Funding & Investment

Group treasurer Laurent Christophe said the deal highlights the attractiveness of trade receivables as an underlying asset class.

The Singapore telecoms firm is set to spend S$1.2bn on data centres, equipment and fit-outs for GPU-as-a-service facilities and AI; in February it invested in a data centre firm with KKR.

There is concern from businesses and politicians that the trade deal is harmful to many sectors, takes away flexibility, and hands the US many benefits; the government is also trying to renegotiate a multi-billion dollar loan with the IMF, which insists many reforms are needed.

As the war in Iran drags on, the Small Industries Development Bank of India has been handed a capital infusion to improve credit flow to MSMEs in rural areas, support technology initiatives and to partner with local banks.

Digital Edge has closed its first $575m HoldCo financing as the data centre firm expands its footprint across South Korea, Japan, India and Southeast Asia; the deal, which swiftly follows a $880m green loan in Thailand, has a feature to convert into a SLL.

Philip Kam, APLMA's CEO, believes that SLLs shouldn't "drown businesses in paperwork".

From the use of antibiotics, to biodiversity, to battery makers, to data centres, to shipping, the region's firms are teaming up with banks to help support a wide range of sustainability efforts with clearer targets.

The drawdown loans for Central Yards on Hong Kong Island are for HK$50m from Hang Seng Bank and HSBC, respectively; the focus will be on urban biodiversity restoration and conservation.

Many larger companies across the region are creating shareholder value and sustaining their dividends amid growth in the region, making it a go-to destination for investors; however experts expect some moderation in 2026.

The central bank has tightened rules on cash purchases of foreign currency to help stabilise the rupiah; government spending in Q1 helped spur the country's strongest GDP in several years.

The bonds will be used to stockpile bauxite, refinance debt, to invest in overseas projects, share repurchases and for general corporate purposes; the aluminium giant also issued a concurrent share repurchase.

18 banks involved in Hong Kong's SME Lending Taskforce have increased their SME loan funding to over HK$450bn, in part to help mitigate rising fuel prices.