Financials
Singapore fintech start-up LXA gets $10m seed round
New Enterprise Associates (NEA) has led a USD 10m seed round for Singapore’s LXA, a financial technology start-up launched by a former Asia senior executive at The Blackstone Group.
India's InCred announces $60m round, claims unicorn status
Indian non-bank lender InCred Financial Services said it has received INR 5bn (USD 60m) at a valuation of at least USD 1bn from unnamed investors including “a global private equity fund.”
Japan's LayerX extends Series A to $67.5m
Japanese enterprise billing and invoicing software provider LayerX has raised JPY 2bn (USD 13.2m) from Hong Kong’s Keyrock Capital Management, lifting its Series A round to around USD 67.5m
Deal focus: True North to end 13-year journey with Fincare
Indian private equity firm True North took advantage of regulatory reforms to convert Fincare SFB from a non-bank into a bank. A merger with listed peer AU SFB will finally deliver an exit
Japanese digital alternatives platform gets pre-Series A
Luca, a Japan-based fundraising platform that aims to give local high net worth investors access to alternatives, has received seed-stage funding from VC investors.
Aramaco backs Singapore clean energy certificates player
Aramaco Ventures, a VC unit of Saudi oil giant Aramaco, has led a USD 10m Series A round for Singapore’s Redex, an early mover regionally in renewable energy certificates (RECs).
PE-backed Fincare Bank to merge with listed Indian lender
India’s Fincare Small Finance Bank (Fincare SFB), which is backed by the likes of TA Associates, True North, LeapFrog Investments, and Tata Opportunities Fund, has agreed to merge with listed lender Au Small Finance Bank (Au SFB). The combined entity...
Flourish Ventures secures $350m in new funding
Flourish Ventures, a US-based emerging markets financial technology investor with a strong Asia focus, has secured USD 350m for future deployments from its sole LP, eBay founder Pierre Omidyar.
Faering invests $30m in India's Vastu, Multiples exits
Faering Capital has invested USD 30m in India’s Vastu Housing Finance, facilitating an exit for Multiples Alternate Asset Management.
India's InsuranceDekho raises $60m
Indian online insurance policy comparison and brokerage service InsuranceDekho has raised USD 60m in a Series B round featuring Goldman Sachs.
IFC leads $24m Series B for India's Onsurity
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has led a USD 24m Series B round for Indian employee healthcare insurance start-up Onsurity.
Hong Kong blockchain fund raises $100m
Hong Kong blockchain specialist CMCC Global has reached a first close on its latest financial technology and web3 fund, raising the full targeted amount of USD 100m.
LeapFrog eyes February close, claims significant progress on fundraise
Impact investor LeapFrog Investments expects to close its fourth flagship fund in February, with a source close to the situation adding that "a significant share" of the targeted USD 1bn has already been raised.
Indonesia fintech platform Investree gets $231m Series D
Investree Group, operator of a series of lending platforms that target micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Southeast Asia, has raised EUR 220m (USD 231m) in Series D funding.
Deal focus: Bolttech benefits from running start
Bolttech has pieced together one of the world’s largest digital insurance broking platforms through targeted acquisitions. Now, increased emphasis is attached to expansion from broking into underwriting
True North agrees $326m India health insurance exit
True North has agreed to sell about 20% of its stake in Indian insurance company Niva Bupa to its UK-based joint venture partner, Bupa, for approximately INR 27bn (USD 326m).
Leapfrog invests $50m in Singapore's Bolttech
LeapFrog Investments has invested USD 50m in Singapore’s Bolttech, the insurance technology business of Pacific Century Group.
Hong Kong virtual insurer Bowtie gets $35m Series B
Hong Kong digital life insurance company Bowtie has closed a USD 34.9m Series B round led by the local unit of Sun Life Financial.
Japanese insurer ups stake in PE-backed Singapore Life
Sumitomo Life will become the largest shareholder in Singapore Life (Singlife) – an insurer also backed by TPG Capital – having agreed to acquire Aviva’s 25.9% stake in the business for GBP 800m (USD 999m).
Fund focus: 500 Global scales up in Southeast Asia
By investing early and building a diversified portfolio, 500 Global emerged from the technology valuation corrections somewhat unscathed. This gave the firm impetus when raising its third Southeast Asia fund
GP profile: Quona Capital
Financial innovation-focused Quona Capital operates across global developing markets with a compact team and a strict returns-focused impact agenda. Asia dominates the growth narrative
GPs make partial exits from India's Five Star Business Finance
TPG Capital, Matrix Partners India, and Norwest Venture Partners have sold a combined 29.6m shares in India-listed Five Star Business Finance representing about 10% of its total equity.
Vietnam's VNG files for US IPO
Vietnam-based VNG, operator of the country’s largest mobile game publishing platform and largest messaging app, has filed for an IPO in the US.
Korea Credit Data raises $75m, achieves unicorn status
Korea Credit Data (KCD), the operator of a super app aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), has raised KRW 100bn (USD 75.7m) at a valuation of KRW 1.3trn (USD 1bn).