US financial institution Cantor Fitzgerald has become the latest accredited issue manager for mainboard listings on the Singapore Exchange, with an eye on growing the pipeline of SPAC deals here. SGX now has a total of 42 issue managers.
As an accredited issue manager, Cantor Fitzgerald is qualified to advise companies seeking to list on the SGX Mainboard.
The firm was founded in 1945 as a securities brokerage and investment bank, and has had a presence in Asia since 2004.
It has a diverse range of businesses, including equity and fixed income capital markets, investment banking, prime brokerage, asset management and wealth management.
Mark Kaplan, global chief operating officer, Cantor Fitzgerald, sees tremendous opportunities and potential in Singapore as a leading regional IPO and SPAC hub.
Cantor, says Kaplan, will bring its international expertise and network to bear, and bring high quality sponsors and investors to the Singapore and regional market.
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Sectors identified by Cantor include technology, healthcare, and biotech.
“This development, along with the recent hiring of industry veteran Nilesh Navlakha as Asian head of equities based in Singapore, is another step in building Cantor’s equities franchise in Singapore and Asia,” says Kaplan.
Mohamed Nasser Ismail, head of equity capital markets at SGX calls this strengthening of the partnership with Cantor “timely” given how the exchange is poised to host its first SPAC soon.
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“Given Cantor’s expertise in SPACs, we will work closely with the firm to offer new fundraising pathways for fast-growing companies which are looking to tap on the opportunities provided by Singapore’s capital markets,” he adds.
Cantor Fitzgerald is notable, among other things, for suffering the most disproportionately from the Sept 11 2001 terror attacks.
Its corporate headquarters was located at one of the two World Trade Center towers and all employees at work that day died.
The firm has since rebuilt into a size bigger than it was then.
Photo: 2007 file photo of Cantor's New York office / Bloomberg
