Financial Services
UK fintech player gets $280m for Asia push
UK-based fintech company TransferWise has raised a $280 million round led by IVP and Old Mutual Global Investors as part of an expansion in Asia Pacific and Latin America.
VC-backed MC Payment to list in Singapore via reverse merger
MC Payment, a Singapore-based financial technology player with several VC backers, will list on the Singapore Stock Exchange's Catalist board via a reverse takeover of domestic peer Artivision Technologies.
Naspers to back Remitly expansion in India
Naspers has agreed to lead a Series D funding round of up to $115 million via its PayU unit to support an international expansion by US financial technology player Remitly, including a push into India.
US-Philippines blockchain player gets $16m Series B
A group of Asian and North American venture investors have backed a $16 million Series B round for Abra, a US financial technology company test marketing blockchain-based services in the Philippines.
SparkLabs launches $100m blockchain fund
SparkLabs Group has launched a $100 million early-stage venture capital fund that will focus on blockchain and cryptocurrency investments globally.
China's Qudian gains on debut after $900m US IPO
Qudian, a VC-backed Chinese micro-lending services provider, closed up 22% on its New York Stock Exchange debut, following a $900 million IPO.
China's VC-backed PPDai files for US IPO
PPDai, a consumer finance marketplace backed by several VC investors, has become the latest Chinese company to try and take advantage of soaring public markets by filing for an IPO in the US.
Amicus invests $9.3m in India's RenewBuy
Amicus Capital Partners has made its maiden investment, committing INR600 million ($9.3 million) to Indian online insurance aggregator RenewBuy.
Gaja leads $15m round for India's Kinara
Gaja Capital Partners has led a INR960 million ($14.8 million) funding round for Indian non-banking finance company (NBFC) Kinara Capital.
Philippines fintech growth to include blockchain – AVCJ Forum
The Philippines is likely to follow the lead of other Asian markets by more closely regulating blockchain-based financial transactions as the technology becomes more integral to the country’s economy.
Temasek co-leads $78.2m round for China’s Tongdun
Singapore’s Temasek Holdings has jointly led a $78.2 million Series C round for Tongdun Technology, a China-based third-party risk control services provider, in conjunction with Cinda Sinorock and Tiantu Capital.
Noah to buy back Sequoia’s stake in asset management unit
Chinese wealth management firm Noah Holdings has agreed to repurchase Sequoia Capital China’s stake in its asset management unit – Gopher Asset Management - following difficulty in winning approval for the investment.
Baring-owned CMS files for India IPO
CMS Info Systems, an Indian financial management service provider owned by Baring Private Equity Asia, has filed for an IPO that will see the PE firm make a partial exit.
PE-backed Zhong An climbs 9.2% on Hong Kong debut
Zhong An Insurance, a Chinese online-only insurance business backed by Alibaba Group, Tencent Holdings and Ping An Insurance as well as several PE investors, gained 9.2% on its trading debut in Hong Kong.
KKR invests in Chinese fintech platform
KKR has committed an undisclosed amount of Series C funding to Chinese financial technology platform Shenzhen Suishou Technology.
Five V Capital invests $8m in Australia's RateSetter
Five V Capital, a private equity firm headed by CVC Capital Partners’ former Australasia lead Adrian MacKenzie, has led a A$10.5 million ($8.2 million) funding round for Sydney-based financial services provider RateSetter.
Ironbridge makes partial exit from Australia's Bravura
Ironbridge Capital has made a partial exit from Bravura Solutions, the Australia-based financial services administrator that raised A$148 million ($118 million) through a domestic IPO last November.
India cloud player HighRadius secures $50m
HighRadius, a US and India-based financial technology company focused on cloud computing services, has received $50 million from Susquehanna Growth Equity for a global expansion.
India's Power2SME receives $36m Series E
Power2SME, an Indian online services provider for companies in the manufacturing space, has received $36 million in Series E funding, primarily from existing VC investors.
PE-backed Zhong An Insurance targets $1.5b HK IPO
Zhong An Insurance, a Chinese online-only insurance business backed by Alibaba Group, Tencent Holdings and Ping An Insurance as well as several PE investors, is looking to raise HK$11.9 billion ($1.5 billion) through a Hong Kong IPO.
Indian PE-backed insurer SBI Life files for IPO
SBI Life, the life insurance subsidiary of the State Bank of India (SBI) whose backers include KKR and Singapore’s Temasek Holdings, has filed for an IPO.
TPG leads $161m round for India's Janalakshmi
TPG Capital has led a INR10.3 billion ($161 million) funding round for Indian microfinance lender Janalakshmi Financial Services.
IFC proposes $200m investment in Vietnamese bank
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, is considering an investment of up to $200 million in listed financial institution Vietnam International Commercial Joint Stock Bank (VIB).
Jafco leads $14.8m investment in Japan's Tech Bureau
Tech Bureau, a Japan-based cryptocurrency exchange platform operator, has received JPY1.6 billion ($14.8 million) in Series B funding led by domestic venture capital firm Jafco.