Ant International secures $1.2bn equity financing for global push

Ant International has completed a Series A equity financing of about US$1.2 billion, Finextra reported, adding capital for a payments and financial technology group operating across several major regions. The round included existing investors Ant Group and Alibaba Group, along with other international investment institutions, according to Finextra.

The financing gives Ant International additional resources as it expands services for merchants, small and medium-sized enterprises and larger companies. In an equity financing, investors provide capital in exchange for an ownership stake, rather than lending money to be repaid as debt. The company said the proceeds would support global expansion and growth in merchant payment, account management and other financial services for SMEs and enterprises worldwide, Finextra reported.

Ant International began operating independently in 2024. Its main operations span Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America, and the company connects more than 150 million merchants worldwide with over 2 billion user accounts, according to Finextra.

The company is built around four business lines: Alipay+, Antom, WorldFirst and Bettr. Finextra reported that these pillars are focused on improving interoperability in global payments and supporting cross-border commerce through artificial intelligence-enabled merchant payment, treasury and credit technology services.

Payment interoperability refers to the ability of different wallets, bank systems, merchant platforms and payment networks to work together across borders. For merchants, that can affect acceptance of foreign payment methods, settlement flows and the management of funds in multiple markets. Ant International’s stated focus places the company in the market for infrastructure that links consumers, merchants and financial service providers across jurisdictions.

The company’s treasury and account-management services are aimed at businesses handling cross-border transactions, where currency, settlement timing and access to working capital can add operational complexity. Its credit technology activities, as described by Finextra, form part of the same merchant-services strategy, alongside payments acceptance and account tools.

The participation of Ant Group and Alibaba Group keeps two existing strategic investors involved in Ant International’s next stage of financing. Finextra did not report the specific amounts contributed by each investor, the company’s valuation, or the identities of the other international investment institutions that joined the round.

The transaction comes as payments companies continue to build services beyond basic transaction processing, including merchant accounts, treasury tools and technology for cross-border commerce. Ant International said the new capital would be used to accelerate its expansion in those areas, according to Finextra.

This story draws on original reporting from Finextra Research.