responsAbility, a Swiss-based microfinance investment vehicle (MIV) manager, recently reported to MicroCapital that it has invested USD 201,000 in equity financing from two of the funds it manages in two microfinance-focused investment firms.

FASO Investments, an equity investment vehicle incorporated in the Netherlands focusing on microfinance in Africa, received USD 19,000 from the responsAbility Global Microfinance Fund and USD 46,000 from responsAbility Mikrofinanz-Fonds. Catalyst Microfinance Investors (CMI), a private company managed by the microfinance institution, ASA of Bangladesh, received USD 136,000 from responsAbility Mikrofinanz-Fonds.

By Stefanie Rubin, Research Associate

About responsAbility Global Microfinance Fund:

The responsAbility Global Microfinance Fund (rAGMF) invests in microfinance institutions (MFIs) and microfinance investment vehicles (MIVs), mostly through short- to medium-term debt securities. rAGMF also invests up to 10 percent of its assets in the equity of MFIs. As of April 2010, it has been certified by the Luxembourg Funding Labeling Agency (LuxFLAG), an independent nonprofit that certifies MIVs based on their direct or indirect investment in the microfinance sector.

About responsAbility Mikrofinanz-Fonds:

The responsAbility Mikrofinanz-Fonds invests in microfinance institutions (MFIs) through debt securities and equity investments. The fund was created in 2007 by responsAbility of Luxembourg, and is financed by Bank im Bistum Essen, a German cooperative financial institution, and Stadtsparkasse D’sseldorf, a German bank. As of April 2010, it has been certified by the Luxembourg Funding Labeling Agency (LuxFLAG), an independent nonprofit, which certifies MIVs based on their direct or indirect investment in the microfinance sector.

Additional Resources:

Source Article: E-mail correspondence with MicroCapital June 10, 2010.

MicroCapital Universe: responsAbility Global Microfinance:http://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=responsAbility+Global+Microfinance+Fund+(rAGMF)

MicroCapital Universe: responsAbility Mikrofinanz-Fond:http://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=responsAbility+Mikrofinanz-Fonds

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