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Clearwater to Acquire Enfusion for $1.5 Billion to Expand International Reach

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Clearwater Analytics (CWAN.N) has reached an agreement to acquire financial software maker Enfusion (ENFN.N) in a $1.5 billion cash-and-stock deal. The transaction, which is part of Clearwater’s strategy to enhance its international footprint and penetrate the hedge fund industry, involves Enfusion shareholders receiving $5.85 in cash and $5.40 in Clearwater stock per share. This values the Chicago-based company at $11.25 per share, a 32% premium over Enfusion’s stock price on September 19, the day Reuters first reported the potential deal.

The announcement led to a nearly 9% increase in Enfusion’s stock price. The deal is seen as an effort by Clearwater to expand its capabilities by integrating Enfusion’s services, which focus on portfolio management and risk systems primarily for hedge funds. Clearwater’s CEO, Sandeep Sahai, highlighted the complementary nature of the two companies, with Clearwater’s post-trade analytics aligning with Enfusion’s pre-trade systems.

Enfusion, which projects a revenue of $201 million to $202 million in 2024, has attracted acquisition interest in the past, including from private equity firms like Francisco Partners, Vista Equity Partners, and Irenic Capital Management. The deal has garnered support from certain major shareholders, including FTV Management Company, ICONIQ Growth, and Enfusion’s CEO Oleg Movchan, who collectively hold about 45% of Enfusion’s voting power.

J.P. Morgan Securities and Kirkland & Ellis advised Clearwater, while Goldman Sachs and Dechert assisted Enfusion’s special committee in the transaction. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2025.

 

TSMC Posts Record Profit, Projects Strong Growth Amid AI Surge

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Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) has reported a record quarterly profit, signaling robust demand for chips, particularly those used in artificial intelligence (AI) processing. The world’s largest contract chipmaker posted a 57% increase in net income, reaching T$374.68 billion ($11.4 billion) for the quarter ending December 31, 2024. This performance matched analyst expectations, with revenue climbing 39% year-on-year.

Looking ahead, TSMC is projecting significant revenue growth in the first quarter of 2025, with a forecast of approximately 37% growth, bringing in between $25 billion and $25.8 billion. For the full year, the company expects a revenue increase between 20% and 30%, driven by strong AI demand.

Despite a thriving business, TSMC faces challenges from U.S. technology restrictions targeting China. The Biden administration’s recent announcement of tighter controls on AI chip exports has raised concerns, although TSMC’s CEO, C.C. Wei, expressed confidence that these restrictions would be manageable. Wei noted that the company is applying for special permits for clients affected by these curbs and is optimistic about securing approval.

TSMC is also expanding its global footprint with ongoing construction of new fabrication plants (fabs) in the U.S., Japan, Germany, and Taiwan. The company expects its capital expenditure for 2025 to reach between $38 billion and $42 billion, a potential increase of 41%.

The AI boom has significantly boosted TSMC’s stock, making it Asia’s most valuable company. Its stock price surged 81% last year, outperforming the broader market, which saw a 28.5% gain. On Thursday, ahead of the earnings call, TSMC’s shares rose by 3.8%.

 

Infosys Raises Annual Revenue Forecast on US Demand Revival

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Infosys, India’s second-largest software services exporter, has raised its annual revenue forecast for the third time this financial year, driven by a revival in U.S. demand, particularly from banking and retail clients. The company now expects its annual revenue to rise by 4.5% to 5%, an increase from its previous forecast of 3.75% to 4.5%.

This upbeat outlook mirrors the sentiments of other Indian IT giants, including Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and HCLTech, which have also reported early signs of a recovery in discretionary spending. Infosys’ CEO, Salil Parekh, noted an improvement in the U.S. retail and consumer product industries, as challenges related to discretionary spending ease.

In the third quarter, Infosys posted a 7.6% revenue growth to 417.64 billion rupees ($4.83 billion), exceeding analyst estimates of 412.78 billion rupees. The growth was mainly driven by an uptick in revenue from North American clients, which constitute 60% of the company’s total revenue. This marks a significant recovery, as North American revenue had declined for five consecutive quarters.

Infosys also reported an 11.4% increase in profit for the quarter, reaching 68.06 billion rupees, surpassing analysts’ expectations. The company highlighted that all eight business segments saw higher growth, with the financial services division growing 6.1%. The company secured large orders worth $2.5 billion, reflecting its focus on significant deals and strategic engagements.

Gaurav Parab, an analyst at NelsonHall, noted the positive results, particularly the company’s focus on large deals and the promising developments in Agentic AI, a technology enabling AI-powered agents and bots.