Nomura Holdings

Japanese financial group Nomura plans to set up a Singapore-based business dealing with the financing of infrastructure projects in Asia.

It expects to launch the new business in August, Nomura said in a statement yesterday.

The business is a new growth area for Nomura that will focus on demand for funds to finance infrastructure projects in Asia as global investors increasingly seek alternative investments, it said.

Singapore Exchange

An investor education symposium was held for teachers yesterday by the Singapore Exchange (SGX) and the financial literacy and investment training arm of the National Institute of Education, the Citi-NIE Financial Literacy Hub for Teachers.

The inaugural NIE-SGX Value Investing Symposium was held at Nanyang Technological University. Some 700 NIE-trained teachers attended, learning about topics such as value investing and building an income portfolio. SGX said this was the first-of-its-kind investment symposium created for teachers to increase their financial literary and investment knowledge.

Olam International

Agri-business Olam International said in a press statement yesterday that it has acquired the remaining 50 per cent stake it does not already own from its joint venture partner in Acacia Investments for US$24 million ($33 million).

Acacia will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Olam when the acquisition is completed, which it expects by the end of this month. Olam said that Acacia has a significant presence in edible oils refining and distribution in East Africa, and that the acquisition would help it to consolidate its edible oils operations in Mozambique.

Olam had acquired its earlier 50 per cent stake in Acacia for US$35 million in October 2012.