By Yantoultra Ngui
SINGAPORE, Jan 21 (Reuters) – Airwallex has acquired South Korea’s Paynuri Co Ltd, securing native funds licences and a foreign-exchange enterprise registration that may enable it to function immediately within the nation because the Australia-founded fintech expands in Asia.
The deal follows a December funding spherical that valued Airwallex at $8 billion.
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Airwallex stated on Wednesday that the acquisition gave it Paynuri’s Cost Gateway and Pay as you go Digital Cost Instrument licences, in addition to a International Alternate Enterprise registration. Monetary phrases weren’t disclosed.
“This milestone permits us to function immediately in South Korea with out the standard reliance on third-party intermediaries,” Lucy Liu, co-founder and president of Airwallex, instructed Reuters.
Airwallex plans to launch its international enterprise accounts and funds buying operations in South Korea in 2026, adopted later that 12 months by merchandise together with its spend-management instruments.
It goals to construct a group of round 20 individuals within the nation by end-2026, hiring throughout gross sales, compliance, shopper administration and product help.
“This acquisition marks a pivotal milestone for Airwallex as we increase the worldwide attain of our monetary platform,” stated Arnold Chan, normal supervisor for Asia-Pacific at Airwallex.
He stated South Korea’s fast-growing ecommerce, inventive and leisure sectors supplied alternatives for Korean companies overseas.
$8 BILLION VALUATION
The acquisition follows Airwallex’s December funding spherical that valued the corporate at $8 billion, about 30% greater than in its earlier spherical, it stated.
Requested about itemizing plans, Liu stated the corporate’s precedence was strengthening its international community and scaling its AI-driven options.
“We proceed to guage all choices for our future capital technique as we’re centered on hitting our efficiency milestones and constructing merchandise throughout the 26 workplaces and greater than 200,000 firms we serve globally,” she added.
Airwallex stated it reached $1.2 billion in annualised income and $266 billion in annualised transaction quantity in December.
The corporate is co-headquartered in San Francisco and Singapore and is backed by traders together with Tencent, DST International and Hillhouse, in accordance with its web site.
The newest funding spherical additionally introduced in new traders Addition, T. Rowe Value Inc, Activant, Lingotto, Robinhood Ventures and TIAA Ventures.
(Reporting by Yantoultra Ngui; Enhancing by Mark Potter and Muralikumar Anantharaman)
