Latest news with #AzureCapital
Business Times
a day ago
- Business
- Business Times
Clearbridge Health raises S$1.98 million in placement backed by Azure Capital
[SINGAPORE] Clearbridge Health has raised S$1.98 million in a placement backed by Singapore fund manager Azure Capital, among other investors, amid plans to acquire a biopharma company for US$330 million and to enter a new business. The placement of 990 million shares, at S$0.002 each, was fully taken up and has allowed Clearbridge to become debt-free, the company announced in a bourse filing on Monday (Aug 18). Other investors in the placement included family office Asdew Acquisitions and Ramesh Chandiramani, whom Clearbridge said is a veteran investor. The proceeds will be used for general working capital, including to support the planned acquisition of Elpis Biopharmaceuticals, with which Clearbridge signed a term sheet in April. Clearbridge also wants to enter the business of banking adult immune cells. In June, it announced plans to appoint an adviser for a processing and cryogenic storage facility for peripheral blood mononuclear cells. It has incorporated companies in Singapore and Hong Kong to prepare the launch. The placement proceeds will also be used for immediate business needs, and for opportunities that 'provide long-term growth and value for shareholders', said Clearbridge. The capital raise reflects Azure's confidence in Clearbridge's direction and leadership, said the fund manager's chief executive Terence Wong. 'The company's transformation into a debt-free entity, coupled with promising future opportunities, presents a compelling investment proposition,' he said. Clearbridge shares ended Monday flat at S$0.004.
AU Financial Review
24-07-2025
- Business
- AU Financial Review
Make way for EY's energy transition team amid deal frenzy
Australia's renewable energy M&A and financing scene has never been busier, dominated by dealmakers from Lazard, Azure Capital and ICA Partners. But there's a fourth muscling in on the action: EY's restocked and fired-up energy advisory team led by partner Chris McLean. EY's bench includes four seasoned dealmakers, all of whom migrated across from PwC last year. There's ex-Rothschild managing director Danny Bessell; young gun David Fair, who started his career at ICA; Belinda Cogswell, whose advisory experience spans government and investment banking; and power and utilities specialist Michael Newman.
Business Times
22-06-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Markets set for rocky opening after Trump's plunge into Middle East war
[SINGAPORE] When the major markets reopen on Monday (Jun 23), investors in Asia and other parts of the world will be bracing themselves for a volatile few days ahead, with oil prices likely to surge and inflation forecasts coming under renewed scrutiny. This after US President Donald Trump's stunning U-turn from his earlier position that he would keep the United States out of Middle Eastern wars. On Saturday, he ordered a strike against three Iranian nuclear facilities, giving a boost to Israel's efforts to destroy Iran's nuclear programme. His decision has already prompted analysts to describe it as Trump's biggest foreign-policy gamble of his two presidential terms. In a televised address from the White House, Trump called the strikes a 'spectacular military success' and warned Teheran against any retaliation, adding that Iran would face more attacks if it did not agree to peace. 'This cannot continue. There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran, far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days,' said the president. Terence Wong, the chief executive officer of investment fund Azure Capital, expects the markets to be choppy on Monday. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up 'Given Trump's generally anti-war stance and opposition to overseas defence spending, this was a surprising move and definitely marks a significant escalation in the Middle East conflict. The big question is how Iran will react,' he told The Business Times. Vasu Menon, managing director of investment strategy at OCBC, expressed some optimism that things may not turn out as bad as others fear. He said the 'unfazed response' from markets in the Middle East that were open on Sunday offers hope that the fallout for other global markets when they start trading on Monday may not be dramatic. 'Even if there is a sharp pullback among global markets on Monday, they may not be down and out. The response may be temporary and a rebound could materialise eventually,' he noted. 'Much depends on what Iran will do next, but the shock and awe of the US attack and the warning from Trump not to retaliate or suffer significant consequences, may prevent Iran's leaders from responding aggressively.' How Iran reacts over the next few days or even weeks 'may keep investors nervous' and markets volatile in the short term, he added. 'Of greater consequence to markets may be the reciprocal tariffs that Trump will decide on by Jul 9. Trade concerns have taken a back seat due to the developments in the Middle East, but could re-emerge to the forefront in the coming weeks.' Higher risk premium for oil As for oil, prices are likely to go up by between US$3 and US$5 per barrel when trading resumes, said market analysts on Sunday, with the gains expected to accelerate only if Iran – the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries' (Opec) third-largest crude producer – retaliates in a major way and causes a major disruption to oil supply. Jorge Leon, the head of geopolitical analysis at Rystad Energy and a former Opec official, said: 'An oil-price jump is expected. Even in the absence of immediate retaliation, markets are likely to price in a higher geopolitical risk premium.' UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said that such risk premiums typically fade when there are no supply disruptions. 'The direction of oil prices from here will depend on whether there are supply disruptions – which would likely result in higher prices – or if there is a de-escalation in the conflict, resulting in a fading risk premium,' he explained. In an extreme scenario in which the Strait of Hormuz ends up being shut, the price of oil could even go above US$130 a barrel, weighing on global growth and driving consumer prices higher, according to a Bloomberg Economics analysis. The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial choke point between Iran and Oman through which about 20 per cent of global oil and gas demand flows. Flight disruptions Singapore Airlines (SIA) said on Sunday that it had cancelled two flights between Singapore and Dubai – SQ494 and SQ495 – following a 'security assessment' of the ongoing situation in the Middle East. The carrier added that it would be reaching out to all affected customers, with those impacted to be put on alternative flights or given the option to seek a full refund of the unused portion of their ticket. Other SIA flights between Singapore and Dubai may also be affected as the situation remains fluid, the airline said. British Airways cancelled several flights to Dubai and diverted two planes bound for Doha on Sunday, according to data from Flightradar24. The flight-tracking website noted that most airlines have maintained their flight diversions around the region due to recent missile exchanges. The website showed that airlines were not flying in the airspace over Iran, Iraq, Syria and Israel. Many carriers have opted for other routes such as north via the Caspian Sea or south via Egypt and Saudi Arabia, even if these mean higher fuel and crew costs and longer flight times. Operation Midnight While the rest of the world continues to make sense of the US attacks and the fallout, senior figures from the Trump administration said the ball was now firmly in Iran's court and that it should make peace. All in, the US strikes involved 14 bunker-buster bombs, over two dozen Tomahawk missiles and more than 125 military aircraft. General Dan Caine, the nation's highest-ranking military officer, said the strike was named 'Operation Midnight Hammer'. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a briefing at the Pentagon that the US 'devastated' the Iranian nuclear programme, adding that the operation 'did not target Iranian troops or the Iranian people'. '(Trump) seeks peace, and Iran should take that path. This mission was not, and has not, been about regime change,' he noted.
Business Times
28-04-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Investing in influencers – Azure Capital partners Gushcloud in fund to support creators, with up to 12.5% returns
[SINGAPORE] The Azure-Gushcloud Entertainment Finance Fund, launched in February 2025, has successfully reached its initial target of raising S$10 million from investors. The fund promises investors a return of 12.5 per cent per annum in US dollars, or 11 per cent in Singapore dollars. Thereafter, returns are fixed at 7 per cent with an additional premium of 0.65 per cent for every 1 per cent change in the US prime lending rate. There is a minimum holding period of one year, and a minimum commitment of either US$100,000 or S$100,000. Distributions are scheduled on a quarterly basis. The fund was jointly launched by Singapore-based fund manager Azure Capital and influencer agency Gushcloud International. It finances Gushcloud's Creator Venture Program (CVP), which aims to provide financial support for digital creators through advances for over one to two years. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Using the creator's estimated projected income, Gushcloud can provide advance capital to the creators with a loan to value ratio of 10 to 50 per of the creator's annual earnings. During the contract, all income generated by the creator through brand sponsorships and platform royalties is received by Gushcloud and subsequently settled to the creator. In exchange, the creator management company will act as the creator's business manager, taking control over their professional e-mail and social media inboxes. This allows creators to expand their reach with brand partnerships and enhance monetisation on various platforms. '(This) gives them some form of stability in their jobs ... so they can focus on being creative,' said Terence Wong, CEO of Azure Capital. Wong noted that in looking at the payback period for each investment, the internal rate of return should be in excess of 20 per cent. Though the contract ties the creator down for up to two years, Althea Lim, CEO of Gushcloud International, said: 'In a time like this, where we live in a very uncertain world, most people will take that because that money could go somewhere so positive.' Currently, Gushcloud is working with around 200 full-time creators globally and is focusing on bringing in digital creators who are experts in their subject matter. Lim estimated that subject matter experts on social media platforms such as Youtube are now getting around S$30 per thousand views. 'All platforms are looking for subject matter experts right now,' she added, noting that people prefer to watch videos to gain understanding on a topic. She observed that the creator economy – currently valued at around US$250 billion – is projected to reach close to US$500 billion by 2027. 'The economy is immense', said Lim. 'I think the ... data that scares and excites us is that six out of 10 kids under 12 today desire to be an influencer, a content creator or a YouTuber.' Lim noted that in 20 years' time, 90 per cent of Singaporeans will live till the age of 95. However, she added, very few creators have health insurance, own their own homes, or have a pension fund. These are problems that Lim is eager to tackle, especially with a growing number of younger creators entering the economy. 'We're here to stay,' said Lim. 'We want to be a long-term business because these are humongous problems that we need to solve.'
