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Tuesday, March 16, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Elevar Equity, a Bangalore-based Private Equity Fund, Raises $70m for Microfinance-focused Fund for Investments in India, Mexico, the Philippines and Peru

Elevar Equity Advisors Private Limited (Elevar), a Bangalore-based private equity fund, has raised a USD 70 million fund that will invest in microfinance and other services in India, Mexico, the Philippines and Peru. Continue Reading »



Tuesday, March 16, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance Institution (MFI) Equity Valuations Rise in 2009 as Portfolio Quality Falls, Says Report by JP Morgan and CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor)

A new report by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) and JP Morgan shows that despite the global financial crisis, microfinance institution (MFI) equity valuations continued to rise across all regions during 2009. Continue Reading »



Friday, March 12, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) Releases Third Annual Global Ranking of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs)

The Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX), the microfinance information clearinghouse, recently released its third annual ranking of microfinance institutions (MFIs), The Mix Global 100. Continue Reading »



Tuesday, March 9, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: International Finance Corporation (IFC), IBM and Republic Bank Launch Software Platform for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Guyana

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group; IBM, a multinational computer corporation based in the United States; and Republic Bank Ltd., a commercial bank in the Caribbean, recently launched a free, online platform that aims to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) improve their performance. Continue Reading »



Tuesday, March 9, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Fundacion Mujer Mundo (FMM) to Become Regulated Financial Institution in Colombia Specializing in Microfinance with $6m Loan from International Finance Corporation (IFC)

he International Finance Corporation (IFC), the lending arm of the World Bank, recently announced that it would provide advisory services and a USD 6 million loan to Fundacion Mundo Mujer (FMM), a Colombian nongovernmental organization (NGO) that offers microcredit services, in order to help FMM transform into a regulated financial institution. Continue Reading »



Tuesday, March 2, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Financiera Independencia, a Microfinance Institution (MFI) Located in Mexico, Will Submit Request to Receive Banking License

Financiera Independencia, a microfinance institution (MFI) located in Mexico, has announced that on February 24, 2010, its Board of Directors authorized the MFI to submit a request to receive a banking license, thus allowing it to offer a wider range of products and services as well as to receive funding from retail deposits. Continue Reading »



Monday, March 1, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Compartamos Banco, a Mexican Microfinance Bank, Reports 33% Increases in Net Income and Total Loan Portfolio for 2009

Compartamos Banco, a Mexican microfinance bank, reports that both its net income and its total loan portfolio increased by 33 percent in 2009. Fernando Alvarez Toca, the CEO of Compartamos Banco, reflected upon 2009 as “one of the most challenging years in Compartamos’ history” due to the global downturn [1]. Continue Reading »



Monday, March 1, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Mexican Microfinance Institution (MFI) Financiera Independencia Closes $41m Acquisition of Financiera Finsol

Financiera Independencia, a Mexican microfinance institution (MFI) that focuses on urban lending to individuals, has closed an MXP 530 million (USD 41 million) deal to acquire Financiera Finsol, a Mexican MFI that focuses on group lending in rural areas, and three related entities: Finsol Vida, an insurance broker; Finsol, a service company; and Instituto Finsol Brazil, an MFI in Brazil. Continue Reading »



Tuesday, February 23, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Newsweek Article Examines Importance of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in Post-Disaster Environments

A recent article in US-based Newsweek magazine entitled ‘Big Crisis, Small Help’ examines the importance of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in mitigating crises in post-disaster environments. Continue Reading »



Friday, February 19, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance Information Exchange Releases Benchmarking Reports on Mexico and Paraguay

The Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX), the microfinance information clearinghouse, recently released two benchmarking reports covering the microfinance market in Mexico and Paraguay. Continue Reading »



Tuesday, February 16, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Global Partnerships, a Nonprofit Microfinance Investment Vehicle, Announces Expansion to Mexico Through $500,000 Loan to Fundación Realidad (FRAC), a Nonprofit Microfinance Institution (MFI), That Took Place in October of 2009

Global Partnerships, a non-governmental organization (NGO) that supports microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Latin America, has announced its expansion to Mexico through a USD 500,000 loan made to Fundación Realidad (FRAC), a nonprofit MFI located in Mexico. Continue Reading »



Friday, February 12, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Existing Government Payment Programs Could Bring More Rural Poor Into Financial System, According to Report by CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) and Department for International Development (DFID)

According to a new report from CGAP (Consultative Group to Assist the Poor) and the U.K.’s Department for International Development (DFID) entitled, ‘Banking the Poor via G2P Payments,’ existing government payment programs could bring many more poor people into the formal financial services system. Continue Reading »



Thursday, February 11, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance Association (MA) Launches Global Academy Program (GAP), Seeks Internship Sites for Students

The Microfinance Association (MA), an international membership organization for practitioners in the microfinance industry, has launched its Global Academy Program (GAP). Continue Reading »



Monday, February 8, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MFTransparency Launches Microfinance Blog

MFTransparency, founded in July of 2008 as part of a global initiative to promote transparent pricing in the microfinance industry, has launched a blog to complement its website. Continue Reading »



Thursday, February 4, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Call to Contribute Expertise to Post-Crisis Microfinance Institution (MFI) Management Wiki for Haiti

ES Global, a consulting firm that focuses on social investing and micro- and small enterprise development, has created a wiki for post-crisis management support to microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Haiti. Continue Reading »



Tuesday, February 2, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) Pledges $100k to Esperanza International for Microfinance Efforts in Haiti

The Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA), the trade union of United States Major League Baseball players, recently pledged USD 100,000 to Esperanza International, an organization that aims to alleviate poverty with social programs and microcredit, to aid in the reconstruction of Haiti. The donation will come from the MLBPA’s Players Trust, a fund created by the MLBPA. Continue Reading »



Tuesday, February 2, 2010

MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: International Finance Corporation (IFC) Invests $2.5m in Mexican Company Mi Tienda to Support Microfinance for Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs)

The International Finance Company (IFC), the investment arm of the World Bank, has signed a long-term agreement with Mexico’s Sistema Integral de Abasto Rural, known as Mi Tienda, to help the distribution center expand its operations to provide owners of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with microcredit, insurance, and other financial services. IFC has agreed to provide USD 2.5 million in equity financing to support the expansion. Continue Reading »



Tuesday, February 2, 2010

KNOW A MICROFINANCE REGULATOR: Central Bank of Dominican Republic (Banco Central de la Republica Dominicana, BCRD)

Overview:
Established in 1947, the Central Bank of Dominican Republic (Banco Central de la Republica Dominicana, BCRD) is the nation’s central bank. Continue Reading »