Under The Radar

We’ll revisit the real estate sector today by looking at a REIT that is solely focused on the UK market.  Founded in 2020 and listed on the Singapore Exchange, Elite UK Reit aims to provide unitholders with what it calls a secure income stream from public sector tenants such as the UK Department for Work and Pensions.  The Reit’s portfolio spans across 148 properties which are mostly freehold or virtually freehold in places within town centres, near amenities or transportation nodes.  More notably, the Manager of the Reit said it is also tapping on sectors that exhibit strong growth potential in the UK, say purpose-built student accommodation and built-to-rent residential assets.  On the whole, the manager said the Reit has what it describes as a “long and diversified lease expiry profile and prudent capital management”, and is positioned for sustainable stability and growth from government-leased properties and the living sector.  All in, Elite UK Reit posted a distribution per unit of £0.0149 (1.49 British pence) for the second half of the 2025 financial year ended Dec 31. That’s around 1.4 per cent higher than the DPU seen in H2 2024. The figure also represented a payout ratio of 95 per cent.  Elite UK Reit is a counter that we want to talk about given how the firm is on the charm offensive to appeal to the investing community.  For one thing, the Reit had in February 2026 signed new lease agreements with the UK Government for properties occupied by the Department for Work and Pensions, a move that has helped it improve its Weighted Average Lease Expiry (or WALE) to 7.2 years from 2.4 years. The Reit’s manager said this is one of the longest WALE duration among Singapore Reits.  Beyond that, the Reit is also actively repositioning some of its properties including one in Peel Park, Blackpool. Its manager said the Reit has secured planning consent to develop a data centre building on the roughly 20-acre plot. So how will the moves augment the firm’s growth trajectory while increasing income stability? On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Joshua Liaw, CEO, Elite UK Reit.

Today we turn our attention to look at renewable energy as companies around the world look to decarbonise and reduce their consumption of traditional fossil fuels.  Founded in 2008 with a mission to address the challenges of climate change, our guest for today is pure-play renewable fuel producer EcoCeres.  Backed by international investors Bain Capital and Kerogen Capital, the company transforms sustainable feedstocks into advanced biofuels and renewable products such as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) or Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO).  The firm says its solutions turn 100% waste-based biomass into renewable fuels, renewable chemicals and materials resulting in up to 90% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions.  So far, EcoCeres said some of its customers include Cathay Pacific and HSBC, and that it holds 20% of the global SAF market in the years 2022 to 2023. EcoCeres is a company that we want to speak to given the rise in adoption of biofuels around the world to cut greenhouse gas emissions.  For one thing, the International Air Transport Association (or IATA) had estimated that Sustainable Aviation Fuel could contribute around 65% of the reduction of emissions needed by the aviation industry to reach net zero carbon dioxide emissions by the middle of this century (or 2050 that is). So what opportunities does this present for EcoCeres looking ahead? What are the barriers to producing enough biofuels for consumption, and which markets will be key to the growth of the biofuels industry?  Speaking of markets, EcoCeres opened Malaysia’s first commercial-scale sustainable aviation production facility in January 2026. But what were the reasons behind the move, and which are the other markets of interest to the firm?  Meanwhile, media reports out in December 2025 and January 2026 noted that EcoCeres was eyeing a potential Hong Kong IPO that could raise about US$1 billion.  But what was the rationale behind the move and how would the company use the proceeds, if it turns out to be true?  On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Matti Lievonen, CEO, EcoCeres.

Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian reports from Jakarta, Indonesia in this “On the Go” special episode of Under the Radar, as she covers the key highlights of GrabX 2026.  That’s the Southeast Asia superapp’s annual product showcase, where the firm unveiled the latest innovations to be rolled out progressively this year. Themed “Your Everyday Guide”, this year’s event features 13 new AI-powered product features and seeks to highlight Grab’s evolution into an intelligent guide that supports users and merchants seamlessly from living to travelling, in Southeast Asia and beyond.  From a Group Ride solution that helps sequence a trip among several passengers efficiently, to a virtual store manager that uses existing CCTV hardware to monitor store operations and hygiene standards using AI, Tian Tian brings you a sneak peek at the firm’s new offerings.

Today we’re going to revisit a guest whose mission is to increase the GDP of not a country, but the internet.  If it rings a bell, yes, we are indeed talking about Stripe, the payments processing company whose aim is to build the economic infrastructure for the internet.  For starters, the San Francisco and Dublin headquartered firm assists customers from the world’s largest enterprises to budding startups in accepting payments, growing their revenue and tapping new business opportunities.  More specifically, its service offerings cut across functions such as pricing, billing, checkouts, payment links, revenue recognition to invoicing and marketplace solutions.  We are speaking to Stripe once again because a lot has happened since our last interview with the company in 2024.    Per the firm’s latest annual letter, Stripe reached a valuation of a whopping US$159 billion as of 2026, climbing up from US$106.7 billion achieved in September 2025. So what are the key drivers of growth bolstering the numbers? Also – how is the firm preparing for a world enabled by artificial intelligence, with technologies such as agentic commerce set to shake up the online shopping landscape? Meanwhile, Stripe is also big on stablecoins, having in February 2025 acquired stablecoin orchestration platform Bridge for US$1.1 billion. But how has the firm tapped on the speed and cost advantages of stablecoins in its business thus far? On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Paul Harapin, Chief Revenue Officer, Asia Pacific & Japan, Stripe.

As the largest aeronautics and space company in Europe, Airbus provides products, services and solutions for the commercial aircraft, helicopter, defence and space sectors.  They range from the commercial aircraft and helicopters that connect people from around the world to military aircraft and satellites that aim to protect citizens and countries. Its 12,000-plus Airbus aircrafts in service collectively serve over 48,000 routes globally, closing the distance between people every day.    In February 2026, the firm reported net orders of 889 commercial aircrafts after cancellations in 2025, higher than the 826 seen in 2024, while the order backlog amounted to a year-end record of 8,754 commercial aircrafts at the end of 2025. But how much of this is contributed by Asia Pacific, and how does the company assess the speed at which it is delivering to customers in the region amid shortages in Pratt & Whitney engines? Also – how does it assess competition from up and coming players in the region, say China’s state-owned planemaker Comac? Meanwhile, Airbus has said that Asia Pacific will need almost 20,000 new aircrafts as it is set to remain as the world’s fastest-growing air travel market.  But what are the key trends supporting the numbers, and how is Airbus working to capture and realise demand from the region? In this “On the Go” Special episode of Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian headed down to the Airbus Campus at Seletar Aerospace Park, where she posed the questions to Anand Stanley, President, Airbus Asia-Pacific.

Today we’re going to take you through the company behind the GLP-1 drugs Wegovy and Ozempic that are used to treat obesity and diabetes.  Founded in 1923 and headquartered just outside Copenhagen in Denmark, Novo Nordisk prides itself as a global healthcare company that aims to drive change to defeat serious chronic disease and build on its heritage in diabetes.  The Danish drugmaker said it seeks to do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to its medicines and working to prevent and ultimately cure the diseases it treats.  Fast forward to today, Novo Nordisk’s global footprint spans across 170 countries, with production facilities in 13 of them, and 10 research and development centres in key markets China, Denmark, India, the UK and the US.  Novo Nordisk is a company to watch because of its breakthrough GLP-1 injectable medications for diabetes and obesity care in recent years. But what are the key drivers of growth for the firm right now? Meanwhile, concerns surrounding competition against other industry peers such as Eli Lilly continue to weigh on investors’ minds as they mull what the next battleground for the big pharmaceutical players will be.  That’s especially so with the expiry of the firm’s patents in key markets nearing. But it seems like oral pills are the next chapter for pharmaceutical firms targeting the obesity market, with Novo Nordisk rolling out its first GLP-1 pill for weight loss in the US earlier in January. With Goldman Sachs in 2025 forecasting the daily oral pills will capture about a quarter of the anti-obesity medication market by 2030, how will Novo Nordisk’s oral GLP-1 medications augment its growth trajectory? On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Jay Thyagarajan, Senior Vice President, Region APAC, Novo Nordisk.

This time, Money Matter’s finance presenter Chua Tian Tian reports from aboard the new Disney Adventure, the first Disney Cruise Line ship for guests in Asia and also the first to be homeported out of Singapore. Drawing on over 100 years of storytelling from Disney, Marvel and Pixar franchises, Disney Adventure promises to fill everyone with endless adventures and a magical experience. The ship has a passenger capacity of 6,700 and boasts seven themed areas, including the Marvel Landing which features the longest rollercoaster at sea.  Its maiden voyage will take place on the 10th of March or next Tuesday, and will operate as a “Cruise to Nowhere”.  In this Special, “On the Go” episode of Under the Radar, Tian Tian brings you more on the christening ceremony of Disney Adventure, as well as a sneak peek into what to expect aboard as she spends the next couple of days exploring the ship during its preview sailing.

Today we’re going to take you through the ins and outs of a leading independent digital wealth platform in Asia that provides bespoke investment solutions for personal savings, private wealth and even public pension (say in the case of CPF and SRS in Singapore).  Founded in 2017, our guest for today Endowus operates out of both Singapore and Hong Kong with a vision to help investors grow their wealth holistically and offer what it describes as conflict-free advice and access to institutional financial solutions, through a personalised digital wealth experience.  Fast forward to today, the firm works with over 80 global fund managers to provide access to investment strategies across public and private markets, hedge funds and alternatives.  The digital wealth platform had also in October 2025 crossed US$10 billion in assets under management after seeing record inflows and assets from Hong Kong customers tripling. The firm also noted that its alternative business surged to over US$500 million.  So what’s driving the numbers and what are the growth trends for the firm with Federal Reserve interest rates set to fall further this year? At the same time, Endowus also raised over US$70 million that same month, in a funding round led by Illuminate Financial and joined by existing investors including Citi Ventures and various Asian family offices.  According to Tech Node Global, the firm said at the time that funds raised will be used to help the firm scale further, and to zoom in on creating retirement solutions and pension platforms in Singapore and Hong Kong. Resources will also be channelled to AI innovation, new B2B solutions for financial advisers and further geographic expansion.  But how far are we seeing that play out? Where is Endowus moving into next and how will the role of its Singapore operations evolve?   Meanwhile, robo-advisory AutoWealth had in January 2026 become the second digital adviser for the CPF Investment Scheme after Endowus. So what does the move mean for Endowus then and will it double down on efforts to grow its market share right here in the Lion City? On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Samuel Rhee, Co-founder, Chairman and Group CIO, Endowus.

Semiconductors are the invisible foundation of our digital world – powering everything from data centres and electric vehicles to smartphones and even satellites.  But behind the global chip ecosystem lies precision engineering firms that make tools and parts used in the manufacturing process.  And our guest for today, Micro-Mechanics, is one of them. Founded in 1983, and listed on the SGX-Sesdaq in Singapore in 2003, the company designs and manufactures a range of consumable tools and parts used in the assembly and testing of semiconductors.  The company also engages in the contract manufacturing of precision parts and tools used in process-critical applications for the semiconductor wafer-fabrication and other high-technology industries.  In July 2008, the listing and quotation of Micro-Mechanics’ shares were upgraded to the SGX Mainboard.  Today, Micro-Mechanics’ boasts a headcount of 450 globally, with five factories located in Singapore, China, Malaysia and the Philippines, as well as in Silicon Valley in the US.  Micro-Mechanics is a company that we want to talk about right now, given how ongoing trade tensions and tariff spat between the US and China have thrusted the semiconductor industry and supply chain into the spotlight. Despite global headwinds, Micro-Mechanics said it was somewhat sheltered given how it had plants set up in both China and the US.  So how is the firm capitalising on its relative advantage in the global semiconductor supply chain right now, and what are the growth opportunities present within the industry right now? How does the firm assess the role of its presence in Singapore, and the vibrancy of the local stock market in boosting its valuation? In this Special episode of Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Kyle Borch, CEO, Micro-Mechanics.

Today we’re going to turn the clock back to the 1800s to share with you the story of a young man, Georges Nagelmackers, who had just fallen out of love.  Like some of us who might travel abroad to take a breather, Nagelmackers fled to the US, where he discovered railroads with the world’s first sleeping cars.  The enterprising Belgian engineer decided to take that idea back to Europe, where he would launch luxurious trains leading to the Gates of the Orient.  That’s right, we are talking about the Orient Express, or the luxurious train experience provider that would later be further popularised by a suspense novel by writer Agatha Christie in the early 1930s.  Then called the CIWL (Compagnie Internationale des Wagon-Lits), or The International Sleeping Car company, Orient Express’ inaugural trip happened in October 1883 from Paris to Constantinople (or the modern day Istanbul), redefining the meaning of long distance travel for luxury travelers.  As we know, the development of air travel has changed the way people move between places. That dealt a blow to CIWL, and eventually, the Orient Express made its last direct trip between Paris and Istanbul in 1977.  That same year, the SNCF or the French National Railway Company acquired the Orient Express brand, and the last Orient-Express train left Vienna for Strasbourg in December 2009.  But hope is not lost. Nearly 140 years after making its first trip, Accor Hotels fully bought over and redeveloped the brand in 2022, expanding the portfolio of Orient Express to include hotels and even yacht sailings.  As for the original Orient Express carriages – they will be back on railway tracks in 2027, though details are still scant at the moment. So, what should we know about the Orient Express portfolio of hospitality solutions today, and what is next for the firm?  In this episode of Under the Radar “SPECIALS”, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Gilda Perez-Alvarado, Group Chief Strategy Officer of Accor & CEO of Orient Express.