Industry News

AvePoint, a leader in data security governance, has announced its dual listing on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) under the symbol AVP, making it the first B2B SaaS stock to be listed on SGX and the first company to be dual listed on both Nasdaq and SGX. This strategic move aims to broaden AvePoint’s customer, partner, and investor base amidst growing demand for its data protection technology.

The listing on SGX complements AvePoint’s presence on Nasdaq, where it initially went public in 2021. Tianyi Jiang, CEO and Co-Founder of AvePoint, highlighted the significance of this expansion, stating, “Our SGX listing is an exciting step in AvePoint’s ongoing global expansion, broadening our customer, partner, and investor base as the demand for our data protection technology increases.”

Established in Singapore in 2009, AvePoint has made the city-state its Asia Headquarters and International R&D Hub. The company continues to address data protection challenges globally, leveraging Singapore’s dynamic technological landscape.

Loh Boon Chye, CEO of SGX Group, welcomed AvePoint, noting that the dual listing reflects AvePoint’s strong track record in the Asia Pacific region. “This milestone underscores Singapore’s stature as a trusted international hub at the intersection of capital and innovation,” he said.

In conjunction with the SGX listing, AvePoint completed a secondary offering of its common stock, which was more than three times oversubscribed, priced at $14.30 (S$19.50) per share. This development marks a significant phase in AvePoint’s growth, reinforcing its global reach and ambition.

CIMB Singapore has introduced the CIMB Founders Card, a new personal credit card designed specifically for sole proprietors and small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owners. Launched on 19 September 2025, the card provides instant cash access with up to 114 days of zero interest and no foreign exchange fees, addressing the liquidity challenges faced by many entrepreneurs.

As Singapore’s entrepreneurial landscape continues to expand, sole proprietors and SMEs represent 99% of the country’s businesses, employing 70% of the workforce. However, these businesses often struggle with financing due to irregular income and limited credit histories. The CIMB Founders Card aims to bridge this gap by offering financial flexibility and easy access to capital, enabling business owners to seize growth opportunities and manage unexpected expenses.

Merlyn Tsai, Head of Consumer Banking and Digital at CIMB Singapore, stated, “We are committed to advancing customers and society with services and solutions that drive progress, and the CIMB Founders Card is a meaningful step in that direction.”

In collaboration with Mastercard, the card also offers additional benefits such as complimentary access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide and travel insurance coverage of up to $730,000 (S$1m). Furthermore, cardholders can enjoy discounts on workplace productivity software and hotels, enhancing both business productivity and personal lifestyle.

The launch of the CIMB Founders Card reflects a broader commitment to supporting SMEs with innovative financial solutions, ensuring they have the tools needed to thrive in a competitive market.

Kilde, a Singapore-based private credit investment platform, has successfully raised $15m in a Pre-Series A funding round led by Purple Ventures, with contributions from existing investors. This funding aims to enhance Kilde’s team, expand its capital markets capabilities, and improve its technology infrastructure, setting the stage for rapid scaling.

Kilde’s CEO and co-founder, Radek Jezbera, highlighted the platform’s growth, stating, “We’ve officially crossed $127m in assets under management on our platform. That means investors choose simplicity, safety, and stable returns. They chose Kilde.” The company is now targeting $1b in assets under management, supported by a lean team, standardised deal structures, and proprietary technology.

The private credit market is poised for sustained growth, with BlackRock projecting assets under management could reach $4.5t by 2030. Kilde’s strategic positioning allows it to access higher-quality borrowers and larger deals, offering investors above-market returns of 10.5% to 13.5% annually.

Jan Stanek, Managing Director at Purple Ventures, expressed confidence in Kilde’s trajectory, stating, “We are delighted to be a part of Kilde as early equity investors starting in 2020. As we saw the platform’s exponential growth over the past two years, we gained full confidence in Kilde’s team and business model.”

Founded in 2019, Kilde connects family offices, funds, and accredited investors to private credit opportunities across Europe and Asia, specialising in senior-secured lending to consumer and SME lending platforms. The company holds a Capital Markets Services licence issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

UOB and UnionPay International have launched the SplendorPlus Campaign, offering UOB UnionPay cardholders up to 5% cashback on purchases in China’s mainland until 31 December 2025. This initiative comes as Singaporeans increasingly travel to China, with Changi Airport reporting a 158% year-on-year increase in Singapore-China passenger traffic in Q2 2025.

The campaign provides UOB UnionPay cardholders with 2% base cashback on all eligible local and overseas retail purchases, with no minimum spend required. An additional 3% cashback is available for eligible in-store and online purchases in China’s mainland, processed through the UnionPay network. However, transactions via third-party mobile wallets like Alipay and WeixinPay are excluded. The total cashback is capped at S$50 per card monthly.

This campaign is part of a strategic partnership between UOB and UnionPay, aimed at enhancing cross-border payment solutions and enriching customer experiences across Asia. UOB, a leading local bank issuing UnionPay credit cards, plays a crucial role in expanding UnionPay’s reach within Singapore and beyond. UnionPay cardholders benefit from broad acceptance across Singapore, including in retail, dining, transport, and tourist hubs, thanks to UOB’s deep merchant integration.

The SplendorPlus Campaign underscores UnionPay’s commitment to simplifying overseas payments for global cardholders, supporting its broader goal of making international payments more intuitive and accessible.

CapitaLand Hope Foundation (CHF), the philanthropic arm of CapitaLand Group, has awarded S$3.4m to 12 grantees in Singapore, India, China, and Vietnam under its inaugural CapitaLand Community Resilience Initiative. Collaborating with AVPN, Asia’s largest network of social investors, the initiative aims to bolster education, skills development, and the physical and mental well-being of vulnerable children and youth.

The initiative reflects CHF’s commitment to fostering long-term community resilience through strategic partnerships. Tony Tan, Executive Director of CHF, highlighted the importance of resilience for community sustainability, stating, “The strong response and quality of proposals we received reaffirmed the need for meaningful, sustainable solutions.”

As CHF celebrates its 20th anniversary, it continues to evolve its philanthropic efforts, having contributed over S$64m to support more than 540,000 beneficiaries across Asia. The CapitaLand Community Resilience Initiative builds on this legacy, aiming for sustainable community development and resilience for future generations.

SingHealth’s Healthier EAST @ SG initiative has been inducted into the World Health Organisation’s Global Network for Age-Friendly Cities and Communities (GNAFCC), marking a significant milestone for Singapore’s Eastern region. Announced at the SingHealth Duke-NUS Scientific Congress 2025, the initiative aims to transform the area into an inclusive, age-friendly community, impacting over 610,000 residents.

Healthier EAST @ SG collaborates with healthcare providers, community partners, and social service agencies to serve residents in Bedok, Changi, Marine Parade, and Tampines, where nearly 28% of the population is aged 60 and above. By joining GNAFCC, Eastern Singapore aligns with over 1,700 cities worldwide, committed to creating age-inclusive environments across eight essential domains, including housing, transportation, and health services.

Lee Chien Earn, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer of SingHealth, highlighted the importance of this global connection, stating, “Inauguration into the WHO GNAFCC connects us with a global community of cities and regions dedicated to a singular mission of enabling healthy ageing.”

For nearly two decades, SingHealth has led efforts to develop integrated age-friendly initiatives. The HealthUP movement, launched in 2021, has shown significant health improvements among participants and now supports over 170,000 residents. It empowers individuals with preventive health goals through activities like physical exercise and healthy eating, supported by telehealth and digital tools.

The initiative also transforms urban spaces into therapeutic environments, promoting mental wellness and community connection.

Huttons Asia has highlighted the potential of the Bedok Rise site, the last land parcel with direct access to Tanah Merah MRT station, as a prime opportunity for developers. With the recent launch of Sceneca Residence in January 2023 nearly sold out, and the upcoming Sceneca Square mall set to enhance local amenities, the area is poised for growth.

The site is strategically located just two MRT stops from Changi Airport, which is undergoing significant transformation with the first phase of Terminal 5 expected to be completed in the mid-2030s. This development is part of the broader Changi East transformation, with the government seeking proposals for the Changi East urban district.

Mark Yip, CEO of Huttons Asia, noted that developers might be keen to bid for the Bedok Rise site to replenish their landbank in the Outside Central Region (OCR), where unsold units are currently at a low of around 2,000. The recent interest rate cut by the US Federal Reserve is expected to lower borrowing costs in Singapore, potentially boosting demand for new homes and positively impacting the property market.

Huttons anticipates that the Bedok Rise site could attract up to five bidders, with a top bid ranging between $1,100 and $1,200 per square foot per plot ratio. Meanwhile, the Cross Street SA2 site in the Central Business District may see developers adopting a wait-and-see approach before committing to bids.

Hongkong Land Holdings Limited has announced the divestment of its Singaporean and Malaysian residential development business, MCL Land, to Sunway Group. The transaction, valued at S$739m (US$579m), is part of Hongkong Land’s strategy to recycle capital and focus on ultra-premium commercial properties in Asian gateway cities. The sale proceeds will enhance Hongkong Land’s balance sheet and contribute US$150m to its share buyback programme.

The divestment marks a significant step in Hongkong Land’s strategic vision to exit the residential build-to-sell segment.

MCL Land, a prominent residential developer in Singapore and Malaysia for over 60 years, will continue its operations under Sunway’s ownership, with its management team remaining intact.

Michael Smith, Hongkong Land’s Chief Executive, highlighted the importance of finding the right steward for MCL Land, stating, “This is a business Hongkong Land has grown for over thirty years, with a strong brand known for quality and a robust residential development pipeline.” Sunway Group’s Executive Deputy Chair, Sarena Cheah, expressed confidence in the acquisition, noting, “This acquisition marks a decisive expansion of our footprint in one of Asia’s most competitive property markets.”

The agreement’s completion is subject to standard closing conditions and is expected to finalise before the end of 2025. This transaction aligns with Sunway’s strategy to integrate MCL Land’s expertise with its own in sustainable, mixed-use developments, aiming to accelerate growth in Singapore and key regional markets.

Singapore has launched the Design Power Index (DPI), the world’s first framework to measure the economic and social impact of design. Unveiled at the World Design Business Forum, the index seeks to redefine design as a measurable driver of economic value, rather than just an aesthetic pursuit. This initiative is spearheaded by the Design Business Chamber Singapore (DBCS) and Consulus, a global creative change firm.

The DPI, anchored by companies such as UOB, Razer, and Carousell, aims to set a new global benchmark by demonstrating how design influences economies across business, technology, and society. The estimated market value of the companies on this inaugural index is $14.6b (S$20b). Chee Su Eing, Global Chairperson of the World Design Business Organisation, stated, “The DPI has been created to prove that design is not just decoration, but a driver of growth and long-term advantage.”

The forum, themed “Flourishing by Design,” gathered economists, business leaders, and policymakers to discuss design’s strategic role in a volatile global economy. Discussions highlighted the intersection of design with trade, artificial intelligence, and sustainability.

The DPI’s analysis focuses on four dimensions: Business of Design, Market of Design, Technology of Design, and Social Impact of Design. Companies like Kingsmen Creatives and Razer exemplify how design can transform industries and create new markets.

The DPI will be expanded over the next three years to include companies from Asia, Europe, and the US, establishing a shared basis for evaluating design’s economic impact worldwide.

Centurion Asset Management has announced the launch of an initial public offering (IPO) for Centurion Accommodation REIT, aiming to raise over S$771.1m. The REIT, which focuses on purpose-built worker and student accommodation, will be listed on the Singapore Exchange on 25 September 2025. The offering price is set at S$0.88 per unit, with projected distribution yields of 7.47% for 2026 and 8.11% for 2027.

The REIT’s portfolio includes 14 properties across Singapore, the UK, and Australia, valued at approximately S$1.8b. This will expand to 15 properties worth S$2.12b following the acquisition of a Sydney asset. The offering has attracted cornerstone commitments totalling S$540.4m from global and regional investors, reflecting confidence in the REIT’s diversified assets and growth potential.

The public offer opens on 18 September and closes on 23 September. The REIT’s listing is expected to provide investors with exposure to high-quality accommodation assets and long-term value growth.