MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Advans SA to Create Tunisian Microfinance Institution Advans Tunisie

Advans SA SICAR (Advans SA), a microfinance investment vehicle managed by Horus Development Finance of France, recently announced plans to start Advans Tunisie, a microfinance institution (MFI) that will apply for a license from the Tunisian Ministry of Finance with the aim of launching before December 2013. The MFI plans to offer loans ranging from TND 1,000 (USD 611) to TND 2,000 (USD 1,220) as well as offering “a range of products which will complement the current offer from commercial banks and existing microcredit associations” in the country. Advans Tunisie plans to have an operational partnership with private-sector bank Amen Bank, which will hold an equity stake in the MFI.

Advans SA will hold the majority of the firm’s shares; in addition to Amen Bank, other minority shareholders in Advans Tunisie include the Sanad Fund for Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (MSME), an initiative of German development bank Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) Entwicklungsbank that provides debt and equity financing to financial institutions in the Middle East and Africa; and Inaam, a holding company backed by “socially-oriented” Tunisian investors.The Swiss Capacity Building Facility (SCBF), an organization that seeks to promote job creation and revenue generation in developing countries, has provided an unspecified amount of financial support for Advans Tunisie.

The Advans network serves 360,000 loan clients via 95 branches in seven countries: Cambodia, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Pakistan and Tanzania. As of March 2012, Advans SA held total assets of EUR 33.5 million (USD 44.5 million) and committed capital of EUR 43.6 million (USD 58 million).

By Charlotte Newman, Research Associate

About Advans SA SICAR
Launched in 2005, Advans SA SICAR is a venture capital company that is registered in Luxembourg and managed by Horus Development Finance of France. The mission of Advans is to increase access to financial services for micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in emerging economies. In addition to equity and debt funding for microfinance institutions (MFIs), Advans provides technical assistance to MSMEs in an effort to assist them in achieving sustainable and profitable operations. As of 2012, the Advans network serves 360,000 loan clients via 95 branches in seven countries: Cambodia, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Pakistan and Tanzania. As of March 2012, Advans SA held total assets of EUR 33.5 million (USD 44.5 million) and committed capital of EUR 43.6 million (USD 58 million).

Sources and Additional Resources:

Information sent to MicroCapital by Advans SA.

MicroCapital.org story, January 17, 2013, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Advans SA Launches Microfinance Institution in Pakistan,” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-advans-sa-launches-microfinance-institution-in-pakistan/

MicroCapital.org story, June 13, 2013, “MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Sanad Fund for MSMEto Loan $2m to Al Majmoua of Lebanon for Microenterprises,” https://www.microcapital.org/microcapital-brief-sanad-fund-for-msme-to-loan-2m-to-al-majmoua-of-lebanon-for-microenterprises/

MicroCapital Universe Profile: Advans SA SICAR
https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Advans+SA

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