Financials
American Express Ventures leads $4m round for IndiaLends
American Express Ventures, the corporate VC arm of credit card company American Express, has led a $4 million round of funding in Indian financial technology start-up IndiaLends.
India's Kalaari Capital backs two domestic start-ups
Indian technology investor Kalaari Capital has invested $6 million across domestic start-ups, AffordPlan and Active Intelligence.
China financial data firm Quant Group raises $73m
Quant Group, a China-based financial big data company, has completed a RMB500 million ($73 million) Series C round led by China’s Sunshine Insurance Group.
RRJ invests in China HNA's internet finance platform
RRJ Capital has led a $200 million Series A round for Jubaohui, an internet finance platform established by Chinese conglomerate HNA Group.
LGT leads $10m Series B for India's Aye Finance
LGT Impact Ventures, the impact investment arm of LGT Group, has led a $10 million Series B round for Indian small business-focused microfinance institution (MFI) Aye Finance.
Deal focus: Eight Roads bets on IFMR as a credit hub
Eight Roads sees IFMR Capital as the backbone India's financial services sector needs in order to support growing but still vulnerable non-banking financial companies
Asia fintech hubs: Head start
Singapore's move to strengthen its financial technology ecosystem underlines the importance of creating appropriate infrastructure and incentives for start-ups in the space
GIC invests $50m in India's Capital First
Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC Private has invested INR3.4 billion ($50.3 million) in Capital First, an Indian non-banking financial company (NBFC) backed by Warburg Pincus.
Singapore's MC Payment gets $3.5m for SE Asia expansion
Singapore private equity firm 2W Group has led a $5 million ($3.5 million) funding round for domestic financial technology company MC Payment.
IFC proposes $25m investment in CompareAsiaGroup
The International Financial Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has proposed an investment of up to $25 million in Hong Kong-based financial comparison platform CompareAsiaGroup.
IMM-backed consortium pays $2.1b for stake in Korea's Woori Bank
IMM Private Equity is one of seven investors that have acquired a combined 29.7% stake in Woori Bank, a Korean lender that has been under government control since 2001, for KRW2.4 trillion ($2.1 billion).
Singapore to ease regulations on start-ups as part of fintech push
Singapore is promising to provide venture capital firms with streamlined approval processes and tailored incentives as part of efforts to develop the fundraising landscape for local start-ups.
Eight Roads backs India's IFMR Capital
Eight Roads Ventures India has invested $25 million in Indian non-banking finance company (NBFC) IFMR Capital.
PE-backed PNB Housing Finance gains on debut after $449m IPO
PNB Housing Finance, the mortgage lender subsidiary of India's state-run Punjab National Bank that is backed by The Carlyle Group, closed up 11.35% on its trading debut following a INR30 billion ($449 million) IPO.
Blockchain: Ethereal frontiers
As blockchain segments mature in Asia, private equity and venture capital investors will benefit from a range of new entry points. Pitfalls related to the technology’s obscure nature, however, will persist
J-Star owned insurer makes bolt-on acquisition
J-Star will take control of Japanese insurance provider Hunel FEA through a bolt-on acquisition by existing portfolio company Nihon Hoken Service.
Ironbridge-owned Bravura files for $113m Australia IPO
Australia-based financial services administrator Bravura Solutions is looking to raise A$148 million ($113 million) through a domestic IPO – three years after its PE owner Ironbridge Capital privatized the business in a deal worth A$173 million (then...
Sequoia leads $6m round for India's KredX
Sequoia Capital India has led a $6.3 million Series A round for Indian online financing marketplace KredX.
China credit card management app U51 raises a further $84m
U51.com, a Chinese credit card management mobile app, has secured $84 million in an extended Series C round from Chinese asset manager Harvest Global Investments and department store operator Intime Retail Group.
Crescent sells stake in Australia's ClearView Wealth for $111m
Crescent Capital Partners has agreed to sell a 14.9% stake in Australian financial services provider ClearView Wealth to Sony Life Insurance for approximately A$145 million ($111 million).
Sequoia to invest $52m in China's Gopher Asset Management
Sequoia Capital China has agreed to invest RMB348 million ($51.7 million) in Gopher Asset Management, the alternative asset management unit of China’s Noah Holdings.
US fintech raises $5m for Philippines, Southeast Asia push
Quona Capital has led a $5 million Series A round of funding for US-based financial technology start-up Coins. It will support an expansion in Southeast Asia with an emphasis on the Philippines.
India's Techcelx launches $15m tech fund
Indian technology investment firm and accelerator Techcelx has launched a INR1 billion ($15 million) venture fund targeting domestic companies in banking, education and healthcare.
Everbright-IDG fund invests $297m in China UnionPay Merchant
China Everbright (CEL) and IDG Capital Partners have acquired a 9.3% stake in China UnionPay Merchant Services (UMS), a third-party payment provider, for RMB2 billion ($297 million).