It has been close to four months since our earlier interview with the CEO of HSBC Singapore Kee Joo Wong. 

At the time, we talked about HSBC’s new Innovation Banking Unit carved out from the UK subsidiary of SVB, and whether HSBC would move into catering services for players in the VC and startup landscape.

Kee Joo told me to keep a lookout for an interesting development out of the unit that will be announced at the Singapore Fintech Festival. 

The secret is now out, as HSBC Singapore announces a partnership with early-stage VC firm Antler to facilitate the growth of Southeast Asian innovation companies and entrepreneurs based in Singapore. 

This collaboration aims to provide startups and founders that are a part of Antler’s network access to financial expertise and banking solutions such as preferred business banking accounts, venture debt and working capital facilities designed to support their needs and enable their growth and future expansion.

But what is the rationale behind working with Antler? How will HSBC assess their risk profiles and ability to repay? 

In this Singapore Fintech Festival edition of Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Jo Miyake, Chief Commercial Officer, Global Commercial Banking, HSBC.

It has been close to four months since our earlier interview with the CEO of HSBC Singapore Kee Joo Wong. 
At the time, we talked about HSBC’s new Innovation Banking Unit carved out from the UK subsidiary of SVB, and whether HSBC would move into catering services for players in the VC and startup landscape.
Kee Joo told me to keep a lookout for an interesting development out of the unit that will be announced at the Singapore Fintech Festival. 
The secret is now out, as HSBC Singapore announces a partnership with early-stage VC firm Antler to facilitate the growth of Southeast Asian innovation companies and entrepreneurs based in Singapore. 
This collaboration aims to provide startups and founders that are a part of Antler’s network access to financial expertise and banking solutions such as preferred business banking accounts, venture debt and working capital facilities designed to support their needs and enable their growth and future expansion.
But what is the rationale behind working with Antler? How will HSBC assess their risk profiles and ability to repay? 
In this Singapore Fintech Festival edition of Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Jo Miyake, Chief Commercial Officer, Global Commercial Banking, HSBC.

We speak with businesses, industry leaders, venture capitalists and startups on their assessment of the business environment they're in, and what the future holds for them.

We speak with businesses, industry leaders, venture capitalists and startups on their assessment of the business environment they're in, and what the future holds for them.

Under The Radar

From politics to pop culture, we've got it all. Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of business, lifestyle, culture, travel, and sports.

From politics to pop culture, we've got it all. Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of business, lifestyle, culture, travel, and sports.

The Evening Runway with Hongbin Jeong, Roshan Gidwani and Chua Tian Tian

Step into the future of finance as MONEY FM 89.3 takes a deep dive into some of the most pertinent topics with the biggest thought leaders and experts at the Singapore Fintech Festival 2023. With the industry poised for another major transformation, thanks to recent advances in artificial intelligence - we examine what's in store in the new era of financial innovation.

Step into the future of finance as MONEY FM 89.3 takes a deep dive into some of the most pertinent topics with the biggest thought leaders and experts at the Singapore Fintech Festival 2023. With the industry poised for another major transformation, thanks to recent advances in artificial intelligence - we examine what's in store in the new era of financial innovation.

Singapore Fintech Festival

[SFF Special] Under the Radar: HSBC Global Commercial Banking’s CCO announces its partnership with Antler, months after acquisition of SVB UK

You would have heard of the old proverb that goes “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. 

So – we’re going to talk all about play, and in particular about the future of play with our guest today, Toys “R” Us Asia. 

Headquartered in Hong Kong, Toys “R” Us Asia operates around 460 stores across Asia, with an aim to fuel imagination and inspire the next generation through the power of toys and play. 

That means providing toys and experiences for both children and also what it terms as “kidults”.

What is key to note, though, is that Toys”R” Us is independent from the other Toys “R” Us companies we see in the rest of the world.

For Toys “R” Us Asia specifically, its footprint spans across Mainland China, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand and Brunei. The firm also licences over 90 additional stores in the Philippines and Macau.

Now, Toys “R” Us Asia  is an interesting company to look at because of how drastically the toy industry has changed globally in recent years. 

According to a report by market research firm Circana out in June 2024, consumers aged 18 and above spent US$1.5 billion in toy-related purchases from January through April. The numbers meant that the adults outstripped the three-to five-year-old consumer group as the most important demographic age group for the toy industry. 

But what opportunities does this present for toy retailers like Toys “R” Us Asia? And what will this mean in terms of store layouts, and products to bring on the shelves?

On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Leo Tsoi, CEO and Board Member at Toys“R”Us Asia.

You would have heard of the old proverb that goes “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy”. 
So – we’re going to talk all about play, and in particular about the future of play with our guest today, Toys “R” Us Asia. 
Headquartered in Hong Kong, Toys “R” Us Asia operates around 460 stores across Asia, with an aim to fuel imagination and inspire the next generation through the power of toys and play. 
That means providing toys and experiences for both children and also what it terms as “kidults”.
What is key to note, though, is that Toys”R” Us is independent from the other Toys “R” Us companies we see in the rest of the world.
For Toys “R” Us Asia specifically, its footprint spans across Mainland China, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Thailand and Brunei. The firm also licences over 90 additional stores in the Philippines and Macau.
Now, Toys “R” Us Asia  is an interesting company to look at because of how drastically the toy industry has changed globally in recent years. 
According to a report by market research firm Circana out in June 2024, consumers aged 18 and above spent US$1.5 billion in toy-related purchases from January through April. The numbers meant that the adults outstripped the three-to five-year-old consumer group as the most important demographic age group for the toy industry. 
But what opportunities does this present for toy retailers like Toys “R” Us Asia? And what will this mean in terms of store layouts, and products to bring on the shelves?
On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Leo Tsoi, CEO and Board Member at Toys“R”Us Asia.

Under the Radar: Toys “R” Us Asia’s CEO on tapping the “kidult” segment with collectables and changing the future of play

Today we’re going to catch up with one of our earlier guests who is said to operate a global technology powerhouse with a revenue of US$57 billion. 

You might have guessed it by now, yes we’re speaking to electronics maker and IT services provider Lenovo. 

To recap, the firm delivers a portfolio of PCs and tablets, monitors, accessories, smart home and collaboration solutions, as well as smart infrastructure data centre solutions around the world. 

It has since 1995 shipped over half a billion PCs, and makes three devices every second. 

More recently, Lenovo Group had in August revealed that net income grew 38 per cent to US$243 million in the three months ended June, beating estimates amid growing demand for computer hardware and data centres and as companies double down on artificial intelligence spending. 

But how does the firm assess demand for its latest performance? How far will generative AI give the recovering computing industry a shot in the arm?

Speaking of generative AI, Lenovo had in September 2024 unveiled its latest advancements at Lenovo Innovation World 2024 in Berlin, where it launched a series of artificial intelligence PC devices powered by processors from Intel, Advanced Micro Devices and Qualcomm.

But how would the firm assess its relationship with the semiconductor makers and big tech firms, and how does the company assess its market position in the PC and technology space in the AI Era?

On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Amar Babu, President, Lenovo Asia Pacific.

Today we’re going to catch up with one of our earlier guests who is said to operate a global technology powerhouse with a revenue of US$57 billion. 
You might have guessed it by now, yes we’re speaking to electronics maker and IT services provider Lenovo. 
To recap, the firm delivers a portfolio of PCs and tablets, monitors, accessories, smart home and collaboration solutions, as well as smart infrastructure data centre solutions around the world. 
It has since 1995 shipped over half a billion PCs, and makes three devices every second. 
More recently, Lenovo Group had in August revealed that net income grew 38 per cent to US$243 million in the three months ended June, beating estimates amid growing demand for computer hardware and data centres and as companies double down on artificial intelligence spending. 
But how does the firm assess demand for its latest performance? How far will generative AI give the recovering computing industry a shot in the arm?
Speaking of generative AI, Lenovo had in September 2024 unveiled its latest advancements at Lenovo Innovation World 2024 in Berlin, where it launched a series of artificial intelligence PC devices powered by processors from Intel, Advanced Micro Devices and Qualcomm.
But how would the firm assess its relationship with the semiconductor makers and big tech firms, and how does the company assess its market position in the PC and technology space in the AI Era?
On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Amar Babu, President, Lenovo Asia Pacific.

Under the Radar: Lenovo’s APAC President on how AI PCs would be the boost for the global PC industry, and its plan to gain a foothold in the space

Calling once, calling twice and SOLD! 

Today’s conversation takes us through the ins and outs of an auctioneer auctioning – no not rare art pieces or jewellery, but bottles of whisky. 

Founded in 2015 by two brothers, our guest Whisky Hammer is a family run whisky auction service based in North East Scotland. 

The firm said it hosts monthly auctions dedicated to whisky and other fine spirits, attracting over 200,000 buyers and sellers from every corner of the globe. 

At these auctions, Whisky Hammer said it auctioned off a wide range of whiskies, both bottles and casks. The company also noted that it achieved the world record for the highest value cask ever sold at auction. 

Whisky Hammer is an interesting company to look at because it is apparently backed by private equity investors over in Hong Kong. According to online website Drinks International, the firm and its sister company Still Spirit had in 2021 sold a 49 per cent stake to Hong Kong’s whisky investment group Rare Whisky Holdings. 

But how far has Rare Whisky Holdings’ involvement in the firm helped it tap further growth or changed its direction for the future?

Ownership structure aside, it is also worthwhile to look at Whisky auctioneers with whisky increasingly seen as a form of alternative investment.

Broadly speaking, whisky prices are falling right now. In Knight Frank’s 2024 Wealth Report out in March this year,its Luxury Investment Index fell 1 per cent over the year pulled down by falling values in Whisky. But what will this mean for supply and demand of whisky bottles and casks, and what will this mean for auctioneers like Whiskey Hammer?

On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Daniel Milne, Managing Director of Whisky Hammer.

Calling once, calling twice and SOLD! 
Today’s conversation takes us through the ins and outs of an auctioneer auctioning – no not rare art pieces or jewellery, but bottles of whisky. 
Founded in 2015 by two brothers, our guest Whisky Hammer is a family run whisky auction service based in North East Scotland. 
The firm said it hosts monthly auctions dedicated to whisky and other fine spirits, attracting over 200,000 buyers and sellers from every corner of the globe. 
At these auctions, Whisky Hammer said it auctioned off a wide range of whiskies, both bottles and casks. The company also noted that it achieved the world record for the highest value cask ever sold at auction. 
Whisky Hammer is an interesting company to look at because it is apparently backed by private equity investors over in Hong Kong. According to online website Drinks International, the firm and its sister company Still Spirit had in 2021 sold a 49 per cent stake to Hong Kong’s whisky investment group Rare Whisky Holdings. 
But how far has Rare Whisky Holdings’ involvement in the firm helped it tap further growth or changed its direction for the future?
Ownership structure aside, it is also worthwhile to look at Whisky auctioneers with whisky increasingly seen as a form of alternative investment.
Broadly speaking, whisky prices are falling right now. In Knight Frank’s 2024 Wealth Report out in March this year,its Luxury Investment Index fell 1 per cent over the year pulled down by falling values in Whisky. But what will this mean for supply and demand of whisky bottles and casks, and what will this mean for auctioneers like Whiskey Hammer?
On Under the Radar, The Evening Runway’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Daniel Milne, Managing Director of Whisky Hammer.

[SFF Special] Under the Radar: HSBC Global Commercial Banking’s CCO announces its partnership with Antler, months after acquisition of SVB UK

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