By Roxanne Libatique
Continuum has entered into a partnership with Hong Kong-based broker Freed Capital Group that includes an equity investment, in a move the firms say is intended to expand regulated insurance placement and risk advisory services for technology-related clients in Asian markets.
Continuum, which operates from Singapore and Hong Kong, describes itself as a risk advisory and insurance consultancy focused on complex risks in sectors such as fintech, digital assets, and other technology-based industries. Freed Capital is a licensed commercial insurance broker in Hong Kong with a focus on real estate and other corporate accounts. The companies said the agreement is meant to support clients operating across multiple Asian jurisdictions, with an emphasis on businesses whose activities involve financial lines, cyber, and digital asset exposures.
The collaboration combines Continuum’s work on financial lines, cyber, and digital asset risks with Freed Capital’s licensed broking operations and access to insurers in Hong Kong. “Freed Capital’s investment and partnership represent a meaningful alignment in both capability and long-term vision. As risk becomes increasingly complex and cross-border in nature, we see a clear need for more specialised, integrated advisory. This partnership strengthens our ability to deliver that,” said Rob Russell, founder and director of Continuum.
According to the firms, they are seeing demand from companies whose business models and capital structures extend across borders and do not always sit neatly within standard policy wordings. Digital asset operators, fintech firms, and other technology-based companies can combine operational, cyber, regulatory, and management liability exposures, which may call for program structures that differ from conventional approaches.
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Ted Hodgkinson, CEO of Freed Capital Limited, said the arrangement reflects how those exposures are changing. “Continuum has developed a strong reputation in emerging risk advisory, particularly in areas such as digital assets where conventional insurance frameworks are still evolving. We are pleased to support their continued growth and to work together in expanding access to sophisticated risk solutions in Hong Kong and across the region,” Hodgkinson said.
The firms said the partnership will focus on three areas: expanding regulated placement capabilities in Hong Kong; developing wholesale arrangements for emerging sectors and Asian jurisdictions; and supporting clients with cross-border risk requirements. They expect this to involve work with local and international carriers and to take account of differing regulatory approaches to technology and financial services across Asian markets.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of weaker overall deal activity in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, alongside higher levels of venture financing, according to data from GlobalData. GlobalData’s Financial Deals Database shows that the total number of announced deals in APAC – covering mergers and acquisitions, private equity, and venture financing – declined by about 6% in January and February 2026 compared with the same period in 2025.
By deal type, the trends diverged. The number of M&A deals in APAC fell 32% year on year in the first two months of 2026, while private equity deal volume dropped by more than half. Venture financing deals increased 28% over the same period. Deal activity also varied by market. China recorded a 47% rise in deal volume in January-February 2026 compared with a year earlier. India, Japan, Australia, and South Korea saw deal volumes fall by 5%, 51%, 17%, and 26%, respectively, on a year-on-year basis. GlobalData noted that historic data may be revised as transactions with delayed disclosure are added to the database.
The combination of lower M&A and private equity activity and higher venture deal counts points to a larger share of regional transaction flow coming from earlier-stage and growth investments. That may influence the mix of risks presented to the market, with more business from venture-backed and scaling companies seeking directors’ and officers’, professional indemnity, cyber, and digital asset-related coverage.
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Continuum said the partnership forms part of its development as a data-focused advisory platform serving technology-related and other emerging sectors with multi-jurisdiction operations. The firm advises on insurance and risk in areas including fintech, digital assets, and other technology-led models. Freed Capital provides regulated advisory and placement services in Hong Kong, concentrating on commercial lines and the real estate sector, and works with both local and international insurers.
By linking Continuum’s advisory and analytical capabilities with Freed Capital’s broking license and carrier relationships in Hong Kong, the partnership is intended to structure and place programs for risks such as cyber, financial lines, and digital assets across Asian markets. The firms said this may include wholesale facilities, program designs, and wording changes that take account of regulatory, cyber, and digital asset developments, as well as current transaction trends in APAC. They also said they plan to work with carriers and clients on risk programs for new business models, cross-border operations, and evolving regulatory requirements, as technology-related activity and venture investment continue in parts of the region despite lower M&A and private equity volumes.