Industry News

Q & M Dental Group (Singapore) Limited has announced its entry into a non-binding memorandum of understanding for the proposed acquisition of an Australian dental group. The acquisition, valued at $92.5m (A$144.5m), involves a network of over 40 dental clinics across several Australian states and territories, including New South Wales and Victoria. The agreement was signed on 11 March 2026.

The Australian Dental Group, which employs approximately 120 dentists, offers a wide range of dental services, from general dentistry to orthodontics and implantology. The acquisition will see Q & M Dental Group acquiring 100% of the issued share capital, with the purchase price to be settled through a combination of cash, capital injection, and new ordinary shares.

The acquisition aligns with Q & M Dental Group’s strategy to expand its presence in the Asia-Pacific region, following its recent move into Thailand’s dental market. The Australian Dental Group’s established network provides a strategic base for further growth, both organically and through future acquisitions.

The sellers, comprising eight founding dentist-shareholders, will remain involved in the business, providing local expertise and supporting Q & M’s expansion plans. The acquisition also offers potential for clinician mobility within Q & M’s regional network, as Australian-trained dentists may practise in Singapore under certain conditions.

Q & M Dental Group has committed to a profit guarantee for the Australian Dental Group, with targets set over a seven-year period. The company will make further announcements as developments occur, including the signing of definitive agreements.

MetaComp, a Singapore-based pioneer in unified Web2.5 payments and wealth platforms, has successfully raised US$35m in its Pre-A funding round, backed by Alibaba Spark Venture and other institutional investors. This funding, completed in just three months, aims to accelerate the development of MetaComp’s regulated Web2.5 platform across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.

The company, which achieved full-year net profitability in 2025, is focused on integrating traditional finance with digital assets under a unified regulatory framework. MetaComp’s platform offers hybrid fiat and stablecoin payment solutions, as well as access to traditional and tokenised wealth management products. The funding will also support the expansion of MetaComp’s StableX Network, which facilitates real-time cross-border settlements.

The group’s proprietary Client Asset Management Platform processes over US$1b monthly and accounts for more than US$500m in wealth assets. In 2025, MetaComp processed over US$10b in payments and over-the-counter volume across 13 stablecoins.

Co-President of MetaComp, Tin Pei Ling, stated, “MetaComp was built on a single conviction that the future of cross-border finance is neither purely traditional nor purely digital—it’s the integrated Web2.5 architecture where fiat rails and stablecoin networks operate as one.”

With comprehensive licencing from the Monetary Authority of Singapore, MetaComp serves over 1,000 institutional and accredited clients globally. The company aims to leverage its new capital to further its AI strategy and develop future-ready infrastructure for Web2.5 payment and wealth services.

Rajah & Tann Singapore has announced the appointment of Abdul Jabbar Bin Karam Din as Deputy Managing Partner. With over 26 years as a partner, Jabbar is set to enhance the firm’s strategic development and streamline centralised services. His previous role as Head of the Corporate & Transactional Group saw him spearheading initiatives across various domains, including human resources and business development.

The appointment comes as the firm expands its reach through the Rajah & Tann Asia network, necessitating a cohesive alignment of strategic and operational resources. Managing Partner Ng Kim Beng expressed confidence in Jabbar’s capabilities, stating, “His appointment reinforces our leadership bench as we continue to build for the future and position Rajah & Tann for sustainable, long-term growth.”

Jabbar’s extensive experience spans corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and banking and finance. He is recognised in The Legal 500 for Corporate and M&A, with clients praising his “consistently sound” advice. Additionally, he has been acknowledged in the Lexology Index for Corporate Governance and Labour & Employment.

Rajah & Tann Singapore, a leading full-service law firm in Southeast Asia, is part of the Rajah & Tann Asia network, which includes over 1,000 fee earners across 10 countries. This strategic appointment aims to further solidify the firm’s position in the region, ensuring consistent processes and standards across its practice groups.

Empyrion Digital, a Singapore-based data centre developer, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Cypress Telecom Limited (CypressTel) and its affiliate DataShell to enhance digital infrastructure across Asia. This collaboration aims to leverage Empyrion’s data centre capabilities and CypressTel’s network services to meet the growing demand for scalable and secure infrastructure in the region.

Under the MOU, CypressTel will have the option to utilise data centre capacity from Empyrion Digital’s upcoming second data centre in Singapore. This agreement underscores Singapore’s role as a leading connectivity hub. Additionally, Empyrion Digital will provide data centre capacity to CypressTel at one of its forthcoming North Asia projects.

Mark Fong, CEO of Empyrion Digital, stated, “This strategic MOU with CypressTel and its affiliate DataShell strengthens our collective ability to support long-term digital capacity needs across Asia.” Connee Zhang, CEO of CypressTel, added, “With 140 Points of Presence (PoPs) and experience supporting deployments across more than 10,000 customers globally, CypressTel brings proven execution at scale to help enterprises and partners deploy faster and scale with confidence across Asia.”

Empyrion Digital is committed to sustainable practices and operates carrier-neutral data centres for hyperscale and enterprise customers across Asia. CypressTel, a global network service provider, offers a range of connectivity solutions, integrating network, cloud, and security into a single platform.

This partnership is poised to enhance digital transformation efforts across Asia, providing robust connectivity and infrastructure solutions to meet the region’s increasing digital demands.

Singapore Management University (SMU) has launched a new brand campaign titled “Bold Ideas Big Impact,” aimed at enhancing the university’s communication of its ambitions and impact both locally and internationally. This initiative is part of SMU’s SMU2030 Strategic Plan, which focuses on creating meaningful and measurable impact through education, research, and partnerships.

The campaign seeks to translate SMU’s strategic priorities into a clearer public expression, emphasising the university’s role as Asia’s premier global city university. It highlights the importance of transforming bold ideas into actions that address real-world challenges. The campaign includes a new brand video and tagline, alongside a series of advertisements across various platforms, each focusing on SMU’s core pillars: education, research, and partnerships.

Christopher Chew, Vice President of the Office of Corporate Communications and Marketing at SMU, stated, “As we deepen our role as Asia’s premier global city university, this new brand campaign gives expression to that ambition. It provides a clear and compelling platform to communicate who we are, what we stand for, and the difference we seek to make through education, research, and partnerships.”

The campaign marks a significant step in how SMU presents its identity and ambitions to external audiences. As the university advances its SMU2030 priorities, “Bold Ideas Big Impact” will serve as a platform to communicate SMU’s intent to deepen its relevance, broaden its reach, and strengthen its contribution to society through meaningful and measurable impact.

Vietjet is set to launch a new direct flight service between Singapore and Nha Trang starting 1 June 2026. This marks the airline’s fifth direct route connecting Singapore to Vietnam, enhancing travel and trade links between the two nations. The service will operate four times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, with a flight duration of approximately two hours and fifteen minutes.

The introduction of this route provides Singaporean travellers with direct access to Nha Trang, a renowned coastal city in Vietnam known for its scenic beaches and vibrant resort scene. To celebrate the launch, Vietjet is offering promotional fares starting from SGD86 for Eco-class tickets, inclusive of taxes and fees, along with 20kg of free checked baggage. This promotion is available from 16 to 20 March 2026 for travel between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027.

Nha Trang is celebrated for its turquoise waters, island excursions, and rich marine life, making it a popular destination for tourists. The city also serves as a gateway to various cultural and natural attractions, including waterfalls and fishing villages.

In addition to the Singapore–Nha Trang route, Vietjet will commence a new service connecting Da Nang and Jakarta from 29 April 2026, further strengthening regional connectivity. Passengers on Vietjet can enjoy a variety of Vietnamese culinary options onboard and benefit from the airline’s SkyJoy loyalty programme.

A prime three-storey commercial building at 535 Kallang Bahru, Singapore, is now on the market, offering significant redevelopment potential. The sale, managed by CBRE and Cushman & Wakefield, will be conducted through an Expression of Interest exercise closing on 22 April 2026.

The property, occupying a 22,283 square foot plot, currently boasts a gross floor area of 36,207 square feet. It is nearly fully occupied by tenants such as a restaurant, fitness centre, and offices, providing immediate rental income. Under the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Master Plan 2025, the site is zoned for commercial use, with potential to expand the gross floor area to 66,850 square feet, subject to approvals.

Located in the Geylang Bahru precinct, the building benefits from dual street frontage and proximity to Geylang Bahru MRT station, major expressways, and a robust bus network. This strategic location offers easy access to Singapore’s Central Business District.

Joshua Giam, Director of Capital Markets at CBRE, highlighted the site’s versatility, stating it offers “significant upside potential through creative repositioning or a full-scale redevelopment.” Sophia Lim, Director of Capital Markets at Cushman & Wakefield, noted the area’s growth, driven by government rejuvenation plans and new residential projects.

The guide price for 535 Kallang Bahru is S$55m, equating to approximately S$1,519 per square foot on its existing gross floor area. This sale presents a timely opportunity for investors to capitalise on the precinct’s transformation. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the marketing agents for further details.

Singapore has experienced a significant increase in on-device threats, with over 3.8 million incidents recorded in 2025, according to Kaspersky. This marks a 16.2% rise from the previous year, primarily driven by worms and file viruses. The surge underscores the growing risk posed by infected removable devices to both individuals and organisations in Singapore.

Despite assumptions that on-device threats might be declining in a cloud-centric environment, Kaspersky’s data reveals their persistent prevalence. In 2025, 3.8 million threats were detected on Singapore-based devices, largely spread through removable media like USB drives, CDs, and DVDs. These threats can execute automatically, bypassing traditional defences and compromising sensitive information.

Adrian Hia, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky, noted the underestimated vulnerability to on-device attacks, emphasising the trust Singaporeans place in removable media. “Most users rarely second-guess plugging in an external device despite the fact that such on-device infections remain a very real threat,” he stated.

Kaspersky, a global cybersecurity company, continues to innovate in protecting over a billion devices worldwide. As on-device threats rise, the importance of effective cybersecurity measures becomes increasingly critical for safeguarding sensitive data and maintaining organisational integrity.

OUE Healthcare Limited’s subsidiary, O2 Healthcare Group, has launched Singapore’s first private sleep laboratory, O2 SleepWell Laboratory, to provide advanced sleep medicine services. The SleepWell Lab, operated by O2 SleepWell Pte. Ltd., offers diagnostic and therapeutic care for sleep disorders, including sleep apnoea. This initiative is part of a broader effort to address sleep health, a growing concern in Singapore.

The launch coincides with a memorandum of understanding with HSBC Life, aiming to expand access to sleep diagnostic studies and treatments for HSBC Life customers. This collaboration seeks to make medically necessary sleep treatments more accessible through insurance partnerships.

Chairman of OUE Healthcare, Lee Yi Shyan, highlighted the importance of sleep in preventive health care, stating, “Singapore has placed growing emphasis on preventive care. Data and clinical experience show that many Singaporeans are chronically sleep-deprived.” The SleepWell Lab aims to support Singapore’s preventive health agenda by offering comprehensive sleep health services.

The SleepWell Lab collaborates with Cura Day Surgery Centre and Parkway East Hospital to conduct overnight sleep studies, providing patients with flexible options for their diagnostic needs. The lab’s integrated approach ensures a seamless patient experience, from diagnosis to ongoing treatment, with a team of sleep technologists under one roof.

Dr Swee Yong Peng, CEO of O2 Healthcare Group, emphasised the lab’s role in shaping the future of sleep health, stating, “We are building an integrated ecosystem that supports each person through every stage of their sleep health journey.”

The launch of the SleepWell Lab and its collaborations are not expected to materially impact the company’s financials for the year ending 31 December 2026.

UI Boustead REIT has successfully completed its initial public offering (IPO), raising approximately S$973.6m, making it the largest IPO in Singapore for 2026. The offering, priced at S$0.88 per unit, saw robust demand, being oversubscribed by 3.3 times. The IPO included an international placement of 643,275,200 units and a public offering of 33,900,000 units in Singapore.

The Placement Tranche, aimed at institutional and accredited investors, attracted S$1.9b in demand, whilst the Singapore Public Offer was 2.9 times subscribed, receiving 4,697 valid applications. This strong interest highlights investor confidence in UI Boustead REIT’s potential, despite current geopolitical and market volatility.

Tan Shu Lin, CEO of the REIT Manager, expressed gratitude for the investor support, stating, “The successful close of the IPO reflects confidence in the quality of our portfolio and its ability to generate stable and resilient cashflows.”

UI Boustead REIT’s initial portfolio consists of 23 properties, primarily in Singapore and Japan, with a total gross floor area of approximately 5.9 million square feet. The REIT is managed by UIB REIT Management Pte. Ltd., a subsidiary of UIB Holdings Limited.

Trading of the units on the SGX-ST Mainboard is set to begin at 2.00 p.m. on 12 March 2026.