Malaysia family offices have received conditional approval to establish operations in the Forest City Special Financial Zone in Johor, with six single-family offices expected to bring about MYR400m (USD84.6m) in assets, according to an October briefing by the Securities Commission. The regulator said it has logged more than 30 expressions of interest for the zone’s zero-tax scheme, part of a broader effort to revive Forest City, a stalled four-island development launched in 2

Hong Kong wealth boom momentum is lifting bank profits and drawing global firms back to the city, as wealth and investment management income grows at double-digit rates, industry executives said. HSBC reported a 50% jump in deposits in its latest quarterly results, with about 70% of the increase coming from non-residents, while the Hang Seng Index is up more than 30% year to date. Peter Stein, chief executive of the Asia Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association,

Family offices use encrypted chats to share deal flow, with WhatsApp increasingly serving as a one-stop network to vet opportunities, find advisers and flag potential scams, even as cyber-security specialists warn that consumer-grade controls can create risks. Sam Nallen Copley, a London-based adviser, runs a 970-member group for single-family offices and said the chat can quickly “sense check” unknown counterparties and weed out fakes. Professionals said WhatsApp often beats

Warburg targets cross-border services demand in Asia after agreeing to invest in corporate services provider Acclime to fund the group’s expansion as cross-border business activity increases. The transaction could value Acclime at USD950m to USD1bn, although financial terms were not disclosed. Founded in 2019 by Martin Crawford, Acclime provides accounting, human resources, payroll, tax, risk and advisory services. Warburg said Acclime has completed more than 50 acquisitions,

Investment migration routes are moving into the policy mainstream as wealthy-country applicants and governments reshape a market once dominated by emerging economies, consultancy Global Citizen Solutions said in a new briefing. The report mapped 113 active residency- and citizenship-by-investment routes and said demand is rising fastest among clients from the United States, Britain and Western Europe, driven by geopolitical uncertainty, higher tax pressure and lifestyle and m

Next-generation wealth strategies were in focus as family offices and private investors met in Hong Kong on December 12 to discuss family office structuring amid intensifying cross-border investment and regulatory demands across Asia. WOW Impact Group said it hosted an invite-only “Next-Gen Wealth: Redefining Capital for Strategic Asset Growth – Preview 2026” forum at The Landmark with the Hong Kong International Family Office Association (HKIFOA) and the Hong Kong Internatio

Hong Kong wealth-transfer disputes are a growing concern among families, with 44% of respondents worried their wealth may not be passed on and 64% of high-net-worth respondents fearing inheritances could trigger family disputes, according to a Sun Life survey. About a third of respondents said their legacy goal is passing assets to the next generation, while 65% ranked safeguarding family financial stability as the top priority. Sun Life’s Christine Yeung said longer life exp

Asia billionaire wealth handover by 2040 is set to accelerate as billionaires worldwide transfer nearly USD7tr to heirs over the next 15 years, UBS estimates, with USD5.9tr likely flowing to children, excluding any asset appreciation. The United States remains the largest pool, with heirs expected to inherit at least USD2.8tr. In Asia, India leads at USD382.4bn, which UBS linked to older founders and larger families, while China and Hong Kong together account for USD315.7bn,

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