Financial Services
KKR, Tencent lead $175m investment in PLDT fintech unit
KKR and Tencent Holdings have led a $175 million investment in a financial technology unit of Philippines telecom giant PLDT. It is said to be the largest ever investment in a local technology company.
Venturra leads $26m round for Philippines' First Circle
Venturra Capital has led a $26 million Series A round for First Circle, a Philippines-based lending platform operator focused on small to medium-sized enterprises (SME).
Japan payments player Origami raises $60m Series C
Origami, a Tokyo-based mobile payments platform, has raised JPY6.6 billion ($60 million) in Series C funding from investors including SBI Investment, Union Pay International, Mitsui Sumitomo Card, and Credit Saison.
Indonesia fintech platform raises $24m Series B
Sequoia Capital India has led a $24 million Series B round for Moka, a developer of cloud-based point-of-sale (POS) systems based in Jakarta.
Vertex, Sistema lead $30m Series C for India's Kissht
Vertex Ventures, the VC arm of Temasek Holdings, has led a $30 million Series C round for Indian financial technology platform Kissht alongside Russian VC investor Sistema Asia Fund.
Australia's NAB commits $36m to VC fund
National Australia Bank (NAB), has committed an additional A$50 million ($36 million) to its venture capital unit for investments in financial technology companies through 2020.
Myanmar's Anthem reaches first close on SME fund
Myanmar private equity firm Anthem Asia has reached a first close of $34.5 million on its debut fund, which will invest locally in small to medium-sized enterprises (SME).
SoftBank Vision Fund forms JV with Chinese insurer Zhong An
SoftBank Vision Fund has entered into a technology development joint venture (JV) with Zhong An, a PE-backed Chinese insurance company. It will see each party contribute $100 million.
Visa joins Series C for Japan fintech player Paidy
Visa has committed an undisclosed amount to a Series C funding round for Paidy, a Japanese financial technology company with several VC and corporate backers.
Chinese fintech start-up Blackfish gets $50m
A group of VCs including Lightspeed Venture Partners has invested $50 million in Blackfish Technology, a Chinese financial technology start-up offering a range of retail banking services.
Deal focus: Vietnam’s Sendo embraces B2C
A number of Japanese investors are supporting Vietnamese C2C e-commerce player Sendo as it diversifies operations with a B2C marketplace and mobile payments platform
Vietnam e-commerce player Sendo gets $51m Series B
Sen Do Technology (Sendo), a Vietnamese e-commerce company that operates a C2C platform and payment service, has secured $51 million in Series B funding led by Japan’s SBI Group.
China's GSR to invest $405m in US-based Overstock
Chinese private equity firm GSR Capital has agreed to invest up to $405 million in US-listed online retailer Overstock.com and its financial technology subsidiary tZero through three separate transactions.
India's Epiq closes first three investments
Epiq Capital, an India-focused private equity firm founded by Matrix Partners India co-founder Rishi Navani, has completed its first three investments in eyewear retailer Lenskart Solutions, financial technology company Mswipe, and online home rental...
India's PE-backed Muthoot files for IPO
Indian microfinance services provider Muthoot Microfin, part of the Muthoot Pappachan Group, has filed for an IPO that will provide a partial exit for several investors, including US private equity firm Creation Investments.
Australian SME lender Judo Capital raises $104m
Australian financial services start-up Judo Capital has raised A$140 million ($104 million) to provide loans to domestic small to medium-sized enterprises (SME).
TPG leads $100m round for India's Five Star
TPG Capital has led a $100 million funding round for Five Star Business Finance, a non-banking finance company (NBFC) focused on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in south India.
Singapore’s C88 gets $28m Series C round
Data and financial services company Experian has led a group of investors, including Monk’s Hill Ventures and Telstra Ventures, in a $28 million Series C round for Singapore’s C88 Financial Technologies.
Square Peg leads $30m Series B for Indonesia's FinAccel
Square Peg Capital has led a $30 million Series B round for Indonesian financial technology start-up FinAccel to support its national and regional expansion.
India's OfBusiness gets $29m Series C
OfBusiness, an India-based financial technology company focused on smart financing services has received an INR2 billion ($29 million) Series C funding round led by Creation Investments and Falcon Edge.
TA invests in India mutual funds business
TA Associates has acquired a minority stake in Prudent Corporate Advisory Services, an India-focused provider of mutual funds and other wealth management products.
Itochu leads $55m Series C for Japan's Paidy
Itochu Corporation has led a $55 million Series C funding round for Japanese financial technology company Paidy.
2Q analysis: Flipping out
Flipkart sets the tone as strategics deliver tech trade sale exits; Chinese internet players and healthcare are the trendsetters in investment; buyouts, venture stand out in Asia fundraising
IndiaLends raises $10m Series B round
IndiaLends, a New Delhi-based financial technology company focused on credit and analytics services, has raised $10 million in Series B funding from India-focused Ganesh Ventures and UK-based ACPI Investment Managers.