Financial Services
VCs to exit New Zealand-based software developer
Canada’s Lightspeed POS, a global technology supplier for consumer-facing businesses, has agreed to buy New Zealand retail software player Vend for $350 million. It sets up several VC exits.
Jungle joins $46m Series D for India's Turtlemint
Indian online insurance broker Turtlemint has closed its Series D round at $46 million following a significant contribution from early-stage investor Jungle Ventures.
Allianz leads $75m round for Hong Kong's WeLab
Allianz Group has led a $75 million round for Hong Kong’s WeLab with a view to helping the financial technology provider develop new insurance and investment products.
TA backs Australia ETF manager BetaShares
TA Associates has added to its Australia and New Zealand financial services portfolio with an investment in BetaShares, an Australia-based exchange-traded fund (ETF) manager.
India’s Zolve raises $15m seed round
Accel and Lightspeed Venture Partners have led a $15 million seed round for Zolve, an India-based digital bank focused on cross-border services.
PE-backed Arohan Financial Services files for India IPO
Arohan Financial Services, an Indian microfinance institution (MFI) that was acquired by Aavishkaar Group in 2012 and went on to receive funding from several other PE investors, has filed for a domestic IPO.
India's KreditBee secures $75m Series C
Premji Invest, Mirae Asset Capital, Alpine Capital and Arkam Ventures have contributed $75 million in Series C funding for Indian financial technology start-up KreditBee.
Q&A: Bain & Company's Henrik Naujoks
Henrik Naujoks, Bain & Company’s financial services lead for Asia, observes that investors must not ignore the increasing cohesion of the Greater Bay Area despite a relative lack of near-term gambits
AVCJ Awards 2020: Exit of the Year - IPO: SBI Card
The Carlyle Group helps SBI Card win its place in the ongoing rise of digital India before realizing a landmark domestic IPO. Coordination with State Bank of India has been crucial
Deal focus: iStox finds firmer footing
A clutch of Japanese investors has validated iStox’s blockchain-enabled digital securities marketplace. Now the Singapore-based start-up is taking the idea to new markets
PE-owned Aadhar Housing Finance files for India IPO
Aadhar Housing Finance, an Indian affordable housing lender acquired by The Blackstone Group in 2019, is looking to raise up to INR73 billion ($1 billion) through a domestic IPO.
Singapore's iStox raises $50m Series A
A group of Japanese VC investors has backed a $50 million Series A round for Singapore’s iStox, a digital securities platform that deals in private markets.
Navis invests in Singapore fintech supplier Moneythor
Navis Capital Partners has made an investment of undisclosed size in Moneythor, a Singapore financial technology supplier focused on digital banking.
Australia's VC-backed Xpansiv raises $40m pre-IPO round
Australia and US-based Xpansiv CBL, a VC-backed marketplace for clean commodities such as carbon offsets and renewable fuels, has raised $40 million with plans to list in Sydney this year.
Hanwha leads $300m Series A for Grab's financial unit
Korea’s Hanwha Asset Management has led a $300 million Series A round for the financial services unit of Singapore-based ride-hailing and services platform Grab.
Indonesian stockbroker Ajaib raises $25m Series A
Horizons Ventures, which is controlled by Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing, and Indonesia’s Alpha JWC Ventures have led a $25 million Series A round for Indonesian investment platform Ajaib.
India B2B marketplace Udaan raises $280m
Udaan, an India-based B2B marketplace, has raised $280 million from an investor group that includes existing backers Lightspeed Venture Partners, Tencent Holdings, DST Global, GGV Capital, and Altimeter Capital.
Sequoia India leads $30m round for Indonesia's Bibit
Sequoia Capital India has led a $30 million investment in Bibit, an Indonesian robo-advisory app for first-time investors.
Singapore's VC-backed GoBear to wind down
GoBear, a Singaporean financial technology start-up that received VC backing as recently as May, will cease operations and begin a phased closure of the business, citing pandemic-related disruption.
Sequoia joins $81m Series C for India’s Cred
Sequoia Capital India has joined an $81 million Series C round for India’s Cred, a credit card rewards start-up also known as Dreamplug Technologies.
Apax buys software business from India's 3i Infotech
Apax Partners has agreed to acquire the software products business of Indian IT provider 3i Infotech for INR10 billion ($136.6 million). It will be renamed Azentio Software.
Australia home solar fintech start-up raises $73m
Grok Ventures, an investment firm set up by Atlassian co-founder Mike Cannon-Brookes, has led a A$100 million ($73 million) round for Australian household solar energy financier Brighte.
Asia Partners leads $30m Series D for Malaysia's Carsome
Singapore-based Asia Partners has a led a $30 million all-equity Series D round for Malaysian used car trading platform Carsome.
Deal focus: Cashfree targets merchants in India’s payments boom
Apis Partners' support of India-based Cashfree is driven by a recognition that the democratization of digital payments is as much about empowering traditional merchants as unbanked consumers