Financials
Multiples invests $35m in Indian NBFC
Indian private equity firm Multiples Alternative Asset Management has invested INR2.5 billion ($34.8 million) in non-banking finance company (NBFC) APAC Financial Services.
Korea's Viva Republica raises $80m at $1.2b valuation
Kleiner Perkins and Ribbit Capital have led an $80 million funding round for Viva Republica that values the Korean financial technology start-up at about $1.2 billion.
India fintech: Corporations act
Stakeholders foresee progress and problems as global strategic investors make their first bets in the Indian fintech space. There is little expectation of replicating the China story
MSPEA backs Indian NBFC Kogta Financial
Morgan Stanley Private Equity Asia (MSPEA) has led a INR1.54 billion ($22.1 million) investment in Indian non-banking finance company (NBFC) Kogta Financial.
Asia fintech player Oriente raises $105m in seed funding
Oriente, a Hong Kong financial technology company backed by local investor BlackPine Private Equity, has raised $105 million in seed funding from a group of family offices.
Chinese recruitment business gets $23m Series B
WorkTrans, a Chinese human resources services provider, has raised RMB160 million ($23 million) in the first tranche of a Series B round led by Qiming Venture Partners.
IFC invests $40m in Filipino fintech player
International Finance Corporation (IFC) and IFC Emerging Asia Fund have agreed to invest $40 million in Voyager Innovations, a financial technology unit of Filipino telecom giant PLDT.
Square Peg leads $18m round for Australian lender
Australian online mortgage marketplace Athena Home Loans has raised a A$25 million ($18 million) Series B round led by existing backer Square Peg Capital, with participation by new investors Hostplus and Airtree Ventures.
Singapore's InstaRem raises $20m
Singapore-based financial technology start-up InstaRem has raised $20 million in Series C funding led by Telkom Indonesia and Thailand’s Kasikornbank.
Hillhouse leads round for Chinese B2B finance platform
Yunzhangfang, a Chinese corporate tax and financial management software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider, has raised RMB300 million ($43.2 million) in a Series C round led by Hillhouse Capital.
IDG, Matrix back $20m round for Singapore's KuCoin
IDG Capital, Matrix Partners, and Neo Global Capital have jointly invested $20 million in Singapore-based cryptocurrency services company KuCoin.
Southeast Asia PE outlook: Debatable boom
PE and VC players remain focused on Southeast Asia’s long-term growth trajectory despite gathering macro storm clouds. Valuations remain a bone of contention
China PE outlook: End of the party
Growth stage technology deals have retained a strong following in 2018, but elsewhere in Chinese private equity the mood is more somber
TPG Growth leads $144m round for China microlender
TPG Growth, the middle market investment platform of TPG Capital, has led a Series C round of about RMB1 billion ($144 million) for CFPA Microfinance Management, a microfinance institution (MFI) targeting rural China.
Hong Kong plans crypto fund restrictions
Hong Kong's Securities & Futures Commission (SFC) has announced plans to impose new crypto investment rules, including licensing conditions for funds that back virtual assets.
Indian NBFC Veritas raises $27m Series D
Norwest Venture Partners has led a INR2 billion ($27.4 million) Series D round for Veritas Finance, an Indian non-banking finance company (NBFC) focused on micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
TPG Growth leads $42m round for Indian NBFC
Ess Kay Fincorp, an Indian non-banking finance company (NBFC) focused on automotive and small business loans, has raised a $42 million round led by TPG Growth, the middle market investment platform of TPG Capital.
India's NIIF to acquire infrastructure lender
India’s National Investment & Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) has agreed to acquire IDFC Infrastructure Finance (IDFC IFL), an infrastructure-focused non-banking finance company (NBFC), in its first solo control transaction.
SE Asia-focused Chinese fintech player gets $70m Series C
Akulaku, a Chinese consumer finance platform that primarily serves customers in Southeast Asia, has raised $70 million in a Series C round led by fintech company Finup Group. Sequoia Capital India, Blue Sky Venture Capital, and Qiming Venture Partners...
Composite Capital leads $50m round for India's ClearTax
Hong Kong-based hedge fund Composite Capital has led a $50 million funding round for Indian online financial services provider ClearTax.
Philippines start-ups: Cultural baggage
The Philippines is said to be at a tipping point where growing investor interest is set to culminate in the country’s first global start-up success story. A subtle malaise, however, is offsetting expectations
Deal focus: Linklogis embraces supply chain finance 2.0
GIC Private leads $220 million investment in Linklogis, a financial technology player aiming to fill China's supply chain finance gap
SBI-backed Bcause gets funding for Asia crypto push
Bcause, a US-based cryptocurrency services company backed by SBI Holdings has received a commitment of undisclosed size from China Health Checkmate (CHC) to support an Asian expansion.
Chinese online insurer Wukongbao raises Series B
Wukongbao, a Beijing-based online insurance broker, has raised millions of US dollars in a Series B round led by Chinese classifieds platform 58.com, with participation from Guohua Life Insurance.
