It’s all about ice-cream and fast food today as we turn the spotlight on one of America’s most beloved brands. This brand is also well-loved by billionaires, more notably value investor Warren Buffett and Shark Tank’s Mark Cuban.

You might have by now guessed that I am talking about International Dairy Queen, a company known globally for its soft-serve treats like the Blizzard and the Dilly Bar.

Founded in 1940, International Dairy Queen or the parent company of American Dairy Queen Corporation and Dairy Queen Canada has grown to a global quick service restaurant player.

The firm is also famously known as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, having been acquired in 1998.

Currently, the firm develops, licenses and services a system of over 7,700 Dairy Queen restaurants over 20 countries. But the firm doesn’t seem to stop there and appears to be on a charm offensive to expand internationally.

For one thing, the firm had in 2022, through American Dairy Queen Corporation and private equity firm FountainVest Partners, unveiled plans to open up 600 Dairy Queen restaurants in China by the end of the decade.

Then came July 2024, when International Dairy Queen teamed up with FountainVest Partner’s franchise ownership company CFB Group to open what’s said then to be the first DQ Blizzard & Burgers restaurant in Shanghai in Asia.

So what was the rationale behind the firm’s aggressive expansion moves? And how far will the company’s international business bolster sales as global trade tensions and tariffs weigh on consumption in the US?

Beyond international expansion, International Dairy Queen is also said to be placing a stronger emphasis on hot food, versus the dessert treats it was once famous for. But why is this the case?

On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Dr. Brandon Guthrie, Director of International Development, Dairy Queen.

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Founded in 1929, Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group is owned by one of the most influential families in Hong Kong, namely the Cheng family behind the late property tycoon Cheng Yu-tung.

With a deep heritage, the firm’s brand aims to not only honour traditions, but also foster deep, meaningful connections, with a diverse customer base through its jewellery pieces.

The company said its commitment to innovation and craftsmanship has been integral in helping it maintain mindshare among customers over the decades.

In this “On the Go” Special edition of “Under the Radar”, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian flew down to Guangdong, China on a media tour to see how the company is putting its words into action.

Her journey started at Chow Tai Fook’s Shunde Artisanal Smart Manufacturing Centre, about 1.5 hours drive away from Shenzhen, where she visited the firm’s diamond processing facilities and master studio.

She also visited the firm’s new image store in Shenzhen, where she spoke with Gabriela Ferreira, General Manager, International of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery on the firm’s corporate strategy and expansion plans – including those for Singapore.

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We’re going to revisit an “Under the Radar” guest who first joined us on the show about two years ago.

And this is a leading homegrown Singapore company that delivers what’s said to be world-class communications, entertainment and digital services. And yes – you might be using its 5G network services to tune into this conversation as we speak.

Founded in 2000, telecommunications service provider StarHub seeks to provide people, homes and enterprises mobile and mixed services, a broad suite of premium content, as well as a diverse range of communications solutions through its extensive fibre and wireless infrastructure.

25 years on, the firm also develops and delivers solutions incorporating artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, data analytics, Internet of Things for both corporate and government clients.

And we want to find out what is next for StarHub in a fast evolving market as it celebrates 25 years in the business.

Beyond that, the Singaporean telecommunications industry that StarHub lies in is also an interesting one to look at, as it undergoes a market consolidation.

In August this year, Keppel announced the proposed sale of M1’s telecommunications business to Australian mobile network operator Simba Telecom, for an enterprise value of S$1.43 billion. The move disappointed investors who had hoped for StarHub to buy over M1.

Just a day later though, StarHub announced that it has taken full ownership of MyRepublic’s broadband business. The move was said to strengthen StarHub’s multi-brand and multi-segment strategy in the Singapore broadband market. But what opportunities and synergies is the firm looking to tap exactly?

And how far will a consolidation in the market give telco players like StarHub more flexibility in its pricing to boost its top line numbers?

On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Nikhil Eapen, Chief Executive Officer, StarHub.

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Today we’re going to dive deep into a company which plays an instrumental role in the Defence, Aerospace and Cyber & Digital Sectors.

With over 83,000 employees dotted across five continents, our guest Thales provides solutions, services and products to help companies, organisations and governments carry out their critical missions.

Think about air traffic management, training and simulation to even in-flight entertainment solutions used in the aerospace industry.

Or signals intelligence, electronic warfare and collaborative combat systems for the defence and security industry.

Or even satellite-based systems to help scientists observe our planet and better optimise the use of our solar system’s resources.

Beyond that, the firm is also looking at identity management and data protection technologies that help banks exchange funds, people cross borders and energy become smarter and even more.

Why are we speaking to Thales you might ask? Well, the firm had in July 2025 raised its sales forecast for the year of 2025 while posting better first-half sales and profit.

Thales’ adjusted earnings before interest and taxes, or adjusted EBIT, came in at 1.248 billion euros, up 12.7% on the year on an organic basis. The strong showing was driven by strong sales growth in its aerospace and defence segment, and came on the back of increased military spending in Europe.

But how far can the positive momentum be sustained, and how far will US tariffs throw a spanner in the works? What role will Asia and Singapore play in Thales’ playbook for the future?

Speaking of Singapore, the firm said in May 2025 that it will launch a new artificial intelligence centre, called cortAIx, in the country to develop AI solutions for critical environments.

It also inked an agreement with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore to launch an International Avionics Lab in 2026. But what should we know about the moves, and how important are they to longer-term growth for Thales as a whole?

On Under the Radar Specials, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Emily Tan, CEO & Country Director, Thales Singapore.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Energy, trade, technology and the green transition – the biggest questions in the oil and gas world converge this week at the 41st annual Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference or APPEC right here in Singapore.

Hosted by S&P Global Commodity Insights, APPEC features over 200 industry leading speakers, and is said to deliver unparalleled insights into the future of the global energy landscape.

MONEY FM is in the thick of it all, as Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian brings you a series of “On the Go” Under the Radar Specials from our on-site booth with key leaders driving conversations ranging from Southeast Asia’s energy transition, to the forces shaping oil prices, global shipping and supply chains.

In the final of three interviews, she spoke with Rahul Kapoor, Global Head of Shipping Analytics & Research of S&P Global Commodity Insights.

The duo dived into the teething issues relating to trade, shipping and the shifting of global supply chains amid ongoing US tariffs and geopolitical uncertainties, and what that means for companies and governments.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Energy, trade, technology and the green transition – the biggest questions in the oil and gas world converge this week at the 41st annual Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference or APPEC right here in Singapore.

Hosted by S&P Global Commodity Insights, APPEC features over 200 industry leading speakers, and is said to deliver unparalleled insights into the future of the global energy landscape.

MONEY FM is in the thick of it all, as Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian brings you a series of “On the Go” Under the Radar Specials from our on-site booth with key leaders driving conversations ranging from Southeast Asia’s energy transition, to the forces shaping oil prices, global shipping and supply chains.

In the second of three interviews, she spoke with Atul Arya, Chief Energy Strategist of S&P Global Commodity Insights , who gave an overview of the energy transition and net zero efforts in the global industry and the marketplace.

The duo also talked about what the energy mix will look like by the end of the decade, and whether the widespread use of nuclear power for data centres can be a reality.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Energy, trade, technology and the green transition – the biggest questions in the oil and gas world converge this week at the 41st annual Asia Pacific Petroleum Conference or APPEC right here in Singapore.

Hosted by S&P Global Commodity Insights, APPEC features over 200 industry leading speakers, and is said to deliver unparalleled insights into the future of the global energy landscape.

MONEY FM is in the thick of it all, as Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian brings you a series of “On the Go” Under the Radar Specials from our on-site booth with key leaders driving conversations ranging from Southeast Asia’s energy transition, to the forces shaping oil prices, global shipping and supply chains.

In the first of three interviews, she spoke with Dave Ernsberger, co-President of S&P Global Commodity Insights, who gave a summary of the key APPEC discussion topics and the overall macro energy outlook amid the current geopolitical backdrop.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s back to the real estate sector today as we speak to an SGX-listed REIT focused on commercial properties in Europe.

Founded in 2017, Stoneweg Europe Stapled Trust is a stapled group that comprises Stoneweg E-REIT and Stoneweg European Business Trust.

You might better know the REIT by its old name Cromwell European REIT before it was bought over by alternative investment group Icona Capital and real estate investment group Stoneweg for 280 million euros or S$395.5 million just a couple of months ago.

Cromwell European REIT was renamed as Stoneweg European Reit at the start of 2025, and later converted into a stapled group in June 2025.

Today, the stapled trust has a principal mandate to invest be it directly or indirectly in income-producing commercial real estate assets across Europe.

In particular, the trust needs to maintain a minimum portfolio weighting of at least 75% to Western Europe and at least 75% to the light industrial or logistics and office sectors.

On top of that, the trust also takes on asset enhancement and redevelopment projects for existing office assets, with a focus on strong ESG credentials in prime and core locations within key European gateway cities.

On the whole, its portfolio value stands at around 2.2 billion euros, with over 100 predominantly freehold properties across major cities in key markets such as The Netherlands, Italy, France, Poland, Germany, Finland, Denmark and the UK.

The total lettable area comes in at around 1.7 million square metres and its client base – over 800 tenant customers.

Now, why are we speaking to Stoneweg Europe Stapled Trust you might ask? Well, we want to find out how the firm assessed its financial performance for the first half of 2025, as well as how its strategy has evolved through its stapled structure.

But on top of that we also wanted to find out more about the outlook of the European office and logistics property market amid macroeconomic headwinds arising from US tariffs.

On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Simon Garing, CEO and Executive Director, Stoneweg Europe Stapled Trust.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.