Financial Services
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.
JD Finance leads $30m round for China's Microseer
JD Finance, the financial subsidiary of Chinese online retailer JD.com, has led a $30 million Series B round for Microseer, a Shanghai-based human resources and IT outsourcing services start-up.
Lok Capital backs India's Ummeed Housing Finance
Indian venture capital firm Lok Capital has led a $3.5 million Series A round for Ummeed Housing Finance, a Delhi-based low-income property finance company.
Temasek, 3i to exit ACR Capital to Chinese consortium
An investment vehicle controlled by China's Shenzhen Qianhai Financial Holdings (QFH) and Shenzhen Investment Holdings (SIHC) has agreed to buy Singapore-based reinsurer ACR Capital Holdings from its backers, which include Temasek Holdings, Khazanah Nasional...
Outbound M&A finance: The safer bets
China’s outbound M&A market has taken off in recent years, but many are skeptical that purchasing companies will be able to handle the financial and operational burdens they have taken on
Korea's Viva Republica gets $23.7m Series B
Goodwater Capital and Qualcomm Ventures have led a $23.7 million Series B funding round for South Korean financial technology provider Viva Republica.
Q&A: LeapFrog Investments' Pritesh Modi
In its eight years in Asia, LeapFrog Investments has kept lower-income consumer finance at the center of its investment strategy. Pritesh Modi, director and chief actuary at the firm, discusses the value of a narrow focus
CDC commits $50m to India's RBL Bank
UK development finance institution CDC Group has invested INR3.3 billion ($49.7 million) in Indian private lender RBL Bank.
WestBridge leads $40m round for India's Aptus
WestBridge Capital Partners has led a INR2.7 billion ($40.4 million) funding round for Indian home lender Aptus Housing Finance India.
Philippines consumers: Boom in a bottle
Tidal shifts in the Philippines' consumer demographics are piquing interest among private equity and venture capital investors alike, but sluggish policy modernization efforts remain a key barrier to entry
Chinese credit card management app raises $310m Series C
U51.com, a Chinese credit card management mobile app, has raised a $310 million Series C round led by A-share listed property developer Xinhu Zhongbao and domestic VC firm Tiantu Capital.
Linear Venture closes $70m China early-stage VC fund
Linear Venture, a Chinese early-stage VC firm founded by former Facebook and JD.com employees, has closed its second fund – which comprises US dollar and renminbi-denominated tranches – with approximately $70 million in aggregate commitments.
India's VC-backed Citrus Pay sold to Netherlands strategic
Citrus Pay, an India-based online and mobile payment solutions developer backed by Sequoia Capital, Ascent Capital and Beenos, has been acquired by Netherlands-based rival PayU.
TA backs MBO of Goldman's Australia equities, fixed income unit
Mid-market private equity firm TA Associates is supporting a management buyout of Goldman Sachs Asset Management’s (GSAM) Australian equities and fixed income business.
Innovation Works launches fund with China’s Zall Group
China-based early-stage investor Innovation Works, which was founded by former Google China head Kai-Fu Lee, has teamed up with Hong Kong-listed real estate developer Zall Group to launch a private equity fund.
Australia's H2 Ventures taps public markets for fintech vehicle
Australia's H2 Ventures plans to raise up to A$55 million ($42 million) through an IPO for a dedicated unit that will make early and growth-stage investments in global financial technology start-ups.
Carlyle launches tender offer for Money Square Japan
The Carlyle Group has launched a tender offer for Money Square Japan, a Tokyo-listed provider of foreign exchange margin trading services.
Hong Kong's WeLab gets $25m credit facility from ING
ING Bank has extended a $25 million credit facility to Hong Kong’s WeLab, a private equity-backed mobile lending and credit analytics platform.
Net1 invests in VC-backed Indian mobile wallet start-up
Net1, a NASDAQ-listed payment services provider with a presence in South Africa and Korea, has committed $40 million to Mobikwik, an Indian mobile wallet start-up that has received several rounds of VC funding.
China property financing platform Momfo raises $14m
Gobi Partners and Kaitai Capital have jointly led a RMB95 million ($14 million) Series A round of funding for Momfo, a Chinese property financing platform.
China online finance site Lancai raises $24m
Chinese online finance platform Lancai.com has raised a RMB180 million ($27 million) Series B round of funding led by Leshi Internet Information & Technology, also known as LeEco. Existing investor Legend Capital also participated.
Australia’s Bigstone receives $2.3m seed round
Australia-listed investment firm CVC has backed a A$3 million ($2.3 million) seed round of funding for Bigstone, a domestic online platform operator that connects investors with start-ups.
RGT Capital invests in Australia's AxiCorp
RGT Capital, a multi-family office investment vehicle based in Australia, has acquired a stake in Australian investment company AxiCorp.
Deal focus: VCs back Japan’s fintech underdog
As Japan's traditional financial institutions take time to address demand for online payment services, start-ups are trying to corner the market. Exchange Corporation's Series B round is intended to make sure it is one of them