Financial Services
GSR, Go Scale raise $1b for M&A fund, seek to deploy $5b – update
GSR Capital and its affiliate Go Scale Capital has raised $1 billion for a cross-border buyout and M&A fund, which it hopes will translate into $5 billion worth of dry powder once debt financing and co-investment are factored in.
China P2P lending site Firstp2p raises $41m
Firstp2p, a Chinese online peer-to-peer (P2P) financing site, has raised a $41 million Series B round of funding from San Shan Capital, CITIC Capital and China Equity.
Korea launches another attempt to sell Woori Bank stake
The South Korean government is once again trying to sell its controlling stake in Woori Bank, this time dividing the asset into multiple tranches so that there is no one dominant shareholder.
PE-backed CICC files for Hong Kong IPO
China International Capital Corp. (CICC), which is backed by KKR, TPG Capital and Singapore’s GIC Private, among others, has filed for a Hong Kong IPO. The company is said to be looking to raise around $1 billion.
Matrix, Falcon Edge in $25m Series C for India's Mswipe
Indian mobile point-of-service (POS) developer Mswipe has raised $25 million in Series C funding from a group of investors including Matrix Partners, Falcon Edge Capital and Meru Partners.
Deal focus: Fastacash brings payments everywhere
Digital networks are remaking communication patterns across the world; where people living abroad once relied on postal services and analog telephone lines, now their loved ones are just an instant message away.
Singapore's Temasek, UOB to offer $500m in venture debt
Singapore's government-sponsored investment fund Temasek Holdings and United Overseas Bank (UOB) have agreed to form a joint vehicle which will offer $500 million in venture debt financing to start-ups in China, India and Southeast Asia.
VCs commit $18m to Chinese students' e-commerce platform
Imcoming.cn, a Chinese mobile e-commerce platform aimed at students, has completed a RMB110 ($18 million) Series A round of funding led by Greenwoods Investment and Sharing Capital.
Greenwoods leads $32m round for Chinese internet finance site Rongzi
Greenwoods Investment has led a RMB200 million ($32 million) Series A round of funding for Rongzi.com, a Chinese internet finance platform, with participation from New Access Capital.
Alibaba launches $161m fund to support mobile app-makers
Alibaba Group has established a RMB1 billion ($161 million) venture capital fund to support third-party mobile app developers.
Fairfax offers to buy 26% stake in India's Carlyle-backed IIFL
Canada-based Fairfax Financial Holdings has offered to buy a 26% stake in Carlyle-backed financial services company IIFL Holdings Limited for INR16 billion ($255 million).
Chinese personal finance app Wacai secures additional $80m
Hangzhou Wacai Science, a Chinese personal finance management mobile app developer, has raised an additional $80 million in an extended Series B round of funding led by New Horizon Capital.
TPG leads Series C for China wealth management firm Sinowel
TPG Capital has led a $41 million Series C round of funding for Sinowel Enterprise Group, a Chinese third-party wealth management firm.
Singapore payment platform Fastacash raises Series B round
Asia-focused investment firm Rising Dragon Singapore has led a $15 million Series B round of funding for Fastacash, a Singapore-based social payments platform.
Baring PE Asia to acquire Orangefield Group
Baring Private Equity Asia has agreed to acquire fund administration and corporate services firm Orangefield Group from AAC Capital Partners for an undisclosed amount.
Tata Capital leads Series B round for Singapore's Nearex
Tata Capital has led an undisclosed Series B round investment in Singapore micro-payments start-up Nearex via its Tata Capital Growth Fund. Existing investors Beenos Asia and Xinvesco also took part in the round.
Amazon leads $60m round for India's BankBazaar
Amazon India has led a INR3.75 billion ($60 million) Series C round for Indian financial marketplace BankBazaar.com, with participation from Fidelity Growth Partners and Mousse Partners, along with existing investors Sequoia Capital and Walden International.
Renren leads $50m round in China online finance site
Chinese social networking site Renren has led a $50 million Series B round for Shenzhen Jinfuzi Network Technology, a Chinese online wealth management platform.
PAG joins $500m investment in Hong Kong’s Kingston Financial
PAG Asia Capital's absolute returns business has joined a consortium that plans to invest HK$3.87 billion ($500 million) in Hong Kong-based investment firm Kingston Financial.
PE investors set for exit as RBL Bank files for IPO
Indian private lender RBL Bank plans to raise up to INR11 billion ($173 million) through an IPO, providing a full exit for Beacon India Private Equity and a partial exit for Gaja Capital and Capvent.
Alibaba, Ant Financial form JV to invest in China’s O2O service
Alibaba Group and its financial affiliate Ant Financial plan to invest nearly $1 billion in a joint venture that will tap into China’s local online-to-offline (O2O) services market, initially focusing on the food and beverage segment.
Legend-owned third-party payment platform raises $242m
Lakala, a Chinese offline third-party payment service provider owned by Legend Holdings, has raised RMB1.45 billion ($242 million) in its latest financing round, giving the company a valuation of more than RMB10 billion.
FTIL cancels IEX sale, agrees new terms
Financial Technologies India (FTIL) has agreed to sell a 16.6% stake in India Energy Exchange (IEX) to a consortium of investors for INR3.57 billion, cancelling an earlier arrangement to sell its entire stake in a deal led by TVS Capital Funds.
Mitsubishi UFJ to buy UBS' alternative fund services unit
MUFG Investor Services, the asset servicing group of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, will buy UBS Global Asset Management's Alternative Fund Services (AFS) business.