Daily Briefing: Fintech startup Helicap buys Arcor Capital; Cash over credit sought by white collars

And Singapore’s Hello Health Group acquires two Vietnamese online information platforms.

From DealStreetAsia:

Helicap, a Singapore-based fintech startup, has acquired securities firm Arcor Capital for an undisclosed sum, according to an announcement.

Based in Singapore, Arcor Capital specialises in private debt securities and growth capital for early-stage and mid-market enterprises in Asia. It holds a Capital Markets Services (CMS) licence for dealing in securities from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

Arcor Capital will join sister company Helicap Investments under the Helicap Group. Helicap Investments is the group’s newly obtained fund management subsidiary, which will launch its first fund with a target AUM of $200 million to invest in a portfolio of loans selected from alternative lending platforms operating in Asia.

Helicap Group will use Arcor Capital and Helicap Investments to raise $345.8m ($250m) in capital from accredited investors.

Read more here.

From Human Resources Online:

Singaporean white collar workers are shifting their priorities away from the traditional 5Cs, and placing greater importance of a new set of 5Cs. For employers, this means that although cash is still a top priority, having a good career and a cultured outlook are becoming important to staff.

In particular, Singaporeans have chosen to prioritise intangibles over material ambitions. Although cash is still a top priority (94%), the other four traditional 5Cs, i.e. credit cards (32%), condominiums (33%), a car (30%), and country club memberships (just 3%) are no longer of high importance, according to research commissioned by Tigerhall involving 1,000 white collar workers based in Singapore.

Instead, career has become a priority, according to 85% of respondents, and this was especially observed in Singaporeans in the beginning stages of their career. Further, nine in 10 aged under 29 placed importance on establishing a good career.

A third priority identified was a cultural proficiency (74%), with world travel being one of the ways Millennials hope to achieve this.

Read more here.

From DealStreetAsia:

Singapore-based Hello Health Group has announced the acquisition of the Marry Network from Ringier Vietnam. The deal includes two Vietnam-based online platforms centered around parenting (Marrybaby.vn) and weddings (Marry.vn).

This acquisition is part of the company’s goal of building the largest health media network in Asia, per an announcement.

“We are happy to include the Marry Network into our Hello Health Group platforms that inform, educate and engage over 32 million unique users each month,” said James Miles-Lambert, CEO of Hello Health Group. He added that the company’s progress would be further fueled by upcoming fundraising initiatives.

Hello Health Group focuses on the development of healthcare platforms throughout emerging Asia. It is active in eight Asian markets: Vietnam, Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Taiwan and India.

Read more here.