Grab buys 60% stake in Atome Financial for $1.49 billion to boost its lending business
Grab announced on September 18, 2026 that it will acquire a 60 percent stake in digital lender Atome Financial for US$1.49 billion. The transaction is slated to close in the third quarter of 2027 and brings a gross loan portfolio of roughly $1 billion into Grab’s financial services arm.
Under the agreement, Atome’s buy now, pay later loans, pay‑later cards and consumer cash‑loan businesses will be folded into Grab’s financial services segment across Southeast Asia. Atome brings more than 30,000 merchant brands spanning travel, electronics, home, lifestyle, fashion, beauty and e‑commerce, complementing Grab’s food‑and‑beverage‑heavy merchant base. The deal also gives Grab access to Atome’s 25 million cumulative transacting users and its positive adjusted EBITDA, while providing Atome with cross‑sell opportunities into Grab’s largely F&B merchant network. Grab is paying in two stages, with $260 million of the $1.49 billion earmarked as primary growth capital injected into Atome, and the remainder to be paid after closing.
“You’ve just seen the scale and discipline Atome already has, and this is exactly why we chose to acquire rather than build this ourselves,” Anthony Tan, CEO of Grab said.
“Of our 138 million annual transacting users, only 1 per cent borrow from us today,” Anthony Tan, CEO of Grab said.
Grab had been trying to build its own buy now, pay later offering for a couple of years but lagged behind competitors such as Shopee Pay Later and Atome. The company’s merchant base is heavily weighted toward food and beverage, while Atome’s brand list includes categories Grab had not previously served.
What we know
“Southeast Asia’s biggest superapp has acquired a 60 per cent stake in digital lending company Atome Financial for US$1.49 billion.”
“The deal is expected to close by the third quarter of next year.”
“Grab said Atome carries a gross loan portfolio of about $1 billion, including more than 30,000 brands, and has served 25 million cumulative transacting users.”
“Atome’s 30,000‑plus brands span from travel, electronics, home and lifestyle, fashion, beauty and e‑commerce.”
“The company also factored in Atome’s growth record, which saw GMV growing more than nine times across the past six years.”