KNOW A MICROFINANCE FUND: Bellwether

Overview:
The Bellwether Microfinance Fund is a microfinance investment vehicle, which mobilizes capital for microfinance institutions (MFIs).

Description:
The Bellwether Microfinance Fund is an onshore Indian venture fund that makes equity investments in microfinance institutions (MFIs), which are retail micro-lenders. The Fund invests in high potential start-ups as well as established medium-sized NGO-MFIs. The USD 20 million fund is independently managed by Caspian advisors.

Microfinance Information Exchange (MIX) Profile:
http://mixmarket.org/funders/bellwether

Organization’s Website:
www.bellwetherfund.com

Just the Facts:
Country of Incorporation: India
Year Founded: 2005
Total Assets (as of day/month/year): USD 20 million (as of 2007)
Number of MFI Investments (as of day/month/year): 14 (as of 2007)
Assets Allocated to MFIs (as of day/month/year): USD 15.7 million (as of 2007)
Area of Operation: Global
Participant(s)/Backer(s)/Investor(s): Gray Ghost, HTF, FMO
Investment Horizon: 2 years (for Loan and Debt Securities)
Instruments: Loan and Debt Securities, Equity, Guarantees
Fund Currency: INR
Fund Manager: Caspian Advisors

Contact Information:
Viswanatha Prasad
Fund Manager
prasad@bellwetherfund.com
0091 40 6646 0505

Additional Resources:
Latest news on Bellwether from Bellwether
http://www.bellwetherfund.com/news.html

Latest news on Bellwether from Caspian Advisors
http://www.caspianadvisors.com/News.html

Latest news on Bellwether from Microcapital.org
https://www.microcapital.org/?s=bellwether&x=0&y=0

Bellwether Microfinance Fund Invests $480K in Equitas Micro Finance India (June 2009)
https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-story-bellwether-microfinance-f…

India’s Ujjivan Increases Equity With Investments By Unitus Equity Fund, Bellwether Microfinance Fund, Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, Sequoia Capital, Lok Capital, India Financial Inclusion Fund and SIDBI (November 2008)
https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-story-indias-ujjivan-increases-…

Indian For-profit Equitas Microfinance Raises $12.5 million in Equity Capital from Bellwether Fund, Indian Financial Fund, Microventures SPA (August 2008)
https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-story-indian-for-profit-equitas…

Bellwether Microfinance Fund receives USD 2.4 mm from FMO, a Dutch Financial institution
https://www.microcapital.org/bellwether-microfinance-fund-receives-usd-24…

Authored by Kenny Kline, Research Associate

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