Temasek Holdings

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Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited
Company typeState-owned private limited company
IndustryInvestment management
Founded25 June 1974; 49 years ago (1974-06-25)[1]
HeadquartersOrchard Road, Singapore
Key people
Total assetsIncrease S$382 billion (2023)
OwnerGovernment of Singapore
Number of employees
Increase ~950 (2023)[3]
Subsidiaries
Websitetemasek.com.sg

Temasek Holdings (Private) Limited, or simply Temasek, is a global investment company owned by the Government of Singapore. Incorporated on 25 June 1974, Temasek has a net portfolio of US$287 billion (S$382 billion) as of 2023, with S$27 billion divested and S$31 billion invested during the year.[1][5][6]

Temasek's one-year total shareholder return (TSR) was 5.07%, with longer term 10-year and 20-year TSRs at 6% and 9% respectively, compounded annually. Its TSR since inception was 14%, compounded over 49 years.[7]

Headquartered in Singapore, it has 13 offices in 9 countries around the world, including in Beijing, Brussels, Hanoi, London, Mexico City, Mumbai, New York City, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai, Shenzhen & Washington D.C..[8] It is an active shareholder and investor, with four key structural trends guiding its long term portfolio construction—Digitisation, Sustainable Living, Future of Consumption, and Longer Lifespans.[9] Temasek's portfolio covers a broad spectrum of sectors. Its key focus investment areas include Consumer, Media & Technology, Life Sciences & Agri-Food, and Non-bank Financial Services.[10]

Temasek has held overall corporate global credit ratings of “Aaa/AAA” by rating agencies Moody's[11] and Standard & Poor's[12] respectively since its inaugural credit ratings in 2004. It has also attained perfect quarterly scores[13] on the Linaburg-Maduell Transparency Index, a measure of the openness of government-owned investment funds. Temasek is primarily anchored in Asia, but with a global portfolio, with a 64% underlying exposure to developed economies.[14]

While Temasek is largely considered as being a sovereign wealth fund (SWF), there are major differences as it invests mostly in equities, is the outright owner of many assets and companies, and pays taxes like other commercial investment firms.[15]

In addition to Temasek, the Government of Singapore also owns GIC Private Limited, a traditional SWF which manages about US$744 billion (S$1.006 trillion) of assets as of 2022[16][17] and the compulsory pension programme Central Provident Fund (CPF) with assets of US$397 billion (S$540 billion),[18] giving a total AUM of US$1.64 trillion.

Status[edit]

Temasek is a company incorporated in Singapore, and operates under the provisions of the Singapore Companies Act. It is neither a government agency nor a statutory board. Like any other commercial company, Temasek pays taxes that contributes to government revenue in the countries it operates in, distributes dividends to its shareholder and has its own board of directors and a professional management team. Its sole shareholder is Singapore's Ministry of Finance.[19][20]

Temasek is designated a Fifth Schedule[21] entity under the Constitution of Singapore, which imposes certain safeguards to protect the government's past reserves. For instance, the approval of the President of Singapore is required for any transaction which is likely to result in a draw-down of Temasek's cash reserves.[22] The president also has the right to appoint, terminate, or renew the members of Temasek's board of directors. In most other respects, however, Temasek operates as an independent commercial investment holding company.[23]

In a 2009 speech,[24] Ho Ching, then Temasek Holdings' Executive Director and CEO, said that the company had made an effort to instill discipline and professionalism, and to be tested and measured by providing public markers of performance. She noted that Temasek's bonds spreads and credit ratings have been regularly[25] and independently[26] monitored as public markers of Temasek's financial position and credit risks. Temasek had also openly[27] and accurately[28] disclosed its financial information through its annual report (although Ho said that, as a private company, it was not legally obliged to do so).

History[edit]

At the point of Singapore's independence in August 1965, the Government of Singapore had ownership or joint ownership of various local companies, such as Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (later split up into Malaysia Airlines and Singapore Airlines) and the Singapore Telephone Board (which became Singapore Telecommunications). As part of its push for local and foreign private investment in sectors such as manufacturing and shipbuilding, the government's Economic Development Board (EDB) also bought minority stakes in a variety of local companies.[29] During the first ten years after independence, the government acquired or established several companies, such as the Keppel Corporation (originally Keppel Shipyard, taken over from the Royal Navy after the British military withdrawal from Singapore), ST Engineering (originally a weapon manufacturer set up to supply the Singapore Armed Forces), and the shipping company Neptune Orient Lines.[30]

On 25 June 1974, Temasek was incorporated under the Singapore Companies Act[1][31] to hold and manage the assets previously held directly by the Singapore government, named for an early settlement on the island. The goal was for Temasek to own and manage these investments on a commercial basis,[24] allowing the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Trade and Industry to focus on policymaking.[32]

In February 2020, Temasek announced a company-wide wage freeze and voluntary pay cuts for senior management in part to help fund community programs aimed at alleviating the impact of COVID-19.[33]

On 1 October 2021, Dilhan Pillay Sandrasegara, the current chief executive officer of Temasek International (TI), succeeded Ho Ching as executive director and chief executive officer of Temasek Holdings.[34]

Investments[edit]

Temasek's initial portfolio of S$354 million comprised shares previously held by the Singapore Government, including a bird park, a hotel, a shoemaker, a detergent producer, naval yards converted into a ship repair business, a start-up airline, and an iron and steel mill.[35]

2000s[edit]

Temasek's 2006 acquisition of Shin Corporation, owned by the family of then Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, was particularly controversial, with protestors burning effigies of Lee and Ho on the streets of Bangkok.[36] The deal was a factor in exacerbating the Thai political crisis, which eventually led to the downfall of Thaksin and a review of the transaction's legality. The military junta that overthrew Thaksin later tried unsuccessfully to force Temasek to divest a large part of its investment in Shin Corp.[37] As of 2015, Temasek's stake in Intouch Corporation (as Shin Corporation was renamed) had reduced to 42%.[38] In 2016, Temasek sold a further 21% stake in Intouch Holdings, the Thai telecoms conglomerate formerly known as Shin Corp.[39]

2010s[edit]

Beginning in 2015, Temasek began making large investments in agricultural and agricultural-related companies and ventures.[40]

In June 2018, Temasek invested S$340 million in a minority stake in UST Global, a digital technology services company.[41] The size of the stake was not disclosed.

In February 2019, Temasek invested in Zilingo.[42]

Temasek purchased 30 per cent of Haldor Topsoe's shares in March 2019. The investment company was selected in recognition of the value that it would add through its deep insights and connections in Asian growth and other emerging markets, according to the Danish engineering firm.[43] The transaction price was not disclosed.

2020s[edit]

In August 2020, Temasek Holdings added a 3.9 per cent stake in BlackRock Inc, worth about US$3.5 billion, becoming one of its largest shareholders.[44] According to people familiar with the matter, Temasek was one of several players that bought the money manager's shares when PNC Financial Services Group Inc. sold a US$14 billion stake earlier in the year.[45]

In November 2020 Temasek with Creadev led a EUR140 million series C financing of French biotechnology company InnovaFeed.[46][47]

In 2021, Temasek invested in cryptocurrency exchange FTX.[48] Following FTX's collapse in November 2022, Temasek wrote down the value of their $275 million investment in FTX to zero.[49]

In February 2022, Temasek led a $200 million fundraising round for a Singaporean cryptocurrency financing company, Amber Group.[50]

In May 2022, Temasek was finalizing talks to lead a $50 million financing round for DotPe, an Indian startup backed by Google.[51] The same year, the company together with Ventury Partners led a $108 million financing round for Indian startup Country Delight.[52]

In August 2022, Temasek leads a $100 million financing round for Animoca Brands.[53]

Sustainability[edit]

As a company, Temasek has been carbon neutral since 2020. The firm has publicly stated that its goal is to reduce the net carbon emissions attributed to its entire portfolio to half of 2010 levels by 2030. It aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.[54]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Temasek Holdings is incorporated". NLB. Retrieved 27 July 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Our Leadership – About Temasek". Temasek Holdings. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Our OneTemasek Team – Institution". Temasek Review 2021.
  4. ^ "TEMASEK HOLDINGS (PRIVATE) LIMITED (197401143C) – Singapore Business Directory". SGPBusiness.com. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
  5. ^ Temasek, Holdings (12 July 2022). "Temasek Review 2022". Temasek Review 2022: So Every Generation Prospers.
  6. ^ Bala, Sumathi. "Singapore's state-owned investor Temasek reports record portfolio value". CNBC. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  7. ^ Subhani, Ovais (12 July 2022). "Temasek portfolio surges to record high, driven by Singapore investments". The Straits Times.
  8. ^ "Temasek Review 2021: Bounce Forward". Temasek Corporate Website. 13 July 2021.
  9. ^ Chan, Genevieve (5 December 2021). "Four keys that could unlock a better, more sustainable world". The Straits Times.
  10. ^ "Temasek Review 2021" (PDF). Temasek Review. 13 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Moody's Rating Updates" (PDF). Moody's Investors Service. 28 July 2022.
  12. ^ "S&P Global Ratings". 9 August 2021.
  13. ^ "Temasek hits perfect score on transparency index". AsiaOne. 5 June 2009.
  14. ^ "Our Portfolio". Temasek Corporate Website.
  15. ^ "Temasek is different from other sovereign wealth funds and pays tax - Chairman". Venture Capital Post. 5 December 2013.
  16. ^ "Singapore's $744 Billion Fund Eyes Deals in Low-Return World". Bloomberg.com. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  17. ^ Ramli, David; Chanjaroen, Chanyaporn (12 January 2022). "Singapore's GIC Set to Manage Extra $137 Billion in Reserves". www.bloomberg.com. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  18. ^ "CPFB | CPF statistics". www.cpf.gov.sg. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  19. ^ "TEMASEK HOLDINGS (PRIVATE) LTD Portfolio and News | GuruFocus". www.gurufocus.com. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  20. ^ Holdings, Temasek. "A Trusted Steward". A Trusted Steward.
  21. ^ "Modern Meadow Closes $40M Series B Round to Commercialize Biofabricated Leather - Modern Meadow". Modern Meadow. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  22. ^ "Shareholders approve Temasek buyout of Singapore rail operator". Reuters. 29 September 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
  23. ^ "Portfolio Performance".Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  24. ^ a b "Speeches by Ho Ching, Executive Director & CEO, at the Institute of Policy Studies". 29 July 2009. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013.
  25. ^ "Moody's affirms Temasek's Aaa rating". Moody's. 18 April 2013.
  26. ^ "S&P CONFIRMS AAA RATING AS TEMASEK UPSIZES GLOBAL NOTES TO US$15 BILLION". 15 July 2013.
  27. ^ "Tougher challenges for Temasek ahead". 17 July 2012. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013.
  28. ^ "Temasek Holdings responds to NSP's claims". 23 August 2011.
  29. ^ "About Singapore - Our History - The Sixties". Archived from the original on 6 October 2012.
  30. ^ Francis, Rozario (23 February 1968). "A takeover of 15,000 acres". The Straits Times.
  31. ^ "Singapore Statutes Online - 50 - Companies Act". Archived from the original on 31 December 2012.
  32. ^ "Temasek Holdings FAQs - (15 Sep 2011) | PDF | Corporations | Companies". Scribd. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  33. ^ "Temasek Biggest Shareholdings Fall $23.5 Billion in Three Months". Bloomberg.com. 23 March 2020.
  34. ^ Poon, Chian Hui (9 February 2021). "Ho Ching to retire as Temasek CEO on Oct 1; Dilhan Pillay named successor". The Straits Times.
  35. ^ "Chart of the Day: Temasek's major stock investments yielded 8.1%". Singapore Business Review. 8 March 2018.
  36. ^ Thailand: Protesters burn images of Lee, wife. Bangkok Post, 18 March 2006.
  37. ^ Thailand Moves Against Foreign Firms, Asia Sentinel, 10 January 2007
  38. ^ "Temasek Review". Temasek. 4 July 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  39. ^ Lee, Marissa (19 August 2016). "Temasek sells telco shares to Singtel for $2.47b". The Straits Times. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  40. ^ Ramli, David (25 July 2022). "The $290 Billion Fund Helping Make Tiny Singapore an Agricultural Powerhouse". Bloomberg. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  41. ^ hermes (28 June 2018). "Temasek invests $340m in UST Global". The Straits Times. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  42. ^ "E-commerce startup Zilingo raises $226M to digitize Asia's fashion supply chain". TechCrunch. 12 February 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  43. ^ "Haldor Topsøe Holding A/S sells minority stake to Temasek". GlobeNewsWire. 12 March 2019.
  44. ^ "Temasek buys stake worth US$3.5b in BlackRock". The Business Times.
  45. ^ "Temasek Holdings adds 3.9% stake in BlackRock for US$3.5 bil; becomes one of BlackRock's largest shareholders". The Edge Singapore.
  46. ^ "Qui est Temasek, le fonds qui a investi dans ManoMano, Alan et InnovaFeed ?". Maddyness - Le média pour comprendre l'économie de demain (in French). 25 November 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  47. ^ "Innovafeed Raises US $250M (€250M) in Series D Financing Round to Accelerate Growth| Experience".
  48. ^ "Crypto exchange FTX raises $566m in funding round co-led by Temasek". The Straits Times. 22 October 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  49. ^ "As FTX collapses, Temasek becomes latest backer to write down $275 mln funding". Reuters. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  50. ^ Lee, Zinnia (22 February 2022). "Singapore Crypto Firm Amber Group Hits $3 Billion Valuation In Funding Round Led By Temasek". Forbes. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  51. ^ Singh, Manish (31 May 2022). "Temasek in talks to invest in Google-backed DotPe". TechCrunch. Yahoo. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  52. ^ Shah, Sneha (25 May 2022). "Country Delight raises funding from Temasek, Venturi Partners, valuation touches $615 million". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  53. ^ "Temasek to Lead $100 Million Funding for Crypto Landlord Animoca". Bloomberg.com. 30 August 2022.
  54. ^ "Temasek Review 2021: From Our Chairman". Temasek Review. July 2021.

External links[edit]