The latest news in funds and investments from across Asia.

Goldbell
Singapore’s Goldbell group has launched a private debt investment platform, called GEN, allowing investors a way to tap into local firms of their choice.

The “GEN” acronym comes from Goldbell Evolution Network, derived from the Chinese word “roots”, depicting stability such as a tree with roots. Goldbell Financial Services will co-invest with investors, investing around 30 per cent of funding capital sought by a company seeking funding through the platform. 

Goldbell Evolution Network Pte, which runs the platform, is a subsidiary of Goldbell Financial Services. The platform will focus on loans that are secured by assets such as property and vehicles. Investment deals on GEN will indicate whether the loans are secured and what the underlying collateral is so that investors have clearer visibility on the risks involved. 

GEN aims to provide investors diversification in their investment portfolios and seeks to offer yields in the range of 5–12 per cent returns, a statement from the firm said. 

Goldbell started as a distributor of commercial vehicles in Singapore in the 1980s and has become Singapore’s largest industrial vehicle distribution and leasing company. Goldbell Financial Services was set up in 2015 to help clientele.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore gave a capital markets services licence to GEN in May this year, with Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow helping with its licence application.