Singapore family office restructuring is gaining momentum after Weybourne, which manages British inventor James Dyson’s fortune, transferred at least GBP624m (USD834m) from a major UK entity to its Singapore holding company this year, according to reports. The move reduced the British unit’s share capital to just GBP1 and followed a leadership change in February, when long-time Dyson executive Martin Bowen became chief executive. The reshuffle included the closure of two UK c

Malaysia family office real estate investment is accelerating after a Malaysian family office agreed to acquire a major stake in Lendlease’s flagship Exchange TRX precinct in Kuala Lumpur for about MYR1.1bn (USD240m). Lendlease said the transaction includes a 40% interest in the Exchange TRX retail mall and its entire 60% stake in the office tower, while the Australian developer will retain 20% of the mall, 60% of the hotel and 60% of the residential land plots, and continue

Japan M&A boom momentum is prompting Citigroup to expand its investment banking team in the country by 30% by the first half of 2026, aiming to capture deal activity involving Japanese companies that has reached about USD350bn this year, the highest since records began in 1998. Japan vice-chair Masuo Fukuda said governance reforms have made corporate boards more shareholder-focused, driving divestments of non-core assets and overseas expansion, while hostile bids, private equ

Japan multifamily fund activity is accelerating as Samty said it has reached a USD500m final close for a new Japan multifamily fund, highlighting rising institutional and family office capital allocation to residential assets. The fund, formed with a sovereign wealth fund, has already deployed USD200m into an initial portfolio of newly built properties in major residential hubs. Hillhouse Investment Management will serve as general partner through its real-estate arm Rava Par

Indonesia tax audits of wealthy families are intensifying as the government seeks additional revenue with the budget deficit outlook moving closer to the legal cap of 3% of GDP, according to people familiar with the matter. Officials have stepped up reviews of high-wealth taxpayers, including summoning individuals to discuss returns, while several tycoon-run firms have been asked to make extra payments. In some cases, Indonesia tax audits of wealthy families have involved req

CK Hutchison retail IPO plans are under consideration as the Li Ka-shing family weighs a series of transactions that could reshape the conglomerate ahead of a generational transition, according to reports. The group is exploring an initial public offering of its A.S. Watson retail arm that could raise at least USD2bn, while also reviewing strategic options for its global telecommunications operations, including a potential listing or partial sale. Separately, the company has

South Korea financial consumer protection is set to be strengthened as the Financial Supervisory Service plans organisational changes, including creating a new division reporting directly to the governor. The regulator said the existing consumer protection office will be upgraded with broader supervisory powers over product design, approval and sales practices across financial sectors, reinforcing South Korea financial consumer protection standards. The FSS will also establis

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

Thailand growth outlook could approach 3% in 2026 if a stable government emerges after the next election and channels spending toward productivity-enhancing investment, according to Deloitte Thailand. Under its base-case scenario, Deloitte forecasts growth of around 2% next year amid external headwinds, including elevated global trade tensions and renewed tariff risks. Country managing partner Metinee Jongsaliswang said public investment and foreign direct investment remain t

Hong Kong consumer income outlook remains broadly resilient, with about 87% of residents expecting their income to rise or stay stable over the next 12 months despite ongoing labour market pressures, according to a TransUnion survey. The findings were based on an online poll of 979 adults conducted between Sept.25 and Oct.6, 2025. While unemployment climbed to a three-year high by end-Q3 and youth joblessness reached 8%, 55% of respondents said their income was unchanged over

HSBC has appointed veteran wealth manager Ida Liu as chief executive of its private banking business, strengthening leadership as global competition for ultra-high-net-worth clients intensifies. Liu will take up the role as CEO of HSBC Private Bank on Jan.5, 2026, reporting to Barry O’Byrne, CEO of HSBC International Wealth and Premier Banking. HSBC said Liu will focus on deepening relationships with ultra-wealthy clients, strengthening cross-border connectivity along major w

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

BBVA has led a USD30m funding round in Olea, a digital supply chain finance platform, as the firm looks to scale digital trade finance across Asia and other key global corridors. The funding round included XDC Network, theDock and SC Ventures, the innovation arm of Standard Chartered. BBVA and Olea said they will deepen a partnership signed in June 2025, developing digital trade finance solutions using AI, data analytics and blockchain to strengthen risk management and supply

Hong Kong-domiciled funds saw assets under management rise 36% year-on-year to HKD2.27tr (USD29bn) in the third quarter, highlighting the city’s resilience and deeper integration with global markets, according to the Securities and Futures Commission. The number of locally domiciled funds increased 7.8% to 1,022 as of September, with net inflows of HKD46.9bn during the quarter. SFC chief executive Julia Leung Fung-yee said Hong Kong’s markets showed steady and diversified gro

The Philippines has moved closer to reforming its bank secrecy regime after lawmakers approved on second reading amendments to the Philippines bank secrecy law granting the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas broader investigative powers. House Bill No.6707 would allow the central bank to examine bank deposits of officers and employees suspected of fraud, tax evasion, money laundering or other financial crimes once the Monetary Board determines reasonable grounds. The bill also exten

Hong Kong has quietly moved from talking about family offices to competing hard for them. The government hit its original target of attracting 200 family offices by end‑2025 ahead of schedule, helped by a dedicated policy statement in 2023 and a very public courtship of UHNW families. Rather than declaring victory, policymakers are now in “Family Office 2.0” mode: deepen the ecosystem, upgrade the tools, and make Hong Kong a default base for regional and global wealth. What d