Fintech PR
Ayan Capital Secures Shariah-Compliant Financing Facility of up to £25 Million from Partners for Growth
New funding will be used to boost growth, scale tech-led underwriting, and expand UK access to halal finance, targeting £25m in 2025 and £100m by 2026.
LONDON, April 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Ayan Capital, a fast-growing provider of halal vehicle financing, has secured up to £25 million in Shariah-compliant financing facility from institutional debt provider Partners for Growth (PFG), a global private credit firm with a strong 20-year track record of backing high-growth technology and fintech companies in more than 20 countries. This investment reflects the rising demand for Islamic financial products in the UK and reinforces Ayan Capital’s position as a key player in the sector.
Ayan Capital provides halal business car financing, serving private hire (Uber, Bolt, etc.) and business drivers seeking halal alternatives to purchase low-carbon emission cars. Operating in the £21.7 billion UK used car finance market – still dominated by non-tech players under regulatory scrutiny – Ayan offers a tech-led, commission-free model that puts customers first, financing them directly regardless of where they buy their car. Expanding beyond vehicle financing, the company recently launched Ayan Pay, a 0% interest, 12-month financing covering home repairs, renovations, car repairs and furniture purchases.
Ayan Capital more than doubled its financing issuance last quarter, growing 2.2x while maintaining a 0% non-performing loan rate – demonstrating the strength of its underwriting technologies and expertise. This latest funding follows Ayan Capital’s recent £3.4 million Pre-Series A round.
With this new £25 million funding, which is based on Ijara wa Iqtina principles, Ayan Capital aims to accelerate growth, enhance its technology-driven underwriting capabilities, targeting £25 million in financing this year and £100 million in 2026, broadening access to halal financial products across the UK and laying the groundwork for a long-term vision that includes a UK banking license application.
Ayan Capital is building on the success of Alif Bank, also co-founded by Abdullo Kurbanov and based in Central Asia, whose digital transactions grew by 30x over three and a half years, serving over four million customers. Now, Ayan aims to become a UK leader in Islamic banking, leveraging the country’s strong regulatory environment.
Ayan is addressing the gap in UK Islamic finance. Despite the UK’s Muslim population set to reach 10m by 2050, according to some estimates, Islamic banking remains severely underserved, with only 0.1% of total banking assets – even though 82% of UK Muslims seeking Shariah-compliant products. However, momentum is building – Islamic bank assets in the UK surged 26% in 2023 to $8.2 billion, with Fitch Ratings projecting growth to $15 billion in the medium term.
Armineh Baghoomian, Co-Head of Fintech at Partners for Growth, stated: “Ayan Capital is redefining what Islamic finance can look like in a modern, tech-enabled ecosystem. Their strong traction, disciplined underwriting, and commitment to financial inclusion closely align with PFG’s mission to support founders building next-generation financial infrastructure. We’re proud to support Ayan as they scale access to Shariah-compliant products across the UK and beyond.”
Richard Osborne, Investment Manager at PFG stated: “We are excited to support Ayan’s mission to expand access to Shariah-compliant financing throughout the UK. The team’s experience, strong underwriting expertise and technology-first approach align well with PFG’s global strategy of backing great founders building high-growth, innovative financial services businesses. We’ve been particularly impressed by Ayan’s growth trajectory and ability to achieve key milestones at a rapid pace. We look forward to seeing Ayan’s continued success and impact on the market.”
Abdullo Kurbanov, Co-founder and CEO of Ayan Capital stated: “We are grateful for the trust and support of the PFG team. Our mission is to make halal financing more accessible in every way – cost, technology, and customer experience. Choosing a halal option should not mean paying more. While we are still at the beginning of our journey, we are wholeheartedly committed to building a financial system that is open to all – one that is not only halal but also more competitive, convenient, and innovative than conventional alternatives.”
Furkat Suvhanov, COO of Ayan Capital, stated: “We’re growing rapidly while maintaining exceptional portfolio quality and customer service. Our partnership with PFG reflects the strength of our model and supports our long-term capital strategy. Building on this momentum, with PFG’s support, we’re now beginning work on our next £75–100 million Shariah-compliant debt raise.”
About Ayan Capital
Ayan Capital is a halal, technology-driven financial services provider committed to making Islamic finance accessible to millions across the UK and beyond. Founded by Abdullo Kurbanov, Firdavs Mirzoev, and Zuhursho Rahmatulloev, the company is laying the groundwork for the long-term vision of a banking license application in the UK.
About Partners for Growth
Partners for Growth (PFG) is a global private credit firm specializing in custom debt solutions for high-growth companies. For over twenty years, PFG has provided growth debt financing to tech, fintech, healthcare, and tech-enabled companies to accelerate their path to profitability or finance specific assets at pivotal stages of growth. Since inception, PFG has partnered with more than 250 companies across 20 countries.
TMT Global Advisers provided financial advice to Ayan Capital on this transaction. TMT Global Advisers is an independent mid-market advisory firm specializing in M&A and fundraising for tech, telecom, and media clients worldwide.
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MADRID, April 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Eliance Group, a global leader in the provision of specialized aviation services, has announced that Swiss Life Asset Managers has acquired a significant majority stake in the company through its Swiss Life Global Infrastructure Opportunities Growth II fund. The current shareholder, RiverRock, will continue as a minority investor in the company’s capital, retaining its commitment to Eliance’s growth.
This strategic move strengthens Eliance’s financial capacity to expand in the key markets of Spain, Italy and Croatia by providing capital for growth and consolidating its current leadership position in sectors such as firefighting, medical transport and rescue operations.
Since its foundation in 1958 in Madrid, Eliance has evolved from a provider focused on firefighting to a leading player in the emergency air services sector, with an integrated business model and European presence. The company has a varied fleet of fixed and rotary wing aircraft and stands out as one of only two companies accredited for Airbus maintenance in Spain.
Eliance’s success is also based on its remarkable track record of international expansion and winning government contracts. Recently, the firm has expanded its global presence by acquiring Italian operator EliFriulia and starting operations in Croatia to meet the growing demand for helicopter emergency medical services in these geographic areas.
Matthew Dooley, Director Value-Add Infrastructure, Swiss Life Asset Managers, said, “AES’s business model is characterized by its core nature, strong cash flow stability and asset weight. These are all key characteristics of the infrastructure we seek as part of our value-added investment strategy. We are delighted to be working with the Eliance management team to continue to leverage the strong growth potential of the business.”
“We are excited to welcome Swiss Life Asset Managers as a new shareholder of Eliance. Their collaboration represents a significant milestone in our journey, which began in 2021, and has led Eliance to become a leader in air emergency services in Southern Europe. The strength and reach of Swiss Life Asset Managers further underscore Eliance’s appeal and the industry’s attractiveness to infrastructure investors. Their support will be instrumental in driving Eliance’s next phase of growth and enabling the company to play a key role in consolidating the European market,” commented Alessandro Graziano, Chief Investment Officer at RiverRock.
For their part, Juan Carlos Martínez, CEO of the group, and Fernando Gallardo, group CFO at Grupo Eliance, added that “Swiss Life Asset Managers’ investment in Grupo Eliance not only strengthens our financial framework, but also ensures the stability needed to drive our continued growth in an industry that increasingly requires significant investments. This strategic partnership positions us to enhance our profitability and continue our expansion.”
Lazard served as the sole financial advisor to Eliance during this transaction, contributing their expertise to secure an investment that supports Eliance’s operational sustainability and growth.
Media contact:
Blanca Ahijado
+34 635 577 750
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Fintech PR
OMRON and Cognizant Partner to Revolutionize Manufacturing with Unique One-Stop IT-OT Integration
- Balancing economic and social value for the future of manufacturing through advanced technologies.
- Promoting sustainable manufacturing by enhancing workforce efficiency, boosting productivity, and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Empowering people through data-driven decision making with manufacturing intelligence, AI & automation and digitalization.
STUTTGART, Germany, April 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — OMRON Corporation (TSE:6645) and Cognizant (NASDAQ:CTSH) have signed a strategic partnership to integrate Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) in the manufacturing industry. The collaboration includes Cognizant being chosen as the engineering partner for OMRON’s Industrial Automation Business (IAB) products.
OMRON, known for its advanced automation technology, and Cognizant, with expertise in IT-OT convergence, will offer a unique, one-stop solution for digital transformation. The partnership combines OMRON’s OT products, such as sensors, controllers, servo motors, safety equipment and robots, with Cognizant’s IT capabilities, including cloud, AI, IoT, and digital twin technologies.
Through this collaboration, the companies provide a distinctive capability to achieve flexible and agile operational excellence. This includes consultancy, on-site implementation, operation, and maintenance. Target sectors for the joint capability include Automotive, Semiconductor, Electronics, Industrial Manufacturing, Life Sciences and Consumer Goods industries.
Combining the capabilities of both companies, OMRON and Cognizant strive to establish a unique business model that addresses on-site and management issues through continuous IT-OT analysis and improvements. This IT-OT integration will leverage both companies’ strengths to help promote sustainable manufacturing, enhancing productivity, improving workforce efficiency and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
OMRON’s broad product lineup (more than 200,000 SKUs) gathers high-quality field data for Cognizant’s Asset Performance Excellence (APEx) platform and its Industry 4.0/5.0 maturity assessment tool OnePlant™. This data, combined with management information, helps analyze IT-side issues and prioritize improvements from a management perspective. Results can be fed back via OMRON’s control application and the i-BELT data utilization service, working with customers to address on-site challenges linked to management issues in a comprehensive manner.
“OMRON is the only manufacturer of control equipment in the world that owns all the equipment used in the production line. Cognizant, on the other hand, is one of the world’s leading global IT services companies supporting the digital transformation of a wide range of industries with advanced digital technologies such as AI, IoT, and cloud,” said Junta Tsujinaga, CEO of OMRON Corporation. “Through this partnership, we will promote the integration of IT and OT to solve urgent issues faced by manufacturing sites, such as significantly improving productivity, reducing operational losses, and speeding up management decisions. The two companies will work together to promote sustainable cutting-edge manufacturing of the future.”
“Clients are looking for a Strategic Partner with deep industry and domain expertise, end to end capabilities and the ability to manage complex technologies at various layers of digital factory,” said Ravi Kumar S, CEO of Cognizant. “We are excited to partner with OMRON in taking integrated value propositions and capabilities to transform manufacturing for our clients globally. OMRON’s expertise in OT data and systems, combined with Cognizant’s digital manufacturing and IT/OT integration capabilities, will enable manufacturers to make quicker, more reliable decisions using real-time data. Together, we are committed to advancing manufacturing by leveraging emerging technologies and integrating IT and OT systems to realize a state of manufacturing in the future that is connected, intelligent, autonomous, sustainable, and resilient,” he added.
About OMRON Corporation
OMRON Corporation, as a leading automation company with its unique “Sensing & Control + Think” technology at its core, is engaged in control equipment, healthcare, social systems, and electronic components. The company is also developing a data solution business that utilizes a wide variety of data acquired through these businesses. Founded in 1933, OMRON now employs approximately 28,000 people worldwide and provides products and services in more than 130 countries, contributing to the creation of a better society. For more information, https://www.omron.com/jp/ja/ please visit: OMRON Global
About Cognizant
Cognizant (Nasdaq-100: CTSH) engineers modern businesses. We help our clients modernize technology, reimagine processes and transform experiences so they can stay ahead in our fast-changing world. Together, we’re improving everyday life.
See how at www.cognizant.com or @cognizant.
For media inquiries, please contact:
OMRON: Global Corporate Communications and Engagement – Ankur Bhat, ankur.bhat@omron.com ; +81-75-344-7175
Cognizant: GlobalPR@cognizant.com
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DUBAI, UAE, April 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, is spotlighting the power of blockchain for real-world impact with its upcoming livestream, “Bybit x EthicHub x BGA: Invest for impact, earn with DeFi,” in collaboration with EthicHub and Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA), a collaborative grants initiative to accelerate blockchain projects solving real-world problems.
The livestream airs on April 11 at 1PM UTC, and will unpack how blockchain technology is helping coffee farmers in developing regions access fair financing, build global partnerships, and participate in ethical trade.
EthicHub’s innovative model connects unbanked farmers to global lenders through blockchain-backed loans that are community-audited. Bybit recently pledged $1 million in liquidity to the platform, reinforcing its commitment to real-world impact through Web3.
Key Takeaways from the Livestream:
- How blockchain can close the financial gap for smallholder farmers.
- Why decentralized lending models matter in global agriculture.
- Insights from the full lending ecosystem — including auditors, buyers, and tech enablers.
- A $2,000 prize pool giveaway and live community poll on the role of DeFi in farming.
Featured Speakers:
- Gabriela Chang, Co-Founder & CSO, EthicHub — shares the platform’s mission and success stories.
- Jorge Barrigh, Regional Director, Impact Capital Americas (Heifer International) — discusses how Heifer audits and supports lending partners.
- David Llorens, Head Roaster & Buyer, Animal Coffee and Jaleo — offers a roaster’s view on ethical sourcing and direct trade.
- Glenn, Lead, Blockchain for Good Alliance — highlights how BGA supports impact-driven Web3 projects.
- Moderator: Shadie Berro, Social Media Lead, Bybit.
In a fast-moving Web3 space, this session brings a refreshing focus on real-world utility, social impact, and sustainability. The discussion promises practical examples, candid perspectives, and a deeper understanding of how blockchain can serve communities—not just markets. Viewers can join the discussion in the live chat, and vote in a poll on who benefits more from DeFi lending: farmers or investors.
This initiative is part of Bybit’s broader Blockchain for Good strategy, which incubates and scales projects leveraging Web3 for positive change.
The livestream offers meaningful perspectives for those interested in sustainability, ethical finance, and the global coffee supply chain. Full event details and viewing access are available on the official event page.
#Bybit / #TheCryptoArk / #BGA
About Bybit
Bybit is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 60 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com.
For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press
For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com
For updates, please follow: Bybit’s Communities and Social Media
Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube
About Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA)
The Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA) is a long term collaborative non-profit initiative with key partners with the main aim to contribute to societal good by using blockchain technology to solve real world problems. By convening leaders, innovators, and organisations from across the blockchain community, BGA seeks to drive innovation, collaboration, and action towards a more sustainable and equitable world.
For more information
Email: hello@blockchainforgood.xyz
Website: www.blockchainforgood.xyz
Twitter: www.twitter.com/chainforgood
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