Fintech PR
CBC Group’s R-Bridge Announces US$40M Synthetic Royalty-Backed Financing for Mirxes to Advance Global Expansion

– R-Bridge will provide bespoke financing of US$40 million with a synthetic royalty structure and flexible repayment terms
– Financing will accelerate Mirxes, Singapore-based miRNA tech company’s innovation and commercialization of cancer early detection solutions in new markets
– Transaction underscores R-Bridge’s commitment to advancing life sciences innovations and expanding access to high-quality medical care
SINGAPORE, Jan. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — CBC Group’s R-Bridge Healthcare Fund (“R-Bridge”) announces a US$40 million structured financing transaction with Mirxes Pte Ltd., a Singapore-based miRNA technology company specializing in cancer early detection and precision medicine. The financing will provide critical support for Mirxes’ ambitious growth and expansion into key global markets.
Mirxes is a pioneer in developing and commercializing accurate, non-invasive and affordable blood-based miRNA tests for the early detection of cancer and other diseases. Its proprietary product, GASTROClearTM, is the world’s first and only In Vitro Diagnostics (“IVD”) product that has obtained regulatory approval for gastric cancer screening. With a proven 87.5% sensitivity for stage 1 cancers and 75% sensitivity for lesion sizes under 1 cm, GASTROClearTM has set a new benchmark in cancer early detection since the regulatory approval obtained in Singapore in 2019. Furthermore, Mirxes’ recently completed 9,472-strong prospective clinical trial in China demonstrated superior performance on the safety and effectiveness of GASTROClearTM as a novel, accurate and accessible screening solution for gastric cancer.
Mirxes continues to expand its innovative miRNA technology platform, supported by an industry-leading portfolio of over 90 patents and applications. Mirxes is also developing diagnostic solutions for lung, liver, and colorectal cancer, with a strong focus on ramping up operations in high-growth Asia Pacific markets, including Southeast Asia, China and Japan.
The US$40 million synthetic royalty-backed financing provided by R-Bridge is long-term with flexible and customized repayment schedule to meet Mirxes’ near-term strategic priorities. Proceeds from the financing will further accelerate its commercialization efforts in new markets and enable further innovation in its RNA diagnostic technologies.
As the largest healthcare-dedicated asset management firm in Asia, CBC Group manages over US$9 billion of assets. Founded in February 2020, R-Bridge is Asia’s first and only healthcare-dedicated structured financing fund, specializing in providing financing solutions backed by royalties and other cash flows.
Dr. Michael Keyoung, Senior Managing Director & Head of Private Credit and Royalty at CBC Group, said, “With Asia’s aging population along with other factors driving higher cancer incidence, the need for better and earlier cancer detection has become increasingly more urgent and important especially for gastric cancer which is more prevalent among Asian population. By providing this strategic financing, we are enabling Mirxes to scale its innovative miRNA technology platform globally, with potential to revolutionize cancer screening and diagnosis. This financing underscores our mission to support pioneering healthcare solutions that advance innovation and improve lives worldwide.”
“The escalating clinical and socio-economic burden of cancer is driving demand for accurate and accessible cancer early detection tests. We are proud to partner with R-Bridge, who shares a common mission, to deploy innovative cancer screening tests to save lives and healthcare costs,” said Dr. Zhou Lihan, Co-Founder and CEO, Mirxes. “This bespoke, synergistic and multi-faceted partnership with CBC Group is timely and critical to drive Mirxes’ commercial expansion in Asia-Pacific markets and to accelerate our clinical pipeline development.”
About CBC Group and R-Bridge Fund
R-Bridge Healthcare Fund is an affiliate of CBC Group, Asia’s largest healthcare-dedicated asset management firm with an AUM of $9 billion, headquartered in Singapore with offices in U.S., Asia, and Europe. With a diversified, multi-product strategy, CBC Group focuses on platform- building, buyout, private credit and royalties, and real estate, across the healthcare space, including pharmaceutical, biotech, medical technology, and healthcare services.
R-Bridge was founded in 2020 to provide alternative, non-dilutive financing for healthcare companies backed by royalties, revenue interests and other cash flow generated by sales of healthcare products and services in Asia as well as globally, with the intent to generate attractive and non-correlated returns for investors. R-Bridge raised its inaugural fund in 2020 and is currently investing from its successor fund, RBF II.
For more information on CBC Group, please visit www.cbridgecap.com/.
Connect with us on LinkedIn (CBC Group).
About Mirxes
Founded and headquartered in Singapore since 2014, Mirxes is a leading RNA technology company committed to saving lives and reducing healthcare burden through innovative, accurate and accessible cancer early detection tests. Leveraging our proprietary, industry- leading miRNA detection platform, we have pioneered GASTROClear, a regulatory approved, first- and best-in-class blood In Vitro Diagnostic test for screening of gastric cancer. In collaboration with globally renowned academic clinical institutions, we have developed a maturing clinical pipeline of single and multi-cancer tests that covers high incidence and mortality cancers including Lung, Colorectal, Liver, Breast and Pancreatic cancers. Mirxes is commercializing our PCR and NGS based portfolio tests in Southeast Asia, China, Japan and US, supported by an integrated in-house capability of R&D, IVD product manufacturing and clinical diagnostic laboratory services.
For more information, visit https://mirxes.com/.
Follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cbc-groups-r-bridge-announces-us40m-synthetic-royalty-backed-financing-for-mirxes-to-advance-global-expansion-302349180.html
Fintech PR
CGTN: China’s booming ice and snow industry fuels its economic growth

BEIJING, Feb. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Harbin, capital of northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, exemplifies the country’s thriving ice and snow economy.
During the eight-day 2025 Spring Festival holiday from January 28 to February 4, the city has seen booming snow tourism. As an ice-themed park known for its dazzling ice sculptures, Harbin Ice-Snow World attracted over 610,000 visits. In particular, more than 100,000 visits were made on February 1, setting a new record for single-day attendance.
The increasing popularity of the park is partly attributed to the city’s upcoming role as the host of the 9th Asian Winter Games, which will be held from February 7 to 14, marking China’s second major winter sports event following the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony of the 9th Asian Winter Games and host a welcome banquet for foreign leaders in attendance.
Ice and snow economy enters ‘fast lane’
Xi has paid close attention to the development of China’s ice and snow sports and industries, urging efforts to consider ice and snow economy as a new growth point to promote the development of the whole industrial chain involving winter sports and culture, snow-and-ice equipment and tourism.
In recent years, as winter sports and tourism surged in popularity across China, the ice and snow economy has witnessed significant growth.
According to the General Administration of Sport of China, the number of people participating in various ice and snow sports such as skating, skiing, curling and ice hockey nationwide reached 57.35 million in the 2023-2024 snow season. Over 385 million winter leisure visits nationwide were recorded, marking a 38 percent increase from the previous year.
During the last snow season, Harbin alone welcomed over 87 million visitors, marking a 300 percent year-on-year increase and generating 124.8 billion yuan (about $17.4 billion) in tourism revenue – a staggering 500 percent growth.
Meanwhile, the ice and snow consumption is becoming an important growth point to expand domestic demand, transforming the “cold” resources into “hot” engine for economic development.
According to online shopping and tourism platforms, orders for ice and snow equipment surged, while searches and bookings for ice and snow tours saw rapid growth during the “Double 11” shopping festival last year.
On China’s leading e-commerce platform, Tmall, sales of categories such as down jackets, thermal wear and skiing equipment surged by over 200 percent year on year during the “Double 11” shopping festival.
Broad prospects
To harness its abundant ice and snow resources for economic development, China is intensifying efforts to expand its winter economy, encompassing sports, culture, equipment, and tourism.
According to the guidelines issued by the General Office of the State Council, the country aims to promote its ice and snow economy as a new growth point, with the goal of reaching an economic scale of 1.2 trillion yuan (about $169 billion) by 2027, and 1.5 trillion yuan by 2030.
To achieve these goals, various cities and regions are integrating winter sports and tourism into their development plans.
The Heilongjiang Province is promoting the establishment of a China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization winter sports demonstration zone, expediting the development of ice-and-snow equipment and digital industry parks.
In Beijing, the city has launched an action plan, proposing 24 specific measures in areas such as expanding the ice and snow sports and consumption, and advancing the construction of ice and snow venue facilities.
The vigorous growth of the ice and snow economy has also drawn global attention. A slew of measures, including optimizing the visa-free policy and opening new international flight routes, have attracted a number of foreign tourists to start their “China Travel” and enjoy the winter season in the country.
China’s thriving ice and snow economy has also injected new momentum into the global tourism market, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Thursday, extending a warm invitation to friends from around the world to participate in ice and snow events, fostering friendship and cooperation.
For more information, please click:
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-02-06/China-s-booming-ice-and-snow-industry-fuels-its-economic-growth–1ALQPnOkxO0/p.html
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cgtn-chinas-booming-ice-and-snow-industry-fuels-its-economic-growth-302371001.html
Fintech PR
SM Investments Recognized for Landmark Capital Market Deal

PASAY CITY, Philippines, Feb. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — SM Investments Corporation (SM Investments), the parent company of the SM Group, has been awarded the “Philippine Capital Market Deal of the Year” by International Financing Review Asia (IFR Asia) for its successful issuance of a USD500 million five-year bond in 2024. This recognition underscores SM Investments’ leadership in the capital markets and the strong confidence of global investors in the company’s financial strength.
IFR Asia cited SM Investments’ return to the US dollar bond market after a decade-long absence as a significant development for the Philippine corporate sector. The transaction, which was the largest five-year deal by a Philippine corporate in 2024, reopened the market amid volatile conditions and achieved competitive pricing at 35 basis points.
“This landmark transaction represents a major milestone for both SM Investments and the Philippine capital markets. The strong demand from investors reflects confidence in Philippine corporate issuers and underscores SM’s reputation as a stable and well-managed investment option,” said Erwin G. Pato, Executive Vice President for Treasury, Finance, and Planning at SM Investments Corporation.
IFR Asia noted that SM Investments’ bond issuance attracted significant investor interest, given the relative scarcity of corporate issuances from the Philippines in recent years. The transaction also marked SM Investments’ first bond issuance since its USD350 million 10-year note in June 2014.
The deal was arranged by leading global financial institutions, with HSBC, JP Morgan, Standard Chartered, and UBS acting as joint lead managers and joint bookrunners. BDO Capital and Chinabank Capital also participated as joint lead managers.
International Financing Review Asia is a respected source of news and analysis on capital markets and investment banking, reinforcing the credibility of this recognition.
SM Investments’ achievement highlights its commitment to financial excellence and its role in strengthening investor confidence in the Philippine market.
About SM Investments Corporation
SM Investments Corporation is one of the leading Philippine companies that is invested in market-leading businesses in retail, banking, and property. It also invests in ventures that capture high growth opportunities in the emerging Philippine economy.
SM’s retail operations are the country’s largest and most diversified, consisting of grocery stores, department stores and specialty retail stores. SM’s property arm, SM Prime Holdings, Inc., is the largest integrated property developer in the Philippines with interests in malls, residences, offices, hotels, and convention centers as well as tourism-related property developments. SM’s interests in banking are in BDO Unibank, Inc., the country’s largest bank, and China Banking Corporation, the fourth largest private domestic bank.
For more information, please visit www.sminvestments.com
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sm-investments-recognized-for-landmark-capital-market-deal-302370993.html
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BRI UMKM EXPO(RT) 2025 Officially Concludes, Attracting Over 63,000 Visitors and Securing USD 90.6 Million in Export Contracts

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Feb. 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — PT Bank Rakyat Indonesia (Persero) Tbk. (IDX: BBRI) successfully concluded BRI UMKM EXPO(RT) 2025, reinforcing its commitment to empowering MSMEs and expanding their global market reach. Held from January 30 to February 2, 2025, at ICE BSD City, the event attracted over 63,000 visitors, generated IDR 38.9 billion in transactions, and secured USD 90.6 million in export contracts through business matching. The closing ceremony was led by BRI President Director Sunarso.
A Platform for Global MSME Expansion
With the theme “Broadening MSME’s Global Outreach”, the event showcased 1,000 top Indonesian MSMEs ready for the international market. The closing ceremony was attended by BRI Vice President Director Catur Budi Harto. BRI President Director Sunarso highlighted the expo’s success in raising awareness of local MSME products, exceeding its initial target of 50,000 visitors.
By February 1, 2025, transactions hit IDR 38.9 billion, exceeding expectations. Sunarso reaffirmed BRI’s commitment to MSMEs, with business matching continuing through 2025 in partnership with the Ministry of Trade, holding twice-monthly sessions to boost exports.
This year’s BRI UMKM EXPO(RT) 2025 saw the participation of 506 registered buyers from 34 countries, significantly exceeding the initial target of 94 buyers from 33 countries.
So far, 166 MSMEs have engaged in 270 business meetings, one of the standout success stories is PT Siger Jaya Abadi, which secured a USD 13.05 million export deal with Bluestar Food Corporation, USA.
BRI UMKM Awards: Honoring Top MSMEs
BRI recognized outstanding businesses in three categories:
1. Top Deals on Business Matching
For MSMEs achieving the highest potential transactions in business matching sessions:
- Bintang Kita Kemuliaan (Food & Beverage)
- Albasi Karang Layung (Home Décor & Craft)
- Gula Aren Temon (Food & Beverage)
2. Newcomers on Business Matching
For first-time exporters who successfully secured international buyers:
- Rumah Atsiri Indonesia (Healthcare & Wellness)
- Minyak Sacha Inchi (Food & Beverage)
- Organic Center (Food & Beverage)
3. Best Expo
For MSMEs demonstrating outstanding export readiness and digital adoption:
- Sila Agri Inovasi (Food & Beverage)
- Pelita Lumpang Mas (Food & Beverage)
- Restu Mande (Food & Beverage)
These awards highlight BRI’s commitment to empowering MSMEs globally while advancing financial literacy and inclusion.
For more details on BRI UMKM EXPO(RT) 2025, visit briumkmexport.com.
For more information about BANK BRI, visit www.bri.co.id.
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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bri-umkm-export-2025-officially-concludes-attracting-over-63-000-visitors-and-securing-usd-90-6-million-in-export-contracts-302370823.html
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