Germany-based Invest in Visions (IIV) recently announced that it has disbursed a loan of USD 13 million to the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA) from IIV Mikrofinanzfonds, a microfinance investment vehicle that is active in developing countries. CFPA, an NGO in China, was established in 1989 and
Category: Investment Funds
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: NpM Unveils Database of Funders of Agtech (Agricultural Technology) in Africa, Asia
NpM, formerly known as the Netherlands Platform for Microfinance, recently rolled out a database of approximately 200 funders of agricultural technology (agtech) in Africa and Asia. Users can filter the funds by factors including
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Grameen Credit Agricole Foundation Lends $340k to Microfinance Institution COOPEC SIFA of Togo
The Luxembourg-based Grameen Credit Agricole (GCA) Foundation recently informed MicroCapital that it has disbursed a loan to Cooperative d’Epargne et de Credit (COOPEC) Soutien aux Initiatives de Femmes pour l’Autopromotion (SIFA) in local currency equivalent to USD 340,000. COOPEC SIFA is a microfinance institution (MFI) based in Dapaong, Togo, that offers savings and
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: LeapFrog Emerging Consumer Fund III Closes with $700m for Equity Placements in Financial, Healthcare Services in Africa, Asia
LeapFrog Investments, a Mauritius-based private equity firm, recently announced the closing of its LeapFrog Emerging Consumer Fund III at a volume of USD 700 million. LeapFrog III will pursue equity investments in businesses that offer financial and healthcare services in emerging markets in Africa and Asia. The new fund is LeapFrog’s third and largest fund with its two preceding funds having
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: C-Quadrat Dual Return Vision Microfinance Fund Invests in Varthana, Funder of Educational Institutions in India
The Dual Return Vision Microfinance Fund, which is managed by C-Quadrat Asset Management (AM), recently invested an undisclosed amount of funds in Varthana, an India-based lender to “affordable” private schools, with the aim of improving educational access for children whose families have low incomes. C-Quadrat AM is a member of the Austria-based C-Quadrat Investment Group.
Varthana lends to primary and secondary schools for infrastructure, teacher training and working capital. It also offers management and educational consultancy to school owners. As of 2019, Varthana has secured and
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Nordic Microfinance Initiative (NMI) Managing $10m from Norway Climate and Environment Ministry to Boost Palm Farmers’ Productivity in Indonesia Without Cutting Rainforest
Through Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative, the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment recently disbursed NOK 90 million (USD 10.3 million) for a microfinance and
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Invest in Visions’ IIV Mikrofinanzfonds Lends $2m to ACME for Microfinance in Haiti
Germany-based Invest in Visions (IIV) recently announced that it has disbursed a loan of USD 2 million to Association pour la Coopération avec la Micro Entreprise (ACME) from its microfinance investment vehicle, IIV Mikrofinanzfonds, which lends to financial institutions in developing countries. This is the second time since
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Mobisol, Provider of Pay-as-you-go Solar Systems in East Africa, Files for Insolvency
Mobisol, a Germany-based provider of solar-powered products in Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania, recently completed a court filing to enter a period of “self-administered insolvency.” According to a press release from the firm, “Mobisol is going to continue serving its customers and partners…without any interruption.” The firm’s managers are working with potential investors as part of a plan to bring in more cash and
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: FMO, Oikocredit Invest $27m in CNG Vehicle Financing Firm Acceso of Peru
The Dutch development bank, which is known by the acronym FMO, recently arranged a local-currency syndicated loan worth USD 27 million in favor of Edpyme Acceso Crediticio, a financier of personal and business vehicles in Peru. The funding, which includes the equivalent of USD 6 million from
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) in Nicaragua Lose $30m During Year of Political Turmoil
La Cámara de Microfinanzas, a network of 27 microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Nicaragua that is also known as ASOMIF, recently reported that its members lost USD 30 million during 2018. Among the reasons cited for the decline are the country’s political unrest that began in April 2018 and
MICROFINANCE EVENT: Africa Financial Services Investment Conference (AFSIC); May 8 – 10, 2019; London, UK
The main objective of Africa Financial Services Investment Conference (AFSIC) is to support attendees in “making investment decisions… executing transactions, and raising debt or equity capital.” AFSIC provides participants the opportunity to network with approximately 1,000 “African business leaders, investors and dealmakers.” Sessions include An Analysis of Credit Investment Opportunities in Africa’s Financial Services Sector; Where to Find Africa’s Most Attractive Credit Investment Opportunities; and Meet the Seed Funders, Incubators, Accelerators and Venture Capital Funds Accelerating the Growth of Africa’s Best New Companies.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Grameen Credit Agricole Foundation Lends $2.2m to Mi-Bospo of Bosnia and Herzegovina for Microfinance Lending
The Grameen Credit Agricole (GCA) Foundation, whose head office is in Luxembourg, has informed MicroCapital that it issued a loan of EUR 2 million (USD 2.2 million) to Mi-Bospo, a microfinance institution (MFI) providing loans to micro- and small businesses in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).
The precursor of Mi-Bospo was launched in 1996 as a program of the nonprofit Bosnian Council for Aid, which also is known as Bospo. Bospo had been formed in 1995 to support post-war reconstruction. Mi-Bospo became an independent entity in 2000.
As of 2019, Mi-Bospo operates in the agriculture, services, production and trade sectors with 32 offices, mainly in northeast BiH. Approximately 64 percent of
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: GreenTec Capital Partners Launches Foundation to Promote Impact Investment in Entrepreneurship in Africa
GreenTec Capital Partners, a Germany-based investor in Africa, recently created the GreenTec Capital Africa Foundation to generate
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: MFIs in Ecuador, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan Borrow from C-Quadrat Dual Return Vision Microfinance Fund
Microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Ecuador, Kosovo and Kyrgyzstan have borrowed unspecified amounts of funding from the Dual Return Vision Microfinance Fund, which is managed by Austria-based C-Quadrat Asset Management (AM). C-Quadrat AM, a member of the C-Quadrat Investment Group, told MicroCapital hours ago that the transactions occurred during March. While declining to name the MFIs, the firm described
MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP UP: “Sizing the Impact Investing Market,” Published by the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN)
This is a summary of a paper by Abhilash Mudaliar and Hannah Dithrich; published by GIIN; April 2019; 16 pages; available at: https://thegiin.org/research/publication/impinv-market-size
The authors assemble data, including the results of the Global Impact Investing Network’s (GIIN’s) Annual Impact Investor Survey, to estimate the size of the worldwide impact investing market. GIIN defines “impact investments” as those that return a monetary profit while creating “positive, measurable social and environmental impact.” As of December 2018, the authors estimate the total assets under management (AUM) within the impact investing universe to be valued at
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Sanad Fund for MSME Loans $500k in Local Currency to Vitas Egypt for Microfinance
Sanad Fund for MSME, a Luxembourg-based investment vehicle, recently loaned the equivalent of USD 500,000 in local currency to Vitas Egypt, a microfinance institution (MFI) that was launched in 2018. The MFI is a
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Omidyar Network Spins Off Fintech Venture Firm Flourish, Pierre Omidyar Boosts Its Capital by $300m
The Omidyar Network, a US-based actor in education, governance, property rights and other areas, recently spun off its financial inclusion program to create Flourish Ventures, an “evergreen venture fund backing FinTech entrepreneurs who are focused on financial health and prosperity.” Arjuna Costa, a managing partner at Flourish, explains that, “To reshape economic systems and create opportunity for vulnerable people around the world, we invest in innovative technologies that give them more control over their financial lives.”
Flourish, which maintains offices in the UK and the US, has USD 200 million invested in approximately 50 firms as of 2019. These include providers of digital banking services, non-traditional insurance coverage, and “asset
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: C-Quadrat Dual Return Vision Microfinance Fund Lends to Network Active in Kosovo
The Dual Return Vision Microfinance Fund of C-Quadrat Asset Management (AM), a member of the Austria-based C-Quadrat Investment Group, issued a euro-denominated loan of unspecified size during February to an unidentified network of microfinance institutions (MFIs) operating in Africa, China and Kosovo. The MFI in Kosovo was launched in 2000 with UN support and is working to boost the percentage of