The nonprofit BBVA Microfinance Foundation, which was launched by the Spanish bank Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) in 2007, recently responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by offering clients of its six microfinance institutions (MFIs) grace periods of two to four months on outstanding loans, rescheduling of outstanding loans and additional funding. They can also access
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MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Lending $8.1m to Bank Lviv for SMEs in Ukraine
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), a UK-based multilateral investor, recently agreed to provide a four-year loan in local currency equivalent to USD 8.1 million to Bank Lviv, a commercial bank in Ukraine, for on-lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Ashot Abrahamyan, the CEO of Bank Lviv, explains that his institution is
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: JSC Credo Bank Has Acquired Microfinance Portfolios of MFO BIG, MFO Credit Plus Georgia
Joint Stock Company (JSC) Credo Bank, a Georgian bank, recently announced that it has purchased the microfinance portfolios of two microfinance organizations (MFOs), BIG and Credit Plus Georgia, for
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Woori Bank of South Korea Acquires VisionFund Cambodia from Microfinance Subsidiary of US-based World Vision
VisionFund International, a UK-based NGO that offers microfinance services for World Vision, a US-based Christian relief and development organization, recently sold VisionFund Cambodia, a microfinance institution (MFI) serving rural
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Greenlight Planet Nets Equity, Debt Totaling $60m for Sun King Solar Product Line from Apis, Eight Roads, Bamboo, Deutsche, Global Partnerships, Other Investors
Greenlight Planet, which has offices in Kenya, India and the US, recently raised a total of USD 60 million in equity and debt “to expand its solar-energy product lines, distribution networks, and financing capabilities in Africa and Asia.” Three entities purchased stakes of unspecified sizes in Greenlight, including Apis Growth Fund I, the lead investor in the funding round, which is managed by Nigeria- and UK-based Apis Partners. The other two entities increased existing stakes in Greenlight: Eight Roads Ventures, a private equity firm with offices in seven countries; and Bamboo Capital Partners, an investor seeking “economic, social and environmental
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: KMF and Bereke of Kazakhstan, Vasham of Indonesia Borrow $5.1m from Grameen Credit Agricole Microfinance Foundation
The Grameen Credit Agricole Microfinance Foundation (GCAMF), a Luxembourg-based provider of financial services primarily to microfinance institutions, recently informed MicroCapital that it has committed to extending the following local-currency loans in phases over three years: the equivalent of USD 3.9 million to KazMicroFinance LLC (KMF) of Kazakhstan, the equivalent of USD 550,000 to Bereke of Kazakhstan, and the equivalent of USD 660,000 to Vasham of Indonesia.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: International Finance Corporation (IFC) Syndicates $81m Loan for Banco Industrial do Brasil (BIB) to Support Small, Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, recently announced it has arranged a loan package of USD 81.2 million for Banco Industrial do Brasil (BIB).
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Tunisia’s Union Internationale de Banques (UIB) Borrows $45m from EBRD for SMEs
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), a UK-based multilateral institution, recently announced it will loan EUR 40 million (USD 44.9 million) to Union Internationale de Banques (UIB), a Tunisian bank, to support small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs’) “lending activities and expand access to finance for underserved
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: IFC to Advise FINCA DRC on Boosting Access to Credit, Mobile Banking in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with Funding from The MasterCard Foundation
The World Bank Group’s International Finance Corporation (IFC) recently agreed to provide two years of advisory services, valued at USD 1 million, to FINCA DRC, a unit of US-based FINCA Microfinance Holding Company that provides savings and credit services to 256,000 customers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The goal is to
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: India’s Suryoday Microfinance Raises $15m in Equity as Aavishkaar Goodwell Exits
Suryoday Micro Finance Private Limited , a non-banking finance company providing microfinance services in India, recently raised INR 1 billion (USD 15 million) from investors including the Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC) Bank; ASK Pravi; the Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) Standard Life Insurance; Arpwood Investment Advisors; Kiran Vyapar, the investment arm of LN Bangur Group; Polaris Banyan Holding and Dr. Aravind Srinivasan [2].
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: FINCA, First Access Partner in Africa on Alternative Credit Scoring, Incorporating Mobile Phone Usage
FINCA Microfinance Holding Company, an arm of US-based nonprofit microfinance network FINCA International, and First Access, a US-based financial technology company, recently partnered to create an alternative credit-scoring system to serve the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. This system aims to “establish credit scores for low-income clients who lack sufficient formal credit history to secure small loans to build businesses or support emerging personal needs.” Specific information on exactly how this system works is unavailable, but First Access typically analyzes demographic, geographic, financial and social aspects of clients’ mobile phone usage to predict credit risk.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Green for Growth Fund Southeast Europe (GGF) Signs $2.2m Senior Loan Facility with ICS Total Leasing & Finance of Moldova
The Green for Growth Fund Southeast Europe (GGF), a Germany-based fund that invests in energy efficiency and renewable energy, recently announced that it has agreed to disburse a senior loan of EUR 2 million (USD 2.2 million) to ICS Total Leasing & Finance S.A. (TLF), a Moldova-based non-banking financial institution.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Luxembourg Fund Labeling Agency (LuxFLAG) Provides Microfinance Label to GLS Alternative Investments-Mikrofinanzfonds (GLSMIKA), Renews Labels for 14 Investment Funds
The Luxembourg Fund Labeling Agency (LuxFLAG), a Luxembourg-based nonprofit organization that certifies the operations of investment vehicles that support microfinance and environmental initiatives, recently announced it granted its Microfinance Label for the first time. The fund is promoted by German bank Gemeinschaftsbank für Leihen und Schenken (GLS).
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: FMO Completes $153m Syndicated Loan to Sri Lanka’s Commercial Leasing & Finance (CLC)
Nederlandse Financierings-Maatschappij voor Ontwikkelingslanden (FMO), a Dutch development bank, recently served as lead arranger and facility agent to finalize a USD 153 million senior secured syndicated loan for Sri Lanka’s Commercial Leasing & Finance (CLC).
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Microfinance Network FINCA International Appoints Andree Simon as Co-CEO
The Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA International), a US-based nonprofit with microfinance operations in 23 countries, recently announced the promotion of Andrée Simon to the position of co-CEO of FINCA Microfinance Holding LLC (MFH), FINCA’s International’s network of microfinance subsidiaries.
SPECIAL REPORT: On Financial Stability, Inclusion, Exclusion and “Big Mistakes”
During a session on financial stability at European Microfinance Week yesterday, Piotr Korynski of the Microfinance Centre said regarding financial services that “it is not always a good idea to include everybody.” After showing data from a range of countries showing a positive correlation between the share of adults with formal financial accounts and gross domestic product, Mr Korynski asked,
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: FINCA International to Offer Microfinance Services to Fund Off-Grid Solar Systems in Africa
The Foundation for International Community Assistance (FINCA International), a US-based nonprofit microfinance network, has announced that it will offer microfinance services to fund “off-grid solar systems”[1] in Africa.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Awards Small Finance Bank Licences to 10 Microfinance Institutions (MFIs)
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the central banking authority of the country, recently has given “in-principle approval”[1] of the requests for Small Finance Bank Licences of the following microfinance institutions (MFIs): Jaipur-based Au Financiers, Jalandhar-based Capital Local Area Bank, Ahmedabad-based Disha Microfin, Chennai-based Equitas, Chennai-based ESAF Microfinance and Investments, Bengaluru-based Janalakshmi Financial Services, Guwahati-based RGVN (North East) Microfinance, Chennai-based Suryoday, Bangalore-based Ujjivan and Varanasi-based Utkarsh.