China fund manager merger activity is set to deepen as Huaan Fund Management and smaller peer HFT Investment Management prepare to combine under rules that bar one company from controlling stakes in two mutual fund managers, according to a local media report. Both firms are controlled by Guotai Haitong Securities, and the final merger plan is expected later this month or in early April. The proposed China fund manager merger comes as regulators push wider consolidation across

Philippines private capital funding growth accelerated in 2025 as total capital raised rose 34% year on year to USD1.5bn, according to a Foxmont Capital Partners report. Debt financing jumped 144% to USD490m, while equity funding rose 10% to USD1.01bn. Although total deal volume fell, average deal size increased 64% to just over USD20m, indicating a shift towards larger transactions. Fintech remained the most active sector by deal count, while healthtech posted the biggest ri

Asia family office demand is accelerating as growing private wealth and rising intergenerational transfers push affluent families towards more structured approaches to succession and governance, Raffles Family Office said. Chief executive Kendrick Lee said the firm recognised the shift early and built a presence across Singapore and Hong Kong to capture cross-border investment opportunities and diversify regulatory exposure. He said family offices increasingly complement priv

Asia real estate private credit fund commitments have reached USD165m for Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management and Aravest Private Funds, marking the first in a planned pipeline of private credit products under SMBC Group’s private markets platform. The strategy launched in 2025 with USD120m and expanded after additional commitments, Sumitomo Mitsui DS said. The fund can invest across the property asset life cycle, including construction, bridge and stabilised stages. The laun

Vietnam international financial centre plans are prompting domestic lenders to expand into the country’s new hub as they seek to attract foreign capital and build cross-border financial services. Nam A Bank has won shareholder approval to establish a wholly owned subsidiary under the centre’s framework, while Vietcombank and VietinBank are also moving to set up entities there. The centre, launched in Ho Chi Minh City on Feb. 11, is expected to focus on sustainable finance, gr

Berkshire Tokio Marine stake plans will see Berkshire Hathaway buy a 2.49% holding in Japanese insurer Tokio Marine Holdings for about USD1.8bn as part of a strategic partnership in reinsurance and global investments. Tokio Marine will sell about 48.2 million treasury shares to National Indemnity, one of Berkshire’s reinsurance units, while Berkshire may lift its stake to 9.9% through market purchases without board approval. Tokio Marine said it would use up to JPY287.4bn of

Asia Pacific private equity exits rebound in 2025 as exit value rose 24% to USD150bn and net distributions turned positive, according to Bain & Company. Bain said IPO and open-market exits jumped more than 70% from 2024, while trade exits rose 60%, helping ease pressure on distributions despite ageing portfolios from 2020 to 2022. Exit values increased across most regional markets, though Southeast Asia fell to USD4bn from USD6bn. Fundraising dropped 37% to USD58bn, marking a

Dubai safe haven family offices are facing a meaningful stress test as prolonged conflict in the Gulf prompts some Asian family offices to reassess the emirate’s role as a neutral base for assets. Advisers said enquiries about shifting portfolios or setting up secondary offices in Singapore and Hong Kong had risen sharply as US-Israeli strikes on Iran stretched into a third week. Families were said to be prioritising contingency planning, liquidity and downside protection, wh

Taiwan investors active ETFs demand remains firm as a majority of respondents in a joint survey by Line Bank Taiwan and JPMorgan Asset Management’s Taiwan unit said they were optimistic on local equities despite volatility. About 58% said they were positive on Taiwanese stocks and planned to increase holdings, while 55% said they had added actively managed ETFs to their portfolios. Among investors with more than five years’ experience in local shares, nearly 69.7% planned to

Family office geographic shift Europe Asia accelerated in 2025 as new wealth creation became more diversified, according to a FINTRX report. The report said real estate accounted for a smaller share of new family office wealth, while financial services gained modestly and investment activity broadened across sectors including technology, healthcare and specialised property. FINTRX tracked more than 1,500 direct investments in private companies and over 150 real estate deals a

IBK family office service Korea has been launched by IBK Investment & Securities to target high-net-worth clients, with a focus on business succession for small and mid-sized enterprises. The IBK family office service Korea targets individuals with at least KRW5bn (USD3.6m) in financial assets and offers consulting on succession planning, inheritance and gifts, legal and tax matters, and real estate, alongside investment products linked to IBK Industrial Bank’s network. Chief

Middle East banks Hong Kong expansion is accelerating as geopolitical tensions push institutions and investors to diversify into Asia. InvestHK said more regional banks are considering setting up in Hong Kong, attracted by its low-tax regime and gateway role to China. Only four of the city’s 150 licensed banks are currently Middle East-based, but enquiries are increasing. The Middle East banks Hong Kong expansion trend is also supported by government efforts to attract family

Thailand pension fund reform risk breach has intensified after the USD88bn Social Security Fund exceeded its value-at-risk limit for the first time in two years. The breach was driven by exposure to Thai equities amid market volatility linked to Middle East tensions. Executives said governance issues and limited global diversification have constrained returns. The fund aims to shift toward a 50-50 asset mix by 2027. The Thailand pension fund reform risk breach highlights stru

South Korea split listing ban Kosdaq reform aims to address the Korea discount and improve shareholder value. The Financial Services Commission said duplicate listings would be restricted and the Kosdaq market split into premium and standard tiers. Authorities will also push companies with low price-to-book ratios to improve valuations and introduce new indices and ETFs. The South Korea split listing ban Kosdaq reform signals efforts to strengthen market competitiveness.

Sumitomo Life private credit allocation is set to increase as the insurer considers investing about JPY300bn(USD2bn) in the asset class in the fiscal year starting April. The company already holds about JPY1.6tr in private credit, including CLOs, and sees the asset class as attractive due to higher spreads and long-duration matching with liabilities. It is also targeting about JPY700bn in ESG-related investments over three years. The Sumitomo Life private credit allocation hi

Ant Group Hong Kong brokerage acquisition has secured mainland regulatory approval, allowing the fintech firm to proceed with its purchase of a 50.55% stake in Bright Smart Securities & Commodities Group for HKD2.81bn(USD360m). The deal marks Ant’s expansion into Hong Kong’s brokerage sector. Bright Smart, founded in 1995 and listed in 2010, built its business on low-cost online trading. The Ant Group Hong Kong brokerage acquisition is expected to complete on March 30 after c

China HK AI spending finance gap persists as more than 61% of financial institutions in mainland China and Hong Kong allocate 10% or less of their technology budgets to artificial intelligence, according to PwC. The survey of 201 professionals and 20 interviews found firms are using AI mainly to augment staff rather than cut jobs, with applications across anti-money laundering, compliance, customer service and portfolio management. Talent shortages and organisational rigidity

Asia private credit stress is prompting private bankers in Hong Kong and Singapore to manage client concerns as redemption pressures rise. The USD2tr US private credit market has seen curbs from major firms, unsettling investors. Asian regulators are increasing scrutiny, with the Hong Kong Monetary Authority assessing exposure. Industry group AIMA said clients are encountering redemption queues for the first time, exposing liquidity risks. Asia private credit stress is testin

Thailand banking profitability outlook is weakening as lenders face slower growth, high household debt and deleveraging trends. TMBThanachart Bank expects loan growth of just 0%-2% in 2026 and targets return on equity of around 10%, down from higher historical levels. Banks are unlikely to achieve previous ROE levels of 17%-18% and must rely more on fee-based income and advisory services. The Thailand banking profitability outlook reflects structural shifts in the sector.

Asia investors active funds shift is accelerating as investors move capital from money market funds into actively managed strategies, fixed income and alternatives, according to Wellington Management. The firm said the shift reflects growing appetite for opportunity amid market volatility. It also warned of concentration risks in passive investing, with the Magnificent Seven accounting for over 30% of the S&P 500. The Asia investors active funds shift highlights changing allo