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Singapore, September 16, 2026 – Grab Holdings has unveiled a landmark agreement to acquire a majority stake in Singapore based Atome Financial, a move that underscores the ride hailing giant’s ambition to become a dominant force in Southeast Asia’s consumer finance sector.
The deal, valued at $1.9 billion, will see Grab initially purchase 60 percent of Atome, with plans to acquire the remaining shares within two years.
The transaction marks one of Grab’s most significant forays into financial services, positioning the company to capitalize on the region’s fast growing demand for digital lending and buy now pay later (BNPL) solutions.
Atome, which operates across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand, has built a user base of more than 25 million and forged partnerships with over 30,000 merchants.
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Its AI driven credit underwriting system has been touted as a key differentiator in extending financial access to consumers who lack traditional credit histories.
Grab’s initial payment of $1.49 billion includes $260 million earmarked for growth capital, signaling its intent to accelerate Atome’s expansion.
The valuation of the remaining 40 percent stake will be performance based, with a floor of $2 billion and a ceiling of $4.5 billion, reflecting confidence in Atome’s growth trajectory.
The first phase of the deal is expected to close by the third quarter of 2027.
Financially, Grab has raised its 2028 adjusted EBITDA target to $1.7 billion, buoyed by expectations that Atome will contribute $500 million in earnings by that year.
The company projects its gross loan portfolio to surpass $6 billion by 2028, with annual revenue growth exceeding 30 percent between 2025 and 2028.
These figures highlight Grab’s belief that fintech will become a cornerstone of its ecosystem, complementing its mobility and delivery businesses.
The acquisition also reflects broader consolidation trends in Southeast Asia’s fintech landscape.
With regional banks and startups competing to capture the BNPL market, Grab’s move signals its intent to outpace rivals by integrating financial services directly into its super app.
For millions of consumers across the region, particularly those underserved by traditional banking, the Grab Atome partnership could provide new pathways to credit and financial inclusion.
This deal follows Grab’s recent acquisitions, including U.S. based Stash Financial and Foodpanda Taiwan for $600 million, underscoring a strategy of diversification beyond ride hailing and food delivery.
By embedding Atome’s lending capabilities into its platform, Grab is positioning itself not just as a transport and delivery leader, but as a regional financial powerhouse.
The $1.9 billion bet on Atome is more than a corporate transaction it is a signal of how Southeast Asia’s digital economy is evolving, with super apps like Grab aiming to redefine the future of consumer finance.
