Financial Services
Myanmar's Anthem reaches first close on SME fund
Myanmar private equity firm Anthem Asia has reached a first close of $34.5 million on its debut fund, which will invest locally in small to medium-sized enterprises (SME).
SoftBank Vision Fund forms JV with Chinese insurer Zhong An
SoftBank Vision Fund has entered into a technology development joint venture (JV) with Zhong An, a PE-backed Chinese insurance company. It will see each party contribute $100 million.
Visa joins Series C for Japan fintech player Paidy
Visa has committed an undisclosed amount to a Series C funding round for Paidy, a Japanese financial technology company with several VC and corporate backers.
Chinese fintech start-up Blackfish gets $50m
A group of VCs including Lightspeed Venture Partners has invested $50 million in Blackfish Technology, a Chinese financial technology start-up offering a range of retail banking services.
Deal focus: Vietnam's Sendo embraces B2C
A number of Japanese investors are supporting Vietnamese C2C e-commerce player Sendo as it diversifies operations with a B2C marketplace and mobile payments platform
Vietnam e-commerce player Sendo gets $51m Series B
Sen Do Technology (Sendo), a Vietnamese e-commerce company that operates a C2C platform and payment service, has secured $51 million in Series B funding led by Japan’s SBI Group.
China's GSR to invest $405m in US-based Overstock
Chinese private equity firm GSR Capital has agreed to invest up to $405 million in US-listed online retailer Overstock.com and its financial technology subsidiary tZero through three separate transactions.
India's Epiq closes first three investments
Epiq Capital, an India-focused private equity firm founded by Matrix Partners India co-founder Rishi Navani, has completed its first three investments in eyewear retailer Lenskart Solutions, financial technology company Mswipe, and online home rental...
India's PE-backed Muthoot files for IPO
Indian microfinance services provider Muthoot Microfin, part of the Muthoot Pappachan Group, has filed for an IPO that will provide a partial exit for several investors, including US private equity firm Creation Investments.
Australian SME lender Judo Capital raises $104m
Australian financial services start-up Judo Capital has raised A$140 million ($104 million) to provide loans to domestic small to medium-sized enterprises (SME).
TPG leads $100m round for India's Five Star
TPG Capital has led a $100 million funding round for Five Star Business Finance, a non-banking finance company (NBFC) focused on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in south India.
Singapore's C88 gets $28m Series C round
Data and financial services company Experian has led a group of investors, including Monk’s Hill Ventures and Telstra Ventures, in a $28 million Series C round for Singapore’s C88 Financial Technologies.
Square Peg leads $30m Series B for Indonesia's FinAccel
Square Peg Capital has led a $30 million Series B round for Indonesian financial technology start-up FinAccel to support its national and regional expansion.
India's OfBusiness gets $29m Series C
OfBusiness, an India-based financial technology company focused on smart financing services has received an INR2 billion ($29 million) Series C funding round led by Creation Investments and Falcon Edge.
TA invests in India mutual funds business
TA Associates has acquired a minority stake in Prudent Corporate Advisory Services, an India-focused provider of mutual funds and other wealth management products.
Itochu leads $55m Series C for Japan's Paidy
Itochu Corporation has led a $55 million Series C funding round for Japanese financial technology company Paidy.
2Q analysis: Flipping out
Flipkart sets the tone as strategics deliver tech trade sale exits; Chinese internet players and healthcare are the trendsetters in investment; buyouts, venture stand out in Asia fundraising
IndiaLends raises $10m Series B round
IndiaLends, a New Delhi-based financial technology company focused on credit and analytics services, has raised $10 million in Series B funding from India-focused Ganesh Ventures and UK-based ACPI Investment Managers.
Malaysia's Sunway launches $50m VC fund
Sunway, a Malaysian conglomerate with operations in real estate and construction, has launched a venture capital fund with a view to raising $50 million.
Hong Kong's PE-backed WeLab files for IPO
WeLab, a Hong Kong financial technology provider with backers including Alibaba Group, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Malaysia’s Khazanah Nasional, has filed for an IPO.
Tencent, Sequoia join $80m Series B for Australia's Airwallex
Australian financial technology company Airwallex has closed an $80 million Series B funding round with participation from existing investors Tencent Holdings and Sequoia Capital China.
Helion, Kedaara set for partial exits in Indian MFI's IPO
Helion Venture Partners and Kedaara Capital are set to make partial exits in the IPO of Spandana Sphoorty Financial, an Indian microfinance institution (MFI).
Matrix raises $750m for fifth China VC fund
Matrix Partners China has raised $750 million for its fifth venture capital fund to invest in the technology, cleantech, education, energy, healthcare and financial services sectors in China.
Kedaara, Partners Group-owned Aavas files India IPO
Aavas Financiers, the former mortgage arm of Indian non-banking finance company Au Financiers acquired by Kedaara Capital and Partners Group in 2016, has filed for an IPO that will provide partial exits to both investors.