Financials
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.
Lattice80 launches fintech accelerator in Hong Kong
Lattice80, a UK-based group that operates financial technology co-working spaces and accelerators globally, has established a new base in Hong Kong.
Global Brain leads round for SE Asia's Omise
Thailand-based financial technology company Omise has raised a funding round of undisclosed size led by Japanese venture capital investor Global Brain.
Profile: Apis' Matteo Stefanel
Matteo Stefanel discovered a passion for financial services early in his career. This led to the formation of Apis Partners, which seeks to back the sector’s most innovative entrepreneurs in Asia and Africa
Asia fintech: Follow the leader
China has set a compelling example for establishing a diversified and deeply penetrated digital banking industry in a developing economy. India and Southeast Asia are taking notes
GIC leads $220m Series C for China supply chain finance player
Chinese supply chain finance provider Linklogis has raised $220 million in a Series C round of funding led by GIC Private.
CLSA launches early-stage fintech unit
Hong Kong’s CLSA has launched an investment unit called AlphaLabs that will back early-stage financial technology companies in Asia.
Philippines investors defy systemic risks – AVCJ Forum
Industry participants at the AVCJ Philippines Forum praised the country’s macro fundamentals but attributed slow maturation of the local investment environment to a range of complex underlying factors.
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).