Financial Services
US online lender SoFi raises $500m to expand in Australia
US online lender and financial services company SoFi has secured a $500 million Series F funding round led by Silver Lake for an expansion effort into Australia.
AirTree leads $19m investment in Australia's Prospa
AirTree Ventures has led a A$25 million ($19.2 million) investment in Australian financial technology company Prospa.
China's Ant Financial invests $200m in Kakao payment unit
Ant Financial, the financial services affiliate of China’s Alibaba Group, has agreed invest $200 million in a dedicated mobile finance platform that will soon be launched by South Korean internet giant Kakao Corp.
IFC proposes investment in China-listed credit union
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has proposed an investment of up to RMB130 million ($19 million) in Chinese listed bank Qiongzhong Rural Credit Cooperative.
IFC proposes $57m investment in Vietnam bank
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has proposed a commitment of up to $57 million in Vietnam Prosperity Commercial Joint Stock Bank (VPBank).
Deal focus: Affinity captures Korea credit card exposure
General Electric's sale of its stake in Hyundai Card was complicated by joint venture partner Hyundai Motor Group staying involved. Affinity Equity Partners leveraged its existing relationship with the conglomerate to seal the deal
Japan fintech start-up Folio gets $16m Series A
Jafco and several other Japanese venture capital firms have joined a JPY1.8 billion ($18.7 million) Series A round for Japanese stock-trading app developer Folio.
Jacob Ballas, NYLIM to invest in India's Centrum Capital
Jacob Ballas and New York Life Investment Management (NYLIM) will invest in CentrumDirect, the foreign exchange business of India-listed financial services company Centrum Capital.
Singapore's Jubilee Capital in $3m round for NZ fintech start-up
Latitude Technologies (Latipay), a New Zealand-based financial technology company that helps e-commerce players target Chinese consumers, has raised NZ$4.1 million ($3 million) from a group of investors including Singapore’s Jubilee Capital.
Indonesia’s BCA launches fintech investment unit
Indonesia’s Bank Central Asia (BCA) has launched a venture capital investment arm that will focus on financial technology.
IFC proposes $55m investment in Bangladeshi bank
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, is considering a commitment of up to $55 million in Bangladesh’s Dhaka Bank.
India's Muthoot Microfin raises $19m from US-based GP
US private equity firm Creation Investments has committed about INR1.3 billion ($19 million) for an 11% stake in Indian microfinance services provider Muthoot Microfin.
Saama in $57m final close on India VC fund
Saama Capital has closed its third India venture capital fund at $57 million, above the target of $50 million.
Omidyar leads $10m Series B for India's Indifi
Omidyar Network has led a $10 million Series B round for Indian small business financial services provider Indifi.
KKR, Temasek invest $266m in India's SBI Life
KKR and Temasek Holdings have agreed to invest INR18 billion ($266 million) for a 3.9% stake in SBI Life, the life insurance subsidiary of the State Bank of India (SBI).
China's Huiyin Group launches $20m blockchain fund
Chinese investment firm Huiyin Group has launched a $20 million fund to invest in blockchain technologies.
XIO Group to acquire Israel's Meitav Dash for $387m
XIO Group, a PE firm founded by several Asia-based investment professionals with a view to buying companies in North America and Europe and helping them tap emerging market opportunities, has agreed to acquire Israeli investment firm Meitav Dash for ILS1.48...
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.
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.
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.
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.
India's Centrum launches $75m PE fund
India-listed financial services company Centrum has launched a INR5 billion ($75.3 million) private equity fund to focus on domestic consumer-focused industries.
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.