Business News Asia

08/05/2025

Digital wealth platform Syfe has partnered with BlackRock to provide Accredited Investors in Singapore access to US middle market private credit opportunities, the companies said.

The collaboration will give Syfe’s clients exposure to BlackRock’s US middle market direct lending strategy, part of a global credit platform managing over $63 billion in assets as of end-2024.

Digital wealth platform Syfe has partnered with BlackRock to provide Accredited Investors in Singapore access to US middle market private credit opportunities, the companies said. The collaboration will give Syfe’s clients exposure to BlackRock’s US middle market direct lending strategy, part of

08/05/2025

Granite Asia has raised more than $250 million in anchor commitments for its private credit strategy, Libra Hybrid Capital, ahead of the fund’s formal launch, the investment firm said.

Backed by leading Asian sovereign wealth funds, general partners, and Granite Asia’s founder network, the anchor close highlights growing institutional interest in flexible, non-dilutive financing options for mid-market companies across Asia-Pacific.

Libra Hybrid Capital is already deploying capital, with Granite Asia reporting strong deal flow driven by rising demand from businesses seeking alternatives to traditional equity financing.

Granite Asia has raised more than $250 million in anchor commitments for its private credit strategy, Libra Hybrid Capital, ahead of the fund’s formal launch, the investment firm said. Backed by leading Asian sovereign wealth funds, general partners, and Granite Asia’s founder network, the ancho...

08/05/2025

Global insurtech bolttech and Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation have entered into a strategic partnership to form a joint venture aimed at delivering technology-enabled embedded insurance and device lifecycle solutions across Asia, the companies said.

The new venture will focus initially on Southeast Asia, launching with a device upgrade programme that combines bolttech’s digital distribution platform with Sumitomo’s extensive financing and guarantee network.

Global insurtech bolttech and Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation have entered into a strategic partnership to form a joint venture aimed at delivering technology-enabled embedded insurance and device lifecycle solutions across Asia, the companies said. The new venture will focus initially on Southeast

07/05/2025

Mitsubishi Corporation and its subsidiary Diamond Generating Asia (DGA) have joined ACEN, GenZero, and Keppel Ltd. in a groundbreaking collaboration to accelerate the early retirement of a 246 MW coal-fired power plant in the Philippines using high-integrity carbon credits called Transition Credits.

The Japanese firms signed a Deed of Accession to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) initially established in 2024 by the three founding partners.

The initiative aims to retire South Luzon Thermal Energy Corp.’s (SLTEC) coal plant by 2030—10 years ahead of its scheduled shutdown—replacing it with clean, dispatchable energy.

ACEN

01/05/2025

A Philippine real estate industry group welcomed the Marcos administration’s decision to shelve a controversial proposal to raise taxes on property-related transactions, citing improved fiscal performance in early 2025.

A prominent Philippine real estate group has welcomed the Marcos administration’s decision to withdraw a proposal to raise taxes on property transactions, after the government posted stronger-than-expected revenue performance in the first quarter. The Department of Finance (DoF) said it will no l

25/04/2025

YouTube Shopping launches in the Philippines, expanding partnership with Shopee in SE Asia

YouTube launched its Shopping affiliate programme in the Philippines in partnership with Shopee, extending the service to six Southeast Asian markets and tapping into the region’s fast-growing video commerce sector.

The programme lets viewers purchase tagged products directly within videos and live streams, removing the need to click through descriptions or switch websites.

25/04/2025

SquareX raises $20m in Series A

SquareX, a Singapore-based cybersecurity startup, has secured $20 million in a Series A funding round to accelerate the growth of its Browser Detection and Response (BDR) technology, a solution designed to turn any browser into an enterprise-grade secure browser through a simple extension.

The funding was led by SYN Ventures, with participation from existing investor Peak XV Partners, formerly Sequoia Capital SEA.

SquareX, a Singapore-based cybersecurity startup, has secured $20 million in a Series A funding round to accelerate the growth of its Browser Detection and Response (BDR) technology, a solution designed to turn any browser into an enterprise-grade secure browser through a simple extension. The fu

25/04/2025

Philippines secures PHP152m in sales leads at Asia Dive Expo 2025

The Philippines, through the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB), generated PHP 151.9 million in sales leads during its participation at the Asia Dive Expo (ADEX) 2025, Asia’s largest and longest-running dive trade show held from April 4 to 6 at the Suntec Convention and Exhibition Center in Singapore.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Philippines served as the event’s Official Country Partner, promoting the country’s premier dive destinations to more than 49,900 trade and consumer attendees.

25/04/2025

SM Supermalls and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will hold nationwide job fairs on May 1 as part of the Labor Day celebration, offering thousands of employment opportunities across 20 malls.

The initiative, aimed at supporting Filipino job seekers, will feature both on-site and digital recruitment efforts through SM’s renewed partnership with Jobstreet by SEEK. The collaboration seeks to improve job matching and help connect applicants with leading employers.

24/04/2025

Blueleaf Energy, a pan-Asian renewable energy platform backed by a Macquarie Asset Management managed fund, has named John Warren as Country Manager for Japan, as the company seeks to accelerate its growth in one of Asia’s largest renewable energy markets.

24/04/2025

StarCruises announced that its revitalized brand will return to Hong Kong with the debut of the Star Voyager cruise ship, set to operate from June 27 to August 31, 2025, offering itineraries to Japan and Taiwan.

Star Cruises

24/04/2025

PLDT, the Philippines’ largest integrated telecommunications company, inaugurated its newest data center in Sta. Rosa, Laguna as it moves forward with plans to significantly expand its data center capacity in the country.