Saison Investment Management Accelerates Financial Inclusion with Strategic Fintech Partnerships in the Philippines

SIMPL completes three cross-border loan facilities with Billease, Country Funders and First Circle, helping to bridge the financing gap

Singapore, 11 February 2026 - Saison Investment Management Private Limited (SIMPL), the cross-border investment arm of Saison International, Credit Saison’s international headquarters, has completed  three cross-border loan facilities to digital-focused fintechs in the Philippines - Billease, the country’s leading Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) provider; Country Funders Finance Corporation (Country Funders), a digital-first pioneer in financial inclusion for rural communities; and First Circle, a leading digital lender to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).  

“SIMPL exists to harness the power of finance to support innovative solutions that expand credit access and bridge the financing gap in frontier economies. In the Philippines, Billease, Country Funders and First Circle share our vision for financial inclusion, and we are proud to support and build a long-term partnership with these institutions. Our investments with these partners are designed to support segments traditionally excluded by banks, ranging from urban consumers to rural farmers and SMEs,” said Claudia Rojas, Senior Vice President at Saison Investment Management. 

Driving Financial Inclusion through Continued Investments from SIMPL in Billease

In early 2025, SIMPL provided two additional loans to Billease, a consumer finance platform offering cash loans and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solutions, among other services. Billease differentiates itself by leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence to build financial products, while integrating traditional global best practices in credit underwriting. This dual approach allows the company to meet the needs of the underbanked market segment. A further investment was made in Q4 2025 in recognition of the company’s growing profitability and loan book. These investments were made through a credit facility arranged by Helicap Securities, which included participation from various investors such as the Helicap Income Opportunities Fund, several institutional credit investors, and high-net-worth individuals.

“Billease continues to demonstrate how technology-enabled lending can drive both commercial sustainability and meaningful financial inclusion. We are encouraged by SIMPL’s continued commitment and proud to have facilitated and scaled this facility with key partners, enabling them to participate in a scalable credit strategy that serves underbanked consumers in the Philippines while maintaining disciplined risk management.” said Louis Lam, Vice President, Helicap Securities.

SIMPL Becomes First International Lender to Country Funders 

SIMPL has extended a landmark loan facility to Country Funders, making it the company’s first international loan facility. As a digital-first finance company that has served over 180,000 borrowers in only 7 years, Country Funders specializes in providing micro-loans and credit facilities to rural Filipino communities, small-scale farmers, daily commuters, SME proprietors and self-employed individuals who are often underserved by or isolated from mainstream banks.

Country Funders’ loan products, offered under its new brand “Easylend,” highlights easy access to loan solutions designed to bridge the inclusion gap, support livelihood stability, and enhance mobility for economically active but financially excluded Filipinos.

This partnership with SIMPL not only helps expand Country Funders’ lending capacity, which had seen a record-high 50% portfolio increase for the company in 2025, but also provides a bridge to a wider network of capital providers and unlocks future international funding opportunities.

SIMPL anchors First Circle’s new capital structure to host new international lenders 

First Circle has emerged as a leading digital lender in the Philippines, providing Filipino SMEs with essential financial services to access the capital they need for growth, such as inventory purchases or expansion plans. Registered with the SEC since 2016, First Circle operates in a market where funding options for small businesses are traditionally limited. SIMPL’s facility to First Circle supports the company’s ongoing efforts to build a new capital structure designed to host multiple institutional lenders and expand its lending capacity. SIMPL’s initial investment in First Circle in May 2025, was followed by another tranche towards the end of the year, which reflects growing confidence in the company’s strengthened financial performance, governance, and commitment to serving the country’s underserved small business sector. To date, First Circle has disbursed ₱16 billion in loans, with its customers experiencing an average of 80% revenue growth within two years of partnership.

SIMPL surpasses USD 100 million in AUM and expands into new geographies

Alongside these investments, SIMPL surpassed USD 100 million in Assets Under Management (AUM). This achievement reflects the firm’s continued growth and its role in unlocking capital for innovative tech-enabled financial institutions in Philippines, Indonesia, Mongolia, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Cambodia across the sectors of affordable housing, consumer and SME finance, microfinance and more. In addition to SIMPL’s footprint in the Asian region, the new year includes expansion into new geographies such as the Middle East, Central Asia and Latin America.

SIMPL continues to focus on delivering long-term value through accelerating access to affordable and responsible financial products across underserved segments. SIMPL’s investments directly support the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 1 (No Poverty), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and 10 (Reduced Inequalities).