Financial Services
Malaysia's Sunway launches $50m VC fund
Sunway, a Malaysian conglomerate with operations in real estate and construction, has launched a venture capital fund with a view to raising $50 million.
Hong Kong's PE-backed WeLab files for IPO
WeLab, a Hong Kong financial technology provider with backers including Alibaba Group, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Malaysia’s Khazanah Nasional, has filed for an IPO.
Tencent, Sequoia join $80m Series B for Australia's Airwallex
Australian financial technology company Airwallex has closed an $80 million Series B funding round with participation from existing investors Tencent Holdings and Sequoia Capital China.
Helion, Kedaara set for partial exits in Indian MFI's IPO
Helion Venture Partners and Kedaara Capital are set to make partial exits in the IPO of Spandana Sphoorty Financial, an Indian microfinance institution (MFI).
Matrix raises $750m for fifth China VC fund
Matrix Partners China has raised $750 million for its fifth venture capital fund to invest in the technology, cleantech, education, energy, healthcare and financial services sectors in China.
Kedaara, Partners Group-owned Aavas files India IPO
Aavas Financiers, the former mortgage arm of Indian non-banking finance company Au Financiers acquired by Kedaara Capital and Partners Group in 2016, has filed for an IPO that will provide partial exits to both investors.
VCs back $40m round for Korea's Fantom Foundation
Fantom Foundation, a Korean blockchain technology company, has received a $40 million funding round from a number of specialist investors, including US-based 8 Decimal Capital and Singapore’s Link VC.
PE-backed VCredit raises $152m in HK IPO
VCredit, a Chinese online consumer finance platform with private equity backers including TPG Growth, has raised HK$1.2 billion ($152 million) in its Hong Kong IPO.
Ward Ferry, General Atlantic to join $109m round for India's IIFL Wealth
General Atlantic and Hong Kong-based PE firm Ward Ferry have agreed to join a INR7.5 billion ($109 million) investment in IIFL Wealth Management, a subsidiary of India’s IIFL Holdings.
Korea’s Viva Republica raises $40m
Singapore’s GIC Private and Sequoia Capital China have invested a combined $40 million in Korean financial technology company Viva Republica.
CapitalG leads $21.8m round for India's Aye Finance
CapitalG, the investment arm of Google's parent company Alphabet, has led a INR1.5 billion ($21.8 million) Series C round for Aye Finance, an Indian microfinance institution (MFI) focused on small businesses.
Oman India fund invests $23m in Annapurna Microfinance
The Oman India Joint Investment Fund (OIJIF), an India-focused GP sponsored by the governments of India and Oman, has invested INR 1.6 billion ($23 million) in microlender Annapurna Microfinance (AMPL).
Australia's Prospa delays trading after $112m IPO
Prospa, an Australian financial technology company backed by a number of local VCs, has raised A$146.5 million ($112 million) in a domestic IPO. Trading of the stock has been postponed, however, amid a regulatory review.
China fintech player Pintec gets $103m round
Hong Kong-based VC firm Mandra Capital and Sina Corporation have led a $103 million funding round for Chinese financial technology platform Pintec.
Apis targets $400m for emerging markets growth fund
Apis Partners is targeting $400 million for its second middle-market growth fund focused on financial services and technology investments in emerging markets, with a $500 million hard cap.
Warburg Pincus invests $106m in IndiaFirst Life
Warburg Pincus has agreed to acquire a 26% interest in IndiaFirst Life Insurance from UK-based Legal & General Group for INR7.1 billion ($106 million).
Warburg Pincus launches India BPM platform
Warburg Pincus has established an India-based platform for investment globally in business process management (BPM), an area of enterprise services focused on systems modelling and technical consulting.
Temasek, PayPal invest $125m in India’s Pine Labs
Temasek Holdings and PayPal have invested $125 million in Pine Labs, an Indian financial technology company backed by Actis Capital, Sequoia Capital India and Madison India Capital.
Actis to launch $220m India NBFC
Actis Capital has launched an Indian non-banking finance company (NBFC) in which it will invest up to $220 million over the next five years.
East Ventures joins $32m ICO for Swiss bitcoin app
East Ventures, a VC firm focused on Japan and Southeast Asia, has joined a $32 million initial coin offering (ICO) for Switzerland-based bitcoin wallet operator BRD.
Amazon leads $12m round for India's VC-backed Acko
Amazon has led a $12 million funding round for Acko, an Indian online insurance broker that is backed by the likes of SAIF Partners and Accel Partners.
Hong Kong's Arbor raises $178.5m for second VC fund
Hong Kong-based Arbor Ventures has received $178.5 million in commitments for its second financial technology-focused venture capital fund. The targeted corpus is $220 million.
Malaysia’s Jirnexu receives $11m Series B
Malaysia-based financial technology start-up Jirnexu has received an $11 million Series B funding round led by Japan’s SBI Group.
Australia's Westpac invests $37m in Reinventure
Australia’s Westpac Banking Corp has committed A$50 million ($37 million) to the third fund of its venture capital unit Reinventure.