
Singapore's Temasek-backed entity to acquire 16% stake in Ayala's healthcare arm
In August 2024, Reuters reported that the Ayala Corp was keen on selling a minority stake in its healthcare business, which would value the company at up to $500 million.
AC Health did not specify a value for the 16% stake.
Global investors are increasingly drawn to Southeast Asia's healthcare sector, wagering on the region's rising prosperity, aging demographics, and the industry's resilience in a challenging economic climate.
In November 2023, Malaysian conglomerate Sime Darby and Australia's Ramsay Health Care agreed to sell their equal ownership joint venture for 5.7 billion ringgit($1.34 billion).
Established in 2015, AC Health has expanded its portfolio to include the Generika and St. Joseph Drug pharmacy chains, as well as pharmaceutical importer and distributor IE Medica and MedEthix, according to its websites.
It aims to expand its network to at least 10 hospitals, 300 clinics and 1,150 pharmacies. - Reuters

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Sun
44 minutes ago
- The Sun
Trump criticises Goldman Sachs CEO over tariff impact research
U.S. President Donald Trump hit out at Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon on Tuesday, saying the bank had been wrong to predict tariffs would hurt the economy and questioning whether Solomon should lead the Wall Street institution. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said it was mostly foreign companies and governments absorbing the cost of his tariffs. 'But David Solomon and Goldman Sachs refuse to give credit where credit is due. They made a bad both the Market repercussion and the Tariffs themselves.' Trump said Solomon should maybe focus on being a DJ, a hobby Solomon abandoned some time ago, 'and not bother running a major Financial Institution.' The bank CEO is the latest corporate boss to become the target of Trump's ire. A Goldman Sachs spokesperson declined to comment. A spokesperson for the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Since February 1, when Trump kicked off trade wars by slapping levies on imports from Mexico, Canada and China, at least 333 companies worldwide have reacted to the tariffs in some manner, as of August 12, according to a Reuters tracker. While Trump did not specify which Goldman research he was referring to, the Wall Street bank - like many of its peers - has taken a bearish stance on Trump's tariffs. In a note published on Sunday, Goldman Sachs analysts, led by chief economist Jan Hatzius, said U.S. consumers had absorbed 22% of tariff costs through June and that figure could rise to 67% if recent tariffs continue on the same trajectory. 'I think that David should go out and get himself a new economist,' Trump wrote. Hatzius declined to comment. In April, Goldman also warned sweeping U.S. tariffs would weigh on global growth and prompt the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates more aggressively than previously expected. Last week, the president demanded Intel CEO Lip Bu-Tan resign due to his ties to Chinese firms, and has repeatedly targeted Apple boss Tim Cook for making U.S.-sold iPhones outside the country. Trump has also taken aim at other Wall Street banks, alleging, without providing evidence, that JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America discriminated against him by refusing his deposits after his first term. Tariffs are taxes levied on imported goods to typically protect domestic industries or influence trade policies. Their cost can be distributed among manufacturers, retailers and consumers, depending on market conditions and supply-chain dynamics. As the second quarter earnings season progresses, companies have reported a combined financial hit of $13.6 billion to $15.2 billion between July 16 and August 8 for the full year from Trump's tariffs, according to Reuters' global tariff tracker. - Reuters


New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Boeing's July aircraft deliveries tumble 20pct from June, trailing Airbus
Reuters SEATTLE: US planemaker Boeing said on Tuesday that it delivered 48 airplanes in July, down from 60 in June but five more than a year earlier. It was the most deliveries by the company in July since 2017, when it delivered 58 aircraft. Boeing continued to fall further behind European rival Airbus in deliveries this year. Airbus handed over 67 jets in July despite having a growing number of aircraft unable to be delivered because it lacks enough engines. That was down from 77 in July 2024, but it lifted Airbus' year-to-date tally to 373, compared with Boeing's 328. Airbus is also leading the US planemaker in single-aisle jet deliveries, with 286 A320neo family jets compared with Boeing's 243 737 MAX jets. About 66 per cent of all commercial jets are single-aisle planes. Boeing delivered 37 of its best-selling 737 MAX jets in July, 20 of which were for aircraft lessors and 17 for airlines. Boeing also handed over eight 787s, two 777 freighters and one 767 freighter. Airbus delivered five regional A220 jets, 54 of its cash-cow A320neo family, two A330s and six A350s. Aircraft deliveries are closely tracked by Wall Street because planemakers collect much of their payment when they hand over jets to customers. Boeing booked 31 gross orders in July, which included 30 for 737 MAX jets and one for a 787. The Republic of Iraq cancelled one 787 order, though it still has seven 787s on order. By the end of July, the aerospace giant had received 699 new orders this year, or 655 net orders after adjusting for cancellations and conversions. Its order backlog was 5,968 after adjusting for US accounting standards. Airbus has struggled with delayed deliveries from its largest engine supplier, CFM International, co-owned by GE Aerospace and Safran, but delays have spread to its RTX-owned rival Pratt & Whitney in the wake of a recent strike, the European planemaker said. Airbus still projects that it will deliver 820 jets by the end of the year, a seven per cent rise from last year. Boeing has not given guidance for annual deliveries. The US company is working to stabilise production after a mid-air panel blowout on a new 737 MAX in January 2024 exposed widespread production quality and safety problems.


New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Bursa poised for gains on US tariff cut, 13MP rollout
KUALA LUMPUR: A cut in United States import duties on Malaysian goods and the pragmatic rollout of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) could inject fresh momentum into Bursa Malaysia in the coming months, analysts said. They expect the tariff reduction from 25 per cent to 19 per cent to ease cost pressures on a large share of Malaysian exports, improving margins and lifting sentiment, especially as the rate undercuts China's 25 per cent and Vietnam's 20 per cent. UOB Kay Hian Wealth Advisors Sdn Bhd head of investment research Mohd Sedek Jantan said the tariffs reduction could ease cost pressures on roughly 40 per cent of Malaysia's US$26 billion worth of exports to the US. This is particularly in electrical and electronics, rubber-based goods, furniture and machinery, which together account for more than 55 per cent of shipments. He said these sectors could see margin relief of between 10 per cent and 15 per cent, similar to the equity uplift experienced by the Philippines earlier this year after comparable tariff concessions. "US exemptions for semiconductors and pharmaceuticals safeguard Malaysia's high-value exports, preserving its position in global manufacturing networks and supporting earnings visibility for listed corporates," Sedek told Business Times. While US President Donald Trump recently threatened a 100 per cent tariff on semiconductor imports with exemptions for firms investing in US manufacturing, Sedek said the immediate impact on Malaysia is expected to be minimal. However, he cautioned that the sector may face supply chain recalibration if the tariff is implemented across major manufacturing hubs. Sedek said 13MP — with an RM611 billion expenditure framework for 2026–2030 — prioritises digitalisation, AI adoption, renewable energy and industrial upgrading. Major projects include Nvidia's RM10 billion AI facility and large-scale solar initiatives, which Sedek said could attract private investment and spur productivity gains. "Infrastructure and digitalisation efforts such as the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone and the GovTech transformation agenda will also drive structural improvements, echoing efficiency gains seen in Estonia's digitalisation push," he added. Given these tailwinds, Sedek projects the FTSE Bursa Malaysia (FBM KLCI) to trade between 1,570 and 1,585 in the coming months, keeping it on track for a year-end target of 1,650. However, he cautioned that global monetary tightening, geopolitical risks and commodity price volatility may temper gains. "Capital flows and exchange rate stability will remain critical to sustaining momentum. Policy agility and disciplined execution will be essential in translating these short-term catalysts into a durable re-rating of Malaysia's equity market," he added. Looking ahead, Sedek said the FBM KLCI may face several downside risks such as export sensitivity to global uncertainties. This includes the possibility of US tariffs cutting electronics and furniture export revenues by up to US$2 billion annually, even as Malaysia retains competitiveness over China. "Domestically, implementation inefficiencies in 13MP, such as bureaucratic delays, may undermine investor confidence in the RM611 billion investment plan," Sedek said. Apart from the lower tariff and 13MP rollout, Hong Leong Investment Bank (HLIB) Research said sentiment is also supported by rising odds of a US Federal Reserve rate cut as early as September. However, August could see guarded trading amid persistent foreign net outflows totalling RM14.21 billion year-to-date — the largest since the RM24.6 billion recorded during the pandemic-hit year of 2020. HLIB analyst Ng Jun Sheng said other headwinds include possible new US tariffs of up to 250 per cent on pharmaceutical products and up to 100 per cent on chips built outside the US. Sentiment may also be weighed by expectations of a subdued August earnings season and the index's historical seasonal weakness, with average returns over the past 10, 20 and 30 years at 0.7, 1.2 and 2.2 per cent, respectively. "On the domestic front, concerns surrounding subsidy rationalisation and a potential Sales and Service Tax expansion could further dampen consumer sentiment and cloud corporate earnings visibility," he said. The FBM KLCI staged a strong rebound from an eight-week low of 1,488.90 to close at 1,557 last Friday, marking its fourth straight gain and surging 23.6 points from the previous week. The gains were supported by easing US-Malaysia tariff tensions, a pragmatic 13MP rollout and supportive technical signals. Despite this, HLIB Research said underlying sentiment remained cautious, with market breadth still weak at 0.83 compared to 0.82 previously. Turnover stood at 2.43 billion shares worth RM2.72 billion. This came amid persistent foreign outflows for an 11th consecutive session, valued at RM1.13 billion last week, mostly in the financial services, healthcare and utilities sectors. Local institutions remained net buyers at RM1.03 billion, while local retailers bought RM105.5 million in equities. Average daily trading volume fell across the board, with foreign investors and local retailers down 6.6 per cent and 6.1 per cent, respectively, while local institutions recorded a 4.8 per cent increase.