ASIA BUSINESS OUTLOOK9DECEMBERUBTECH ROBOTICS SECURES HK$3.1B SHARE PLACEMENT TO BOOST GROWTHUBTech Robotics continues to accelerate its ambitious expansion plans with a fresh HK$3.1 billion (approximately US$400 million) share placement on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company is issuing 31,468,000 new shares at HK$98.80 each, representing an 11.4 percent discount from the previous day's closing price.Despite a mild 2.3 percent drop at the market open following the announcement, UBTech's stock remains a standout performer in 2024, delivering an impressive 98.2 percent increase year-to-date. This latest capital raise marks the company's sixth and largest funding round since August 2024, bringing its total fundraising to HK$4.4 billion within just a few months.Around 75 percent of the newly raised funds will be channelled into strengthening supply-chain investment, forming industry partnerships, and exploring joint ventures aimed at scaling production and accelerating commercialization.Additionally, UBTech plans to allocate 15 percent of the proceeds toward business operations and emerging innovation projects, while the remaining 10 percent will be used to settle existing loan obligations.The company's growth momentum is further supported by newly secured commercial contracts, including a recent 159 million yuan (US$22 million) robotics order from a company based in Zigong, Sichuan. This comes shortly after its second-largest deal worth 250 million yuan (US$35.2 million) signed in September.As the first robotics company listed in Hong Kong, UBTech is positioning itself at the forefront of the intelligent automation industry. With strong investor interest and rising commercial adoption, the company is driving the future of AI-powered humanoid robotics worldwide. · Higala secures US$4M to expand digital banking for rural banks and MFIs· SynerFi platform enables smaller banks to join the InstaPay network· BSP's fraud monitoring rules create new demand for compliance techNEWSROOMHIGALA RAISES $4M TO BOOST RURAL DIGITAL BANKINGHigala, a Philippines-based banking infrastructure provider, has secured US$4 million in seed funding to expand digital banking services for rural banks and microfinance institutions (MFIs).Investors in the round include Talino Venture Studios, Chemonics International, Kadan Capital, Tenco Capital, and 1982 Ventures.Originally targeted at US$2.8 million, the round was expanded to US$4 million due to strong investor interest in Higala's digital solutions for underserved communities. The funding will support the growth of Higala's SynerFi platform, which enables smaller financial institutions to access the InstaPay payment network. Participating banks include Rural Bank of San Antonio, Rural Bank of Lipa City, Progressive Rural Bank, Banco Abucay.Additionally, Rural Bank of Hermosa, Money Mall Rural Bank, First Philippine Partners Bank, and Lagawe Highlands Rural Bank are also involved.Regulatory changes are also shaping adoption. Under Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Circular No. 1140, banks must implement automated, real-time fraud monitoring integrated with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) systems -- posing challenges for rural banks entering instant payments.Fraud and AML specialists now see opportunities to tailor compliance tools for rural banks and MFIs joining InstaPay, especially as 24/7 transfers raise cybercrime risks. InstaPay operates round-the-clock with a PHP 50,000 per-transaction limit, yet many smaller banks lack the fraud prevention infrastructure of larger institutions.This creates a near-term market for specialized compliance technology to support secure digital financial inclusion.
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