Industry News

Actis, a prominent investor in sustainable infrastructure, has completed the acquisition of a 90% stake in 800 Super, a leading environmental management company in Singapore. This acquisition, announced on 23 March 2026, is part of Actis’ Long Life Infrastructure Fund 2 (ALLIF2), which is now approximately 70% deployed. The deal increases Actis’ total investment in Southeast Asia to $1.7 billion.

800 Super, known for its waste management and recycling services, derives most of its revenue from long-term contracts with the Singaporean government. This acquisition aligns with ALLIF2’s focus on investing in high-quality infrastructure assets with stable, long-term revenues. The company is a key player in Singapore’s circular economy and is integral to the nation’s 2030 Zero Waste Masterplan.

Adrian Mucalov, Head of Long Life Infrastructure at Actis, stated, “We view the acquisition of 800 Super as an exciting contribution to our portfolio of leading sustainable infrastructure companies and assets.” William Lee, CEO of 800 Super, remarked that the acquisition is a strategic investment that will enhance the company’s competitive advantages.

This transaction follows Actis’ recent investments in Southeast Asia, including MTerra Solar and Levanta Renewables, as the firm continues to capitalise on the region’s infrastructure demand and growth potential. Actis’ strategic focus on sustainable infrastructure is further strengthened by its partnership with General Atlantic, enhancing its global investment platform.

Singapore Airlines (SIA) is set to launch daily flights between Singapore and Hangzhou starting 1 June 2026, pending regulatory approvals. This new route will be SIA’s ninth destination in mainland China, complementing existing services by Scoot, SIA’s low-cost subsidiary. The addition underscores SIA’s commitment to the Chinese market, where the group now serves 22 destinations.

Hangzhou, located in the Yangtze River Delta, is renowned for its tourist attractions like the UNESCO-listed West Lake and its status as a business hub, particularly in technology and e-commerce. The new service aims to cater to both leisure and business travellers, offering increased flexibility and connectivity.

The flights will be operated using the Airbus A350-900 medium-haul variant, configured with 303 seats—40 in Business Class and 263 in Economy Class. The inaugural flight, SQ838, will depart Singapore at 1740hrs and arrive in Hangzhou at 2250hrs local time. The return flight, SQ839, will leave Hangzhou at 0010hrs, arriving in Singapore at 0510hrs.

Dai Haoyu, Senior Vice President Marketing Planning at Singapore Airlines, stated, “The launch of services to Hangzhou caters to demand from both leisure and business travellers to China. This new daily service deepens our presence in a key market for the SIA Group.”

Tickets for the Hangzhou services will be available through SIA’s distribution channels from 23 March 2026.

The Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has introduced the Digital Leaders Accelerator Bootcamp (DLAB) to enhance AI adoption among Singaporean enterprises. Announced by Minister for Digital Development and Information, Josephine Teo, the initiative is part of the National AI Impact Programme and builds on the existing Digital Leaders Programme.

DLAB is designed for business leaders of digitally progressive enterprises, known as Digital Leaders. The bootcamp will run multiple times a year, offering hands-on experience in implementing AI projects that address real business challenges. Participants will leave with a digital roadmap to guide their AI adoption, aiming to build confidence in scaling AI usage across their operations.

The programme marks a shift from traditional technology-focused approaches by integrating technical expertise with organisational readiness. IMDA aims to support 2,000 Digital Leaders over the next three years, equipping them with the necessary tools and methodologies for AI transformation and digital change management.

In collaboration with Boston Consulting Group and EY-Parthenon, the bootcamp combines local market insights with global AI transformation experience. Participants will engage in strategy planning workshops and project development sessions to identify high-impact use cases and implement viable AI solutions.

Upon completion, enterprises will gain practical experience in deploying AI, understanding critical topics such as business process redesign and data management. The inaugural session begins on 26 March, with EY-Parthenon leading the first run, followed by Boston Consulting Group in the second quarter. IMDA plans to expand the programme with new industry partners to support more enterprises across various sectors.

The Advertising Standards Authority of Singapore (ASAS) has reported a significant increase in feedback regarding advertisements using generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) in 2025. The authority received seven complaints about AI-generated ads, more than double the combined total of three from the previous two years. ASAS is urging industry bodies to create sector-specific guidelines to prevent misleading advertisements.

ASAS received a total of 379 pieces of advertisement feedback in 2025, with telecommunications and restaurant advertisements being the most complained about sectors. The rise in AI-related feedback highlights growing consumer concerns over potentially misleading content created using AI technologies. An example cited involved a telemedicine company using AI to simulate a personal testimonial, which was deemed misleading by complainants.

ASAS Chairman Bryan Tan emphasised the importance of ethical advertising, stating that whilst AI is a valuable tool, its use must be responsible. “False and misleading advertisement content is unacceptable, regardless of the tools used,” he said. ASAS maintains that advertisements must comply with the Singapore Code of Advertising Practice (SCAP) and national legislation.

The authority advocates for a risk-based approach to AI usage in advertising, focusing on applications where there is a high potential to mislead. ASAS invites industry bodies to collaborate on developing guidelines and offers a copy advice service for marketers to ensure compliance with SCAP. This initiative aims to foster trust in advertising amidst technological advancements.

AEM Holdings Ltd has announced a strategic partnership with ASE Technology Holding Co Ltd to advance testing solutions for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and High-Performance Computing (HPC) markets. This collaboration combines AEM’s proprietary test technologies with ASE’s manufacturing capabilities to deliver innovative solutions.

The partnership involves ASE subscribing to S$12m of new AEM shares, representing 1.06% of AEM’s issued share capital as of 21 March 2026. This investment will be made through a private placement of 3,350,000 ordinary shares at S$3.591 per share. Additionally, ASE will receive 28,111,856 free detachable warrants, exercisable in two tranches, subject to revenue-related conditions.

The funds raised will support AEM’s expansion in Taiwan and the integration of its test technologies into ASE’s environments. This includes highly parallel test architectures and advanced thermal management capabilities. The partnership aims to enhance AEM’s product offerings and accelerate joint market initiatives for next-generation AI and HPC applications.

ISE Labs, a subsidiary of ASE, will benefit from this partnership by expanding its AI and HPC processor development capabilities. The focus will be on early-stage testing and validation, crucial for next-generation compute platforms. Ken Hsiang, CEO of ISE Labs, highlighted the importance of this collaboration, stating, “Test has become a critical enabler of performance, reliability, and manufacturability for next-generation AI and HPC systems.”

Samer Kabbani, CEO of AEM, remarked, “This partnership represents an important step in AEM’s strategy to work closely with industry leaders to advance the state of AI and HPC testing.” The collaboration is expected to develop and deploy test solutions that improve performance, scalability, and time-to-market for customers.

Sun Group and Changi Airports International (CAI) have entered into a strategic partnership to develop Phu Quoc International Airport into Vietnam’s first “airport destination”. This collaboration, announced on 21 March 2026, aims to integrate aviation infrastructure with tourism, retail, and entertainment, positioning Phu Quoc as a key aviation and tourism hub in the Asia-Pacific region.

The partnership will see CAI providing advisory services to enhance airport operations, commercial performance, and air connectivity. The airport, which handled approximately 6 million passengers in 2025, is projected to increase its capacity to 24 million passengers annually, with a long-term goal of 50 million. This development is timely as Phu Quoc prepares to host the APEC 2027 Summit, welcoming global leaders and international visitors.

Phu Quoc International Airport’s transformation is part of a government-approved master plan that includes a new runway and Terminal 2. The collaboration between Sun Group and CAI follows extensive exchanges in Vietnam and Singapore, leveraging their combined expertise in destination development and airport management.

Dang Minh Truong, Chairman of Sun Group, highlighted the significance of airports as gateways that shape first impressions. “Through this partnership with Changi Airports International, we aim to develop Phu Quoc International Airport into a true ‘airport destination’,” he stated. Eugene Gan, CEO of CAI, expressed confidence in Sun Group’s vision for Phu Quoc, noting the strong foundation provided by its integrated tourism and entertainment ecosystem.

This partnership is expected to serve as a foundation for future airport developments by Sun Group, including projects in Phan Thiet and master planning for airports in Con Dao and Rach Gia.

Linklaters has successfully advised the underwriters on the initial public offering (IPO) of UI Boustead REIT, marking the first mainboard and real estate investment trust (REIT) listing on the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX) in 2026. The IPO raised approximately S$973.6m, making it the largest IPO in Singapore this year.

UI Boustead REIT focuses on investing in logistics, industrial, and business space assets across the Asia Pacific. Its initial portfolio includes 23 properties located in Singapore and Japan, with a total agreed property value of around S$1.9b. Notable properties include Rolls-Royce Solutions Asia in Singapore.

The Linklaters team was led by Amit Singh, partner and Head of South and Southeast Asia Capital Markets, with support from counsellor Joseph Wolpin. Singh expressed his satisfaction with the project, stating, “We are delighted to have played a role in bringing a high-quality portfolio such as UI Boustead REIT to the Singapore market.”

Linklaters, with over 50 years of experience in Asia, has established a strong reputation in the region’s capital markets. The firm continues to provide clients with expertise and insights to seize opportunities in evolving markets. This IPO further cements Linklaters’ position as a leader in advising on high-profile and landmark transactions in Southeast Asia.

Maybank has announced a term loan facility of up to S$65m to ISE Foods Holdings (IFH), a subsidiary of SGX-listed Ellipsiz Ltd, to partially finance the development of Singapore’s fourth egg farm. This initiative is a significant step in enhancing the nation’s food production capabilities and reducing reliance on imports.

The large-scale farm, developed in collaboration with the Singapore Food Agency and other government bodies, aims to increase local egg production. This aligns with Singapore’s goal of producing 30% of its protein needs locally by 2035, thereby bolstering food security. Kenneth Ho, CEO of Ellipsiz, emphasised the importance of local enterprise in national resilience, stating, “With Maybank’s support and close collaboration with the SFA, we are building infrastructure that will serve Singaporeans for decades to come.”

Alvin Lee, Country CEO of Maybank Singapore, highlighted the bank’s commitment to national priorities and sustainability. “The SG4EF project will implement advanced agri-tech and smart warehousing solutions, and qualifies as an eligible social loan under our food security and sustainable food systems category,” he said.

This project is part of Maybank’s ROAR30 strategic plan, which aims to mobilise RM300b (S$98b) and RM100b (S$33b) in sustainable finance and new economy initiatives by 2030. The development of the egg farm represents a forward-looking approach to creating a sustainable food ecosystem in Singapore.

Rivelle Tampines executive condominium (EC) in Tampines Street 95 has sold over 92% of its 572 units during its launch weekend, marking the strongest performance for a new EC project since 2017. The units were sold at an average price of $1,893 per square foot, according to Kelvin Fong, CEO of PropNex.

The project’s success is attributed to its strategic location near the upcoming Pinery Mall, Tampines West MRT station, and various amenities such as SAFRA Clubhouse and Bedok Reservoir Park. The proximity to educational institutions like St. Hilda’s Primary School further enhances its appeal.

The second-timer buyer quota was quickly reached on Saturday afternoon, indicating robust interest from first-time buyers. Under current EC regulations, only 30% of units can be sold to second-timers during the initial launch. Those unable to secure a unit can attempt to book one month later, with expectations that Rivelle Tampines will sell out when more second-timers are allowed to purchase.

The launch attracted over 8,000 visitors to its sales gallery, underscoring the demand for ECs in Tampines. Previous projects in the area, such as Aurelle of Tampines and Tenet EC, also experienced high sales during their launch weekends.

With Tampines being the largest Housing Development Board (HDB) town in Singapore, it offers a substantial pool of potential upgraders. The demand for ECs remains strong, supported by their affordability compared to private condos, despite rising prices due to increased land and construction costs.

Alfa Medicus has launched a new integrated healthcare facility at i12 Katong, Singapore, combining Aptus Surgery and OHM Imaging under one roof. This development aims to decentralise private healthcare, traditionally concentrated in Orchard and Novena, by expanding access to the eastern region of Singapore, which is home to a large residential population.

The new centre offers an integrated care model, allowing patients to complete imaging, consultations, procedures, and recovery in a single location. This approach is designed to reduce wait times and improve the continuity of care. The facility also supports same-day imaging and streamlined workflows, enabling faster diagnosis and treatment decisions.

This initiative reflects a broader shift in healthcare towards ambulatory care, where more procedures are suitable for same-day discharge. This trend emphasises efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and patient convenience, aligning with the growing demand for outpatient-focused care models in Singapore.

The opening of this facility marks a significant step in enhancing healthcare accessibility and patient experience in the region. As Singapore’s healthcare landscape continues to evolve, such integrated models are expected to become increasingly prevalent, prioritising accessibility, speed, and patient comfort.