MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Symbiotics Disburses $10m Syndicated Loan to Fundacion de la Mujer Bucaramanga of Colombia

Symbiotics Investment Group, a Swiss for-profit microfinance investment intermediary, recently disbursed a USD 10 million syndicated loan to Fundacion de la Mujer Bucaramanga, a microfinance institution (MFI) in Colombia. The loan was funded by four unnamed microfinance funds advised and managed by Symbiotics. According to Symbiotics director of research and advisory Daniel Schriber, the “transaction will benefit micro entrepreneurs and help them grow their economic activities.” Further information on the loan has not been released.

As of March 31, 2012, Fundacion de la Mujer reports to the Microfinance Information Exchange, a US-based information data provider, a gross loan portfolio of USD 221 million and approximately 244,000 active borrowers. As of year-end 2011, the foundation, which does not accept deposits, reported total assets of USD 212 million, return on assets (ROA) of USD 7.68 percent and return on equity (ROE) of 21.7 percent. Fundacion de la Mujer is affiliated with Women’s World Banking, a US-based nonprofit with members serving customers in 28 countries.

Symbiotics works with approximately 27 microfinance investment funds (MIVs) and a dozen institutional investors.

By Charlotte Newman, Research Associate

About Fundacion de la Mujer Bucaramanga
Fundacion de la Mujer Bucaramanga was established as an NGO in Columbia in 1987 and became a member of the US-based Women’s World Banking network in 1988. As of 2013, the microfinance institution has 217 service points throughout the country. As of March 31, 2012, Fundacion de la Mujer reports to the Microfinance Information Exchange, a US-based information data provider, a gross loan portfolio of USD 221 million and approximately 244,000 active borrowers. As of year-end 2011, the foundation reported total assets of USD 212 million, return on assets (ROA) of USD 7.68 percent and return on equity (ROE) of 21.7 percent. Fundacion de la Mujer does not accept deposits.

About Symbiotics Investment Group
Founded in 2005, Symbiotics provides for-profit investment intermediary services to the microfinance industry as well as business services to investors in and practitioners of micro- and small enterprise (MSE) development. Symbiotics works with approximately 27 investment funds (MIVs) and a dozen institutional investors. As of 2013 it has facilitated the provision of USD 1 billion in capital to about 500,000 micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) through 125 financial institutions in approximately 39 emerging economies. The company also offers Syminvest, a microfinance investment intelligence platform designed to increase transparency and enhance investment capacity in the industry by monitoring regional markets and specific institutions.

About Women’s World Banking
Women’s World Banking (WWB) is a nonprofit organization based in New York that was founded in 1979 to help women around the world through microfinance. As of 2012, WWB members serve 26 million active clients in 28 countries. As of 2011, WWB reports total assets of USD 30.5 million and its members report a total of USD 7 billion in outstanding loans and USD 3.5 billion in deposits.

Sources and Additional Resources:

Symbiotics Press Release: “Symbiotics Syndicates a USD 10 Million Loan to Columbian MFI Fundacion de la Mujer,” http://www.symbioticsgroup.com/news/latest-news/symbiotics-syndicates-a-usd-10-million-loan-to-colombian-mfi-fundaci%C3%B3n-de-la-mujer

MicroCapital.org story, December 3, 2012, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Access Bank of Azerbaijan Raises $10m from Symbiotics ‘MSME’ Bonds Impact Investing Platform,” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-access-bank-of-azerbaijan-raises-10m-from-symbiotics-msme-bonds-impact-investing-platform/

MicroCapital.org story, November 23, 2012, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Opportunity International Adds Savings Services in Colombia by Converting into Microfinance Bank with Funding from Citi Foundation,” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-opportunity-international-adds-savings-services-in-colombia-by-converting-into-microfinance-bank-with-funding-from-citi-foundation/

MicroCapital Universe Profile: Fundacion de la Mujer Bucaramanga
https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Fundacion+de+la+Mujer+Bucaramanga

MicroCapital Universe Profile: Symbiotics Investment Group
https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Symbiotics+Group

MicroCapital Universe Profile: Women’s World Banking
https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Women%27s+World+Banking+%28WWB%29

Do you know that MicroCapital publishes the MicroCapital Monitor newspaper each month? Find out more at https://www.microcapital.org/products-page/

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