Private Equity. According to a media release, the goal is to establish” a sclaed and diversified end-to-end waste treatment scheme platform focused on plastic recycling and waste-to-energy in South Korea.” &nbsp,

KJ Environment works across recyclable waste sorting, plastic recycling and waste-to-energy. It has locations in the Greater Seoul Metropolitan Area, which provide services to catchment areas that account for more than 50 % of the nation’s GDP and population.

The purchase is EQT’s second infrastructure investment in South Korea.

In the release, Sang Jun Suh, a partner in the EQT infrastructure advisory team, stated,” We look forward to using EQT’s extensive experience investing in sustainable waste and recycling solutions across geographies, combined with our strong local footprint and industrial network, to help KJ Environment become a true market leader in the waste treatment space.

The business strengthens EQT’s track record of supporting infrastructure companies in the Asia Pacific region by extending its global portfolio of businesses that engage in waste-related business. Since 2020, EQT Infrastructure has invested €5 billion ($ 5.52 billion ) of equity, including co-investment, in Asia Pacific companies. Around 11, 000 people work the portfolio managed by EQT’s infrastructure team in Asia Pacific.

The transaction is subject approvals and&nbsp, is expected to close in Q4 2024. EQT was advised by JP Morgan on financials, Kim &amp, Chang for legal, and PwC for financial and tax.

With this transaction, EQT Infrastructure VI is expected to be 45-50 % based on target fund size and subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Meanwhile, EQT is looking to raise around$ 12.5 billion for EQT Private Capital Asia’s BPEA Private Equity Fund IX.

 

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EQT Private Capital Asia agrees .1bn deal for PropertyGroup Guru; buys Korean recycler and seeks .5bn fundraise | FinanceAsia

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In: Asia, Finance, South-East Asia

PropertyGuru Group, a leading property technology company in Southeast Asia ( SEA ), has been purchased by Hong Kong-based EQT Private Capital Asia for$ 1.1 billion in cash.

In support of the merger, TPG ( through TPG Asia VI SF and TPG Asia VI SPV, in its capacity as general partners of TPG Asia VI Digs ), and KKR ( through Epsilon Asia Holdings II ), have entered into voting and support agreements with the business and EQT Private Capital Asia.

PropertyGuru’s board of directors, acting upon the advice of a particular commission, unanimously approved the deal and recommends acceptance of the acquisition by PropertyGuru’s owners, according to an August 16 news.

The offer is equal to$ 6.70 per share and represents a 52 % premium to PropertyGuru’s closing share price on May 21, 2024, the last unaffected trading day prior to media speculation regarding a potential transaction, and a 75 % and 86 % premium to the company’s 30-day and 90-day volume-weighted average share price, respectively, for the period ending May 21, 2024, the announcement said. &nbsp,

The deal is expected to close in Q4 2024 or Q1 2025, subject to final problems, including acceptance by PropertyGuru’s shareholders and certificate of regulatory approvals.

Upon completion of the transaction, PropertyGuru’s shares will no longer trade on the New York Stock Exchange ( NYSE), and PropertyGuru will become a private company. PropertyGuru’s office will be in Singapore.

 

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acted as the unique committee’s legal counsel, and Moelis &amp, Company is its financial advisor. Ropes &amp, Gray is acting as legal counsel to EQT Private Capital Asia, and Morgan Stanley Asia ( Singapore ) is acting as financial advisor to the company. Latham &amp, Watkin is a legal advisor to KKR and TPG, and JP Morgan Securities Asia Private is their economic advisor.

 

PropoertyGuru Group intends to combine with members of BPEA Private Equity VIII, a purpose-driven international investment company, in order to allow EQT Private Capital Asia to acquire the business. &nbsp,

 

Progress potential&nbsp,

 

The company founded in 2007 and has a modern home platform across Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand. It was listed on the NYSE in March 2022 and raised$ 24 million through a Richard Li and Peter Thiel-backed special purpose acquisition ( SPAC ) deal with Bridgetown 2 Holdings. &nbsp,

Hari Krishnan, chief executive officer &amp, managing director, PropertyGuru Group, said in a statement,” We are pleased to embark on this new chapter with EQT. This agreement comes in the wake of centuries of transformative growth, which TPG and KKR have supported, making us the industry’s leading proptech platform.

Krishnan added:” As we continue to innovate and provide value to our consumers, customers, and stakeholders across the place, EQT’s international experience in building marketplaces and commitment to sustainable development will further improve our perception to power communities to live, function, and thrive in tomorrow’s cities”.

” PropertyGuru has firmly established itself as the leading property market system in Lake, and we are deeply impressed by the strong base it has built over the past 17 years as well as with its brilliant group,” said Janice Leow, partner in the EQT Private Capital Asia consulting team and head of EQT Private Capital SEA.

Leow continued,” We think our offer effectively positions PropertyGuru to fully exploit its long-term development possible while offering shareholders compelling value and certainty.” With EQT’s considerable knowledge in the technology, online classifieds and market sectors, we aim to further improve PropertyGuru’s system, driving increased innovation and deeper engagement with its consumers, customers and stakeholders”.

Buys Korean recycler, seeks$ 12.5bn raise

For an undisclosed sum, EQT Infrastructure VI purchased a KJ Environment from Genesis Private Equity. According to a media release, the goal is to establish” a sclaed and diversified end-to-end waste treatment scheme platform focused on plastic recycling and waste-to-energy in South Korea.” &nbsp,

KJ Environment works across recyclable waste sorting, plastic recycling and waste-to-energy. It has locations in the Greater Seoul Metropolitan Area, which provide services to catchment areas that account for more than 50 % of the nation’s GDP and population.

The purchase is EQT’s second infrastructure investment in South Korea.

” We look forward to utilizing EQT’s extensive experience investing in sustainable waste and recycling solutions across geographies, combined with our strong local footprint and industrial network, to help KJ Environment become a true market leader in the waste treatment space,” said Sang Jun Suh, a partner in the EQT infrastructure advisory team.

The Platform strengthens EQT’s global portfolio of businesses that conduct waste-related business and builds on its track record of supporting infrastructure businesses in the Asia Pacific region. Since 2020, EQT Infrastructure has invested €5 billion ($ 5.52 billion ) of equity, including co-investment, in Asia Pacific companies. Around 11, 000 people work in the Asia Pacific portfolio that is managed by EQT’s infrastructure team.

The transaction is subject approvals and&nbsp, is expected to close in Q4 2024. EQT was advised by JP Morgan on financials, Kim &amp, Chang for legal, and PwC for financial and tax.

With this transaction, EQT Infrastructure VI is expected to be 45-50 % based on target fund size and subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Meanwhile, EQT is looking to raise around$ 12.5 billion for EQT Private Capital Asia’s BPEA Private Equity Fund IX. &nbsp,

 

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EQT Private Capital Asia agrees .1bn deal for PropertyGroup Guru; seeks .5bn fundraise | FinanceAsia

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In: Asia, Finance, South-East Asia

PropertyGuru Group, a leading property technology company in Southeast Asia ( SEA ), has been purchased by Hong Kong-based EQT Private Capital Asia for$ 1.1 billion in cash.

In support of the merger, TPG ( through TPG Asia VI SF and TPG Asia VI SPV, in its capacity as general partners of TPG Asia VI Digs ), which owns around 26.5 %, and KKR ( through Epsilon Asia Holdings II ), which owns around 29.6 % of the firm, have entered into voting and support agreements with the business and EQT Private Capital Asia.

PropertyGuru’s board of directors, acting upon the advice of a particular commission, unanimously approved the deal and recommends acceptance of the acquisition by PropertyGuru’s owners, according to an August 16 news.

The offer is equal to$ 6.70 per share and represents a 52 % premium to PropertyGuru’s closing share price on May 21, 2024, the last unaffected trading day prior to media speculation regarding a potential transaction, and a 75 % and 86 % premium to the company’s 30-day and 90-day volume-weighted average share price, respectively, for the period ending May 21, 2024, the announcement said. &nbsp,

The deal is expected to close in Q4 2024 or Q1 2025, subject to final problems, including acceptance by PropertyGuru’s shareholders and certificate of regulatory approvals.

Upon completion of the transaction, PropertyGuru’s shares will no longer trade on the New York Stock Exchange ( NYSE), and PropertyGuru will become a private company. PropertyGuru’s office will be in Singapore.

 

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acted as the specific committee’s legal counsel, and Moelis &amp, Company is its financial advisor. Ropes &amp, Gray is acting as legal counsel to EQT Private Capital Asia, and Morgan Stanley Asia ( Singapore ) serves as financial advisor to the company. Latham &amp, Watkin is KKR and TPG’s legal advisor, and JP Morgan Securities Asia Private is their financial director.

 

PropoertyGuru Group has a consolidation program with members of BPEA Private Equity VIII, a purpose-driven international investment company, in order to have the business acquired by EQT Private Capital Asia. &nbsp,

 

Progress potential&nbsp,

 

The company founded in 2007 and has a modern home platform across Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand. In a special purpose acquisition ( SPAC ) agreement with Bridgetown 2 Holdings, which Richard Li and Peter Thiel supported, it was listed on the NYSE in March 2022. &nbsp,

Hari Krishnan, chief executive officer &amp, managing director, PropertyGuru Group, said in a statement,” We are pleased to embark on this new chapter with EQT. This agreement comes after decades of transformative growth, which TPG and KKR have supported, making us the industry’s top proptech platform.

Krishnan added:” As we continue to innovate and provide value to our consumers, customers, and stakeholders across the place, EQT’s international experience in building marketplaces and commitment to sustainable development will further improve our perception to power communities to live, function, and thrive in tomorrow’s cities”.

” PropertyGuru has firmly established itself as the leading property marketplace platform in Lake, and we are greatly impressed by the solid foundation it has built over the past 17 times as well as its brilliant staff,” said Janice Leow, companion in the EQT Private Capital Asia advisory group and nose of EQT Private Capital SEA.

Leow continued,” We think our offer strategically positions PropertyGuru to fully exploit its long-term growth potential while offering shareholders compelling value and certainty.” With EQT’s significant experience in the technology, online classifieds and marketplace sectors, we aim to further strengthen PropertyGuru’s platform, driving enhanced innovation and deeper engagement with its consumers, customers and stakeholders”.

Buys Korean recycler, seeks$ 12.5bn raise

For an undisclosed sum, EQT Infrastructure VI purchased a KJ Environment from Genesis Private Equity. According to a media release, the goal is to establish” a sclaed and diversified end-to-end waste treatment scheme platform focused on plastic recycling and waste-to-energy in South Korea.” &nbsp,

KJ Environment works across recyclable waste sorting, plastic recycling and waste-to-energy. It has locations in the Greater Seoul Metropolitan Area, which provide services to catchment areas that account for more than 50 % of the nation’s GDP and population.

The purchase is EQT’s second infrastructure investment in South Korea.

Sang Jun Suh, a partner in the EQT infrastructure advisory team, stated:” We look forward to applying EQT’s extensive experience investing in sustainable waste and recycling solutions across geographies, combined with our strong local footprint and industrial network, to help KJ Environment become a true market leader in the waste treatment space.

The Platform strengthens EQT’s track record of supporting infrastructure companies in the Asia Pacific region by expanding its global portfolio of businesses that conduct waste-related business. Since 2020, EQT Infrastructure has invested €5 billion ($ 5.52 billion ) of equity, including co-investment, in Asia Pacific companies. Around 11, 000 people work in the Asia Pacific portfolio that is managed by EQT’s infrastructure team.

The transaction is subject approvals and&nbsp, is expected to close in Q4 2024. EQT was advised by JP Morgan on financials, Kim &amp, Chang for legal, and PwC for financial and tax.

With this transaction, EQT Infrastructure VI is expected to be 45-50 % based on target fund size and subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Meanwhile, EQT is looking to raise around$ 12.5 billion for EQT Private Capital Asia’s BPEA Private Equity Fund IX. &nbsp,

 

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PropertyGuru Group’s board agrees .1bn sale to EQT Private Capital Asia | FinanceAsia

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PropertyGuru Group, a leading property technology company in Southeast Asia ( SEA ), has been purchased by Hong Kong-based EQT Private Capital Asia for$ 1.1 billion in cash.

In support of the merger, TPG ( through TPG Asia VI SF and TPG Asia VI SPV, in its capacity as general partners of TPG Asia VI Digs ), and KKR ( through Epsilon Asia Holdings II ), have entered into voting and support agreements with the business and EQT Private Capital Asia.

PropertyGuru’s board of directors, acting upon the advice of a particular commission, unanimously approved the deal and recommends acceptance of the acquisition by PropertyGuru’s owners, according to an August 16 news.

The offer is equal to$ 6.70 per share and represents a 52 % premium to PropertyGuru’s closing share price on May 21, 2024, the last unaffected trading day prior to media speculation regarding a potential transaction, and a 75 % and 86 % premium to the company’s 30-day and 90-day volume-weighted average share price, respectively, for the period ending May 21, 2024, the announcement said. &nbsp,

The deal is expected to close in Q4 2024 or Q1 2025, subject to final problems, including acceptance by PropertyGuru’s shareholders and certificate of regulatory approvals.

Upon completion of the transaction, PropertyGuru’s shares will no longer trade on the New York Stock Exchange ( NYSE), and PropertyGuru will become a private company. PropertyGuru’s office will be in Singapore.

 

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acted as the unique committee’s legal counsel, and Moelis &amp, Company is its financial advisor. Ropes &amp, Gray serves as EQT Private Capital Asia’s legal advisor, and Morgan Stanley Asia ( Singapore ) serves as its financial advisor. Latham &amp, Watkin is KKR and TPG’s legal advisor, and JP Morgan Securities Asia Private is their economic director.

 

The PropoertyGuru Group intends to combine with members of BPEA Private Equity VIII, a purpose-driven international funding company, in order to be acquired by EQT Private Capital Asia. &nbsp,

 

Growth 

 

The company founded in 2007 and has a modern home platform across Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and Thailand. It signed a particular goal consolidation agreement with Bridgetown 2 Holdings, led by Richard Li and Peter Thiel, in March 2022 and was listed on the NYSE. &nbsp,

Hari Krishnan, chief executive officer &amp, managing director, PropertyGuru Group, said in a statement,” We are pleased to embark on this new chapter with EQT. This agreement comes in the wake of centuries of transformative growth, which TPG and KKR have supported, making us the industry’s leading proptech platform.

Krishnan added:” As we continue to innovate and provide value to our consumers, customers, and stakeholders across the place, EQT’s international experience in building marketplaces and commitment to sustainable development will further improve our perception to power communities to live, function, and thrive in tomorrow’s cities”.

” PropertyGuru has firmly established itself as the leading property market system in Lake, and we are deeply impressed by the strong base it has built over the past 17 years as well as with its brilliant group,” said Janice Leow, partner in the EQT Private Capital Asia consulting team and head of EQT Private Capital SEA.

Leow continued,” We think our offer carefully positions PropertyGuru to fully exploit its long-term development possible while offering shareholders compelling value and certainty.” With EQT’s considerable knowledge in the technology, online classifieds and market sectors, we aim to further improve PropertyGuru’s platform, driving increased innovation and deeper engagement with its consumers, customers and stakeholders”.

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DBS’ Tan Su Shan to lead the bank in 2025; H1 profit hits record high | FinanceAsia

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On March 28, 2025, DBS announced the appointment of Tan Su Shan as the company’s second chief executive officer to take over from CEO Piyush Gupta. In the interval, Tan has become sheriff CEO of the institution, &nbsp, in addition to her place as team head of administrative banking.

After Gupta’s 15 years in charge, Tan, who joined Citi in late 2009, will become the first woman CEO in the company’s past. Following the review of both internal and external applicants, her appointment was made. In a company media release, Tan was cited as the strongest candidate in the lengthy development program attended by interior candidates. &nbsp,

Headquartered in Singapore, DBS is one of the largest banks in Asia with offices in Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, mainland China, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates ( UAE ) and Vietnam. DBS even has appearance in Australia, the UK and the US. The bank provides services to consumers, small-medium enterprises ( SME) and corporates.

In her new position, Tan will take more than 35 years of experience in customer banking, wealth management and administrative banking. Based in Singapore, Tan has even worked in different financial centres such as Hong Kong, Tokyo and London.

Tan has worked for DBS since 2010, beginning her career there in 2010 when she started her career in the bank’s money management division. She now oversees the company’s customer banking, wealth management, and institutional banking divisions, which account for 90 % of the company’s revenue. Across these jobs, Tan had likewise helped apply DBS ‘ digilisation approach, and since 2014 has been president director of DBS Indonesia.

Tan has also been nominated for a seat on the Singapore legislature from 2012 to 2014, and he has also been appointed to a number of advisory boards.

The announcement came as DBS revealed Q2 2024 net profit up 4 % to S$ 2.8 billion ($ 2.1 billion ) with a return on equity of 18.2 %. First-half net profit was up 9 % to a record high of S$ 5.76 billion, &nbsp, driven by “broad-based growth”, according to the bank. &nbsp,

Consumer banking and wealth management revenue increased by 18 % to S$ 5.06 billion for the first half of the 2024 financial year, partially offset by Citi Taiwan’s consolidation, which was completed in August 2023, to reach S$ 5.06 billion. Lower net interest income and higher loan-related fees, cash management fees, and treasury customer income were all factors that contributed to institutional banking income, which was” stable” at S$ 4.69 billion. Businesses trading revenue was much changed at S$ 433 million.

Despite experiencing regulatory issues with the Monetary Authority of Singapore following a number of interruptions, the banks recorded record profits of S$ 10.1 billion for the 2023 fiscal year. &nbsp,

DBS president Peter Seah said in a media launch,” Under Piyush’s management, DBS has been transformed into a high-performing, high-returns organization recognised together for security and innovation”.

Seah continued:” Tan’s proper orientation, track record in building companies, familiarity with technology, leadership skill as well as strong customer control and communication abilities make her the best son. Important for us, she even embodies the DBS lifestyle. I’m pleased that a Singaporean with extensive international experience has emerged as the ideal leader and that Piyush may continue to leave us.

Tan has collaborated strongly with me for more than ten years to get the banks where it is today, according to Gupta in the same release. Since joining, she has been instrumental in the growth of our money management, consumer banking, and administrative banking operations, and she now holds personal ownership of the business. With her visit, we can be certain that DBS’s change will continue well into the prospect.

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Deutsche Bank appoints private banking market head for Singapore | FinanceAsia

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Puneesh Nayar, managing director, is joining Deutsche Bank (DB) as market head in Singapore in its private bank, effective August 12. The branch sits within DB’s global South Asia. private bank division.

The Global South Asia business serves non-resident Indian (NRI) clients, and other clients from the sub-continent, from Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, Geneva and London.

Nayar (pictured) has over 20 years of industry experience, most recently at Julius Baer where he was a senior team head for global India since 2016. Prior to that, he was the head of non-resident Indians Southeast Asia (SEA) and Middle East at BSI Bank, also in Singapore. Nayar also previously held roles at Coutts Bank and HSBC.

In another move in the same private banking division, in March, Nick Malik rejoined DB as market head, ased in Dubai. Malik returned to DB  this year from Credit Suisse. He was previously group head with DB for six years until 2022, and before that with Standard Chartered Private Bank in Singapore and Dubai. Prior to that, he was a senior advisor at Coutts’ in Singapore and the United Kingdom.

Both Nayar and Malik will report to Rajesh Mahadevan, DB’s head of Global South Asia & Africa, private bank emerging markets.

Mahadevan commented in a media release: “Our Global South Asia & Africa business is a market leader in this segment and a strong business pillar within our emerging markets franchise. DB’s global connectivity, balance sheet strength, combined with our corporate bank and investment bank offering gives our clients access to bespoke lending, banking and capital market solutions.”

Mahadevan added: “Puneesh and Nick’s breadth of experience and deep understanding of this client segment will further cement our market position as we broaden client coverage across core markets in Asia and the Middle East.”

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Hines acquires second industrial property in Singapore through JV | FinanceAsia

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US-headquartered real estate investment manager and developer, Hines, has announced its acquisition of a logistics asset in Singapore, through a joint venture (JV) with Mitsubishi Estate and MBK Real Estate Asia (MREA).

The property is located at 15 Senoko Loop in northern Singapore near the Johor-Singapore Causeway on the border with Malaysia. 

A July 2 press release stated that the property (pictured) sits on a 24,464-square-metre site with a four-storey facility that has around 41,482 square metres of total gross floor area.

Kim Fong Lim, country head of Singapore at Hines, told FinanceAsia: “Singapore’s industrial sector does present favourable dynamics. The sector has seen rent and capital value growth due to supply constraints, making it an attractive investment opportunity.”

“Importantly, this deal represents Hines’ first joint venture with Japanese institutional partners in Singapore whom we look to scale our business within the market,” he added.

Other promising sectors the Hines team is exploring in Singapore include office, retail and living although industrial continues to be the key focus.

Lim said the team is also looking at ground up development opportunities.

CBRE disclosure shows that the property was on sale at an indicative price of S$100 million ($73.6 million) last October. Final size of the deal remains confidential.

LSEG data recorded 31 industrials mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions that targetted the Singapore market in the first half of 2024, with a total value of $175.3 million. Real estate was recorded separately in the dataset, standing at $126.85 million with 11 deals in the first half.

Both sectors witnessed a year-on-year decrease of almost 90% compared with the first half of 2023.

This marks Hines’ second industrial deal in the Singapore market,after its acquisition of Bukit Batok Connection in 2022. The press release underlined that limited quality spaces and a supply crunch have driven up rent prices and capital value growth for Singapore’s industrial and logistics sector in Q1 2024, making it one of the “most popular” among Asia Pacific (Apac) investors.

“With the growing strength of our industrial portfolio in Singapore, together with the sector’s demand and supply dynamics, we’re optimistic and eager to capture more opportunities in the market,” Lim commented in the press release.

Koji Segawa, managing director of Mitsubishi Estate Asia said the team believes Singapore’s logistics and industrial sector will continue to be “robust”; while Koji Nishikiori, director and chief executive officer (CEO) at MREA pointed to both the acquired property’s “prime location” and the sector’s “strong performance”.

The transaction was completed late June on a sale and leaseback basis, where the building is leased back to the seller, British American Tobacco, as the anchor tenant. Hines, Mitsubishi Estate and MREA become the joint lessors.

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) Singapore Branch acted as the financing partner for Hines.

Hines opened its Singapore office in 2020, managing assets for its regional clients through funds and programmatic ventures.

MREA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsui and Co., founded in 2017 targeting real estate business in Southeast Asia. Mitsubishi Estate is one of the largest real estate developers in Japan, whose track record in Singapore includes co-development of office building CapitaSpring with CapitaLand.


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UOB makes ‘management refresh’ amid digital push | FinanceAsia

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United Overseas Bank (UOB) is making several senior leadership changes. From September 1, Susan Hwee, head of group technology and operations (GTO) will assume the role of head of group retail, taking over from Eddie Khoo.

Khoo (pictured left) is retiring from his role, but will still take on the position of senior adviser to United Overseas Bank (UOB) Vietnam.

To replace Hwee (pictured middle), UOB has promoted Singapore-based Lawrence Goh (pictured right) is promoted head of GTO and will commence the role on the same day as September 1, according to a UOB press release.  

UOB is a leading bank in Asia, headquartered in Singapore with subsidiaries in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The global bank has 500 offices in 19 countries throughout Asia Pacific, Europe and North America.

Hwee has more than 35 years of experience in the technology and banking industry. Having joined UOB in 2001, Hwee leads the bank’s global strategy for technology, operations and information security in her present role as head of GTO.

According to the release, Hwee is “instrumental in the development and innovation” of UOB’s digital platform, UOB TMRW, which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to push digital acquisition and customer engagement.

Hwee’s promotion will see her spearhead plans to strengthen the bank’s digital operations and product solutions while increasing customer engagement and connection to Asean opportunities, the release said. Hwee will also help integrate AI and push digital acquisition across UOB’s customer base.

Goh will succeed Hwee as head of GTO after more than three decades of IT experience spread across positions in corporate and consultancy roles. Goh began his professional life at a global advisory firm, having held positions of leadership in strategy and transformation, infrastructure consulting and security. 

Goh currently manages the day-to-day operation and strategic planning of UOB’s infrastructure and platform services across the bank’s international network as chief operating officer for GTO and head of group infrastructure platform services.

Responsible for progressing UOB’s technology strategy, Goh has been “instrumental in shaping the bank’s technological investment and transformation”, according to the release, having established UOB’s first Test Centre of Excellence in 2018 to enhance the bank’s testing quality, automation and consistency.

The aim of Goh’s new role is to push innovation and technology integration to enhance operational efficiency and customer experience, the release said

Khoo is to become senior advisor to UOB Vietnam after retiring as head of group retail. Khoo joined UOB in 2005 and has been “pivotal in growing UOB’s group retail business to the strong regional franchise the bank has today”, the release said.

UOB Vietnam has been integrating Citigroup’s consumer banking businesses following its full integration of Citi’s consumer banking businesses into UOB Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, after UOB’s acquisition of several of Citigroup’s businessesin 2022. 

Khoo intends to apply his experience to support UOB’s management team to drive the bank’s retail strategy in Vietnam, with UOB Vietnam “imperative” to strengthening the bank’s regional franchise.

“This management refresh is part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen UOB’s capabilities to serve our enlarged customer base across the region,” commented Ee Cheong Wee, deputy chairman and chief executive officer of UOB, in the release.

Wee added: “With rapid digitalisation in our key markets, Susan’s experience is crucial to drive digital engagement strategies and uplift customer experience. Lawrence, as a seasoned IT leader, will continue to drive innovation and lead our technology transformation in our new phase of growth. Eddie has made invaluable contributions to our retail banking business. In his new role, he will continue to support our team to realise the potential of our retail franchise in Vietnam.”  

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Natixis-affiliated Ostrum AM creates new transition department; aims to expand FI offering in Asia | FinanceAsia

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Paris-based Ostrum asset management (AM), an affiliate of Natixis Investment Managers, has appointed Nathalie Beauvir to head up its newly created sustainable transitions department.

A spokesperson confirmed to FinanceAsia that Beauvir had been in her new role in Paris since the start of the job transition in May.

The newly established department, according to a July 10 press release, consists of five environmental, social and governance (ESG) experts and two corporate social responsibility (CSR) experts.

They will be responsible for strengthening Ostrum AM’s strategic positioning on ESG; optimising the interdependence of investment policies including exclusion, engagement and voting; and developing offerings with new thematic ranges.

The department reports directly to the firm’s chief executive officer (CEO) office.

CEO Olivier Houix commented in the press release that the team expects Beauvir to establish Ostrum AM as a “committed partner for transitions” for stakeholders, in terms of investment strategies and development financing.

Beauvir was promoted from her previous role as head of sustainable bond analysis and research at Ostrum AM,where she was involved in the launch of the firm’s climate and social impact bond fund.

Asia expansion

The Ostrum AM team currently has five portfolio managers and analysts in the Asia Pacific (Apac) region, led by Rushil Khanna, head of equity investments, within Natixis Investment Managers’ Singapore local operations.

Currently, the team has a specific focus on equity investments, while Ostrum AM also aims to provide fixed income expertise locally in Southeast Asia, with the upcoming arrival of a fixed income portfolio manager, the spokesperson told FA.

Globally, Ostrum AM manages around €40 billion ($43 billion) in green, social and sustainability (GSS) bonds, out of its €402 billion in assets managed for institutional clients as of end-March.


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Clifford Capital’s CEO on scaling infrastructure debt financing | FinanceAsia

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Clifford Capital is an equipment credit leasing program focused on creation, distribution, and investment across infrastructure and other genuine assets globally.

The Singaporean government supports the business, which has a plan authority to boost exports and foreign investments, and has pledged to fund projects around the world since it was founded in 2012. &nbsp,

The largest transaction to date for Clifford Capital recently sold for$ 5 million, making it the fifth public infrastructure asset-backed securities ( IABS ) transaction. A subsidiary of Clifford Capital and a wholly owned and newly incorporated distribution vehicle of Bayfront Infrastructure Management ( Bayfront ), which also includes the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank ( AIIB ) as a shareholder, is Bayfront Infrastructure Capital V ( BIC V ).

BIC V features a collection size of approximately$ 508.3 million multiply across 37 personal money and bonds, 36 tasks, 15 states and 10 market sub-sectors. BIC V has an original aggregate main balance of US$ 218.4 million of ready green and social resources, as defined under Bayfront’s Sustainable Finance Framework, which represent 4 % of the overall principal balance of the profile.

FinanceAsia&nbsp, recently caught up with P. Murlidhar ( Murli ) Maiya, Clifford Capital’s group chief executive officer, to discuss the infrastructure debt financing landscape and its scalability.

FA: Describe your company and the sweeping changes being made to the environment of structured financing options, especially in network purchases, on which Clifford Capital focuses.

Maiya ( pictured&nbsp, above ): &nbsp, Clifford Capital was established 12 years ago, with the support of the Government of Singapore, to address a financing gap in long-tenor credit for infrastructure companies and projects with a nexus to Singapore. We as a group enjoy over$ 5 billion in government guarantees, which give us the ability to raise money at a very competitive price, which in turn allows us to extend credit across long tenors.

Our main areas of focus have always been on the power and coastal infrastructure sectors. However, the concept of system has evolved significantly over time, especially with technological&nbsp, development and the growing emphasis on responsible and socially equal development. As a result, we internally redefined infrastructure to encapsulate all sectors that provide essential services to people and raise the standard of living.

From a credit standpoint, conducting an in-depth analysis of the organization’s or project’s likely cash flows has always been a part of infrastructure financing. One of the keys to our success has been our constant effort to uphold a high standard of analytical rigor throughout the credit process. This analytical rigor is readily applicable to what is now a much wider range of relevant infrastructure sectors, enabling us to provide clients with creative debt financing solutions even for those that were previously viewed as infrastructure.

FA: Could you describe some of the subtleties of these industries and how you see them as the originators of long-term debt financing deals?

Maiya: Beyond renewable energy and digital infrastructure, there is a lot of interest in the data center market, which will grow as demand increases as AI becomes more prevalent. Unlike conventional real estate projects, data centres often enter long-term contracts with hyper-scalers, like major cloud service providers, and these long trem contracted cash flows provide the basis on which non-recourse debt can be structured.

Given the important roles that social infrastructure plays in society and their advantages over traditional long-tenor financing, such as schools, universities, and hospitals.
In industrials and transportation, we see sectors like steel, cement, and aluminum in transition to cleaner and more energy efficient production methods. Financing for intriguing new technologies is also being fueled by a combination of policy support and corporate sustainability goals.

Additionally, the transportation sector is undergoing significant changes, particularly in the electric vehicle space. Parts of the electric vehicle ( EV ) value chain, such as charging infrastructure and batteries lend themselves to infrastructure-like financing solutions. This evolution demonstrates how important verticals, such as transportation and industrials, are both experiencing significant shifts in sustainability.

Lastly, for our natural resources vertical, our focus is on new resources like green hydrogen, green ammonia, and key mineral resources like lithium, nickel, etc. to propel the upcoming sustainable economy.

FA: Given your various strategic priorities, how do you decide which client opportunities to pursue?

Maiya: We primarily assist businesses with debt financing when they want to invest regionally or globally. We do this by supporting those with strong ties to Singapore. We look into any financing issues they might have in commercial markets. Notwithstanding our government support, we operate on a commercial basis, and always ensure rigorous credit assessment and market-based pricing.

Our industry groups all benefit from our credit analysts ‘ expertise. We have been making real progress on this front, and sustainability is another area of focus for us. In 2023, 52 % of new primary loans originated were for infrastructure projects that are green and/or sustainable.

FA: Could you elaborate on how sustainability is affecting the industry you run in?

Maiya: The rise of green and sustainable initiatives has a significant impact on the growth trajectory of infrastructure debt financing. Across client organisations, we’ve observed varying approaches, but they all converge on a common challenge: the immense funding needed for the green transition to achieve net zero emissions. The Asia-Pacific region receives only about 10 % of global funding, despite having a third of the world’s funding needs. This discrepancies offer significant opportunities for businesses like us.

Another powerful tool is blending finance, which can sometimes be a challenge in Asia, to unlock funds for sustainable development. Local governments, multilateral development banks, and other concessional capital sources are making tangible commitments to blended finance.

For instance, the MAS’s Financing Asia’s Transition Partnership ( FAST-P), a blended finance initiative that aims to mobilize up to$ 5 billion to finance transition and marginally bankable green projects in Asia.

Clifford Capital is also responsible for its commercial operations, and it is crucial to demonstrate positive commercial outcomes. By delivering returns to our private sector shareholders, we are also demonstrating our ability to combine public policy objectives with private capital initiatives. This demonstration demonstrates that it is possible to incorporate a public policy goal into a successful business model, allowing it to catalyze other sources of capital over time.

FA: How do you stand out from the competition when it comes to providing debt financing for infrastructure projects?

Maiya: Due to our ability to take on greenfield construction risk and longer tenor financing, we have a unique approach in comparison to most institutional capital providers. Institutional capital frequently struggles with construction risk, preferring to invest in already-active assets that generate cash flow.

Our area of expertise is in managing risks at this stage. We develop a specialized financing plan that addresses the needs of the borrowers while upholding a code of ethics for creditworthiness and market-clearing pricing. Due to the variations in contracts and economic business models, this combination calls for specialized technical skill sets that vary by industry. We have invested a lot of time in developing teams and procedures that make it easier for us to operate in the demanding world of infrastructure credit.

FA: How do you intend to expand your debt-free solutions to make room for the significant funding gap?

Maiya: Clifford Capital has a proven method for distributing infrastructure credit. We established the Infrastructure ABS asset class in Asia and still run a highly profitable securitization business under the name” Bayfront.” We also obtain loans from both primary and secondary loan markets, primarily from the banking industry, in addition to originating our loans from corporate clients. Then, based on their risk appetites, we then divide the loans into securitized portfolios and divide them into various tranches. We keep a sizable portion of these structures ‘ original losses.

Our end-to-end origination and distribution model makes the company’s ability to raise significant capital quickly, allowing us to fund higher credit volumes without having to rely solely on our own, expanding the company’s scalable business model. Through Infrastructure ABS, our efforts to bring institutional debt capital into the infrastructure market bridge the financing gap in the Asia Pacific region for green infrastructure. &nbsp,

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