venture capital
Funding Societies | Modalku, the largest SME digital finance platform in Southeast Asia, has announced a strategic equity investment from Gobi Partners, an Asia-focused venture capital firm. This investment underscores strong investor confidence in Funding Societies' business model, resilience, and commitment to bridging the region's SME credit gap,
mergers & acquisitions
MUFG Bank and JACCS have been working together on group collaboration based on the alliance announced in 2008. Meanwhile, the business environment surrounding both companies has been changing rapidly, including changes in the financial environment and the advancement of digital transformation (DX). In response to these changes, while building upon
blockchain
G.U. Technologies Global, which provides web3 solutions such as blockchain infrastructure, including "Japan Open Chain," has launched the DeFi-based "JOC Lending Program". This program allows users to lend their "Japan Open Chain Token" (JOC Coin), the native token of Japan Open Chain, and
venture capital
Neobank Zolve, focused on cross-border financial solutions, has raised USD 251 million in equity and debt financing. The Series B round was led by Creaegis and saw participation from HSBC, SBI Investment, GMO Venture Partners, DG Daiwa Ventures, and existing investors Accel, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Sparta Group, and DST Global.
guarantee
Mitsubishi UFJ NICOS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, has resolved to acquire the shares of Zenhoren through a tender offer under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, and to enter into a capital and business alliance agreement with Zenhoren and MUFG. Zenhoren was established in November 2001
lending
The Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) and the Indonesia Investment Authority (INA) have launched the "IJ Hybrid Capital Solution Fund I," a fund which will be jointly managed by the two institutions and offer hybrid capital solutions for Indonesian corporates. INA is an Indonesia's sovereign wealth
banking
Rakuten Bank's third quarter of fiscal year 2024, ending December 31, 2024, demonstrated significant growth across key financial metrics, solidifying its position as a leading digital bank in Japan. The bank achieved record highs in ordinary income, gross operating profit, ordinary profit, and profit attributable to owners of
neobank
GMO Aozora Net Bank now allows standalone sole proprietorship accounts to be opened. These have previously required opening a personal account first. This initiative is part of the company's improved support for small and start-up businesses, which it positions as one of its medium- to long-term strategies. First,
leasing
ORIX showcased robust financial performance in the first three quarters of fiscal year 2025 (Q1-Q3 FY25.3), with net income reaching 271.8 billion JPY. This represents a substantial 24% increase year-over-year (YoY), demonstrating the company's resilience and adaptability in a dynamic economic landscape. This result also places
lending
Brazilian FinTech CashU secured a $17.5M Credit Rights Investment Fund (FIDC) backed by Itaú BBA and Credit Saison to finance its lending operations. The provision of credit is essential for small and medium-sized businesses to be able to scale at an adequate pace. With the launch of the fund,
lending
CARSOME Group, Southeast Asia’s largest integrated car e-commerce platform, and JACCS (Japan Consumer Credit Service), a global consumer finance company and a member of the Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, announced a strategic partnership via CARSOME Capital, the financing arm of CARSOME. As part of this strategic partnership, JACCS will
lending
King Street Capital Management, a leading global alternative investment firm, and Tor Investment Managemenet, a leading independent alternative credit manager in Asia, announced a USD 110m financing solution for Soul of Japan (SOJ), a land-based Atlantic salmon farm project in Tsu City. SOJ is backed by 8F Asset Management, an