Financial Services
IFC proposes $100m investment in India's MMFSL
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, is considering a $100 million investment in India-listed non-banking financial company (NBFC) Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services (MMFSL).
IDG, DHFL invest $4m in India's EarlySalary
Indian financial technology platform EarlySalary has raised a $4 million funding round from IDG Ventures and Dewan Housing Finance (DHFL).
IFC proposes $40m investment in India's Aavas Financiers
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is considering an investment of up to $40 million in debt in Aavas Financiers, a housing finance business that Partners Group and Kedaara Capital bought last year from non-banking financial company (NBFC) Au...
Singapore's NRF to invest $107m in AI
Singapore’s National Research Foundation (NRF) has agreed to invest S$150 million ($107 million) over five years in a new multi-agency initiative aimed at fostering an artificial intelligence (AI) development ecosystem.
VC-backed China Rapid Finance raises $60m in US IPO
China Rapid Finance (CRF), a VC-backed peer-to-peer (P2P) lending platform, is trading up 32% on its IPO price following an offering on the New York Stock Exchange that raised $60 million.
Singapore Life gets $50m Series A round
UK private equity investor IPGL has joined a $50 million Series A funding round for Singapore Life, a financial technology start-up targeting the insurance and savings services industry.
DeClout launches incubator in Singapore
DeClout, a holding company focused on developing IT and cloud computing technology providers, has launched a start-up incubator via its venture capital arm in Singapore.
TCV invests $20m in New Zealand's Xero, Martix part exits
US venture capital firm Technology Crossover Ventures (TCV) has invested NZ$28.5 million ($20 million) in New Zealand-listed accounting software company Xero. It will facilitate a partial exit for existing backer Matrix Capital.
Ant Financial raises offer for PE-backed MoneyGram
Alibaba Group's Ant Financial has raised its takeover bid for US-listed financial services company MoneyGram, topping a competing offer made by US-based Euronet Worldwide last month. The sale will provide an exit for Thomas H. Lee Partners (THL).
VCs back Filipino fintech start-up
Philippines-based financial technology company First Circle has received $2.5 million from a group of VC firms, including a seed stage investment unit of emerging markets microfinance group Accion International.
NZ Super joins $172m investment in Kiwibank
New Zealand Superannuation Fund (NZ Super) has participated in a NZ$247 million ($172 million) investment in Kiwibank, a banking and finance services provider controlled by New Zealand Post.
Dragon Capital sets up microfinance business in Myanmar
Vietnam-based private equity firm Dragon Capital has made its first investment in Myanmar, teaming up with a local strategic partner to seed a Yangon-based microfinance services business.
Deal focus: PE proves the right fit for fintech
Creador has exited its stake in Malaysian financial technology company GHL Group to Actis after scanning a field of strategics and deciding PE was the best backer for the sector
Actis invests in Malaysia’s GHL, Creador exits
Emerging markets-focused private equity firm Actis has invested MYR290 million ($65.6 million) in Malaysia-listed payment services provider GHL Group, facilitating a full exit for Creador.
IFC proposes $20m investment in Indian MFI
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, is considering a $20 million investment in Indian microfinance institution (MFI) RGVN Microfinance.
HgCapital invests $25m in New Zealand's Gentrack
HgCapital has agreed to invest NZ35.5 million ($25 million) in New Zealand industrial software specialist Gentrack to support an acquisition and expansion process in the UK.
Singapore auto marketplace Carro gets $12m
A group of Southeast Asian VCs have committed $12 million to Singaporean automobile marketplace Carro as part of an operational expansion into artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled car financing services.
Everstone, Mayfield, others part exit India's SLCM
Everstone Capital, Mayfield Advisors, Nexus Venture Partners and ICICI Bank have part exited their stakes in Indian agricultural logistics and financing firm Sohan Lal Commodity Management (SLCM).
Euronet challenges Alibaba's acquisition of PE-backed MoneyGram
US payment services company Euronet Worldwide has extended a buyout offer worth about $2 billion for NASDAQ-listed MoneyGram, contesting a bid made earlier this year by Alibaba Group’s PE-backed affiliate Ant Financial. The pending sale will provide...
Fund focus: Apis seeks to make specialization count
Apis is relying on its team's financial services expertise and networks to deliver the goods in South Asia and Africa. LPs have given them $287 million with which to prove the thesis
GIC invests $113m in India's Can Fin
Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC Private has invested about INR7.5 billion ($113.2 million) for a 13.4% stake in Indian mortgage lender Can Fin Homes.
Carlyle exits India's Edelweiss for $131m
The Carlyle Group has fully exited its stake in India’s Edelweiss Financial Services for INR8.7 billion ($131 million) in an open market transaction.
Apis closes South Asia, Africa fintech fund at $287m
Emerging market financial technology investor Apis Partners has closed its debut fund at $287 million. It has already deployed about $130 million across five deals in South Asia and Africa.
Quona, Accion close $141m global fintech fund
Quona Capital and emerging markets microfinance group Accion International have closed a $141 million global venture fund dedicated to financial technology. It will focus in part on India and Southeast Asia.