8th Asian Captive Conference convened regulators, industry leaders and risk professionals to discuss developments and the future of global captive insurance
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The 8th Asian Captive Conference (ACC) 2026 yesterday brought together more than 300 risk and industry professionals from the region and beyond to explore how captive insurance is enabling businesses to refine their risk management strategy amid an uncertain and multi-faceted operating environment. The conference was co-organised by Labuan IBFC Incorporated Sdn. Bhd. (Labuan IBFC Inc.) and the Labuan International Insurance Association (LIIA).
The conference highlighted the growing role of captives in strengthening resilience, enhancing risk-financing control and addressing emerging risks. This growing interest was reflected in the diverse delegate profile, spanning regulators, multinational corporations, and representatives from the captive insurance ecosystem, underscoring the increasing recognition of captive insurance as a strategic risk-financing solution.
The conference opened with a welcome address by Ben Quah, CEO of Labuan IBFC Inc., who noted the growing recognition of captives as a strategic tool for managing complex risks. "A captive is no longer simply an alternative mechanism for financing predictable or difficult-to-place risks. Increasingly, it is becoming a strategic instrument that enables organisations to understand their risks more deeply, respond with greater flexibility and retain greater control over how those risks are financed," he said.
This was followed by a keynote address by Affendi Rashdi, Director-General of the Labuan Financial Services Authority (Labuan FSA), who highlighted the evolving role of captives in addressing increasingly complex risks and strengthening resilience. "We may not be able to eliminate volatility, but we can be better prepared for it. Volatility may be unavoidable - but vulnerability does not have to be," he elaborated.
The conference witnessed the launch of the LIIA Women in Captive Insurance, Asia's first dedicated industry network for women in the captive insurance sector. The initiative aims to advance female talent through mentorship, leadership development and cross-border knowledge exchange, with Affendi Rashdi, Director-General of the Labuan FSA, named as its inaugural Male Ally Champion.
The flagship panel, "Unlocking Captive Potential: Regulatory Perspectives from Asia and Emerging Markets," comprising regulators from Labuan IBFC, Hong Kong and Singapore, reinforced the importance of closer regional engagement and continued alignment between regulators and industry stakeholders to support the sustainable growth of captive markets across Asia.
ACC 2026 also featured an industry dialogue with experts from Labuan IBFC, China and Hong Kong which highlighted the increasing relevance of captive structures for Chinese businesses expanding internationally, particularly as companies seek greater control and diversification in managing cross-border and emerging risks.
The afternoon programme explored developments in captive takaful, employee benefits captives and emerging technologies, highlighting new opportunities for organisations to enhance risk management, efficiency and tailor their risk-financing strategies beyond traditional property and casualty applications.
The conference concluded with an executive panel exploring how captives and parametric insurance can complement traditional programmes to address climate, energy transition and other emerging risks, providing greater flexibility and resilience in risk financing.
Annie Undikai, Chairwoman of LIIA, delivered the closing remarks and underscored the importance of people and collaboration in shaping a stronger captive insurance industry. "Capital builds captives, but people, ideas, and relationships shape the future of captive insurance," she commented.
The 8th Asian Captive Conference reaffirmed the importance of continued regulatory dialogue, industry collaboration and innovation in strengthening Asia's captive insurance ecosystem. As organisations face increasingly interconnected and unpredictable risks, captives are emerging as an increasingly strategic tool for building resilience and developing more responsive and sustainable risk-financing strategies.
For more information on Asia's premier international financial hub, visit www.labuanibfc.com.
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Asian Captive Conference 2026 Highlights How Captives Are Utilised as Businesses Navigate Risks
Newly formed luxury watch company brings together three businesses and their complementary expertise, with plans to build a leading office-based watch dealership in Singapore and Asia
SINGAPORE, Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- WorthyTime Holdings Pte Ltd announced its entry into Singapore's luxury watch market, bringing together three previously independent businesses under a single company focused on creating a more welcoming and memorable experience for luxury watch buyers and collectors.
Established in 2026, WorthyTime represents the combination of three private limited companies whose founders identified an opportunity to bring their complementary strengths together. While WorthyTime itself is newly formed, Co-Founder Mr Feng Wei said the individuals behind the business each bring approximately five years of experience in the watch market.
The launch marks a new chapter for Mr Feng and his partners as they seek to establish WorthyTime as a destination for customers looking to buy, sell and trade luxury watches in Singapore.
The company has also set a long-term ambition of becoming one of the largest office-based watch dealers in Singapore and, eventually, across Asia over the next decade.
"We want to be a safe space for people to buy their luxury watches, and we want to make it fun, enjoyable and memorable for them as well," said Mr Feng Wei, Co-Founder of WorthyTime Holdings Pte Ltd.
Bringing Three Businesses Together Under WorthyTime
The formation of WorthyTime follows the decision by three previously separate businesses to combine their capabilities after recognising that their individual strengths could complement one another.
For Mr Feng, this collaboration has already become one of the company's most important early achievements.
"I think we have managed to produce an output that is more than what we would have created individually," Mr Feng said. "Usually one plus one equals two, but for us, one plus one plus one is more like four because of the synergy that we have managed to create."
The newly consolidated business provides customers with access to a mix of pre-owned and unworn watches, bringing together the complementary experience and expertise of the businesses behind WorthyTime.
A Different Kind of Luxury Watch Experience
Alongside announcing the company's formation, WorthyTime is introducing a customer experience built around making luxury watch transactions feel less intimidating and less overtly sales-driven.
Mr Feng said the business was created in response to what he saw as an opportunity to provide customers with a comfortable environment in which the experience of purchasing a watch could become part of the memory attached to the timepiece itself.
"We tried to make it less salesy. We want it to be a friendly environment, so that they enjoy the process, they remember us and they come back to us more in the future," he said.
This approach extends beyond first-time purchases.
WorthyTime aims to develop long-term relationships with customers as their collections evolve, providing a place where they can return to purchase another watch or explore opportunities to sell or trade existing pieces.
"We want people to enjoy their visit with us," Mr Feng said. "We want returning customers to smile, to know that this is the place to be when they want to buy, sell or trade their watches."
From Personal Passion to Entrepreneurship
The launch of WorthyTime also represents the latest stage in Mr Feng's own entrepreneurial journey.
His interest in watches began as a passion while he was at university. After graduating, he entered a conventional nine-to-five career but continued pursuing his interest in watches outside of his full-time employment.
His enjoyment of watches and interacting with customers eventually encouraged him to pursue the industry more seriously and build something of his own for the long term.
WorthyTime did not, however, emerge from Mr Feng's first attempt at entrepreneurship.
Mr Feng describes the business as his fourth attempt at starting a watch dealership. Previous attempts gave him experience in identifying suitable watches, markets and customer demographics—lessons that he believes contributed to the development of WorthyTime.
That experience has shaped the persistence he now associates with entrepreneurship.
"If it's something that you're passionate about, you should give it a shot," Mr Feng said. "Always be consistent and don't give up."
Early Momentum for the Newly Launched Brand
Although WorthyTime was only established in 2026, the company has begun seeing early signs of growing brand awareness.
Mr Feng points to the development of WorthyTime's social media presence as one of the milestones he is most proud of since launching the company.
The increased visibility has resulted in people approaching the business for interviews and making enquiries about employment opportunities developments Mr Feng sees as encouraging indications that the WorthyTime name is beginning to gain recognition.
For Mr Feng personally, building WorthyTime has also meant adapting from life as an employee to the responsibilities of leading a company.
"Coming from a nine-to-five background, now individually I don't have somebody telling me what to do," he said. "I need to be the one that takes charge and takes initiative."
The transition, he added, has brought greater accountability and responsibility for determining how the company develops.
WorthyTime Sets Its Sights on Singapore and Asia
With the company now established, WorthyTime is looking beyond its initial launch.
Mr Feng's longer-term vision is to develop WorthyTime into one of Singapore's leading office-based luxury watch dealers before expanding its presence and recognition more broadly across Asia.
The company is approaching that ambition through a combination of industry experience, the complementary capabilities of its founders and a customer experience designed around relationships rather than individual transactions.
For WorthyTime, that means creating a business where buying a first luxury watch can mark the beginning of a longer relationship that may continue as customers buy, sell and trade watches throughout their collecting journey.
"We want to be one of, if not the largest office-based watch dealer in Singapore and in Asia, hopefully in the next 10 years," Mr Feng said.
About WorthyTime Holdings Pte Ltd
WorthyTime Holdings Pte Ltd is a Singapore-based luxury watch company established in 2026 following the combination of three previously independent businesses. Bringing together complementary experience in the watch market, WorthyTime offers pre-owned and unworn luxury watches and provides customers with opportunities to buy, sell and trade timepieces.
The company is focused on creating a friendly, comfortable and memorable luxury watch experience while building long-term relationships with collectors and customers.
WorthyTime Holdings Pte Ltd
Website: https://worthytime.com/
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WorthyTime Holdings Pte Ltd Announces Launch in Singapore's Luxury Watch Market
