Universal Music confidentially files for US listing
NEW YORK - Universal Music Group, the world's biggest music label, disclosed on July 21 that it had confidentially filed for a US listing.
Universal Music, whose primary listing is in the Netherlands, did not reveal the size of the US offering or how much it was planning to raise.
The company was valued at about 49.65 billion euros (S$74.3 billion) based on its July 21 closing price on the Dutch exchange, according to LSEG data. The stock is up about 10 per cent this year.
Billionaire Bill Ackman-led Pershing Square, one of the major stockholders in Universal Music, had previously pushed the company to list its shares in the United States.
The Netherlands-based label's roster of stars includes Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Drake, The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, and Harry Styles, according to its website.
Companies are lining up to list their shares in the United States to take advantage of a strong rebound in the country's equity markets following a brief lull due to uncertainty surrounding President Donald Trump's tariff policies.
Confidential filings allow companies to keep financial and strategic information private while engaging with regulators and assessing investor appetite ahead of public disclosure. REUTERS
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Straits Times
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- Straits Times
With regional interest in nuclear energy rising, S'pore must build capabilities too: Tan See Leng
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology Tan See Leng said that Singapore needs to acquire the technical expertise so the city-state can ensure its safety. SINGAPORE - Singapore has to build its capabilities in nuclear energy even though it has not made a decision on its use, as countries in the region have publicly signalled their intent to build such facilities. Dr Tan See Leng, Singapore's Minister-in-charge of Energy and Science & Technology, said in an interview on July 21 that the country needs to acquire technical expertise in this area to ensure its safety. 'Our neighbours, the Philippines, Indonesia, have publicly signalled that they intend to build nuclear plants. So regardless of whether we have made the decision, our neighbours have made the decision,' he said, in his first interview in the new portfolio. Dr Tan was previously overseeing energy issues as Second Minister for Trade and Industry. 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Small modular reactors (SMRs) are thought to be more suitable for land-scarce, population-dense Singapore, as they have a lower power capacity, enhanced safety standards and require much smaller buffer zones, compared with conventional reactors. Dr Tan said: 'We have not excluded that... because there's a lot of promise for some of the advanced modular reactors – the physics, the engineering, the technical feasibility, all point to the fact that they are possible, but it's just that commercially, they are still not viable yet.' He also stressed that ensuring the safety of nuclear technologies is of 'paramount importance' to the Government. While Dr Tan acknowledged that Singaporeans may still have certain perceptions about nuclear energy, he said the country still needs to press ahead in this area given the interest from some of its neighbours. Singapore has bilateral agreements with the United States and France to pursue cooperation on nuclear energy, which could better help in the country's evaluation of the viability. In July 2024, the Republic inked the 123 Agreement on Nuclear Cooperation with the US , which will allow Singapore to learn more about nuclear technologies and scientific research from American organisations. For example, local research institutes could work with US national laboratories and technology companies to perform safety simulations and modelling of SMRs. In May, Singapore and France signed agreements on nuclear energy to facilitate cooperation on safety, workforce development, research, environmental protection, the protection of public health, and emergency preparedness and response, among others. 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Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
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Even if we cannot be a first mover in some of it, we want to be the fastest adopter.' Dr Tan said Singapore will spare no effort in ensuring that the nation achieves its target of net-zero emissions by 2050 . 'At the same time, we want... all the different supply pathways to be resilient and affordable. I think that is the key and objective,' he said. On hydrogen Hydrogen can be considered a clean fuel as it does not produce any planet-warming carbon dioxide (CO2) when burned. It can be produced by passing an electrical current through water, separating it into hydrogen and oxygen. But in order to be considered green, the electricity must be generated by renewable energy, so the process does not emit any CO2. Dr Tan said that due to Singapore's limited renewable energy resources, it is unable to produce green hydrogen domestically . The Republic would have to instead import this fuel – which must be transported at extremely low temperatures of around minus 253 deg C. 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The other technique involves capturing the CO2 generated when hydrogen is produced from natural gas. The hydrogen can be burned to generate electricity and does not produce any CO2 during the combustion. 'We are starting small. We only target those very hard-to-abate sectors,' said Dr Tan. These are emissions-intensive sectors that have limited alternatives for decarbonisation, and include the power, industry and chemical sectors found on Jurong Island. He said carbon capture is a 'well-proven' technology that has been in use in Norway. Other organisations – including the International Energy Agency and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the UN's climate science body – consider carbon capture a credible pathway for countries to reach net-zero emissions, he added.

Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
askST Jobs: How Gen Zs can apply smarter, not harder, in their job search
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Young professionals should make upskilling a priority, and stay informed on trends within and beyond the industry they are in, says an expert. In this series, journalist Megan Wee offers practical answers to candid questions on navigating workplace challenges and getting ahead in your career. Get more tips by signing up to The Straits Times' Headstart newsletter . Q: A recent LinkedIn survey of Gen Z job seekers found that 32 per cent struggle to highlight their skills during their job search, while 54 per cent wish they have a more efficient way to assess if they are a good fit for a role. Facing these challenges amid a competitive job market, how can young job seekers streamline the process? A: When it comes to job searching, young people are encouraged to approach it with intention, said LinkedIn Asia-Pacific's head of human resources, Ms Sumita Tandon. 'That means focusing on roles they're genuinely excited about and can see themselves growing in over the next couple of years – not just applying broadly,' she added. With companies increasingly employing skills-based hiring, she encourages young job seekers to focus on the core capabilities listed in the job descriptions, rather than the titles and number of years of experience needed. 'Many Gen Zs I speak to underestimate how much they've already learnt,' she said, explaining that many of them have subconsciously built valuable skills through school projects, co-curricular activities, internships, part-time jobs or volunteer work. These could include project management skills developed from organising a school event, people management skills from leading a student club, or problem-solving skills from volunteering. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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It requires translating complex ideas between diverse teams, negotiating the scope of work with stakeholders and delivering persuasive presentations, she said. Ms Tandon added that given how LinkedIn profiles are recruiters' first stop in learning more about the candidates, it is worthwhile for job seekers to make their profiles work harder. For instance, instead of listing skills, job seekers can demonstrate how they have used these skills by providing real, concrete examples. Separately, Ms Loke emphasises quantifying the results of one's experience, like how many team members one leads in a role. Job seekers can also enhance their resumes and profiles with the addition of brief testimonials from people they have worked with, such as professors, managers or teammates, she added. Given how quickly the demand for job skills is changing, Ms Tandon stressed the importance of demonstrating a willingness to learn and grow by highlighting one's adaptability. Ms Loke suggested that young professionals keep a list of their accomplishments, enable smart job alerts and use easy-to-update resume templates. They can keep an ongoing list of their key skills – each accompanied by a few real-life examples – which helps with matching job requirements to their skills. Setting up job alerts based on one's top skills can also make it easier to find suitable job openings and allow one to observe patterns in how employers phrase their needs in such listings. Knowing the pattern would allow job seekers to curate a flexible template structured around specific skill groups, so that they can easily rearrange or swop out points to adapt the resume to the language of each job posting. 'One of the best things Gen Z professionals can do early in their careers is to adopt a growth mindset,' said Ms Tandon. First, young professionals should make it a habit to reflect on what they have learnt from different tasks, such as leading a project, working cross-functionally or navigating a challenge. Second, young professionals should actively seek feedback from their peers, managers and even interviewers. 'Understanding your strengths allows you to double down on them, while feedback on growth areas gives you a clear road map for what to improve or develop next,' she added. Finally, young professionals should make upskilling a priority, and stay informed on trends within and beyond the industry they are in. She said: 'Career growth is about continually investing in yourself, staying agile and being open to what's next... 'When you lead with this mindset, everything else will follow.'