DIFC hedge funds have reached the 100-fund mark as Asia-focused managers increasingly use Dubai as a base to trade across time zones, with the Dubai International Financial Centre saying it is building a top-five global hub. DIFC said the number of hedge fund managers doubled to 100 from 50 at the start of 2024, and 81 of the managers oversee more than USD1bn each. New arrivals in 2025 include Baron Capital, BlueCrest, Squarepoint and Silver Point, alongside established firms

Hong Kong family office policy must continue to evolve if the city is to remain competitive even after rolling out a new framework and what Andrew Weir described as “excellent” tax concessions. The Financial Services Development Council vice-chairman said global competition remains intense and Hong Kong cannot stand still if it wants to attract more family offices as part of a broader financial ecosystem. He said the city has taken a “quantum step forward” over the past year

A global family office talent squeeze is intensifying as younger heirs take control and reshape investment priorities, according to a report by IMD and the Family Business Network. Based on 186 survey responses and 65 interviews conducted across six continents in the first half of 2025, the study found next-generation leaders are pushing impact investing, sustainability, technology upgrades and diversity when hiring advisers. Demand has risen sharply for alternative-asset ana

Family offices are becoming increasingly professionalised and formalising governance as wealthy families prioritise long-term capital preservation, according to the 2025 Global Family Office Compensation Benchmark Report published by Mondaq in cooperation with KPMG Private Enterprise and recruiter Agreus. The study, based on a survey of 585 family-office professionals and 20 interviews with senior executives, found that more offices now operate as standalone entities rather t

Indonesia’s tycoons strengthened their dominance of the Southeast Asia rich list in October, led by energy and petrochemicals magnate Prajogo Pangestu with an estimated net worth of USD41.5bn, according to Forbes-based rankings. Coal producer Bayan Resources founder Low Tuck Kwong followed with USD25.2bn, while banking and tobacco heirs Robert Budi Hartono and Michael Hartono ranked next at about USD19.4bn and USD18.6bn respectively. Outside Indonesia, Vietnam’s Vingroup foun

Asia family office hubs are accelerating their professionalisation as newly wealthy entrepreneurs establish dedicated organisations and compete for experienced talent, according to a compensation benchmark report by KPMG Private Enterprise and recruiter Agreus. The study was based on an online survey of 585 family-office professionals ranging from personal assistants to principals, alongside 20 in-depth interviews with senior leaders worldwide. Singapore and Hong Kong continu

Union Bancaire Privée (UBP) has launched its first Singapore VCC fund for family offices, using the city’s Variable Capital Company structure, an umbrella regime that allows multiple ring-fenced sub-funds with distinct strategies. The fund will be run by UBP’s Singapore discretionary portfolio management team and can invest across public markets and alternatives, including hedge funds and private markets, while also allocating to third-party managers. UBP said it is targeting

Japan’s Daiwa Securities Group will make a minority investment of about JPY5bn(USD32m) in Ambit Wealth, strengthening the Daiwa Ambit Wealth investment partnership in India’s fast-expanding wealth sector, the Nikkei reported. Ambit Wealth, which serves ultra-high-net-worth clients and family offices, had assets under management and advice nearing USD10bn as of 31 March 2025, according to Daiwa. Daiwa said it aims to share its portfolio-strategy and marketing expertise with Am

The global family office market reached USD19.09bn in 2024 and is projected to expand to USD42.76bn by 2037, reflecting a 6.4% compound annual growth rate from 2025, according to Research Nester. The report said ultra-wealthy families are increasing demand for investment management, governance structures and succession planning. North America is expected to account for 44% of the global family office market by 2037, while Asia Pacific is forecast to grow strongly as family of

The Cheng family Rosewood sale is being explored as Hong Kong tycoon Henry Cheng Kar-shun seeks potential buyers for selected assets within the family’s luxury Rosewood Hotel Group, Bloomberg reported. Representatives for the Chengs have approached prospective investors to gauge interest, though discussions remain preliminary and terms may shift. Rosewood is owned by the family’s private investment arm, Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, and is overseen by Cheng’s daughter, Sonia Che

Southeast Asia family conglomerates remain central to the region’s economic landscape, particularly in Indonesia and the Philippines, but must adapt as returns weaken, Singapore’s Business Times reported, citing academics and advisers. Experts highlighted three urgent priorities: expanding into growth sectors, introducing professional leadership, and strengthening early succession planning. An EY-Parthenon analysis of 36 listed regional conglomerates showed that average annua

Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan met representatives from Hong Kong family offices across Europe, the Middle East and Asia in London this week, intensifying efforts to draw private wealth and fintech firms to the city. The discussions highlighted how Hong Kong family offices remain central to Hong Kong’s global outreach strategy. UK-based digital bank Revolut is among the companies preparing to establish operations in the city after meeting Chan, according to people fa

Investor and real estate developer Eldiyar Muratov said family offices will increasingly replace banks in the next market cycle, arguing that Hong Kong family offices and private syndicates can move faster than traditional institutions. He said compliance-heavy bank processes often require months of paperwork, while ultra-high-net-worth investors can act swiftly and directly. Muratov noted rising dealmaking in Dubai, Singapore and wider Asia, where two or three families pool

Fears of an Asia third-generation wealth curse are prompting wealthy families across the region to overhaul succession plans, UOB Private Bank said. Angela Koh, head of wealth planning and family office advisory, noted that equal share distribution is falling out of favour due to risks of rival leadership and disputes, driving greater adoption of trusts that cast heirs as stewards. She said younger members are also reshaping philanthropy in response to the Asia third-generati

Singapore wealth longevity is becoming a major concern, with two‑thirds of high‑net‑worth individuals fearing their wealth will not outlive their children, a Sun Life survey found. About 75% said heirs are not financially prepared to manage inherited assets, while 59% worry about family disputes and 53% fear volatility eroding valuations. Only around half are confident heirs will follow instructions on transferring or preserving assets. The survey of 316 Singapore residents w

Family offices APAC real estate allocations are rising sharply as global capital pivots to Asia Pacific for growth and diversification, according to Colliers’ 2026 Global Investor Outlook. APAC-focused fundraising has climbed more than 130% since 2024, accounting for about 11% of global capital raising in the first three quarters of 2025. Family offices and high-net-worth investors have been especially active in Hong Kong and Australia, capitalising on pricing opportunities a

Generational wealth transfer family offices are expanding rapidly as ultra-wealthy heirs and founders shift away from traditional private banks, speakers at the PWM/FT Live Global Wealth Management Summit in London said. Advisers pointed to declining trust in banks, commission conflicts and stronger demand for transparent, flat-fee advisory structures. Younger entrepreneurs increasingly seek governance, tax planning, philanthropy and succession services within multi-family of

AI infrastructure fundraise Koo family backing is accelerating global ultra-rich investment into backbone AI assets. Taiwan billionaire Andre Koo Sr is anchoring two newly launched AI infrastructure funds with at least USD100m as Chailease Holding partners with US investor Jasper Lau’s Era to raise USD1.5bn from wealthy individuals and institutions. The funds will target data centres, power capacity and GPU-driven infrastructure, including firms aligned with Nvidia. Koo contr

Hong Kong family offices are expanding rapidly as the city hits its end‑2025 target ahead of schedule, driven by Hong Kong family office tax incentives and an upgraded investor‑migration scheme. InvestHK said more than 200 family offices had set up or expanded in the city by September, helped by profits‑tax exemptions, a six‑month holding rule under the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, and simplified operational requirements. Authorities estimate Hong Kong hosts over 2,700

FinTech family offices are accelerating a structural shift in Asia’s wealth ecosystem, as Dr Kimmis Pun, managing director of Asia Green Family Office, told the Hubbis Digital Wealth Forum Singapore 2025. She said FinTech family offices now blend institutional discipline with entrepreneurial agility, drawing on Asia Green’s evolution from a FinTech platform into a modern family-office model. UHNW clients increasingly seek holistic solutions spanning digital assets, business r