Family-owned enterprises are expected to outperform non-family firms over the next decade, despite mounting risks, according to Deloitte Private. Companies with at least USD100m in revenue now represent 22 percent of large enterprises and are projected to grow 22% in number between 2020 and 2030, with turnover rising 84% versus 59% for other businesses. Singapore family businesses are especially optimistic: 54% expect revenue growth above 10% in 2025, more than double last ye

Thailand’s main business lobby has urged lawmakers to reconsider three draft bills on labour protection, clean air and factory operations, warning they could raise costs and erode competitiveness amid a sluggish economy. The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) said the measures, though well-intentioned, risk undermining investor confidence and should undergo a full regulatory impact assessment. Federation of Thai Industries chairman Kriengkrai

DBS and Franklin Templeton have jointly launched Singapore’s first tokenised retail fund, advancing efforts to mainstream digital finance. The Franklin Onchain US Dollar Short-Term Money Market Fund, a USD-denominated strategy recorded on a blockchain register, has been approved by the Monetary Authority of Singapore as an authorised scheme. Available via DBS relationship managers to wealth clients and accredited investors, the fund has a USD20 minimum investment, with a reta

Global accounting firm BDO has resigned from its work for DW Capital Holdings, a Singapore family office sanctioned by the US and UK over alleged links to Cambodia’s Prince Group. Two BDO employees also stepped down as DW Capital’s company secretaries following the US Treasury’s action. The firm had helped incorporate DW Capital in 2018, using BDO’s Singapore office address in filings. Authorities imposed sanctions on 146 individuals and entities tied to what they described a

Family offices and institutional backers have participated in Kaya Founders’ USD25m final close, marking the Philippines venture firm’s first fund to include outside limited partners. The fund drew investors such as Singapore’s Pavilion Capital, Gabriel and Geraldine Sunshine of Bracebridge Capital, Concentric Equity Partners of Chicago, and other family offices and tech operators. Anchor investor AMTI backed the structure, which comprises two vehicles: USD5m “Zero to One” fo

Private funding for Southeast Asia’s digital economy grew 15% year on year to USD7.7bn in the 12 months to June 2025, though it remains about 70% below the 2021 peak, according to the Google-Temasek-Bain report. Growth lagged the global 25% pace, with capital concentrated in late-stage rounds while early-stage deals dropped from 30% to about 20%. The study, expanded to 10 markets, found that AI accounted for 32% of total funding in H1 2025, up from 30% in H2 2024, as over 680

Raffles Family Office (RFO) has appointed Caroline Langston as chief people officer, a newly created role as the Asia multi-family office expands across Greater China, Southeast Asia and new markets. Effective immediately, Langston will oversee people strategy, talent development and corporate culture, including the Raffles Group Academy for workforce learning and reskilling. Having served as an executive coach to RFO for over five years, she brings more than two decades of i

Singapore’s Jaleel family office has purchased the George Williams Hotel in Brisbane’s central business district for AUD34m (USD22.2m) through High Street Holdings, the investment arm of JD Properties. The acquisition adds a centrally located, mid-scale property to a portfolio expected to exceed AUD150m as the family builds its Australian hospitality assets. The move positions the office to capture demand from Brisbane’s infrastructure boom and the 2032 Olympic Games. It also

Hong Kong will review how audit firms use artificial intelligence, with the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council (AFRC) preparing guidance to raise awareness and support responsible deployment, Financial Secretary Paul Chan said. The initiative aligns with the government’s “twin-engine” AI strategy to make AI a core industry and upgrade traditional sectors. Global regulators are examining AI’s impact on data integrity, transparency and liability in assurance work. The A

Asia’s private credit lenders are increasingly adopting payment-in-kind (PIK) structures as higher-for-longer interest rates, tighter bank capital rules and shallow bond markets squeeze borrowers’ cash. Previously used mainly in distressed and mezzanine deals, PIK is now emerging in senior direct lending, allowing interest to accrue to principal or convert to equity to preserve liquidity while increasing leverage. Variations include holdco PIK, split PIK and toggle PIK, with

Munich-based family office Perpetual Investors is shifting its focus towards Asia infrastructure as it trims a historically US-heavy portfolio, according to Infrastructure Investor. Founded in 2015 as the investment office of Bavaria’s Wilsdorf family, Perpetual backs entrepreneurs, other family offices, and institutional investors, with several years’ experience in infrastructure assets. The firm is pursuing broader diversification across Asia, Europe, and the US but notes r

The Singapore-based Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) and US payments firm Ripple have launched a partnership to train policymakers and regulators on digital assets, beginning with over 200 central bankers and supervisors from Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, Korea, Taiwan, and Indonesia. The “Decoding Digital Assets” programme spans six weeks, combining an eight-hour course with fortnightly live sessions and a tabletop simulation addressing risks such as cross-

Hong Kong police have charged 16 people in connection with the JPEX cryptocurrency scandal, including former barrister and influencer Joseph Lam Chok, on conspiracy to defraud counts. Authorities said three additional suspects – two masterminds and a core member – have fled overseas and are now the subject of Interpol notices. The probe, launched in September 2023, has led to 80 arrests and the freezing of HKD228m (USD29m) in assets, including HKD14.5m in cryptocurrencies, pr

Thailand’s central bank will now permit non-bank institutions to establish asset management joint ventures to help resolve bad loans, expanding a framework previously limited to banks, according to rules published in the Royal Gazette. Applicants have two years to file, with each JV-AMC allowed to operate for up to 15 years. Initially deployed during the pandemic, the scheme has been extended to support ongoing debt workouts. Krungthai Bank plans to apply next year and expect

Participants: Tom Digby, Managing Director, Head of APAC ETF Distribution, ETFs & Indexed Strategies Justin Ng, Principal, King Seal Holdings Jonathan Wu, Wings Capital Ventures Helen Chen, Chief Strategy Officer, FGA Trust Archit Parakh, Head of Investments, Syfe Hong Kong Major Trends Digital Transformation Is Accelerating Family offices are adopting digital investment vehicles and platforms to streamline operations and meet the expectations of younger, digitally native gen

Participants: Lixia Zhu, Principal, 76Columbus Hampton Tao, Investment Manager, New Heritage Group Eesha Khader, Director of Investments, AKG Investments Conrad Ho, Co-Founder Talent Co-Op Major Trends for Strategic Assets Allocation Across Boarders Cross-Border Allocations and Globalization Family offices are increasingly diversifying globally, seeking opportunities across regions, including Hong Kong, and the Middle East. Cross-border allocations are not only about financia

Franklin Templeton has launched Hong Kong’s first Luxembourg-registered tokenised fund, marking a milestone in the city’s Fintech 2030 blueprint. The Franklin OnChain US Government Money Fund, which invests in US government securities, will be offered to institutional and professional investors with at least HKD8m (USD1m) in assets. The initiative brings tokenisation—blockchain-based representations of traditional assets—into Hong Kong’s regulated wealth market, improving set

Indonesia’s economy expanded 5.04% year on year in the third quarter, easing from 5.12% in Q2 as weaker sentiment and late-August protests weighed on spending and investment. The figure, matching Bloomberg forecasts, still outpaced regional peers but indicated softer domestic demand under President Prabowo Subianto’s new administration. Economists said the slowdown could prompt Bank Indonesia to remain dovish, with OCBC’s Lavanya Venkateswaran expecting a cumulative 50-basis-

Thailand will set up a new data bureau to trace suspicious fund flows tied to online gambling, scam accounts, and other grey-money channels, Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said. The system, due by December, will integrate data across ministries, banks, and regulators under a “Connect the Dots” task force with the Bank of Thailand. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul backed the move amid questions over the baht’s firmness despite weak growth. Authorities said illicit fu

Hong Kong could overtake London as the world’s No.2 financial centre next year, according to GCM Grosvenor CEO Michael Sacks at the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit. He cited the city’s talent depth, international access, and rule of law as major strengths. Hermes Li of Aspex Management said Hong Kong should benefit as Chinese savers shift from property to equities and as more A-share tech firms pursue local IPOs, including CATL’s 2025 debut (stock code 3750). For