Industry News

AnyMind Group, a Singapore-founded and Tokyo-headquartered company, has announced its agreement to acquire Vibula, a social and live commerce agency based in Vietnam.

The acquisition, expected to be completed by June 2025, will see AnyMind acquiring 80% of Vibula’s shares, with an option to purchase the remaining 20% after two years.

Vibula, established in Ho Chi Minh City in 2021, offers services across various sectors, including health and beauty, consumer goods, and fashion.

Its offerings include social commerce marketing, e-commerce store management, campaign management, and a multi-channel network. This acquisition marks AnyMind’s first in Vietnam and its 11th globally.

The move is set to bolster Vibula’s capabilities by integrating AnyMind’s GenAI-powered live commerce platform, AnyLive. This platform will enable Vibula’s clients to transform live shopping into a continuous sales channel, utilising both human and AI hosts. “We built Vibula with the vision of creating a breakthrough social commerce model,” said Vibula founder Quang Vinh. “Our strategic partnership with AnyMind accelerates that vision.”

Kosuke Sogo, CEO of AnyMind Group, highlighted the potential of Vietnam’s live commerce ecosystem, stating, “The synergies are unmatched, and by combining Vibula’s deep expertise in social and live commerce with our technology, we are creating new possibilities for brands, merchants, and creators in the region.”

This acquisition is part of AnyMind’s broader strategy to expand its presence in Southeast Asia, following previous acquisitions in Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. As the e-commerce market in Vietnam is projected to grow significantly, this partnership aims to leverage the increasing influence of video commerce in the region.
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Episode Six, a global provider of modern ledger and card infrastructure, has partnered with Singapore-based fintech Aspire to introduce a new corporate card offering tailored for small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in Hong Kong and Singapore. This collaboration aims to empower Aspire’s 50,000 SMB customers with seamless multi-currency payments and international transaction capabilities, facilitating global expansion and reducing operational costs.

Aspire, known for its all-in-one finance platform, will leverage Episode Six’s cloud-native card management system to deliver secure and flexible corporate cards. These cards will allow SMBs to manage international payments effortlessly, with features such as instant issuance and tokenisation for virtual and physical cards. Businesses can set custom spending limits and approval rules, providing finance teams with greater control over expenses.

John Mitchell, CEO and Co-Founder of Episode Six, stated, “Scaling internationally shouldn’t come with financial roadblocks. By partnering with Aspire, we’re equipping SMBs with the tools to transact globally without friction—allowing them to focus on growth and new opportunities.”

Andrea Baronchelli, CEO and Co-Founder of Aspire, added, “With Episode Six, we’re delivering a multi-currency corporate card that gives SMBs full control over their international transactions—simplifying operations and fuelling global expansion.”

The partnership also includes multi-currency support, enabling businesses to reduce foreign exchange fees and optimise international transactions. Aspire and Episode Six plan to extend this offering to new markets, ensuring more SMBs gain access to payment solutions built for evolving business needs.
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Revolut Group has announced a record profit of $1.4 billion for 2024, marking its fourth consecutive year of profitability. The fintech company saw its customer base grow by 38% to 52.5 million globally, with total customer balances increasing by 66% to $38 billion. This growth was driven by heightened customer engagement and a diversified product offering.

Revolut’s revenue rose by 72% to $4 billion, up from $2.2 billion in 2023, as the company expanded its range of services across both retail and business sectors. CEO Nik Storonsky highlighted the year’s achievements, stating, “2024 was a landmark year for Revolut. We not only accelerated our customer growth but also saw customers engaging more deeply by adopting a wider range of our services.”

In Singapore, Revolut achieved its first year of net profitability with a 15% profit margin. The company plans to leverage this success to expand further into Southeast Asia, a key region in its goal to reach 100 million global users. Revolut Singapore’s annual revenue increased by nearly 70%, with subscription revenue rising over 50% due to a 45% increase in paid subscriptions.

Revolut’s 2025 outlook includes plans to launch banks in the UK and Mexico, secure over 10 global licences, and continue product innovation. The company aims to enhance its core banking, wealth, credit, and lifestyle offerings whilst maintaining robust security measures. As Revolut continues its global expansion, it remains focused on revolutionising financial access through innovative products and seamless user experiences.
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TransNusa, South East Asia’s first premium service airline, has announced an increase in its scheduled flights between Jakarta and Singapore to twice daily.

This move, effective from today, is part of the airline’s strategy to strengthen its network connectivity. The additional flight, 8B 153, departs Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 12:10 pm and arrives at Singapore Changi Airport at 2:40 pm, whilst the return flight, 8B 154, leaves Changi at 3:30 pm and lands in Jakarta at 4:20 pm.

The airline continues to operate its existing flight, 8B 151, which departs Jakarta at 7:55 am, arriving in Singapore at 10:45 am, with the return flight, 8B 152, leaving Singapore at 11:45 am and arriving in Jakarta at 12:30 pm.

TransNusa’s CEO, Bernard Francis, highlighted the airline’s commitment to providing premium services at competitive prices, with ticket prices for the Jakarta-Singapore route starting at SGD52 (USD40).

TransNusa’s rapid expansion follows its relaunch in October 2022, after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The airline has since introduced several international routes, including Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur and Bali-Perth. Bernard attributes the airline’s success to its customised business model and experienced management team. TransNusa offers various product bundles, such as SEAT, SEATPLUS, and FLEXIPRO, which include benefits like increased baggage allowance and flexible ticket options.

With its A320 aircraft configured for comfort, TransNusa aims to ensure passengers travel with ease, offering approximately 30 inches of legroom. The airline’s strategic growth is set to continue, with plans to further enhance its international presence.
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The JTC All Industrial Rental Index saw a 0.5% quarter-on-quarter rise in Q1 2025, maintaining the momentum from Q4 2024, according to CBRE Research. This marks the 18th consecutive quarter of rental growth, with the index up 23.7% since Q3 2020.

Tricia Song, CBRE Head of Research for Singapore and Southeast Asia, highlighted the business park segment’s notable 1.2% increase, driven by new developments like CapitaLand Group’s Geneo at 1 Science Park Drive.

The business park segment, however, remains divided. Prime locations thrive, whilst older properties face high vacancies, with rates rising from 22.1% in Q4 2024 to 24.1% in Q1 2025. Flexible lease terms and incentives are being offered to attract tenants.

Single-user factory rents rose by 0.8%, with occupancy climbing to 88.6% due to major completions like CIBA Vision’s facility at Tuas South Avenue 3. Despite new completions, the segment experienced a negative net supply of one million square feet, the highest since Q1 2018.

Warehouse rents grew by 0.6%, with major completions including Boustead Trustees’ 36 Tuas Road and DB Schenker’s Red Lion 2. However, occupancy fell to 90.5% as demand lagged supply.

Overall, prices increased by 1.5%, outpacing rent growth for the fourth consecutive quarter. With Singapore’s interest rates declining faster than anticipated, investor sentiment remains positive despite economic uncertainties. Looking ahead, 7.7 million square feet of industrial space is set for completion in 2025, with the warehouse segment accounting for 32% of this supply.
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CSE Global Limited, a global systems integrator, has announced that its US subsidiary, CSE Crosscom USA, Inc., has secured contracts worth $15m (approximately S$20.1m) to provide critical communications services to a major data centre hyperscaler. The project, set to run from 2025 to 2028, involves engineering, installing, and maintaining advanced communications networks across new and existing data centres and office facilities in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.

The scope of work includes the deployment of mission-critical two-way radio systems and Distributed Antenna Systems, ensuring robust communication infrastructure for the hyperscaler’s operations. Group Managing Director and CEO of CSE Global, Lim Boon Kheng, highlighted the significance of these orders, stating, “Securing these new orders with hyperscalers illustrates our ability to customise our solutions for different applications and industries, as well as the healthy demand for communications solutions within the data centre sector.”

This development follows CSE Global’s acquisition of RFC Wireless, Inc. in August 2024, a strategic move aimed at expanding its communications business within the infrastructure industry. The company successfully entered the data centre market in the last quarter of 2024, positioning itself for further growth as the demand for AI-driven solutions rises.

Whilst the contracts are not expected to impact the Group’s financials significantly this year, they underscore CSE Global’s strategic focus on enhancing its capabilities and market presence in the data centre sector.
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SYSTEX Group has unveiled SYSTEX Asia, its new Southeast Asia operations headquarters in Singapore, as part of its strategy to expand its regional presence and scale global IT services. This hub will serve as a strategic gateway to the Asian market, integrating regional resources with SYSTEX’s proprietary technology to deliver IT services to enterprises in Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, and Southeast Asia.

The launch of SYSTEX Asia will extend the group’s value-added distribution ecosystem, focusing on AI innovation, cloud deployment, cybersecurity, and data integration. Frank Lin, Chairman of SYSTEX Corporation, highlighted the importance of leveraging advanced technologies to help enterprises reduce operational costs and build resilient systems amidst geopolitical shifts and global trade uncertainties.

Michael Lin, VAD Ecosystem Officer and Senior Vice President at SYSTEX Corporation, stated that the Southeast Asia strategy will build upon its core business model by integrating proprietary technologies and local partnerships. The aim is to drive innovation in cloud, cybersecurity, AI, green tech, fintech, and retail solutions. “With the launch of our regional HQ, our sales teams will work together to promote SYSTEX’s global IT service capabilities,” Lin said.

Alex Toh, Managing Director of SYSTEX Asia, noted that the new headquarters will coordinate regional strategies and cross-border resources to deepen the group’s local presence. SYSTEX Asia will offer a wide range of services, including IT hardware and software sales, 24/7 maintenance, managed services, and AI solutions tailored for enterprise applications.

With over 17 years of experience in Southeast Asia, SYSTEX Asia employs over 200 IT professionals and collaborates with more than 15 value-added distributors and 130 solution integrators across 10 countries. The company plans to leverage SYSTEX Group’s broader resources to expand its solutions and services across these markets.
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The Housing Development Board (HDB) resale market in Singapore has demonstrated resilience, with prices rising for the 20th consecutive quarter. However, the pace of growth has slowed, with a 1.6% increase in the first quarter of 2025, down from 2.6% in the previous quarter, according to the latest public housing data. This marks the slowest growth since Q4 2023, when prices rose by 1.1%.

The number of towns experiencing quarterly price growth decreased slightly from 20 in Q4 2024 to 19 in Q1 2025. Meanwhile, towns with price declines increased from six to seven.

Clementi, Marine Parade, Bukit Merah, and Queenstown saw the most significant price increases, although smaller than the previous quarter’s gains in the Central Area and Toa Payoh. Conversely, the Central Area and Geylang experienced the largest price declines in Q1 2025.

Resale volume increased by 2.6% from 6,424 units in Q4 2024 to 6,590 units in Q1 2025. However, this represents a 6.8% decline compared to Q1 2024, marking the lowest Q1 volume since the onset of the pandemic in 2020. The market faced competition from the primary market, with over 10,000 new flats introduced during the Build-To-Order (BTO) and Sale of Balance Flats (SBF) exercises in February 2025.

Rental demand also surged, with approved applications to rent out HDB flats rising by 12.3% from Q4 2024 to Q1 2025. Year-on-year, rental applications increased by 2.8%. The rise in foreign students and expats returning to Singapore, coupled with a stable employment outlook, contributed to this demand.

Looking ahead, the market’s stability will depend on factors such as job security, household income growth, and mortgage rate fluctuations. The ongoing trade war and rising inflation could lead to sustained elevated interest rates, potentially impacting buyer behaviour. Sellers of premium flats may need to adjust their price expectations to remain competitive in a cautious market.
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The Emirates Group, renowned for its global airline Emirates and air services leader dnata, is set to host its inaugural IT recruitment session in Singapore on 26 April. This exclusive event aims to fill over 200 tech positions in Dubai, offering Singapore’s IT professionals a chance to engage with Emirates Group IT leaders and explore innovative projects in aviation technology.

The recruitment session, which is invite-only, will provide attendees with insights into the Emirates Group’s operations and life in Dubai. Positions available span software engineering, DevOps, cybersecurity, and more, all contributing to the Group’s cutting-edge projects like AI-powered chatbots and biometric check-ins. Rashed Alfajeer, Emirates’ Country Manager for Singapore and Brunei, highlighted Singapore’s status as a global innovation hub, stating, “This recruitment drive is an opportunity for Singapore’s brightest IT minds to be part of our journey.”

Ali Serdar Yakut, Executive Vice President IT at Emirates Group, emphasised Dubai’s appeal as a top destination for tech experts. He noted, “We are investing in the technologies of tomorrow and upskilling our employees to stay ahead of the curve.”

The session will also cover competitive compensation packages, career development opportunities, and the Group’s commitment to innovation. Attendees will have the chance to interact with IT managers and recruitment leads, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the roles and the application process.

With a focus on advanced technologies and a robust training programme, the Emirates Group offers a unique opportunity for tech professionals to advance their careers in one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities.
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Standard Chartered has announced the appointment of Andrea Casati as the new Head of Client Development for Global Banking, effective 6 May.

With a robust background spanning three decades in investment banking, Casati brings experience from major financial institutions including UniCredit, JP Morgan, UBS, and Goldman Sachs. He will be based in Hong Kong, where he will collaborate with product and coverage partners to bolster key client relationships and drive cross-selling initiatives.

Casati will join the Global Banking Management Team and report directly to Henrik Raber, Global Head of Global Banking. Raber emphasised that Casati’s extensive experience aligns with the bank’s strategic commitment to enhancing its banking capabilities. “Andrea’s international experience will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our client offerings,” Raber stated.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the new role, Casati said he looks forward to contributing to Standard Chartered’s success by leveraging his international expertise. His appointment is part of the bank’s ongoing efforts to reinforce its investment banking business and expand its global reach.

This strategic move underscores Standard Chartered’s dedication to building a strong leadership team capable of navigating the complexities of global banking and fostering long-term client relationships. As the bank continues to expand its footprint, Casati’s leadership is expected to play a crucial role in achieving its ambitious growth objectives.
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