SINGAPORE, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- FWD Singapore Pte. Ltd. ("FWD") and Ascend Asia Financial Services Group ("Ascend Asia") have signed a long-term strategic partnership to strengthen financial advisory distribution and broaden access to quality financial advice in Singapore. The partnership will provide customers with enhanced financial advice and broader access to insurance and investment solutions through Ascend Asia's open architecture financial advisory platform.
This partnership brings together FWD's customer-led product capabilities and digital servicing strengths with Ascend Asia's governance framework, adviser network and technology-enabled platform. It aims to support the continued evolution of Singapore's advisory landscape and deliver greater value to customers over the long-term.
Ascend Asia's customers across the retail, mass affluent and high-net-worth ("HNW") segments have access to FWD's full suite of solutions available to financial advisory firms, including life insurance, investment-linked products and HNW offerings. Customers will also benefit from a wider selection of investment options, with Ascend Asia Asset Management funds now included as sub-funds on FWD's investment-linked product portfolio. Both organisations will also collaborate on selected analytics and technology initiatives to generate deeper insights into customer needs, facilitate product innovation and enhance advisory tools.
Operating fully within the open architecture financial advisory ecosystem, FWD aims to support the industry's shift towards greater transparency, disciplined governance and technology-enabled advisory processes.
Adrian Vincent, Chief Executive Officer of FWD Singapore, said, "As the open architecture financial advisory model gains momentum in Singapore, our partnership with Ascend Asia, alongside our longstanding collaboration with IPP Financial Advisers, reflects FWD's commitment to raising the standard of financial planning. With consumers becoming increasingly discerning about how they access financial advice and ongoing support, we are confident in the future of the open architecture model and congratulate Ascend Asia on its investment in strengthening the independent financial advisory ecosystem.
With Singapore becoming a super-aged society, facing a significant critical illness protection gap and strengthening its position as a global wealth hub, these partnerships will further enable us to meet evolving customer needs at scale."
Tomas Urbanec, Chief Executive Officer of Ascend Asia, said, "Our mission is to empower our member firms with the strategic investment, structure and tools they need to thrive and support their clients along their wealth journeys. Close collaboration with our partners in areas like product and customer proposition development extends choice for customers and amplifies the impact of our open architecture model. This partnership with FWD broadens access to a strong range of customer-focused solutions and technology-enabled experiences for advisers on the Ascend Asia platform, and we look forward to unlocking superior outcomes for our member firms' advisers and clients."
The partnership was formally commemorated with a celebratory event held at the newly launched Ascend Asia Wealth Centre. The event brought together senior leaders from FWD Singapore, FWD Group, Ascend Asia and representatives from Ascend Asia's member firms. Attendees included Mr Adrian Vincent, CEO of FWD Singapore; Mr Tomas Urbanec, CEO of Ascend Asia; Mr Binayak Dutta, Senior MD, SouthEast Asia, FWD Group; together with management team of FWD Singapore and Ascend Asia member firms.
This event marked the start of the long-term strategic partnership and reaffirming the shared commitment of all parties to strengthening Singapore's open architecture financial advisory ecosystem through closer collaboration, innovation and customer-centric advice.
About FWD Singapore
FWD Singapore is part of FWD Group, a pan-Asian life and health insurance business that serves approximately 40 million customers across 10 markets and is listed on the main board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code 1828. In Singapore, FWD started operations in 2016, becoming one of the first insurers to offer a direct-to-consumer (DTC) platform for purchasing preferred life and general insurance products online. Further expanding its omnichannel presence, FWD partners with a network of preferred Financial Advisory (FA) firms, international brokers, and banks to widen customer reach. In 2024, FWD set up its second insurance license in Singapore under the FWD Private brand for a dedicated high-net-worth (HNW) insurance offering.
For more information, please visit www.fwd.com.sg.
About Ascend Asia Financial Services Group
Launched in 2025, Ascend Asia Financial Services Group ("Ascend Asia") is committed to elevating the quality of financial advisory services in Singapore and beyond. Today, Ascend Asia comprises a network of financial advisory member firms and a dedicated asset management firm. Ascend Asia supports its member firms in scaling sustainably through strategic investment, industry expertise, and technology. Through an open-architecture platform, member firms and their financial consultants are empowered with a comprehensive range of solutions and tools to deliver personalised financial advice – enabling clients to make informed decisions that best meet their needs.
Issued on behalf of FWD Insurance Singapore by Redhill Communications.
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
FWD Singapore and Ascend Asia sign long-term strategic partnership to strengthen financial advisory distribution in Singapore
Partnership Will Accelerate GracoRoberts' Growth as a Trusted Supplier of Mission-Critical Materials to the Global Aerospace and Defense Industry
ARLINGTON, Texas, July 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- GracoRoberts ("GracoRoberts" or the "Company"), a leading value-added distributor of specialty chemicals and advanced composite materials to the aerospace and defense industry, today announced a strategic investment from Tinicum, L.P. and affiliated funds managed by Tinicum Incorporated ("Tinicum"). GracoRoberts' management team is retaining a significant interest in the Company and will continue to lead the business.
Headquartered in Arlington, Texas, GracoRoberts is the largest, fastest and most technically-focused specialty chemicals distributor serving the global aerospace & defense market. The Company supports customers through an omnichannel model that combines industry-leading eCommerce capabilities with highly specialized technical sales expertise. It offers a broad range of adhesives, sealants, coatings, composites, and other specialty chemicals, paired with unmatched technical support and customer service. Additionally, the Company provides a defense logistics and compliance program offering end-to-end supply chain management for military operations, along with value-added services such as custom kitting, labeling, repackaging, cold storage, and vendor-managed inventory solutions.
"Tinicum shares our commitment to our people, our partners, and the long-term success of this business," said Jason Caldwell, Chief Executive Officer of GracoRoberts. "This partnership provides additional resources to invest in our team, strengthen our capabilities, and continue delivering exceptional value to the customer and supplier partners we serve. We are incredibly proud of what our employees have built over the past decade alongside financial partner CM Equity Partners, and we are excited to build on that foundation in this next chapter of growth."
"We greatly admire the business that the GracoRoberts team has built. It is distinguished by the team's technical depth, unwavering commitment to customer service, and longstanding partnerships with the world's leading material manufacturers," said Erik Blumenkranz, Partner at Tinicum. "We intend to invest behind that foundation with a long-term mindset — in the people, the capabilities, and the platform," added Roddy Cruz, Partner at Tinicum. "It is exactly the kind of durable, market-leading business we seek to partner with."
"It has been a privilege to partner with the GracoRoberts management team over the past 11 years," said Jeffrey Mark, Managing Partner at CM Equity Partners. "Working together, we executed a value creation strategy centered on strategic acquisitions, operational excellence, and sustained organic growth, transforming GracoRoberts into the market-leading company it is today. We are proud of what the team has accomplished and believe the Company is exceptionally well positioned for continued success with Tinicum."
Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Harris Williams served as exclusive financial advisor, and Holland & Knight LLP served as legal counsel to GracoRoberts and CM Equity Partners. Goodwin Procter LLP served as legal counsel to Tinicum.
About GracoRoberts
GracoRoberts (www.gracoroberts.com) is the largest, fastest, and most technically-focused specialty chemicals distributor serving the global aerospace & defense market. As a full-service supplier of complex engineered materials for aerospace and defense segments, composites, electronics, and other advanced manufacturing industries, GracoRoberts is fully AS, ISO, and CMMC II certified and authorized to distribute over 50 specialty chemical brands including 3M, AkzoNobel, Eastman, ExxonMobil, Henkel, Hexcel, Huntsman, Momentive, Resin Formulators, and more. The Company — made up of parent GracoRoberts, Silmid, SkyGeek, Pacific Coast Composites, and Sky Mart — serves thousands of customers worldwide and differentiates by adding value: services include world-class eCommerce, global distribution, custom formulation, specialty packaging, vendor managed inventory, intermix and kitting services, defense logistics and compliance, and an on-site, staffed chemical laboratory and testing facility.
About Tinicum
Tinicum, founded in 1974 as a family investment office, is a private partnership that manages a diversified group of manufacturing, distribution, and industrial technology companies. It seeks to be the trusted partner of business owners and executives who share its belief that long-term prosperity can be created by teams of capable, honest people working together and investing diligently to fulfill the potential of great businesses. For more information, visit www.tinicum.com.
About CM Equity Partners
CM Equity Partners ("CMEP"), based in New York, NY, provides capital to the US Federal government solutions and aerospace and defense industries. Founded in 1992, CMEP partners with management teams to build enduring value by leveraging its industry knowledge, relationships, operating experience, and its corporate finance, M&A, and private equity expertise. CMEP employs an active and collaborative management approach, developing long-term strategic plans and guiding decisions on re-investment of profits to grow and broaden a company's revenue base and capabilities. CMEP's investments are structured with flexibility across a broad spectrum of the capital structure, including equity, structured equity, and mezzanine debt. For more information, visit www.cmequity.com.
Media Contact
Allison Lombardo
Chief Marketing Officer
GracoRoberts
alombardo@gracoroberts.com
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
GracoRoberts Announces Strategic Investment from Tinicum
